My Hero Academia, Vol. 31

僕のヒーローアカデミア [Boku no Hero Academia] #31

by Kohei Horikoshi

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

In the aftermath of the battle in Jaku City, the forces of good are reeling. With so many heroes dead, it seems like society itself is on the verge of collapse. Although Midoriya and the others have managed to drive off Tomura, All For One is only just getting started. As the dust settles, the Todoroki family must finally face their troubled past, and Midoriya begins to understand what One For All really is and that reaching his full potential might test his convictions…

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Young Adult, Superheroes, Comics, Shonen, Graphic Novels

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2021

About the author

HORIKOSHI Kouhei
Name (in native language): 堀越耕平
Associated Names:
Kouhei Horikoshi

Born 1986 in the prefecture Aichi, Horikoshi first attracted attention in the second half of 2006 when he entered Shueisha's 72th Tezuka Award for Newcomers with his one shot "Nukegara" and made it to the final six, where he gained himself an "Honorable Mention".
Various short stories in Shueisha's Akamaru JUMP followed over the years until he published his one shot "Oumagadoki Doubutsuen" in issue #2/2010 of Weekly Shounen JUMP.

Kouhei Horikoshi is a graduate of Nagoya University of Arts. He was previously an assistant to TANAKA Yasuki.

Zodiac: Scorpio

Pixiv: 堀越

Reviews

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: im in love with that cover omg and i cant believe they ended this volume on chapter 306??? that is just cruel for volume readers
___

i am pain because i caught up to the manga *sobbing* and right when it goes on hiatus💀

AND ITS AMAZING AS ALWAYS. so many emotional chapters🥺 and the way so many things have changed from chapter 1 literally is mind blowing and spectacular, like who wouldve thought???

spoilers up to chapter 318:
- first of all, the todoroki family all finally having the "talk" together and facing the past🤧 AND SHOTO OMG


- deku leaving U.A., leaving a note explaining OFA to the rest of class 1A😭😭


- the team up between the top 3 heroes, all might and deku IS AMAZING I LOVE IT.


- deku being the new batman and looking cool as ever. the difference btwn his crybaby self in s1 and now??? oh my god talk about character development.

but now he's so lonely and isnt thinking about his own well-being🥺 deku needs a hug plz.

- in the most recent chapter, ch318, KACCHAN FINALLY COMING IN (along with the rest of class 1A) omg they're here to help and be there for deku my hearttt

[MajesticalLion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The aftermath to the Paranormal War Arc. The social commentary of My Hero Academia is so fascinating. Horikoshi is a master of taking realistic situations and applying them to a fictional world. The "I am NOT here" sign on the statue of All Might feels so grounded and real. And the story of the Todoroki's fits so well into the themes of that same social commentary. This idea that passing by a person in need is almost as evil an act as hurting them yourself. That any of these villains could've been good people if anyone had taken the time understand them and help them at the beginning. Society creates these villains while simultaneously condemning them, and Heroes are just their guillotine. Deku isn't like that, though. His drive to save and help everyone, enemy or not, is what will change this selfish and uncaring world. This is one of the single most relevant stories to our time. It's SO important to take this message to heart, now more than ever.

[Lucy Tonks (the invisible life of a reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm gonna keep this in currently reading until we know which chapters this volume will contain, but even so I'm pretty much sure I already finished it 😂

I don't know how I'll be able to wait weekly for new chapters for who knows how many years to come. Those who've been doing this for years now already are the brave ones.

In the end picking a favourite season arc will be like picking a favourite child. This is all amazing and I'm so excited to read more and find out more about what's to come.

Seriously these cliffhangers at the end of the chapters should be illegal.



So the chapters this volume will include were announced and I cannot believe they decided for the volume to end on chapter 306, although I should have probably expected that... but still that's probably the worst possible moment the volume could end. And to add to that that chapter broke me when I read it even though I spoiled myself for that moment I think I may have even cried a bit the cold hearted bitch shed some tears *applause*

Also the cover for this volume 😫 I'm in love why are they all so beautiful?!

[chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

the ending of this volume had me in SHAMBLES

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's what in the story: After another huge battle, the society is in chaos and the general public is again, you guess it, blaming the heroes for failing at their job. Many secrets are also coming to light and people suddenly realized the heroes they used to look up to might not be who they once seem to be.

Many young heroes or young heroes in training are also injured, how can they work things out when the society and everything they once knew was thrown out of balance?

(1) Fucking mayhem and All For One in action! That's just fucking beautiful!

(2) Hawks is now my favorite man!!!

(3) Izuku tried to figure things out on his own, without the support of his mentor and friends, my heart nearly broke!!! T_T

(4) As for Shagariki, I don't know how to feel about him, on one hand, I feel a bit sorry for him, but on the other hand, he killed too many people I can't think of a way for him to seek redemption, I hope the author will figure this part out eventually!

PS: I admit I first read some super cute boy's love fanfics about this series first before I got to the story canon! XD

Review for vol. 11 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review for vol. 29 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suppose this is the first time I really teared up with this manga. It’s been great but the pathos wasn’t turned on to 100% like Naruto at certain points. It’s also not quite as messed up, emotionally, as Berserk. But here, and now, it just graduated from being a fun, mostly light-hearted superhero (civilization) story to become something heart-wrenching.

It’s a bit of a breather after that huge battle but that’s utterly necessary. The chickens are coming home to roost.

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keeping up with the Todorokis 🤭

and class A-1 has a free spot now, I guess 🙈

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

EMPIEZA EL FINAL DE TODO 😰

[Anushka Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Battle of Jaku City, it's like we've entered some dystopian parallel world.
Or maybe a nightmare!
I can't deal with this. I can't believe what's happening! So much death, such destruction, so many injured----
Aizawa injured!!! 3

I don't know how much more I can take.

[lizzie mcguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

“i am NOT here”

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, how fast and devastatingly a society can fall if there’s just enough pressure and bad things piled up on bad things for everyone to crumble, snap, or fight on is so horrifyingly displayed in the rawest sense here. And the one person who’s going to take most of the brunt of it all is a sixteen year old boy who just wants people to be safe and happy. 😭😭

So many things happened to all these characters and seeing them all rise up under the pressure while the rest crumble is both hard to watch yet inspiring. Hawks and Best Jeanest are a hilarious duo that I never would have thought of putting together but they honestly work really well off each other. Though I am with Rei on wondering what illegal denim is… 😂

Both Hawks’ and Dabi’s pasts are so sad and with Dabi’s I honestly feel for him in just wanting to be seen by his family as it hits close to my heart and I understand him better now, even though I do not condone what he’s doing. And the fact that Shoto saved his family all because Deku reached out and saved him is so, so powerful, and the Todoroki family doesn’t even realize it and I know that’s how Deku would want it.

Speaking of Deku, the talk between him and the One For All predecessors made me tear up when he expresses his desire to save the little boy inside Shigaraki and reveals yet another layer of his kind and caring heart. He’s so inspiring and I love him even more each time he reveals his heart like this while also not being afraid to fight those he’s trying to save if they keep insisting on harming others.

Which is why the final panel makes me so sad because HE looks so sad and almost defeated and I sincerely hope he isn’t.


‼️Content‼️

TRIGGER WARNING: in the past a character’s father was a physically and verbally abusive murderer and their mother is implied to either be high on something or just checked out

Language: hell; hellish; damn; dang; sucks; gah; dammit; crap; freakin’; bastard

Violence: injuries and blood (PG-PG-13/R); fighting with weapons, superpowers, and hand to hand (PG-PG-13/R); a guy’s body comes apart then closes back together (PG-13)

Sexual: a girl’s shirt opens in the front all the way down to her stomach; shirtless guys

Other: superheroes/supervillains/superpowers; monster like beings with “brains” outside their skulls; death and grief; in the past a character’s father was a physically and verbally abusive murderer and their mother is implied to either be high on something or just checked out

[Matthew Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s easy to get repetitive and lose interest in a book after 31 volumes. However, this series couldn’t stand further from that idea. This may have just been the best volume of this entire series. The landscape of the world has changed for heroes, villains, and even citizens. The backstories provided for Hawks, the Todoroki family, and OFA was ridiculously good. The end of this volume reveals what this story has been building to from the beginning and I’m pretty much ready to run through a wall now.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate it here. I was not ready for this to end.
I’m heartbroken. I have so much love for all of these characters.
I’m depressed now. Wow oh wow. This is a masterpiece.

