There are a number of anime series that take time to find their footing, but My Hero Academia has been a triumph ever since its debut. U.A. High is the home for some of the most impressive defenders of justice and the current crop of students are determined to make up the next generation of heroes.
My Hero Academia juggles so many characters that sometimes supporting students don’t always get their due, which is exactly why this new season tries to put neglected heroes in the spotlight. Shihai Kuroiro’s dark features make him a standout student at U.A. High, but he’s also an individual that many have kept at a distance and don’t know the many complexities that consume him.
10 His Black Quirk Is A Total Enigma
My Hero Academia has done an exceptional job with the wide range of Quirks that get showcased and some are certainly more unconventional than others. Shihai Kuroiro’s Quirk is known as Black and it’s a very powerful ability that allows him to disappear into any shadows and travel through them. There are a handful of Quirks that revolve around darkness, but Kuroiro’s seems especially dangerous. Kuroiro knows how to utilize Black to completely overwhelm and confuse his opponents, but it seems like there’s even more to this Quirk that he’s yet to discover.
9 His Hero Alias Is The Scheming Hero: Vantablack
Appearances are surprisingly important in My Hero Academia and U.A. High makes sure that its students understand the value of branding and aesthetics. There are some extremely ridiculous hero aliases in the series, but Kuroiro adopts a more intimidating moniker with the title, Scheming Hero: Vantablack (or Vantadark in the dub, for copyright purposes). This name isn’t just striking, but it’s incredibly appropriate since Vantablack is a substance that absorbs more than 99.9% of light and it’s one of the world’s darkest substances. The “Scheming” modifier also represents Kuroiro’s sly demeanor.
8 He Fights As A Member Of Class 1-B
My Hero Academia casts a wide net when it comes to its characters and there’s now a sprawling roster of dozens of popular heroes and villains. MHA primarily focuses on the struggles and triumphs of the prospective hero students in Class 1-A, but the anime gradually highlights the impressive fighters from the other corners of U.A. High.
Shihai Kuroiro is a student in Class 1-B, which means that he often hangs out in the background, despite his striking appearance. Season five’s Joint Training Arc allows Kuroiro to shine and reinforces why he deserves more attention.
7 He Ranks 30th During U.A. High’s First-Year Sports Festival
My Hero Academia has developed an effective structure where periodic competitions test the progress of the many students at U.A. High. Season two's Sports Festival is an important event that establishes many of the relationships between Class 1-A and 1-B that are still currently getting explored. Kuroiro doesn't dominate the competition, but he still puts out a decent performance. Kuroiro ranks 30th during the Obstacle Race, which allows him to participate in the Cavalry Battle alongside Monoma, Kaibara, and Tsuburaba. Kuroiro seems to have drastically improved among his peers by the time that the Joint Training Arc comes around.
6 He Partners With Kinoko Komori For The Work Studies Program
My Hero Academia does an excellent job with how it shows that there are different ways to become a hero and that U.A. High offers various opportunities to help students. There are internships and work studies programs available to give students real world experience. Shihai Kuroiro finds himself taking advantage of what the work study has to offer as well as teaming up with Kinoko Komori for this education. Kuroiro first bonds with Komori during the Joint Training Arc and seems to even develop a small crush on her. They become a formidable duo in their program.
5 He Can Reach Incredibly Fast Speeds
There are a good deal of Quirks in My Hero Academia that have advantageous secondary functions that can often surprise their opponents in battle. Shihai Kuroiro’s Black Quirk is largely helpful when it comes to evasion tactics and how to spy on the enemy. At the same time, Kuroiro’s ability to disappear into darkness turns his Quirk into a rudimentary form of teleportation.
Kuroiro achieves incredible speeds when he merges with darkness and travels through it. The extreme nature of this is highlighted during Kuroiro’s battle in the Joint Training Arc, where he surpasses the speed of Aoyama’s Navel Laser.
4 He Views Class 1-A's Fumikage Tokoyami As A Natural Rival
One of the most satisfying aspects of My Hero Academia’s fifth season is how it pits the students of Class 1-A against 1-B and finds fascinating counterpoints between them that lead to exciting clashes. Shihai Kuroiro gets targeted early on by Fumikage Tokoyami, another hero who has a darkness-based Quirk that operates in a similar manner to Kuroiro’s own Black Quirk. This turns into a thrilling showdown and Kuroiro makes a rival with Tokoyami. They’re both determined to be the best of their kind and render the other irrelevant.
3 He Loves To Engage In Social Taboos And Turn Situations Uncomfortable
My Hero Academia highlights the fine line between heroes and villains, and it’s compelling to see which individuals nearly get pulled to the other side. Shihai Kuroiro’s intimidating look might make him seem like a natural villain, but his instincts never waver. That being said, Kuroiro does relish mischief and uncomfortable situations when they’re fairly innocuous. Rather than be embarrassed by his appearance, Kuroiro embraces it and uses his attitude to amplify tension and bring out the taboo nature of conversations and those around him.
2 His Favorite Food Is Squid Ink Pasta
There’s a great deal of nuance to the characters in My Hero Academia, but many are happy to embrace stereotypes. Shihai Kuroiro is someone whose entire appearance represents his Black Quirk and he can’t hide it. Kuroiro likes to stay on brand, so he consumes a diet that’s also full of dark ingredients. Squid ink pasta is an acquired taste, but it feels perfect for Kuroiro. Curiously, squid ink pasta happens to be a popular dish with certain U.A. High students and it’s also the preferred cuisine for Mezo Shoji, albeit for different reasons than Kuroiro.
1 He Plays A Crucial Role In The Gunga Mountain Villa Raid Against The Paranormal Liberation Front
My Hero Academia’s anime is in the middle of season five, but the manga offers a look into what lies ahead, mainly the major attack that the heroes launch against the villains’ Paranormal Liberation Front. This attack is broken up into two teams, one that’s led by Endeavor against the Jaku General Hospital, and the other targets the main headquarters at Gunga Mountain. Kuroiro works on the Gunga Mountain Villa Backup Team, along with a lot of Class 1-A. Kuroiro’s mission is to provide support for the heroes that do the primary raid as well as prevent villains from escaping.