My Hero Academia 425 is the Most Lighthearted Chapter in a Long Time (2024)

For almost two years, the My Hero Academia manga focused on the series’ final conflict. Specifically, the inevitable clash between One For All and All For One that would decide the future of all hero society moving forward. Following the war’s conclusion, the shōnen sensation finally has the opportunity to focus on a peaceful post-war society, and Chapter 425 is a long overdue return to wholesome form for the series. As such, “Unseasonable” is My Hero Academia's first lighthearted chapter in ages.

One of the things that set My Hero Academia apart from the multitude of superhero-inspired media was its focus on an academic setting to train aspiring heroes. Considering how skillfully mangaka Horikoshi Kohei wove normal school activities into an increasingly convoluted plot of superheroes and supervillains, it seems almost expected that a graduation would form part of the series’ closing chapters. “Unseasonable” may signal the return of My Hero Academia's livelier days, but the chapter remains grounded enough to celebrate the war’s passing without making light of the very real villain threats that still persist.

My Hero Academia Chapter 425 Put Reconstruction Into Perspective

How Heroes Behave In Times of Peace Sets the Tone For Everyone Else

As a change of pace, Chapter 425’s events are an undeniable celebration. Officially, the entire UA school body is gathered for the third year students’ graduation ceremony, but the reprieve it provides from the somber tones of the last couple of chapters position it more as a celebration of the fact that the final war is over and that they survived. In UA, at least, everything seems to have gone back to normal. Present Mic is. naturally. the master of ceremonies, conducting the graduation with his trademark boisterous commentary -- complete with a rave set-up. The students are shown at ease, and chatting excitedly with each other. Without any context, this scene could easily be mistaken for one that occurred before the chaos of the Paranormal Liberation War.

Previously, Chapter 424 “Epilogue” explained that the presence of so many international heroes in Japan was the reason the rebuilding effort was happening so quickly. However, “Unseasonable” provides context on why they were deployed en masse. As it turns out, Principal Nezu tapped into his extensive network to convince other nations to deploy prompt foreign aid and resources. His work extended far beyond UA, as he was shown to be a leading contributor to theories of Quirk morality and is a figure of international renown. As a special gift to his students, a portion of this aid was dedicated to restoring UA itself to full functionality. Although their graduation period was long past and even if there were admittedly more pressing matters, hosting one anyway for the third year batch was Principal Nezu’s way of contributing to the sense of normalcy the heroes are intent on restoring to all of Japan.

Any graduation would be remiss without an address from a student in the graduating class, and UA’s third years found their representative in Mirio Togata. Mirio’s speech highlighted the hard work he and his classmates had put into restoring the peace, but acknowledged that their job wasn’t over yet. According to Mirio, they have currently only accomplished pulling society from the brink and putting it back to Square Zero. To bring about true peace, he and his classmates needed to create a positive world where people could live their lives cheerfully. Mirio’s speech had the twofold effect of inspiring his classmates with his ambitious call to action and clueing readers in to what My Hero Academia's final phase will entail. So far, the heroes undid the immediate damage the villains caused. To make truly significant steps forward, they need to build a healthier society.

Class 2-A Looks To The Future In My Hero Academia Chapter 425

Yuga Aoyama Says Goodbye as a Surprising Newcomer Takes His Place

In keeping with the end of year ceremony theme that pervades Chapter 425, Class 1-A is officially promoted to the next grade. While their first year was fraught with more danger and growth than most students normally face in their three years at UA, the mostly ceremonial transition to Class 2-A has the fan-favorite characters incredibly excited to go back to class. Seeing the students back in their classroom setting and in their assigned seats is quite nostalgic. This was made all the better with the revelation that Aizawa Shoto (also known as Eraserhead) would be staying on as their homeroom teacher for the next year.

While most of “Unseasonable” focuses on happier moments ahead of its core characters, My Hero Academia continues to prove its commitment to establishing tangible consequences for the participants of the last arc. Many fans and Class 2-A took Aoyama's return to UA for granted, but in Chapter 425, the now reformed UA traitor revealed an incredibly moving plan for his personal redemption. Aoyama revealed that he would be dropping out of UA since his enrollment had always been tainted by his affiliation with All For One. Like the rest of his former classmates, Aoyama still desired to be a hero. However, he made this incredibly difficult decision so he could atone for his past while forging a path he could look back on with complete pride. Any less and he would never be comfortable rubbing shoulders with his classmates in the future.