I truly don’t know how anyone can leave comprehensive reviews on here about this manga. So much is happening and I’m still reeling, so I can’t form full sentences to actually say anything other that this is such an extraordinary story.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one I am conflicted about what a star rating to give this manga. The stories told are interesting and have a lot of character development for both Deku and the entire Endeavor family. I was complaining that the big good vs evil fight was going on and on and on and on and one. But and here we go...

Spoilers?
The big fight just ends and worse than that it ended between issues. The recap of just the end of the battle in this volume is just a few pages. The villains win. The big bads all get away - at least ones not explicitly captured or killed. Not only do they get away but the failure to win shames many heroes into quitting. The bad guys destroy and free all the high power villains in all the prisons. Apparently Japan in that universe has zero police and military (even though we have seen that is not true). So now the villains while not in charge are rampaging across the country with no one trying to stop them. The few "civilians" trying to keep order are done in by the bad guys (you can tell this was not a story written by an American) the other nations refuse to send help superheroes or just food because the people in charge of "paperwork" in Japan have all quit or were traitors (another way you can tell not written by American or European or African writers). It is also strange to see entire cities destroyed yet enough infrastructure remains for TV and power for the TVs so the Heroes / Government can hold a very formal press conference to apologize for the loss and confess that what everyone knew about heroes were true about how things had been was actually bad.

Not even upset with how things went even though the villains all getting away is such an American comic book thing. The whole story here is well written and now that it is not pure action I can tell most of the people apart even if covered in bandages. Except for Hawks who seems to show up with a different look of bandages / masks every time - that threw me off for some reason.


So to recap, good story, there was some nice character development, the art was good. If you are this many volumes into the story don't give up! Read this volume as well.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the explosion of the last few volumes we had to slow it down here.

Was a little taken aback of the opening. Felt like we didn't finish the big battle yet, but we did? It was a odd shift. And seeing everyone deal with the repercussions of the news getting out and deaths was nice but a little exposition heavy. I did like learning more about Toya and his background, and the ending sets up something interesting but also the slower volume than the last 4-5.

A 3 out of 5.

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es increíble ver como están las cosas post guerra: la sociedad, la reputación de los héroes y los sentimientos de los personajes :')
Todo el drama de los Todoroki está bien cañón.

[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume definitely had a lot of plot development, I'm excited to see what happens next!

[Afifa Afreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book as a coping mechanism. Was it a brilliant idea, I'm not so sure. But did it help alleviate stress paradoxically? Indeed.

Bakugo is changing right before my eyes, and I'm so proud of him. Shoto is bent on resolving the family conflict, and I'm super proud of him. Deku is being Deku and I'm 1000000x proud of him. I'm a proud mama of these kids. The ending of this volume made me sad but I knew this had to happen, so I can't wait to see how it unfolds further.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was literally saying how I missed how my hero challenged the norms of the shonen genre in the early days of its production. And here once again I feel those boundaries being pushed. It’s been awhile since the series really did that but I’m thankful it’s happening again. Also this story FR fucked at this point like what the my heart

[Kaitlyn]

5/5
Why don’t you just stomp on my heart it will be less painful

[Zaynab · Rating 5 out of 5]

just shoot me already, it would be less painful than the tears i cried while reading this

[célestine · Rating 4 out of 5]

| " tu dois avoir le coeur aussi serré que les jeans skinny "
BAHAHAHAH

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

EN RESUMEN
La guerra termina pero los héroes ahora deben lidiar con las consecuencias, incluyendo las críticas de la sociedad.

