The previous chapter of My Hero Academia was a shorter one than normal. Even with the shorter page count Kohei Horikoshi continued the fight between All Might and All For One to get to that next level of intensity. As their fight has gone on All Might appears to be running out of tools to use while All For One is regressing to have more power. However for All For One that is not a good thing as his own time limit is running out with the more time he spends fighting All Might. With this battle of long-time rivals continuing will we see it come to an end? Let’s find out with My Hero Academia Chapter 398.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Artist: Kohei Horikoshi
SYNOPSIS
Closing the distance As All Might hits All For One with SuperAcid Injection: Pinky move which forces the rewind effect on All For One to accelerate.
In a flashback, a young Toshinori Yagi asks Nana Shimura to take him on as her protege, but she refuses. Toshinori reveals that his family was killed a while ago, and Nana says hers was too. Toshinori goes on to state he can’t accept a world those who take from others come out on top and continue the cycle of hatred.
When Nana asks Toshinori what his solution is. With a destroyed city in the background, Toshinori states he wants to become the Symbol of Peace that the world needs because a Quirkless guy like him has no other role to fill.
Back in the present, All For One smashes All Might through several buildings.
At the Counter-Force HQ Naomasa Tsukauchi notices that while All For One is close to U.A. High School he has veered off course to pursue All Might.
A heavily injured All Might notices that the SuperAcid Injection: Pinky and all his other attacks have caused damage to All For One to the point the rewind effect is speeding up to heal All For One. Laughing loudly All Might orders his Hercules vehicle to activate Thrusters: Uravity and Ingenium at Full Throttle.
As he thinks about how enjoyable it is to be of service to others All Might and Izuku Midoriya strike All For One and Tomura Shigaraki, respectively in their battlefields, at the same time. End of chapter.
REVIEW
Back with a normal full chapter, we see Kohei Horikoshi expand on the first meeting between Toshinori Yagi and Nana Shimura to give more dramatic weight to the fight with All For One. That is all accomplished and then some as we got an even better idea of the impact All Might has had in the world.
The biggest standout of My Hero Academia Chapter 398 had nothing to do with what was said or any attacks. Rather, the biggest standout was the background we see in the flashback scene to Toshinori Yagi and Nana Shimura’s first meeting. We’ve heard and seen brief flashes of what it was like before the All Might several decades ago as the Symbol of Peace.
Seeing the destroyed city in the background really got over how before All Might the world was truly in chaos, eerily similar to how it is right now. This highlights how important it was for All Might to carry the title of Symbol of Peace. It wasn’t simply about being the #1 Pro Hero. It was so much more for that as All Might truly represents hope for a better tomorrow that broke the cycle of fear and hatred. While it was not perfect, as seen with the origins of Shigaraki, Dabi, and the League of Villains, All Might accomplished a lot to achieve his dream.
It all further drives home how important superheroes like All Might and Superman are as they aren’t simply defined by being the strongest heroes. It’s so much more than that as the world during All Might’s Symbol of Peace era was one where the world was able to progress. That did come with the double edge sword as we are seeing now with the hole All Might left isn’t an easy one to fill. This all further elevates how it is important that with the next generation in Izuku Midoriya’s class are showing they can carry that legacy together rather than leaving it to one person.
Adding to the standout that was the flashback was how Horikoshi continues to utilize elements from DC Comics and Marvel heroes as part of certain characters’ origins. We knew All Might had a lot of Superman elements to his character but My Hero Academia Chapter 398 we learn that his origin is more similar to Batman’s. Because Toshinori at some point in his childhood lost his parents. While it’s not said to be because of a villain attack that is the implication. Having a similar origin along with pure belief in everything he was saying being what convinced Nana to take Toshinori as her protégé made this entire flashback memorable.
This flashback did an excellent job of giving greater depth to the All Might vs. All For One fight. The touch of All For One deviating from his path to get to U.A. High School in order to kill All Might spoke to the villain’s obsession with the Symbol of Peace. This spoke to how All Might “never back down” attitude has gotten to All For One. Because of that All For One has a deep down need to make sure All Might is gone for good.
All Might utilizing this aspect of All For One shows how he was a hero who didn’t simply rely on his powers or devices. Everything about the armor All Might is using is with foresight in how he would battle All For One. That is turning out to work as all the damage All Might has caused is exhausting the time All For One has so now the rewind effect is working overtime on All For One’s body. This all creates greater interest to see how Horikoshi resolves the All Might vs. All For One fight and what it will mean for Izuku Midoriya vs. Tomura Shigaraki.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My Hero Academia Chapter 398 did an excellent job of telling Toshinori Yagi’s origin and elevating the All Might vs. All For One battle to another level. The sense of urgency has been increased and it will be exciting to find out how this particular part in The Final War arc ends.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10