The following content contains spoilers for Season 6, episode 13 ofMy Hero Academia,currently streaming onCrunchyroll.The worst-case scenario has come to fruition asGigantomachia has finally made itto Shigaraki’s side, carrying some stow-aways on his back, with plans of their own. While Himiko Toga goes after her beloved friends, Dabi has an eventful family reunion in mind and makes a beeline for his long-lost father, Endeavor. (Re)introducing himself as Toya Todoroki to the world, Dabi knocks the #1 Hero off his game while the Near-End Nomus join in the carnage virtually unencumbered.
Thankfully, Best Jeanist pops up out of nowhere and makes quick work of incapacitating many of the enemies, and just in time too, as the valiant forces are nearly depleted of capable fighters. Everyone’s heroic contributions to the Paranormal Liberation War seem to have taken their toll on the anticipated reign of tyranny, as the Villains are now struggling to keep their heads above water.
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Mr. Compress Escape Show
Despite their best efforts, the Villains' success story is slipping through their fingers while Mr. Compress and Spinner watch on helplessly in horror. Himiko Toga is still M.I.A., whileDabi is focused on his Todoroki family drama, and Shigaraki and Gigantomachia are catching up on their beauty sleep (whereas Skeptic is about as useless as a dry mop at this point.) The disappointment of their imminent failure is too much for Mr. Compress to bear, especially considering he hasn’t gotten the chance to share his Bandit King backstory yet. There is more to this masked Villain than his skills at “running away and tricking people,” and he is more than ready for his curtain call.
As the great-great-grandson of the infamous Peerless Thief, Mr. Compress (known back then as Atsuhiro) learned the ins and outs of the criminal code from a young age. His mentor was the master himself, Oji Haruma; a one-man army who questioned the Hero-celebrating society when it began its regime and targeted the money-hungry “saviors” that deserved to be punished for their fraudulent deeds. Like the Robin Hood of his time, the Bandit King blessed the needy with the spoils of war, all “earned” from robbing the richwannabe-Heroes. Although labeled as Villains,the Haruma family strives to expose injustice and set things right; a rather heroic mantra by anyone’s standards.
Saving Shigaraki
Mr. Compress can’t help but reflect on the League of Villains' troubling times when they could barely scrape together enough to feed themselves (after turning Overhaul’s offer down.) Essentially wandering around aimlessly just trying to survive, the members began butting heads in their cramped headquarters, leading Spinner to ask the crucial question: whatistheir goal? Regardless of their different dreams, Mr. Compress cannot deny thatthe League of Villainsis a family (albeit an unorthodox one), and he will do everything in his power to protect them!
Desperate to get Shigaraki back up and running, Mr. Compress decides to stall for time to give Spinner the chance to wake the Symbol of Fear, and “the greatest show on earth” subsequently commences. The masked wonder’s opening act begins with some flesh removal, as Mr Compress uses a marble to tear a chunk of his backside away, allowing him to maneuver out of Best Jeanist’s confines. He quickly snatches up his friends, ensuring to Compress Spinner and Shigaraki together andbringing Skeptic and Dabialong for the ride. He then dramatically removes his clothes so that Best Jeasnist has fewer toys to play with, and the rest of his disguise soon follows suit to reveal a handsome, blood-soaked visage beneath.
Deku’s Danger Detector
Amidst all the conflict, Deku’s Spider Senses keep on tingling, and the sensation is slowly draining the remaining reserves of his batteries and giving the injured Hero a severe headache in the process. Izuku suddenly realized that this must be one of One For All’s Quirks; the Fourth User’s Danger Sense. The niggling feeling of ominous doom is nothing compared to his current anxiety levels, which are all too focused on saving Shigaraki, who apparently has been tentatively welcomed into the folds of “innocent bystander” (to an extent.)
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The opposing prodigies connected on another level during theirotherworldly experience in Season 6 episode 10,leaving Izuku convinced he heard Shigaraki’s silent pleas for help, seeking freedom from All For One’s autocratic clutches. Even from a distance, One For All seems aware of his brother’s presence, and although Shigaraki cannot be forgiven for his past actions, justice doesn’t discriminate; according to Deku, the white-haired miscreant still deserves assistance.
All For One’s Authority
It appears that Mr. Compress had no intentions of surviving his own escape plan, as he faces Mirio head-on, barely blocking the Hero’s attack, showing more concern for his fellow League members' safety than his own (although, still upset that he didn’t get a chance to finish telling his epic story!) Thankfully, his diversion has paid off as Spinner finds a solution towaking Shigaraki from his slumberby taking a trip down memory lane (while the two other Villain-filled marbles catch a free ride in Spinner’s scarf.)
Reattaching one of Shigaraki’s hand accessories seems to do the trick and triggers something within the boy; however, the plan to awaken their leader is a bit too effective, as, to everyone’s surprise, it is not Tomura who resurfaces from within. Following a forceful blast of Radio Waves, All For One makes a grand entrance using the Symbol of Fear’s form, which he has commandeered thanks to Shigaraki’s hateful heart and the overwhelming resentment that consistently trickles through from his childhood.
All For One is unconcerned about his team’s well-being and wishes to immediately retreat from the chaos, without waiting for Machia’s revival or for Himiko to catch up. The Radio Waves emitted earlier were actually a signalcalling all remaining Nomusto Shigaraki’s side, and the black beasts have finally arrived to transport the remaining Villains (ie: Shigaraki and Spinner) away from harm’s reach. Best Jeanist, Nejire Hado, Iida, Mirio, and Shoto do their best to prevent the wicked reunion; even the practically paralyzed Deku finds a gap to land one last Blackwhip blow. However, they are thwarted by their foes, leaving all efforts are futile in the end.
Next Up: “Hellish Hell”
Each of the Heroes' Quirks have their limits; however, the love and adoration received from society help them to tap into that “Plus Ultra” power boost and solidify their resolve even further. All Might’s defeat knocked the wind out of many sails, however, Endeavor has done a relatively good job at lifting everyone’s spirits once again. Unfortunately, with Dabi’s big reveal thrown in amongst all the destruction scattered throughout Japan, it seems the citizens have lost the last shreds of hope intheir once beloved Heroes.Despite their selfless sacrifices, the Paranormal Liberation War survivors face the consequences of the Villains' actions as hate comments confront them from all sides of the newfound dystopian society.
The 2nd cours ofMy Hero Academia,Season 6 continues withCrunychroll’s2023 Winterlineupon 7 January.
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