ASPECTOS POSITIVOS
- Horikoshi logró plasmar las consecuencias de la guerra. Me gustó que le dedicó tiempo y páginas para mostrar los efectos de Gigantomachia, ya que va a ser importante para lo que se viene ahora. Ese panel con Ochako mirando la destrucción y al héroe profesional dándose por vencido es BRUTAL y muy efectiva.
Y lo mejor es que el tipo no le afloja a la intensidad y te pone un prision break inmediatamente después de la guerra, como si los héroes no tuvieran suficiente con la sociedad cayéndose a pedazos. El hype que me genera todos estos giros y acontecimientos es enorme.
- A pesar de no ser fan del giro con Best Jeanist (y lo rebuscado que es, sólo para que Hawks no termine como un asesino sin razón), me gustó adentrarme un poco en el pasado de Hawks y en sus razones para ser un héroe. Los paralelismos, como son usuales en este manga, con Dabi le quedan perfecto y hablan mucho de ambos personajes y lo diferente y parecidos que son. Smol Hawks was fucking adorable :)))))
Y hablando de Dabi... me encantó conocer más sobre su pasado como Toya y su rol en la familia Todoroki. De los mejores capítulos del tomo y un ejemplo perfecto de cómo mostrar y no decir. Las expresiones y las cosas no dichas entre diálogos hablaron por sí mismos. La única conclusión a la que puedo llegar es que Endeavor nunca debería haber tenido hijos. El tipo es un inepto, incluso cuando no era un hijo de puta todavía. Las caras de Toya y la desesperación que sentía por tener el amor de su padre me partieron el corazón. Los cuatro chicos merecían padres mejores.
Por último quiero recalcar la cara de horror de Endeavor. Me gusta su arco pero, hermano, cómo disfruté esa escena.
- TODO ESA ESCENA ENTRE LOS PORTADORES DE OFA????? HOLY SHIT???? Necesito más del pasado de OFA, de Nana, de todos estos tipos interactuando. Hay mucha historia ahí y sólo le ruego a Horikoshi que la aproveche. Y ENCIMA TENEMOS AL BAKUGO 2 CON EL MISTERIOSO PORTADOR 3 QUE SE HACEN LOS LINDOS Y NO MUESTRAN LA CARA. HERMANO, QUE ESCONDES, DATE LA VUELTA POR FAVOR. Es obvio que hay algo importante ahí, posiblemente relacionado con Bakugo (?), pero el hecho de que Horikoshi esté amagando tanto con la revelación de la cara del tipo CUANDO ES MÁS QUE OBVIO A QUIÉN SE PARECE es una elección.
Con respecto al giro de Deku siendo el último de los portadores de OFA creo que tiene sentido y se adapta a la historia que ya veníamos viendo hasta ahora. No cambia mucho al personaje de Deku pero le da más importancia a su pelea con AFO y Shigaraki. También como que justifica un poco la abrupta aparición de Mirio: Horikoshi necesitaba sacarse de encima al único sin don que quedaba en la historia.
- EL FINAL??????? CÓMO TE ATREVES, HORIKOSHI!!!

