In its 10 years of publication, My Hero Academy has become one of the most iconic and popular shonen manga in the world. Now that this series has officially released its last chapter and concluded its story, let's take a trip down memory lane to see some of the best long story arcs from this series.
So what does a long story arc mean? For this list, we're defining it as story arcs that consist of 20 chapters or more. By this definition, out of 23 story arcs in the My Hero Academia manga, eight can be considered long story arcs. With that in mind, here are the longest story arcs in My Hero Academyclassified according to their length.
8 Dark Hero's Arc
Deku Becomes a Vigilante
- Number of chapters: 22
- Chapters: 307–328
Like most shounen series out there, the story of My Hero Academy has a bright and cheerful atmosphere. At least that's the case with most of the series. The Dark Hero's ArcHowever, it is by far the darkest and most gloomy story arc in this series.
This arc takes place after the disastrous end of the Paranormal Liberation War, the great escape from Tartarus Prison, and the devastating revelation about Endeavor's past that quickly turns public opinion against the heroes. The world turns into a dystopian place where no one feels safe, which brings out the worst in everyone. This is also the time when Deku becomes a masked vigilante and intentionally acts as bait for the villains lurking in the shadows. It's a great arc with plenty of page-turning moments.
7 UA Sports Festival Arch
A great introduction for students in grade 1-A
- Number of chapters: 23
- Chapters: 22–44
When a series has an entire class of supporting characters, it can be pretty hard for the audience to recognize any of them, let alone root for them. That's why a story arc that can bring together every member of the supporting cast and shine a light on them, like the UA Sports FestivalIt's a great way to introduce secondary characters.
This arc is the perfect opportunity for the audience to see the main characters and all the main supporting characters of this series. Not only will they learn more about their personalities by the end of the arc, but they will also get to see their quirks in action.
The first threat at the national level
- Number of chapters: 23
- Chapters: 218–240
Unlike a local organization like Shie Hassaikai, the Meta Liberation Army has followers all over the country. With high-ranking members in a major political party, a giant technology and media company, and even hiding in plain sight as ordinary citizens and heroes, the Meta Liberation Army is a textbook definition of a nationwide threat. Unfortunately, they make a huge mistake by attacking the League of Villains, resulting in one of the best open battles in My Hero Academy.
Creating an open battlefield involving numerous characters is not an easy thing to do, yet this series manages to not only do just that, but also deliver a compelling story at the same time. There are so many moving parts in this story arc, yet it is still easy enough for the audience to follow the story and understand everything that is happening on the pages. That is why this story arc is among the best in the series.
5 Joint training arc
An intense battle between class 1-A and 1-B
- Number of chapters: 24
- Chapters: 194–217
As the name suggests, the Joint training arc It's all about a friendly battle between the students of UA High School's two main hero classes: Class 1-A and Class 1-B. In many ways, it's like an expanded version of the UA Sports Festival. The main difference is that instead of one-on-one battles, the joint training is all about teamwork.
Through this arc, viewers get to know more about the various quirks of the students of Class 1-B. Even better, they get to see the interesting dynamics between the different characters and how the students of both classes come up with different strategies to defeat their opponents. This is a very entertaining arc and definitely an improvement over the UA Sports Festival arc.
4 Provisional License Exam for Arc Heroes
A Look at the Responsibilities of Professional Heroes
- Number of chapters: 24
- Chapters: 98–121
When we hear the word “Hero,” the first thing that comes to mind is someone with a superpower who goes around saving people and defeating bad guys. Thanks to the Provisional License Exam for Arc Heroeswe realize that there are many nuances to the hero profession. From what to do during natural disasters, to the proper way to save injured victims, and even what heroes should do when they have to save many victims while fighting a group of villains at the same time.
Just as the Joint Training arc is the expanded version of the UA Sports Festival arc, the Provisional Hero License Exam arc is also the expanded version of the Joint Training arc. Viewers see Hero Candidates from different Hero Schools in action, each with their own unique quirks and fighting styles. With the coveted Hero License on the line, this arc is much more intense than both the Joint Training arc and the UA Sports Festival arc.
3 Shie Hassaikai Arc
Heroes vs Yakuza
- Number of chapters: 41
- Chapters: 122–162
My Hero Academy has its fair share of organized crime villains, each of whom poses a threat and has their own agenda. The one who truly poses a threat to both heroes and regulars is none other than Shie Hassaikai, a Yakuza group led by a deranged young man named Kai Chisaki, also known by his villain nickname, Overhaul.
Overhaul manages to create a serum that can permanently erase someone's quirk, and he fully intends to mass-produce it to create a world where only a select few can have quirks, with Shie Hassaikai leading the way. There are a lot of exciting battles in this arc, some of which are pretty heartbreaking. It's just a solid arc all around.
2 Paranormal Liberation War Arc
The first great battle between heroes and villains
- Number of chapters: 54
- Chapters: 253–306
The Paranormal Liberation War Story Arc it is without a doubt My Hero Academy at its best. So many interesting things happen in the 54 chapters of this story arc. Hawks infiltrating the enemy organization, raiding the villains' headquarters, uncovering the secrets of the Nomu, the return of the evil overlord, the deaths of several iconic characters, and the shocking revelation of Endeavor's past, to name a few.
This arc contains so many pivotal moments that forever alter the trajectory of the characters involved. Within this single arc, we get to see intense action sequences, a heartbreaking drama, a spy thriller, tragic flashbacks, and a series of mind-blowing twists. The overall mood of the series also becomes darker, especially with the added mistrust and scrutiny of the audience that makes the story even more grounded and believable. That's why we truly believe that the Paranormal Liberation War arc is one of the best story arcs in My Hero Academy.
1 Final War Arc
The War to End All Wars
- Number of chapters: 82
- Chapters: 343–424
My Hero Academy he is excellent at directing a scene involving a crowd of characters, and The Final War Story Arc is a testament to the masterful crowdwork of this series. To increase their chances of defeating All For One and his armies of villains, the heroes use the classic divide-and-conquer strategy. They forcibly drag the villains to different locations and defeat them one-on-one. From Deku vs. Shigaraki to All For One vs. Armored All Might, there are so many iconic battles that take place in this story arc.
The only flaw of this wonderful story arc is that it is a tad too long. There are times when the story seems dragged out and loses its momentum. For reference, the recent hit manga Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku has only 127 chapters in total, while the legendary manga death Note It only has 110 chapters. So yeah, 82 chapters for the final arc is definitely a bit much. That aside, the Final War arc is definitely one of the most intense arcs in the series. It's a fitting final arc for such an iconic manga series.
