In the animated world of My Hero Academia, almost everyone has a quirk—what we would call a superpower—and this means that there are a lot of superheroes out there... and just as many villains! All Might, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and the others have their hands full trying to keep the streets safe, and villains like Stain, the hero killer, make this a tough job indeed.
Just who is Stain? He is a loner who takes a twisted sort of justice into his own hands. He doesn't want to rule the world or destroy a city. No, he'd rather tear down the hero industry as we know it to rid the world of vain and materialistic heroes. This makes him a fascinating villain, and he was a terrifying bad guy in the anime's second season. What are ten core facts about Stain that newcomers to My Hero Academia should know?
10 He's An Assassin
Some villains love to make a show of things and stand in the open and loudly challenge any and all good guys to come and fight them. The shonen world has many such villains, and that's including My Hero Academia—but Stain doesn't join their ranks.
He likes to fight one on one, and he gets the upper hand with ambush attacks in poorly lit areas such as back alleys. Stain isn't looking for an honorable duel; if you're a target, he'll take you out before you even know what's happening!
9 He Loves Weapons
Here is another way that Stain sets himself apart from villains such as Tomura Shigaraki, Dabi, and All For One. Some quirks create fire or give you super strength, and these are effective for both heroes and villains. But Stain won't leave the house without some blades by his side.
His primary weapon is a ratty old katana, whose rough surface is great for drawing blood. On top of that, he's toting some knives on his belt, and this makes drawing blood a snap. But, unlike Mustard, Stain wouldn't bother with a pistol. That's no fun, and, with his quirks, bullets aren't necessary, anyway.
8 He's Capable Of Diplomacy
For the most part, Stain would rather work alone, and he's not much of a team player. Yes, he fought alongside the good guys in the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes manga, but that was an exception.
Still, Stain is not an unthinking wild animal. He approached the League of Villains in peace to test the waters and see if they could cooperate to take down the heroes. Yet, it didn't turn out well once Stain determined that Shigaraki is little more than a brat who vainly wants to be the number one villain. So, Stain and Shigaraki made a nonaggression pact, and Stain listened when Shigaraki explained his plan on a rooftop.
7 His Outfit
How did manga artist Kohei Horikoshi develop Stain's appearance? His outfit and face went through more than one draft until the final product, but overall, it's safe to say that 1990s comic book anti-heroes inspired this look. Mr. Horikoshi borrows as much from Marvel and DC as he does from the manga world.
The artwork of comic artists Rob Liefield and Todd McFarlane, in particular, may have inspired this look, and Mr. McFarlane's character Spawn, in particular, has a lot of visual overlap with Stain. Are they long-lost brothers? It sure looks that way.
6 Lost Equipment From Concept Art
Like most My Hero Academia characters, Stain's early concept art differs somewhat from the final product. He once had a feeding tube apparatus, though it did eventually appear in the anime.
Since Stain's quirk involves drinking blood, we're sure that this feeding tube would have made his quirk easier to use, but, in the final product, he's content to lick the blood off his blades. Instead, the idea of a blood-sucking tube evidently went to Himiko Toga, who also uses blood to fuel her quirk.
5 He's Like The TMNT
Did you like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise when you were younger? The comics, animated shows, games, and toys earned a place in many kids' youths, but their overall aesthetic took a dark turn where Stain is concerned.
This may or may not have been on purpose, but Stain sure looks like them, from his blades and ninja fighting style to his bandana and his lack of a nose. The minor villain Spinner, meanwhile, has a similar look and was almost definitely inspired by TMNT.
4 He's Like The Punisher
Stain sure draws from a lot of material, doesn't he? Well, stylish rogues like him are often popular with readers, so it's fair that Kohei Horikoshi decided to borrow a few examples and combine them into something new.
Stain is reminiscent not only of the TMNT, but also the Punisher, or Frank Castle, from Marvel Comics. Both of them are combat veterans who take brutal justice into their own hands, but they abstain from killing the innocent. Stain only targets corrupt heroes, and the Punisher only fights criminals.
3 His Name
Stain's villain name may be based on all the bloodstains he creates when he slays heroes, but the kanji that make up his name have relevant meaning. Many characters in My Hero Academia are like this.
Such meaning is largely lost on Western readers, but it's fun to think about all the same. In this case, the name Chizome Akaguro is made up of kanji for "red", "black", "blood", and "stain." Well, there you have it. A rogue who wears red and black and stains the walls with blood!
2 He Got Rougher
Yikes. Just look at that face! Stain wasn't always like this, though. Readers of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes will be treated to Stain's first chronological appearance, but he was different then.
He went after criminals and villains of any sort, and he assassinated four The Avengers-style villains in their hideout. At the time, Stain called himself Stendhal, and he had a neater appearance, including smooth hair in a ponytail and a featureless mask. But, partway through the manga, he discarded the mask, totally embraced his darker nature, and became the Stain we know in the anime.
1 He's Clever
Stain didn't make a long and bloody career like this by being dull-witted or recklessly leaping into action. Don't let his wild face deceive you; he's a smart guy who knows when to attack and when to retreat, and he can read his opponents easily.
This allows him to find the right moment to strike and outmaneuver any quirks he must face while assassinating someone. He saw right through Shoto's blunt fighting style, and he has hidden blades in case his main weapons are lost or damaged in a fight. He also could deduce right away when Shigaraki launched his Nomu attack on Hosu City.