All Might appears to believe that he has failed as the Symbol of Peace, but My Hero Academia Chapter 333 demonstrates that he has earned his rest. All Might’s role as the Symbol of Peace was initially intended to lessen Japan’s crime rate, but he always desired more. He wished to instil hope in folks and potentially encourage them to achieve greatness in their own right. His time as a Symbol may have come to an end, but My Hero Academia proves that his legacy lives on.
One For All was owned by All Might for a record forty years, far longer than any of its prior users. He was able to do more with it than other Pro Heroes could in numerous lifetimes. Even though it couldn’t be further from the truth, he now believes himself a failure as a result of his forced retirement, which is a monument to his unwavering determination. All Might had unknowingly begun raising the next generation of heroes before he even started lecturing at UA.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Pro-Hero who didn’t regard All Might as their personal hero, but none proclaimed it as loudly as Star and Stripe did. She met All Might for the first time when she was a child. He protected both Star and her sister from an armed robber while studying abroad in America, and Star has been smitten with him ever since.
All Might was the inspiration for Star and Stripe’s entire Pro Hero career. She took his American image, as well as his battle cry “Smash,” and combined these with New Order to give herself extraordinary strength second only to One For All’s. She was an American All Might for all means and purposes, and the admiration wasn’t just superficial. She established a commitment to peace that rivalled All Might’s, and she boasted about it by adding eight tufts to her hairstyle, compared to All Might’s two.
Star valiantly rose to the occasion when it came time to prove his commitment to peace. Without hesitation, she sacrificed both her Quirk and her life in order to thwart All For One’s goals for world dominance. She had no regrets in her final moments, instead of thanking All Might for allowing her to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a hero. All Might never educate her in class on how to approach being a hero, but by just living his life, he inspired a hero greater than any other.
All Might’s heroics inspired not only Star and Stripe but also a slew of other on-screen heroes. Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, and Shoto Todoroki have all shown their appreciation for various facets of his personality since the beginning of the series. His tranquil presence was always a source of inspiration for Izuku. He spent his life fantasising about the day when he would be powerful enough to simply be present and comfort others. Like All Might did when he said, “I am here!” He was so enamoured by All Might that he set out to become a Pro Hero despite the fact that he lacked a Quirk of his own. It was a rather hopeful undertaking, but it hinted at the mentality of someone who would be willing to face the impossible regardless of the circumstances. All Might later recognise Izuku’s bravery and bestowed One For All to him.
Similarly, Katsuki was inspired to become a hero by All Might. Katsuki may not have loved his hero’s more noble attributes, but no one can deny that his reluctance to give up a battle has played a significant role in moulding his development into a capable hero. He’s steadily learning the more sophisticated parts of being a hero as he learns from All Might and his friends. His definition of a hero is no longer limited to someone who triumphs.
No one could blame Shoto for not wanting to be a part of it, given his experience with some of the harsher sides of hero society. Shoto had always wanted to be a hero, even before Endeavor tainted his opinion of them because he adored All Might. He let his hate for his father overwhelm him for a time, which slowed his advancement as a hero. Shoto was reminded why he chose to become a Hero in the first place thanks to Izuku’s taunt at the Sport’s Festival. Shoto reclaimed his Fire Quirk after regaining his memory, determined to use it to become the best hero he could be.
