Mirko is a fairly new character in the My Hero Academia universe; while she was first introduced to readers of the manga back in 2018, her anime debut didn't come until March 2020. Even though she's only been around for what amounts to less than a minute of screen time, however, she's already made a huge impact on fans of the beloved series, becoming a surprisingly popular character who people only want to see more and more of.
Here are 10 things you might not know about her, from her blood type to her curious namesake. Those who don't read the My Hero Academia manga should take note that this list does include minor spoilers for events that haven't happened in the anime (at least, not yet).
10 She's Blood Type O
For those looking for miscellaneous facts about the various characters from the My Hero Academia universe, the Official Character Books are usually a great place to find them. The books are written by Horikoshi himself, and they make great supplementary material to the manga/anime.
Volume 2, published in 2019, contains a few interesting facts about Mirko, including the fact that she has an O blood type. According to the Blood Type Personality Theory, those with O blood tend to be self-confident, ambitious, strong-willed and athletic - all things that describe Mirko very well.
9 She Was Born In Hiroshima, Japan
Another detail revealed in the Official Character Books is Mirko's birthplace of Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima is best known for its infamous role in World War II, but, beyond that, it's still a city rich with culture and filled with historical landmarks.
As of this writing, Mirko is the only My Hero Academia character known to be born in Hiroshima.
8 She's 27 Years Old
Mirko was 26 when she first debuted in Chapter 184 of the My Hero Academia manga (which was released all the way back in May 2018).
Following the series' chronology, she would be 27 as of her most recent appearance in the ongoing Paranormal Liberation War arc.
7 She Has A Very Similar Design To Another Anime Character
Eagle-eyed anime fans have noticed that Mirko bears a striking resemblance to Swan from the second Fairy Tail movie, Dragon Cry, which was released in theaters across Japan on May 2017 - a full year before Mirko's manga debut.
The characters both have dark skin, white hair, and rabbit-like designs; they're also both very strong and flexible fighters.
6 Her Character Concept Draws From East Asian Folklore
The "Moon Rabbit" is a character in East Asian folklore, born from the idea that certain markings on the moon's surface were actually a giant rabbit.
The crescent moon design on Mirko's Hero Costume could be a reference to the phenomenon, as could the character's supermove "Luna Ring", which was named after a project launched by Japanese engineers to harness solar power from the moon.
5 She Has The Same Birthday As Another Pro Hero
Mirko isn't the only character in the My Hero Academia universe to be born on March 1st.
Pro Hero Tatsuyuki Tokoname (also known as Slidin' Go), known for his role in the manga's Meta Liberation Army Arc, has the same birthday. The only difference is that he's quite older than she is - by ten years, to be exact.
4 She's The First Pro Hero Confirmed To Work Solo
Mirko repeatedly chastises her fellow heroes for forming teams, calling them "weak" for doing so. However, she seems to be fairly alone in this belief - at least among My Hero Academia characters.
The show puts a heavy emphasis on teamwork, especially with the students of Class 1-A, and no other Pro Hero is known to work alone. The fact that Mirko works solo is a testament to how powerful she is in a world already filled with superpowered beings.
3 Her Hero Name Comes From An MMA Fighter
Like My Hero Academia's Mirko, professional MMA fighter and 2012 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Mirko Cro Cop is known for his extraordinary leg kicks.
Horikoshi is a serious fan of the martial arts division K-1. In fact, he was quoted as saying "I've been having a lot of fun watching ... one day I want to see a live fight." More importantly, however, in Mirko's character sheet, he indeed confirmed that her name is inspired by that of a certain MMA fighter.
2 She's The Highest-Ranked Female Superhero In Japan
While she only ranks in at #5 overall on the Japanese Hero Billboard Chart (below Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, and Edgeshot), Mirko is the highest-ranking female superhero on the list.
Considering the previous list's top six heroes were all male, Mirko's top-five placing is certainly notable, and her debut is hopefully the beginning of a rise in the number of strong female heroes shown in the series.
1 She's Moving Up In The Hero Rankings
While no one knows what Mirko's previous hero ranking was primarily because she debuts as the new rankings are being announced, what people do know is that she couldn't have been higher than seventh place last time. This could only mean that she's moved up at least two spots.
Considering her valiant efforts during the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, it's likely she'll that continue to keep climbing the ranks in the future.