My Hero Academiahas built its reputation not just on explosive battles and flashy Quirks, but also on layered characters, both heroes and villains alike. While some antagonists serve purely as obstacles, many are richly developed, with tragic backstories and emotional depth that elevate them beyond “evil for evil’s sake.” Yet, despite the series’ skill at humanizing its rogues’ gallery, one of its most intriguing villains was sidelined and ultimately reduced to a plot device, and that was Kurogiri.
From the moment he was introduced,Kurogiri stood out as a different kind of villain who was mysterious, composed, and strangely nurturing in a world of chaos.Fans expected his story to evolve into something unique within theMy Hero Academiauniverse. Instead, his arc was hijacked by a late-game twist, turning him into a shadow of the compelling figure he could have been. In doing so, the series denied him the nuanced ending he deserved.
The Gentleman Villain Who Stood Apart in My Hero Academia
When Kurogirifirst appeared as part of the League of Villains, he felt unlike any antagonist the show had introduced. Calm and soft-spoken, he was the measured counterpart to volatile figures like Tomura Shigaraki and Muscular. His Warp Gate Quirk wasn’t inherently violent, and he often used it for non-lethal purposes, chiefly protecting allies and defusing in-fighting within the League.
Kurogiri embodied a sort of “villainous caretaker,” a role rarely explored in shōnen storytelling.
This protective streak made him an essential stabilizer in a group otherwise driven by destruction and impulse. Whether preventing Dabi and Toga from clashing or whisking allies to safety, Kurogiri demonstrated loyalty without cruelty. Kurogiri embodied a sort of “villainous caretaker,” a role rarely explored in shōnen storytelling. In those early seasons, his arc promised something fresh in the form of a villain who could be dangerous without being monstrous.
Kurogiri’s demeanor also carried thematic weight. His gentlemanly calm contrasted sharply with the League’s chaos, mirroring how his Warp Gate could create order from disorder, literally opening paths where none existed. It seemed the perfect setup for a storyline that would explore how villains can form genuine bonds and care for one another, even in a life defined by crime. Unfortunately, this potential was derailed by a jarring narrative shift.
The Shirakumo Twist That Derailed Everything
The reveal that Kurogiri was actually Oboro Shirakumo, a deceased classmate of Eraser Head and Present Mic, had the potential to be a deeply emotional turn. The idea of a promising hero transformed into a Nomu is ripe for tragedy. But instead of deepening Kurogiri’s character, the twist overrode it.
Once Shirakumo entered the picture,Kurogiri’s identity was no longer his own. His story became an extension of Eraser Head and Present Mic’s shared past, rather than a continuation of the arc he had been building since season one. Instead of expanding on Kurogiri’s nurturing role within the League, the narrative focused almost exclusively on whether his former self could be “brought back.”
Worse still, the timing of this reveal clashed with other major plotlines, like Dabi’s long-awaited backstory, Tomura’s transformation, Endeavor’s redemption arc, and Dark Deku’s emergence. The Shirakumo subplot felt squeezed in, distracting from both the larger narrative and Kurogiri’s original trajectory. What could have been a self-contained emotional arc turned into an awkward detour.
The Missed Opportunity for a Unique Villain Arc in My Hero Academia
Had Kurogiri’s story remained focused on his role as a protector,My Hero Academiacould have explored villainy in a new light. Few antagonists are shown providing genuine support to their comrades, and Kurogiri was perfectly positioned to challenge assumptions about the League’s dynamics. His loyalty to Shigaraki could have been examined not as blind obedience, but as a sincere, if misguided, desire to see him thrive.
This alternative path could have paralleled arcs like Twice’s, where emotional vulnerability made a villain unforgettable. Kurogiri could have been the moral anchor of the League, creating quiet, poignant moments amidst the chaos of the final war. Instead, once the Shirakumo reveal took center stage, Kurogiri’s identity blurred into someone else’s tragedy. His own perspective, motivations, and feelings were left largely unexplored.
The Nomu element didn’t have to be scrapped entirely, it simply didn’t need to be tied to Kurogiri. Shirakumo’s tragic fate could have been told through a separate Nomu character in a short, powerful side arc. That way, Eraser Head and Present Mic could still confront their shared grief, while Kurogiri’s original characterization remained intact.
Kurogiri was Reduced to a Plot Device
The final blow to Kurogiri’s character cameduring the heroes’ war against the Paranormal Liberation Front. Captured and contained, he was primarily used for his Warp Gate Quirk to facilitate the heroes’ strategy. While practical from a plot standpoint, this stripped him of agency and reduced him to a means to an end.
There were fleeting nods to his bond with Shigaraki, but they were underdeveloped. A more focused arc could have shown Kurogiri grappling with conflicting loyalties, like his care for Shigaraki versus the reality of the League’s self-destructive path. This would have made his role in the war emotionally resonant, allowing for a farewell scene worthy of his earlier complexity.
By sidelining Kurogiri’s personal story,My Hero Academiamissed the chance to give him the kind of bittersweet sendoff afforded to characters like Twice.
By sidelining Kurogiri’s personal story,My Hero Academiamissed the chance to give him the kind of bittersweet sendoff afforded to characters like Twice. Instead of a memorable emotional climax, his arc fizzled out, leaving fans with the sense that his best moments were left on the table.
