Do we like them?

Do we like Izuku Midoriya (Deku)?

A character from My Hero Academia (2014–2024)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's brave, kind and works obsessively hard. He runs toward people in trouble before he's thought about the cost to himself.

Izuku Midoriya grows up in a world where most people have superpowers, called Quirks, and he has none. He still wants to be a hero like his idol, All Might, the greatest hero of all. Small, nervous and often bullied, he is known for filling notebooks with analysis of other heroes' powers.

His defining trait is that he acts when others freeze. He is empathetic, rarely holds a grudge, and tries to understand people, including rivals and enemies, before he judges them. He is also prone to crying, muttering and overthinking. These flaws make him easy to root for.

We give him a 9. He isn't perfect: he can be reckless and sometimes tries to carry everything alone. But the series is built on his sincerity, his growth and his effect on the people around him. If you're picking someone to follow into a fight, he's an easy choice.