The goodbyes he shared were emotional, but the blow of Aoyama leaving was softened when the moment that many fans had been waiting for since the Joint Training Arc came to fruition. Having completed all the necessary checks and earned his Provisional Hero License, there were no longer any restrictions preventing Hitoshi Shinso from joining the top hero course. His inclusion brings Class 2-A back to around 20 students, and Shinso already seems to be integrating well with his new classmates. Even the potentially awkward confrontation of Shinso supplanting Aoyama is handled in humorous fashion, with Aoyama impatiently changing the subject back to his farewell party while his classmates fawned over Shinso.

My Hero Academia Chapter 425 Teases New Threats & Potential Reunions

The Manga Has a Bit More Action Just Before It Ends

“Unseasonable” made sure to acknowledge the work still ahead of the heroes with more than just Mirio's words. The additional responsibility that comes with their second year and the unique circ*mstances of their promotion all but guarantees the newly minted Class 2-A will have a busy year indeed. From the new third year class, Mawata Fuwa returned to orient 2-A in their new responsibilities which, apart from harder classes, would include participation in the restoration efforts. Following that, 2-A would join nationwide patrols to maintain the peace.

Mawata’s announcement brought some gravity back to the chapter and Class 2-A’s gathering. When her announcements were finished, Shoto Todoroki reiterated the importance of their new campaign with the observation that they were living in a volatile time. The uneasy peace they had restored was eerily similar to the time period in which All For One first began his slow grabs at power. As if to confirm Shoto’s premonition, the chapter’s closing pages included a strange figure struggling to hold back tears as they walked barefoot in an unnamed part of Japan that hadn’t been rebuilt yet. This strange new character may simply be one of the beaten down citizens the heroes were supposed to inspire or someone much worse. It's not unjustified to suspect that they're a shell-shocked villain walking through the ruins of their failed crusade. Even now, a new breed of villain that Class 2-A might have to contend with before the series ends may be stirring.

That said, the unidentified threat in the street is the least of Shoto’s concerns. Chapter 425’s final bombshell reveal was that Dabi survived the final war.The eldest Todoroki brother was shown recovering in a secure facility under Endeavor’s watchful eye, proving that the family’s shared character arc still isn’t over. Despite his brother’s crimes, Shoto still held onto the slim hope of Dabi’s reformation. Dabi's survival presents a golden opportunity to realize the family he never had in one way or another. The initial assumption that Dabi’s "death" resolved all the Todoroki family’s troubles was not only an unsatisfying end to one of the series' best storylines, but it was also repetitive. A similar fate befell almost the entire League of Villains. Worse, it would've been the easy way out for Dabi's monstrous father, Endeavor, because the embodiment of all his transgressions conveniently passed away. With Dabi’s survival confirmed, Endeavor may finally be able to atone for all the pain and tragedy he caused Toya, and the Todorokis may finally get the proper closure they need before the series' end.

My Hero Academia Chapter 425, "Unseasonable," is now available to read in Viz Media.

My Hero Academia Chapter 425, "Unseasonable"

8/ 10

In Chapter 425, Class 1-A officially graduates to their second year, and welcomes a new member to help them shoulder their new responsibilities.

Author

Kōhei Horikoshi

Artist

Kōhei Horikoshi

Genre

Adventure , Science Fiction , Fantasy , superheroes

Publisher

Shueisha, Viz Media

Pros

• "Unseasonable" is My Hero Academia's first lighthearted chapter in a long while
• The third year's graduation acknowledges the series' academic setting while celebrating the milestone of winning the final war
• Class 2-A's dynamic is altered, with interesting futures teased for the interchanged characters

Cons

• "Unseasonable" recounts a lot of information already delivered in Chapter 424 "Epilogue"
• The exact nature of Class 2-A's new responsibilities are still vague.
• There is little conversation of substance between characters with unresolved arcs like Deku and Uraraka.