Where Quirks Come From in My Hero Academia, Explained (2024)

My Hero Academia is a rare example of a world where superpowers are common. But how did the series' abilities, called Quirks, come to be in the first place? While there's no one straight answer to that question, the manga has provided some possible explanations which vary quite a bit.

Officially, in My Hero Academia's history, the first person to be born with a Quirk was the "Luminescent Baby," a child born in China who glowed with radiant light. However, chapters of the manga's Final War have revealed that at least one person had a Quirk before that: All for One's mother. A sex worker who was pregnant and down on her luck, the woman exhibited the first signs of the Quirk Spearlike Bones, which manifested as hardened growths on her skin. She wasn't aware of Quirks, however, and likely wasn't the only one exhibiting signs by that point.

Where Do Quirks Come From?

In-universe, the origin of Quirks is unknown and disputed. One popular theory is that it is simply the next step of human evolution; this belief led to the rise of supremacy groups, both for and against Quirks, which were originally known as "Meta Abilities." Another theory, mentioned by Overhaul in chapter 158, is that the development of Quirks was due to a disease spread by mice and rats, which infected humans. This theory aligned well with Overhaul's personal beliefs about Quirks, but neither theory actually has much evidence to support it, leaving the answer a mystery.

These theories caused massive civil unrest, especially as some people began manifesting Quirks later in life. This led to a collapse of societal norms and a period of total anarchy which All for One was able to take advantage of using his own Quirk, taking powers from some and giving them to others. Through this, he built up an army of loyal followers who ushered in a dark age, where All for One's power was nearly unchecked. Resistance groups, led by people like the Second and Third Users of One for All, fought against All for One to restore peace.

The term "Quirk" arose when one woman, known as the "Mother of Quirks," took a stand in defense of her child, stating that his Meta Ability was "Just a Quirk of his," which helped popularize the term. As the situation settled down and society returned to normal (or as close as possible), Quirks became regulated by the government, and using them publicly was considered illegal. This led to groups like the Meta Liberation Army forming, who felt they should be allowed to use Quirks whenever they wished, and the establishment of professional heroes, who could deal with illegal Quirk users.

By the time in which the series is set, there have been decades of peace (largely thanks to All Might), and the sight of Quirk-wielding superheroes has become almost ordinary. It's established early in the series that by Midoriya's time, over 80% of the world's population has a Quirk, with very few Quirkless humans left. Some fear that Quirks growing stronger over generations could lead to a Quirk Singularity, where Quirks become too powerful for society to continue. Whether this doomsday theory is true plays a core role in My Hero Academia's story, leaving the future of Quirks uncertain.

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My Hero Academia (2016)

Action

Superhero

Animation

In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the "One-For-All" quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.

Cast

Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamash*ta

Release Date

April 3, 2016

Seasons

5

Website

https://www.funimation.com/shows/my-hero-academia/

Franchise

My Hero Academia

Production Company

Bones

Number of Episodes

113

See Also

25 Strongest Quirks In My Hero Academia (Ranked) – FandomSpot