My Hero Academia Watch Guide!

 

With My Hero Academia S4 on the horizon, some of the people who have somehow held out against your friends telling you that you needed to watch it for this long may be wondering...is it still possible to get into this weird Japanese superhero show? I'm here to tell you that it is! Here's some basic info on the show, along with arc-by-arc instructions for what to read and what to skip!

Length: 243 chapters/23 volumes/ 3 seasons (S4 coming in October 2019)

 

Watch it: Crunchyroll (sub)/Funimation (dub)

 

Read it: Shounen Jump App (New chapters free, backreading w/ subscription), MangaPlus (new chapters free), your local library

Warnings: rampant child endangerment, bullying, abuse, medical procedures, body horror, minor gore, fantasy prejudice, mental health issues, trauma, depiction of mental illness, mostly offscreen torture, and very lightly implied offscreen rape

Reading Guide

 

Entrance Exam Arc

 

Ch. 1-4/ Eps 1-4

 

Izuku acquires a mentor and some superpowers, and thereby attempts to get into hero school.

 

Unlike some other anime I've watched (*cough* Detective Conan *cough*), you actually need to watch the first few episodes of this show for it to make sense.
 

 

 

 

Quirk Apprehension Test Arc

 

Ch. 5-7/Ep 5

 

Izuku meets his classmates and tries to avoid expulsion from hero school.

 

If for no other reason, read this so you have some idea of who the other characters besides Izuku, All Might, and Bakugou are.
 

 

 

 

Mock Battle Arc

 

Ch 8-11/Eps 6-9

 

We learn about the class’s powers, All Might demonstrates his (lack of) teaching skills, and Izuku fights his childhood bully

 

Again, you’re gonna be confused later if you skip this. Also, it’s just frankly a good arc. (note: in the manga, ch. 12, which involves Iida getting elected class president, is arguably skippable. In the anime, it’s the first half of the first episode of the USJ arc)

 

 

USJ Arc

 

Ch. 13-21/Eps 10-13

 

The class takes a field trip, which is promptly crashed by villains.

 

I really doubt you’re going to want to skip anything once this arc starts, but no, nothing in this is particularly skippable. It’s a short arc, but it’s crucial to establishing the villains and their relationships with the protagonists.
 

 

 

 

Sports Festival Arc

 

Ch. 22-44/Ep 14-25

 

There’s a sports festival, only superpowers are allowed and the author uses it primarily as a vehicle for character development

 

This is the best tournament I’ve ever read in a shounen series. But if you’re not feeling up to that many fight scenes, read Ch. 33, 34, and 36-44, or watch eps 19-25 to cut out some of the fights that are less important to the central plotline.
 

 

 

 

Hosu Arc/Hero Killer Stain Arc

 

Ch. 45-58/Ep 26-31

 

Everyone gets weeklong internships and Izuku gets to learn more about his powers! Also, there’s a serial killer out murdering heroes who don’t conform to his ideas of justice. Surely, our heroes wouldn’t---nope, there they go.

 

This arc is also high-quality. Both Izuku’s internship and later violent encounters are well worth your time.
 

 

 

 

(Anime Ep 32 is an anime-original and can be skipped)

 

 

 

Final Exam Arc

 

Ch. 59-67/Eps. 33-37

 

At UA, final exams involve fighting the teachers, because of course they do.

 

Ch. 59/Ep33 is an important lore drop, but the rest of the arc is mostly character development. The most interesting fight is the one involving Izuku, which occurs in Ch. 61-62/Ep 37. It’s also the one that’s most worth watching/reading for continuity’s sake.
 

 

 

 

Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall Incident

 

Ch. 68-69/Ep 38

 

Izuku and his friends can’t even go to the mall in peace.

 

It’s not technically an arc by itself but doesn’t fit cleanly with either the previous or following arc, either. This is important for character development and establishing series themes. It’s worth watching.
 

 

 

 

(Ep 39 is a recap episode and can be skipped)

 

 

 

Training Camp Arc

 

Ch. 70-82/Ep 40-44

 

Izuku’s class goes to a training camp in the mountains, which is supposed to be remote and secure and safe from villain attacks. It’s not.

 

Even though the pace of this arc drags a bit sometimes near the beginning, even the slow parts are giving you some information you’ll need later on. Worth it. Read this arc and the next one together unless you really like cliffhangers.
 

 

 

 

[Spolier] Rescue Arc/Kamino Ward Battle

 

Ch. 83-95/Ep. 45-50

 

Izuku and friends wrestle with the idea of mounting an illegal effort to rescue [spoiler] as All Might confronts an old enemy.

 

Absolutely worth watching/reading in full; if you enjoy this series, I really doubt there will be much you’ll want to skip.
 

 

 

 

Licensing Exam Arc

 

Ch. 96-114/Ep. 51-61

 

UA responds to mounting security concerns by building an on-campus dorm and giving the kids the chance to get their heroism learner’s permits early. This can’t possibly end badly.

 

You can skip big chunks of this if you want: I recommend watching eps 51, 57, 59, and 60-61 or reading ch. 96-98, 109-114, and 117-119 if you want to get through this arc quickly but still catch the highlights.
 

 

 

 

Eight Precepts Arc/Hideout Raid Arc

 

Ch.120-161/ Ep. 62-??

 

Izuku gets an internship. Too bad his boss hates him and there’s a villain teamup in the works.

 

This arc is likely going to be adapted in full in the next season of the show, which hasn’t been released yet. It’s a really engaging, fast-paced arc with neat concepts and good execution that I think is worth reading.
 

 

 

 

License Training Arc

 

Ch. 163-167

 

A bunch of cooldown chapters in which characters who are terrible with kids are forced to interact with kids.

 

Good character development if you enjoy the characters in question, otherwise you can skip this.
 

 

 

 

School Festival Arc

 

Ch. 168-183

 

UA has a school festival. Predictably, there’s a villain attack—though for once, it’s not the League of Villains!

 

Honestly, most of this arc is skippable. I’d recommend reading just 173-174 and 182-183.
 

 

 

Pro Hero Arc

 

Ch. 184-192

 

The narrative focus shifts to the current top pro heroes. Endeavor is briefly something approaching sympathetic, kind of, possibly.

 

Introduces interesting new characters! Worth actually reading, despite all the Endeavor, I promise!
 

 

 

 

Joint Training Arc

 

Ch. 193-217

 

Class 1-A, Class 1-B, and another character from a previous arc face off in a tournament. Izuku and his friends realize that practical experience isn’t everything.

 

This arc was sometimes fun, but it dragged at other times. The most important chapters are 193, 195-197, and 209-217--feel free to skip the rest if you aren’t as into the side characters
 

 

 

 

Meta Liberation Army Arc

 

Ch. 218-240

 

A bunch of Magneto wannabes decide to fight the League of Villains.

 

Very focused on the villains, with lots of lore and worldbuilding--I honestly can’t say whether it’s skippable yet.
 

 

 

Newest Arc (no accepted term yet, but probably something involving ‘internship’)

 

Ch. 241-???

 

Class 1-A’s three biggest problem children go intern at the Endeavor Hero Agency while the villain situation escalates.