The Anime industry is a tough competition; for a series to achieve worldwide success like My Hero Academia did, that could only mean one of two things; either everyone stopped having their own opinions and are just following the masses, or My Hero Academia has real substance to back up its fame. It's most likely the latter scenario-- at least this time.
From the get-go of the series, Deku has always been the topic of discussion; he was either the subject of praise or criticism. My Hero Academia is steadily climbing to the very top of the anime platform, and that begs the question, is Deku worthy of the top? Is he even a 'Top Shonen Protagonist' material?
10 Best: Reliable
Izuku is a lot more reliable than he would make anyone think. Whenever there's a group activity or a mission that requires multiple hands to complete, he is always seen at the center.
This reliability is unique to Izuku. If anyone takes a look at his Shonen counterparts, they would notice that they are only reliable when push comes to shove. Luffy, for example, is completely useless at anything other than fighting.
9 Fell Short: Not Confident Enough
This is where it gets weird. Even though Izuku is really a reliable individual, he is way too fast to blush. He is bad at receiving compliments, just as he is bad at being put in the spotlight. From all the previous samples provided by the Shonen genre, fans pretty much take a bold Shonen protagonist for granted.
However, looking at it from a different angle, this whole shyness makes Izuku more approachable, and maybe even adds a little to his cuteness.
8 Best: Development
Character development is essential for any protagonist. Lucky for fans, Izuku seems to have this feature in spades. At first, it might seem that Izuku hasn't changed at all from the start of the series, but this is where the author's genius comes into play.
Izuku did witness major development; it's just that not noticeable until the viewer really dives into it. The way the author changed Izuku without changing the way fans perceive him is truly admirable.
7 Fell Short: Not Shonen Enough
Shonen at its core is not actually a genre; it's a magazine with certain standards that manga has to meet in order to get published. But unknowingly, these standards seemed to have developed to a template that most 'shonen mangas' tend to follow.
My Hero Academia does indeed meet the Shonen magazine's standard, but it doesn't necessarily follow the stereotypes. This by extension goes for Izuku as well; he doesn't follow the cliche Shonen protagonist character design.
6 Best: Self-Control
The world of My Hero Academia is a world built on a set of rules that everyone has to follow, everyone including the protagonist. The typical Shonen protagonists are way too prone to recklessness. They are these free-spirited individuals who desire freedom; even at the expense of the law.
Shonen protagonists violating the laws of their respective worlds (and getting away with it) is nothing new to us. However, that approach unfortunately won't work in My Hero Academia. The only line separating a citizen from villainy is self-control.
5 Fell Short: Not The Best Boy
To become the best Shonen protagonist, one must first become the best boy of their own series. And as all fans know, Deku is by no means the best boy of the series-- at least for now.
Todoroki and Bakugo experienced the same growth as Izuku-- if not more, and they are giving him a real run for his money.
4 Best: Smart
Shonen protagonists are not the most critical thinkers. Sometimes it's even surprising how they manage to survive for that long with these brain capabilities.
That being said, when Izuku is compared with the previously mentioned protagonists, then the results would be obvious. If Shonen protagonists were ranked bythe size of their brains, then Izuku would most likely be at the top 5.
3 Fell Short: Overpowered
Everyone thought that One For All was overpowered the moment that it was introduced. And, as if to mock the limit of the audience's imaginations, One For All transcended its overpowered status, truly going plus ultra. If anyone is caught up with the manga, then they are well aware of that.
At this point, it's 100% guaranteed that the number one hero's seat belongs to Deku.
2 Best: Pseudo-Underdog
It is always inspiring when a character with humble roots climbs up the hierarchical ladder and achieves success. Deku is not an actual underdog, but he is close enough.
If One For All was not that overpowered from the moment he received it, it would've been even more perfect for his growth as a character.
1 Fell Short: Doesn't Stand Out
Deku's presence in the grand scheme of things is almost non-existent. Moreso, his presence is overshadowed by the brightness of Bakugou and Todoroki. What does this mean? It signifies that the author puts equal amounts of effort into all his main characters.
In fact, from a fan's perspective, the character progression of a complex character such as Bakugou should require a lot more effort than the one put in Deku. So until Deku drives all the fans' attention to himself, he will remain just as another Shonen protagonist.