ASPECTOS NEGATIVOS
- Los del Frente de Liberación terminaron decepcionándome. Ni una pelea digna vimos, y eso que Geten prometía mucho.
- Voy a ser sincera: no soy muy fan de la trama de AFO controlando a Shigaraki. Lo siento como un desperdicio. Shigaraki atravesó un gran desarrollo en el arco de MVA y ahora el autor tiró todo eso a la basura. Entiendo que el punto siempre fue que Shigaraki era manipulado emocional y psicológicamente por AFO, pero al ser Horikoshi un fan de Star Wars estaba esperando un giro a lo The Last Jedi. Siento que este camino le quita a Shigaraki su independencia y todo lo que lo hacía tan interesante. Ahora es sólo una marioneta. Y, lo que es peor, presiento que esto es sólo una excusa para dar más pie al "salvemos al asesino" ://
- ¿POR QUÉ MIERDA GRAN TORINO SIGUE VIVO? Si bien las escenas iniciales ambientaron el final de la guerra a la perfección, mucho de eso se diluye con lo poco que se arriesgó el autor con las muertes. ESTE era el momento para tomar ese riesgo, para matar algunos personajes importantes. Si va a ser un punto clave para el desarrollo de los personajes que lo sea a lo grande. La muerte de Midnight es triste, pero que ella sea la única muerte importante es un poco decepcionante.
- A pesar de lo interesante del giro con OFA, sigo cautelosa con el tema ese de "salvar a Shigaraki". Horikoshi tiene que tener mucho cuidado con cómo lo trata. Aprecio que esté en sintonía con la clase de persona que es Deku pero no sé... se siente raro, en especial porque Deku y Shigaraki tienen 0 relación con el otro. Al final Deku sólo quiere salvar a Shigaraki porque es el protagonista, y es bueno y esto es un shonen por lo que es lo que se espera de él.
- Lo único que le voy a criticar al tema de los Todorokis es cómo trata el autor el kilombo con Rei. Hasta ahora, cada vez que se tocaba a la familia Todoroki y sus conflictos el acento siempre estaba puesto en los hijos, en cómo Endeavor los afectó a ellos. Lo entiendo, Shoto y Dabi son los personajes importantes, no Rei. Pero el tema es que Endeavor fue claramente abusivo y violento con Rei al punto de quebrarla mentalmente y no hay mención de eso. Se lo toca superficialmente. La redención de Endeavor pasa por cómo se sienten sus hijos con respeto a él, y no tanto por lo que le hizo a su esposa. Es como si el autor huyera a tener conversaciones serias sobre estos temas. Obvio que todavía hay tiempo pero tampoco tengo muchas esperanzas, la verdad.

CONCLUSIÓN
Me encanta que My Hero Academia se tome su tiempo concluyendo sus arcos, y un arco tan lleno de emociones, giros y sub tramas como este merecía eso y más. Todo se siente muy real, como un punto clave en la historia que va a cambiar las cosas para siempre. El ambiente que logra crear el autor es increíble y encima el tipo no afloja ni siquiera en el final. No puedo esperar a leer el próximo volumen.

[‎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last of the books that are in English. Holy! This was an amazing series! And am eagerly awaiting the rest of the books to be localized!

Almost every character was amazingly made. Each with their own “quirks” (excuse the pun) that make them incredible characters.

Even the villains. The villains were phenomenal. The fact that they are treated like another group of protagonists rather than just obstacles for the hero’s to try to defeat is incredible. Like Evil Protagonists. They care about each other like protagonists would.

Every twist, every death. They all got me to engulf myself in this fantasy world.

The whole series together. A 6/5 🌟

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"... I never understood what made them turn out that way."

I have been hit with emotional damage, yet AGAIN, which I may never quite recover from. 🥺😭

In all seriousness, though, this is another new favorite. Yeah, sure, I saw the anime adaptation first, but it still hurt to see all over again. One of my favorite moments had to be the Todoroki family and Toya's backstory.

Then the discussion between Izuku and the previous users of One for All, especially when Nana Shimura asks him if he can kill Tomura Shigaraki. I love Izuku's answer. I just love everything about this series, honestly.

[R.J. Sorrento · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gahhhhhhhhh!

How does each volume keep getting better and better?

I’m here for the Todoroki family drama.

The revelations about Hawks’ past?! Bonus

More intel about one for all and some awesome predecessors dream interactions with Deku?! Yes.

And now I have to wait until October for Vol 32. *cries*

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lore of One For All is finally being fleshed out! Also the sheer melancholy and unease that comes with the crumbling hero society is just so pitch perfect. Let the final arc begin!

[Shadyside Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearing more about the Todoroki family is quite sad I have to say. Lots of emotion being thrown into these books. I am staying hopeful though that this final arc leaves us with a smile on our face :)

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[DonutKnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Endeavour and the Todoroki family are all kinds of messed up. I feel bad for all the kids 🤦‍♀️They were innocent in all this, and Endeavour’s warped ambition practically destroyed their lives 😭