We still remember him bullying Izuku.
Summary:
- Bakugo is often disliked by MHA fans.
- That’s because he was introduced as a bully at first.
- People like other shounen rivals more because they weren’t bullies.
“Rival for the main character” is a classic character archetype in battle shounen. Common examples include Sasuke in Naruto and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z — but, really, it’s a trope that’s practically everywhere.
In My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), this role is played by Bakugo Katsuki. While rivals often have their own fanbases, a huge part of MHA fandom actually dislikes Bakugo. That might sound surprising, but a lot of the hate is shaped by how Bakugo was introduced.
Bakugo Was First Introduced as a Bully, and Fans Still Remember That
Initially, Bakugo was a friend of Izuku who turned into a bully because Izuku didn’t have a Quirk. He was very cruel towards the protagonist, and that sealed the deal for many fans. Even a few seasons later, he was blaming Deku for some of the problems.
Yes, Bakugo does get better. He somewhat learns to control his anger issues, but that happens way too late into the series. Fans essentially saw him as Deku's bully who had a very powerful Quirk.
He’s the an antithesis of Deku: not only he’s cruel and often mean-spirited while Deku is kind and forgiving, but he also is an embodiment of a character who just happens to be talented — and shounen fans hate those who are talented and look down on others because of that.
Does this mean Bakugo is a bad person? Well, towards Deku, he definitely was. However, it’s also important to remember that they were kids. Bakugo outgrew that phase — very slowly, but he did.
In the end, Deku forgave him, and that’s what is actually important. Bakugo is definitely a great example of atonement done right in the battle shounen genre, but that doesn’t make people like him more.
Why Bakugo Is Disliked but Other Similar Characters Aren’t
So, what makes Bakugo so different from other shounen rivals? Well, it’s the aforementioned thing: the first impression. Vegeta was initially a villain — he was 100% evil — and then he went through layers of character development and transformed into a hero. Redeemed villains are something shounen fans always love, and that’s why Vegeta is so popular.
Compared to that, Sasuke Uchiha is a more complicated example. A lot of people dislike him too, but that’s because he seemingly abandoned his friendship with Naruto for the majority of Shippuden.
Still, Sasuke was definitely prideful at first, but he also had a tragic backstory. His rudeness towards Naruto wasn’t really bullying, and the two were great teammates. That’s why he isn’t as hated as Bakugo.