Overview
Anyone who has dabbled in the world of manga (a Japanese comic book style) will know about the hugely popular My Hero Academia series. It’s a coming-of-age “shonen” manga by Kōhei Horikoshi, which is a category of content mostly intended for young teen boys. But make no mistake, My Hero Academia has been read and enjoyed by a wide-ranging audience. It was also later adapted into a popular anime series. Today, we’re going to review the first of its 41 volumes so you know if it’s safe for your child.
The series centers around Izuku, an unassuming yet virtuous high school boy who lives in a world where everyone has a special superpower — except Izuku. While at school to learn how to use their powers, Izuku and his classmates face all the familiar trials of high school, as well as some thrilling adventures in this unique fantasy world.
Harmful Content ❗️
My Hero Academia hits on some heavier subjects such as bullying, death, and brief mentions of abuse. While overall, it’s a positive story of courage and friendship, the book does not avoid these more mature, complex themes. Many of what the characters face as high schoolers are things your real high schooler may experience. But this means it may be best to wait before allowing your elementary school or middle schooler to read it.
Language
There is some use of mild profanity and insults between characters.
Sex
There is no explicit sexual content in My Hero Academia. A couple of female characters are drawn somewhat provocatively, but they’re fully clothed and it’s not a common occurrence throughout the book.
There is one character who is portrayed as a “pervert” and is caught groping or peeping on female characters. If you allow your child to read this, it would be worth an open conversation with them about how this behavior is not acceptable.
Violence
As teenagers are learning to use superpowers, there are inevitably some fist fights that break out at school. Characters are shown hurt and injured, but not in a gratuitous way. There are also villains and monsters that aim to hurt or kill others. The cartoony illustrations make these scenes less intense, but may not be suitable for younger, more sensitive audiences.
Positive Value 💫
Izuku as a main character exemplifies what a true hero is, even if he wasn’t born with an obvious, outward superpower. He is honest and true, always willing to do the right thing despite difficult circumstances. He also shows kids it’s good to have big dreams and work hard to achieve them, no matter how impossible they may seem.
Another valuable part is how multi-faceted the characters in this book are. Each character has multiple sides — even the bullies have another side to them that humanizes them. Teens can almost certainly find relatable aspects in many different characters in My Hero Academia.
So, should my kid read it?
We suggest My Hero Academia for ages 13 and up, given some of the more adult themes and instances of violence throughout the comic.
