My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi admits the character he likes best is not the immensely popular Deku, but rather Deku's mentor All Might.

Kohei Horikoshi, creator of the popular manga series My Hero Academia recently admitted that the most important character of the story to him is the former No. 1 Pro Hero, All Might. However, his choice is not based on any particular aspect of the plot, but rather due to the hero's ability to connect to and keep the manga's fanbase.

Horikoshi's choice of All Might might seem surprising, especially considering the popularity of fan favorite, and manga lead protagonist Izuki "Deku" Midoriya, or his chief rival Katsuki Bakugo. Indeed, with the story centering on the adventures of Class 1-A as they attempt to become Pro Heroes, All Might plays a decidedly secondary role. Even among the teachers of U.A. High, All Might consistently ranks behind Eraser Head and Present Mic in popularity with fans.

To Horikoshi, it is not the character's backstory, motivations, relationships, or mental and moral qualities that have endeared All Might to him. Rather, it is his universal appeal and ability to hold the readers' attention. Horikoshi admitted his preference for All Might in a comment he made that was posted in the playbill of a recent showing of My Hero Academia: The "Ultra" Stage, the new live-action limited run stage play currently showing in several cities in Japan. According to a translation of the playbill, as shared by Youtuber AsarathaHS, Horikoshi discusses how up until the Summer Training Camp story arc, which ran between chapters 70 and 83, the manga was progressing rather nicely in terms of its popularity. However, once he revealed that in the following story arc he was planning on introducing a new set of villains, the manga's popularity plummeted.

Horikoshi says he was not really sure what to, but that he was convinced going ahead with his original plan ruin his manga. So he decided to focus on "the next great battle," which was the final battle between All Might and All for One. Horikoshi believed by focusing the story on All Might, "everything" would be alright. The fans would return, and the manga would survive. Ultimately, Horikoshi's instincts proved accurate. He says the All Might story was "in sync with the readers' hearts." As a result, the manga regained its "groove," and according to recent popularity ratings, it has never failed in attracting and retaining readers again. According to Horikoshi, this is due to All Might's ability to connect with the manga's fandom and keep them interested. "Without All Might," Horikoshi says, "I do not think the My Hero Academia manga would have come to be loved by everyone for so long."

All Might's ability to carry the My Hero Academia story for more than a year allowed Horikoshi to regroup and rethink his plan for the manga in a more reader-friendly manner. Additionally, his capacity to connect with fans and not only get them interested but also get them excited for what's to come has endeared him to the manga creator like no other character. To be sure, Kohei Horikoshi's choice of All Might as the best character in My Hero Academia speaks to his true status as the One for All hero.

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Source: AsarathaHS