All Might also known as the Symbol of Peace is a Pro Hero who also happens to be the eighth holder of the One For All Quirk. He inherited his powers from Nana Shimura and saved humanity from the villains many times throughout his illustrious career. When it was finally time to hang the boots, he chose a quirkless boy named Izuku Midoriya as his successor and slowly took a backseat as his days as No. 1 Pro Hero slowly came to an end.

All Might's heroic battles against forces of evil captured the imagination of anime fans worldwide and despite his retirement, All Might continues to play a critical role in the fight between good and evil. Here's how the Symbol of Peace has evolved since he debuted in My Hero Academia.

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Gradual Downfall As the Symbol of Peace

Once Considered Humanity's Greatest Hope Against Villains, the Number One Hero Slowly Embraces His Retirement

Izuku Midoriya despite being born quirkless has always dreamt of becoming a hero. Despite the obvious hurdle in his path that may have dissuaded others, he remains hopeful and looks up to All Might also known as Toshinori Yagi for inspiration. By the time he meets his idol the No. 1 Pro Hero, the latter had already sustained a serious injury that has significantly drained his powers. Toshinori Yagi has become a shell of his former self but remained dedicated to his lifelong goal of safeguarding humanity from the villains. Due to his wound, All Might could only utilize his powers for only a short time every day.

As mentioned earlier, Toshinori had inherited the One for All quirk from Nana Shimura becoming its eighth holder. Once his body was no longer the ideal vessel for the One for All due to his injuries, All Might understood that his time was limited. This dilemma laid the foundation for his gradual evolution from the Symbol of Peace to the mentor of the next generation. But before he could abdicate his No. 1 Pro Hero position, Toshinori understood that he needed to find his successor. Interestingly, All Might's search ended when he witnessed Izuku selflessly confronting a villain who had abducted his childhood frenemy Bakugo.

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Until this point in his career, All Might was solely dedicated to the cause of fighting against the villains. But after choosing Midoriya as his successor, he started dedicating more time and effort to becoming a mentor. Since Izuku was born quirkless and had never undergone rigorous physical training, his body was too weak to inherit One for All. With the U.A.'s Entrance Exam ten months away, Toshinori started conditioning Deku. Following a long and grueling training program that lasted for almost a year, All Might finally shared his quirk with his successor which marked the beginning of a new era.

While Toshinori Yagi quietly prepared to abdicate his position, only a trusted group of friends and allies were informed about the crucial decision. All Might also started teaching the Foundational Heroics Studies class at U.A. High. This was also an indication that the Symbol of Peace was slowly looking for a new role in the hero society. But since Toshinori was still in the transitionary period, he actively fought against villains.

In the Unforeseen Simulation Joint Arc, class 1-A students arrived at a training facility to work on their rescue skills ignorant of the evil forces at work. They were subsequently ambushed by the League of Villains who had planned to kill All Might. In the absence of the No. 1 Pro Hero, Eraser Head, and the students put up a valiant resistance against the villains. However, the tide of the battle only changed following All Might's arrival which forced the villains to retreat.

The U.S.J incident highlighted hero society's over-dependence on All Might. With the Symbol of Peace struggling to fight at his best due to his injuries, the void that he will leave behind became a concerning issue for his well-wishers who were aware of his retirement plans. However, the end of his reign as the No. 1 Pro Hero came in an unexpected fashion. In the Forest Training Camp Arc, the League of Villains kidnapped Bakugo. Under the watchful eyes of All Might, a rescue mission was planned by the heroes, which put Toshinori Yagi on a collision course with his arch-nemesis.

In the Hideout Raid Arc, the heroes initially overpowered the villains and managed to secure Bakugo. But things took an ominous turn as All for One made a surprising return. Naturally, All Might decided to confront his old enemy and the battle that ensued left a lasting impression on hero society. Although the Symbol of Peace comes out as the victor, he overexerts himself to the point that he realizes that he won't be able to fight again. At that moment as the cameras focused on Toshinori, he pointed his finger at Izuku and told him that it was his turn now.

All Might's Desperate Efforts to Support Heroes Against Villains

Despite His Decline As the Number One Hero, All Might Continues to Invest Himself in the Fight Against Good and Evil

All Might's ruthless fight with One for All in the Hideout Raid Arc marked the end of his professional career as a Pro Hero. The Hero Society soon realized that the Symbol of Peace would no longer be there for them. In the aftermath of the historic fight, Endeavor became the new No. 1 Pro Hero. But All Might's retirement also instilled a sense of insecurity in the Hero society that slowly transfused and evolved into something more sinister.

With the villains gaining more control and significantly increasing their efforts to achieve their wicked objectives, the trust in heroes continued to decline. It eventually came to a point where the collapse of the hero society seemed inevitable. In the meantime, All Might continue to uphold the struggle against evil. Soon after his battle with One for All, he had an important discussion with Izuku and he promised to dedicate himself to raising him.

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Toshinori kept his word and interjected himself more in the affairs at U.A. High so that he could be close to his successor and offer him his guidance at all times. All Might also felt somewhat helpless in his new role now that he cannot go out and fight like in the old days. Having dedicated his entire life to fighting the forces of evil on the frontlines, Toshinori's pain and desperation is understandable. However, his valuable insights related to One for All and offering people hope, continues to help Izuku in becoming a better version of himself.

All Might may have physically become just a shell of his former self but psychologically he is still dedicated to his lifelong goal. His character development is not only inspiring but an indispensable part of the show's narrative. Toshinori Yagi is the perfect example of what a hero should be like because as a role model encourages people to be honest with their principles even while facing the worst trials.

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My Hero Academia (2016)

Action

Superhero

Release Date

April 3, 2016

Studio

Bones

Creator

Kōhei Horikoshi

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu