Heroism isn't about the frills and fashion. It's about having the skills and courage necessary to do the right thing every day. With that being said, saving people from disasters and bad guys just doesn't pay the bills the same way that soap commercials and action figures do. In the world of My Hero Academia, 20% of the job is a vanity project.
Being able to stand out and act like a symbol for the people (or just appear as scary as a public menace should) are embedded in the DNA of MHA's society. While our world doesn't have the same hero rankings that MHA does, fans can at least fight over who has the better costume or look.
10 All Might
A hero whose entire identity is an entryway into the classic and idyllic hero world, All Might's One for All character design takes direct reference from Western comics.
His costume's color scheme is ripped straight from the American flag, his bulging muscles would make even the Hulk proud, and his glistening smile and strong jaw could blend into any 1950s car ad. This man stands tall and proud like a traditional hero should, setting the tone for My Hero Academia's entire premise with just a look.
9 Snipe
Snipe may not appear a lot in the series, but he does a great job of standing out whenever he does. The guy's entire theme is shooting and being a cowboy, and that's all his costume needs to communicate. It's a classic, stoic look in a world full of colorful heroes, and it's every bit as quiet and threatening as a sharpshooter should be.
His serape even pulls double duty, looking like both a cowboy garment and a hero's cape. His mask also illustrates a permanent scowl that could strike fear into any villain— but they wouldn't even notice, given his expert sniping skills and the massive gun that can hit a can from miles away.
8 Stain
While the heroes may look mighty, the villains have to look every bit as crooked as their morals. Though Stain may lean more towards the "anti-hero" side, he's not exactly the guy that most people would call for help. Stain's entire look is pulled from the grungy character designs that counterculture comics popularized.
Opposite to All Might, Stain is thin and accentuated with edgy, flowy fabric, like a bloody Batman or an even more punk Itachi Uchiha. His skin is even pale and pasty, as if his body itself was disillusioned by the hero world. While the debate is still up on whether or not he's a hero, there's no denying that he's helping fill out the series' edginess quota.
7 Dabi
While Stain may be grey and cold, everything about Dabi has the fans sweating. This could either be due to his fire power or the fact that his guy looks like a walking zombie. Dabi is covered from head-to-toe in stitches and entire sections of skin are purple and blotchy.
The theories are still up in the air on whether or not he's a Todoroki, but he certainly makes the case easier by looking like he just survived a fire. Dabi just seals the dark and tragic look with a cool, leather gadget and some nifty bandages.
6 Katsuki Bakugou
Katsuki Bakugou is Shonen character design 101. Everything about him speaks to how explosive his personality is, including his actual Quirk: Explosion. But, in terms of character design, Bakugou has the sharp, arrogant look that sums up a classic rival, and a hairstyle that strangely resembles his explosions.
His hero costume only builds on the whole theme by capturing a slight, military feel. This includes both its color design and its inherent sense of functionality. Ever one to dress for the job he wants, Bakugou is always ready for battle.
5 Tenya Iida
Tenya Iida's base character design does a great job of speaking to how straight forward and earnest his character is. Whether this is referring to his clean haircut, glasses, or the fact that his head almost looks like a square, Iida just looks like the ideal student. However, what really lands him on this list is his hero costume.
As Ingenium, Iida is easily one of U.A.'s coolest looking students. Most speedsters try to capture the sleek, runner look, but the Ingenium suit perfectly captures the weight and power of a reliable engine. It builds from a strong, "knight in shining armor" motif and fuses it with the pipes and pistons of a race car. Wit this suit, Ingenium is revved up for duty.
4 Endeavor
Endeavor may have been the #2 Hero in comparison to All Might, but when it comes to character design, he easily outclasses the Symbol of Peace. This man masterfully uses his Quirk to create flames that color and flow across his costume.
His own mask is literally just flames that make him look angrier and scarier than he already is. While capes may be cool, they just don't flow through the wind like flames do. It also helps how natural and powerful Endeavor's costume looks when he blasts through the sky.
3 Edgeshot
Stain and Dabi may have gotten points for edginess as villains, but no one in the series looks edgier than Edgeshot, a hero named and designed around edges. As someone who can make any part of his body as thin as paper, Edgeshot captures a great stealth feel with a ninja-like design.
This is comprised of loose clothing, flowing scarves, and a subtle color pattern. When Edgeshot uses his Quirk, he expertly uses this design to whip and slice at his opponents. On top of all of this, his unique hair looks like origami.
2 Inasa Yoarashi
Standing high on this list is a hero-in-training that doesn't get mentioned as much as he should. Inasa Yoarashi may be wearing a uniform, but he wears it better than his peers (not to mention that the Shiketsu uniforms just looks really good). The uniform itself portrays pride and strength in every form.
It makes Inasa look larger than he already is and has a color scheme that commands as if it's a military uniform. Inasa's little touches add holes to direct his wind Quirk. Sprinkled across his uniform, they add a sense of explosiveness and industriousness as if the man himself were a tank.
1 Hawks
The Pro Heroes are full of unique and classic hero designs. This includes Mirko's dynamic, rabbit-like look, Kamui Woods' strong yet flexible structure, and the adorable nature of the Wild, Wild Pussycats. However, standing— well, flying— above them all in the costume department is none other than the new #2 Hero, Hawks.
His hero costume looks as if an aviation suit were bought from an Armani Exchange ad, and his goggles/headphones combo sell both his youth and his attitude. What really ties everything together, though, are his wings which look more stylish than actual capes and even compliment the feathered style of his hair.