My Hero Academia, Volume 1

November 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Fourteen-year-old Izuku Midoriya lives in a world where 80 percent of the population is born with superpowers called "quirks." These people make up the heroes and the villains in society, and everyday life consists of epic battles in the midst of the city. Izuku desperately wants to be a hero himself, but unfortunately he is one of the 20 percent that lack any supernatural talents. In a chance encounter with All Might, one of the greatest heroes of all, Izuku has an opportunity to change his luck. He learns that All Might's power is inherited, meaning that he can pass it down to a worthy successor. With his dream finally coming true, Izuku takes All Might up on his offer and begins his superhero training at the exclusive hero academy U.A. High School. But he soon learns that having special abilities doesn't come as easily as he hoped. This is a high-energy series debut with a typical cast of manga characters: the determined protagonist, the loose cannon frenemy, the narrow-minded perfectionist, and the sweet, gentle female friend. Horikoshi's artwork is solid, the characters are distinct and expressive, and readers really get a sense of the sweeping, high-octane atmosphere of Izuku's world. A slight cliff-hanger ending builds anticipation for the second volume. VERDICT Though the market is currently saturated with an onslaught of superhero-themed literature, this is a highly entertaining manga with plenty of appeal. A nice addition to any manga collection.-Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH

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