Deku, also known as Izuku Midoriya, is the main protagonist of the popular anime and manga series My Hero Academia. He starts off quirkless but eventually gains the powerful One For All quirk. However, there has been much speculation among fans about whether Deku originally had a different quirk that was stolen from him as a child. In this article, we will examine the evidence and theories about Deku’s potential original quirk before it was stolen.
Deku’s Backstory
First, let’s review some key details about Deku’s backstory:
- He grew up wanting to be a hero like his idol All Might despite being one of the rare cases born without a quirk
- He faced bullying and discrimination for being quirkless
- He met All Might one day and impressed him with his heroic spirit, leading All Might to pass One For All onto Deku
- After receiving One For All, Deku enrolled in U.A. High School to begin his journey to become the next symbol of peace
So in canon, Deku is presented as someone who was quirkless from birth. But some fans have speculated that perhaps he wasn’t actually born quirkless. Perhaps he originally had a quirk that was stolen from him somehow when he was very young.
The Quirk Stealing Theory
This theory suggests that Deku was not born quirkless, but had a quirk stolen from him by the villain All For One when he was a small child. All For One has the ability to steal quirks and transfer them to others. Theorists speculate All For One may have attacked Deku and stole his original quirk before passing on One For All.
If this theory is true, it raises some interesting questions:
- What was Deku’s original quirk that got stolen?
- Why would All For One target a young Deku to steal his quirk?
- Does Deku have any memories of his original quirk or it being stolen?
- How would the story change if Deku already had a quirk before gaining One For All?
Let’s examine some possible evidence and motives related to this theory.
Potential Evidence
Some fans point to small clues that suggest Deku may have lost his original quirk:
- As a small child, Deku dreamed of being a hero despite being quirkless. This ambition could come from having a quirk originally that was then lost.
- In early flashbacks, Deku does not seem upset about being quirkless, almost like he still believes he has powers.
- All For One is known for stealing quirks from children. He may have attacked Deku when he was very young.
- Deku has no memories of his early childhood, so a stolen quirk could have been erased from his memory.
However, all of this evidence is circumstantial. There are no definitive scenes in the manga that confirm Deku had a quirk stolen.
All For One’s Motives
As for why All For One would target a young Deku, fans suggest a few possibilities:
- To hurt All Might – All For One knew All Might had passed on One For All. Stealing Deku’s quirk adds an extra layer of cruelty.
- To cause chaos – Removing Deku’s quirk creates confusion and forces Deku on the path to being One For All’s holder.
- Deku’s quirk was powerful – All For One wanted to add the quirk to his collection.
- To crush Deku’s spirit – Stealing his quirk robs Deku of being a hero.
Theorists believe one of these motivations could have driven All For One to rob Deku of his quirk.
Theories on Deku’s Original Quirk
If Deku did have a quirk before receiving One For All, what kind of quirk might it have been? Fans have come up with various theories:
Emitter Quirk
Many believe if Deku had a quirk originally, it would likely be an emitter-type quirk that can produce energy, elements, etc. This is because emitter quirks seem linked to One For All. For example:
- All Might’s quirk is an emitter that enhances his strength.
- Shoto Todoroki has both emitter quirks from his parents – fire from his father and ice from his mother.
- Bakugo’s explosion quirk is also an emitter-type.
So if Deku had an emitter quirk like these classmates, it could foreshadow him being the next holder of One For All which boosts physical abilities.
Elemental Quirk
Looking more specifically at possible emitter quirks, many theorize Deku’s original quirk was some sort of elemental power. For instance:
- Fire quirk – this would contrast nicely with Todoroki’s split fire/ice power.
- Electricity quirk – this could reference classic superhero powers like Electro.
- Earth quirk – controlling rocks or plants would fit the green “Deku” theme.
- Air quirk – wind, smoke, or sound abilities would suit Deku’s desire to be a hero.
An elemental emitter-type quirk is a common theory for Deku’s potential lost power.
Super Strength or Speed
Other fans think Deku’s original quirk may have been a more direct boost in strength or speed. For example:
- Super Strength – This would directly foreshadow gaining One For All and give Deku an early version of his eventual power.
- Super Speed – Enhanced speed would fit Deku’s quick reflexes and desire to save others.
- Super Senses – Better hearing, sight, etc. could also play into Deku’s observational skills.
These simple enhancements would make sense as a starting place before Deku gained the ultimate strength quirk.
Non-Emitter Quirk
There’s also the possibility Deku’s original quirk was not an emitter. For example:
- Mutation quirk – Possible transformations could hint at One For All’s extra abilities.
- Mental quirk – Powers like telepathy or telekinesis would fit Deku’s intelligence.
- Healing quirk – Fitting for a future hero, a healing power could explain Deku’s drive to help others.
It’s unlikely his quirk was totally unrelated, but a non-emitter quirk is possible.
Conclusion
In the end, Deku having a stolen quirk remains fan speculation. The true origins of his powers have not been explored in the manga. However, the theory opens up interesting story possibilities. Debating the secret history of his quirk gives fans a chance to dive deeper into Deku’s backstory. And it highlights important themes in the series like destiny, cruelty, and personal loss. Deku is meant to inherit One For All, but imagining him with a different quirk first makes his origin story more complex. For now, fans will have to keep theorizing and hope Horikoshi explores this fan theory in future chapters.