My Hero Academia is set in a world full of superheroes and the villainous threats that they face. These superhumans have an array of incredible powers at their disposal, with their collective cadre of superpowers dramatically changing the world. Known as "Quirks," these abilities first came about long before the series began.
The first Quirk wasn't utilized by a superhero or a supervillain, though it did give rise to an entire world of each. Despite the somewhat humble beginnings of Quirks, the nature of such abilities paved the way for individuals such as Deku and All Might to come into prominence down the line. Here's a look at what the original Quirk in My Hero Academia was -- and how it changed the world forever.
The First Quirk Ever in My Hero Academia Was Used By a Baby
The user of the first Quirk within the world of My Hero Academia was a seemingly divine sign due to being a mere baby in swaddling clothes. The "Luminescent Baby" was the first person to ever be born with a Quirk, with the power manifesting via the infant child's skin shining like a light. This baby was born in Qing Qing, China, though not much else was initially known about the child beyond its strange power. There's debate as to when exactly the baby was born, but the next generation of Quirk-users came about afterward.
Obviously, the Luminescent Baby wasn't exactly out fighting crime with its powers, especially considering how non-offensive they were. However, these powers were an ironic harbinger of things to come, with several others developing Quirks afterward. For the most part, these weren't babies but far older individuals who developed Quirks. Even with the advent of such amazing and spectacular powers, things didn't immediately become the way they currently are in the franchise where superhumans are everyday occurrences with a clear societal hierarchy. The exact timeline for Quirks is never specified, though many believe they came to be at least 100 years or so before the series' events. In time, this meant that traditional forms of Quirkless law enforcement found themselves obsolete.
The Presence of Quirks Changed the World of My Hero Academia
As Quirks became more prevalent, criminals and villains began to abound. With their superhuman powers uncontested, these individuals were nearly unstoppable by law enforcement, taking advantage of their changes to profit themselves. This only furthered the growing anti-Quirk sentiment, with society generally unable to deal with the disruptive presence of Quirks. Thankfully, several finally used their own Quirks for society's benefit, becoming the first heroes in the world of My Hero Academia. The Pro Hero System still didn't exist, however, making these early heroes mere lawless vigilantes at the time.
With no way to really make a difference like they once did, police officers instead transitioned into more of a support role -- in order words, they only arrested and brought in Quirk-using crooks who had already been defeated by superpowered heroes such as the incredibly powerful All Might. Hero agencies were then formed for those with Quirks who wanted to protect those without them, aiming to rescue and evacuate the general public against threats such as natural disasters or villain attacks. Ironically, despite how much they changed society, the origin of Quirks is still unknown, although some hypothesize that it was the result of a virus carried by vermin. Regardless, it certainly led to an initial societal breakdown before finally giving way to an age of heroes and villains -- all thanks to a glowing baby.