My Hero Academia: The Shocking Alternate Ending Officially Revealed by Kohei Horikoshi

The finale of Kohei Horikoshi’s epic manga, My Hero Academia, has left a lasting impression on fans, concluding the long journey of Izuku Midoriya and his classmates in the Final War Arc. While the ending we received was a powerful, if somewhat controversial, culmination of the series’ themes, the creator has now officially revealed an alternate ending he had originally planned. This revelation, shared at a recent art exhibition, has provided a fascinating glimpse into a different path the story could have taken, one that would have fundamentally changed the fate of Izuku Midoriya and the entire Class 1-A. This article will delve into the details of this scrapped finale and why Horikoshi ultimately chose the ending we have today.

The Original Plan: A Quirkless Teacher

During the “My Hero Academia Exhibition,” creator Kohei Horikoshi was asked about the famous line that opens the series, “This is the story of how I became the greatest hero,” and how it evolved into the final chapter’s more collaborative message, “This is the story of how we all continue to reach a hand out to others together.” Horikoshi’s response was a stunning confirmation of a major change in his original plan. He revealed that his initial intention was for Izuku Midoriya to lose the One For All Quirk for good and become a teacher. In this version, Izuku would have used up his powers entirely during the final battle against All For One and Tomura Shigaraki. The final panel of the manga would have shown him as a teacher, confidently telling a new generation of students, “You can be a hero!”

This ending would have brought Izuku’s journey full circle, returning him to his original, quirkless state. He would not have received the armored suit that allows him to continue as a Pro Hero in the official ending. Instead, his heroism would have been defined by his ability to inspire others, a powerful message in its own right. However, this version would have completely abandoned the action-oriented conclusion of Izuku’s story, a stark contrast to the epic final battles we saw.

Why the Ending Was Changed

Horikoshi explained that the reason he changed the ending was because the story had grown beyond being just about Izuku and the One For All Quirk. As the series progressed, the focus shifted to the collective efforts of Class 1-A and the broader theme of what it means to be a hero in a society losing faith in them. The narrative had evolved to be a story about “we” rather than “I.” The final arc, with its emphasis on teamwork and every character contributing to the victory, proved that the ultimate hero was not just one individual, but a unified force of kindness and resilience. The final monologue of Chapter 430, “This is the story of how we all continue to reach a hand out to others together,” reflects this profound shift in the story’s core message. The canonical ending, where Izuku continues to be a hero with his friends, embodies this collective spirit.

Another major reason for the change was the development of other characters. In the original plan, the side characters, especially those in Class 1-A, would have been far less relevant in the finale. The new, official ending, however, gives every major character a moment to shine and contribute to the defeat of All For One and the redemption of Tomura Shigaraki. This includes the major roles played by characters like Bakugo, Ochaco, and Shoto, whose arcs are crucial to the final victory. The ending we received provided a far more satisfying conclusion for the ensemble cast, making their struggles and growth feel more meaningful.

The Impact of the Reveal

This official revelation provides immense insight into the creative process of one of the most popular manga of our time. It confirms that the more controversial aspects of the final arc, such as the fate of One For All and the resolution of Izuku’s character arc, were not the result of a rushed decision, but a conscious choice to tell a different, more encompassing story. The fact that the official ending allows Izuku to continue being a hero with the help of his friends and technology adds a layer of hope that the original, more somber ending would have lacked.

For fans, this news is a treasure trove of new information. It not only sheds light on the path not taken but also validates the rich character development that made the final arc so impactful. The official ending, with its focus on collective heroism and the enduring bonds of friendship, ultimately provides a more optimistic and complete conclusion to the saga of Izuku Midoriya and the world of heroes. It is a testament to Horikoshi’s dedication to his characters and his story that he was willing to abandon his original plan for a more powerful and resonant finale.