My Hero Academia Season 7 episode 12 aired on Saturday giving us back-to-back wonderful adaptations during one of the most crucial times in the story. With some chilling performances from the voice cast, some high-stakes action, and one hell of a cliffhanger, episode 12 proved to be another “must-watch” from this season, especially for manga readers.
Episode 12 Goes Plus Ultra
We can get into the ins and outs of artwork comparison and fall victim to the social media debacle of comparing still artwork to moving frames. But I have a better idea—let’s talk about why this episode hit home the emotions a lot stronger than the manga ever could.
Sure, detailed artwork on the level of the manga is always appreciated. But we’re talking about trying to replicate the artwork of arguably the best artist in Weekly Shonen Jump. It’s just not a realistic expectation. So sitting there and saying “the manga is better” for detailed manga threads is a hollow argument.
Meanwhile, the anime once again delivered. It went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to doing right by one of the most popular manga series of all time. More importantly, it’s delivering high quality in the right moments despite what critics say.
Having our favorite heroes with their backs up against the wall gives us a level of entertainment that has us on the edge of our seats. The manga can never give us the voice acting and the soundtrack the anime provides to elevate everything. The voice acting and music simultaneously brought up the grim feeling of despair and the gleaming light of hope throughout the entire episode. It was a feeling that couldn’t be replicated reading the manga.
“Heroes” – Staying True to the Name
Mirko was not only a hero for defending the innocent against Shigaraki during the war, but she, in that moment, started to become the hero for Bakugo, Edge Shot, Mirio, Jeanist, Nijire, and Tamaki. Not only that, but it was a second attempt for her to become the hero she has always set out to be—taking out her opponent and going out on her own terms, nobody else’s.
It shook me to my core in the best ways possible. Up until this war, Mirko wasn’t given much screentime. But dammit did Horikoshi wait for her to take center stage at the right moments in this series. Sayaka Kinoshita is such a perfect casting for Mirko. She captures that rugged voice and attitude that suits Mirko perfectly. And, yet again, we’re treated to a Mirko spectacle in episode 12.
Even if she didn’t do much, Mirko’s efforts to stall Shigaraki up until the last second until Deku showed up weren’t for naught. Being able to get some hits in with no arms and only one working leg while facing someone with unlimited limbs (basically) is a badass feat in and of itself. Outside of All Might, Deku, and Bakugo, I can’t think of any other hero that would go to the lengths Mirko would to get the job done, even more so with the same attitude.
Mirio himself did all he could when he could. He aided Mirko in her assault on Shigaraki and even though his “last ditch effort” to stop Shigaraki in his tracks was rather, let’s say different, it was akin to his character and what Sir Nighteye wanted from him. It’s hard not to get choked up during Mirio’s moment of indecision given all he’s gone through.
He lost his master and, for a bit, his own quirk. The distress Mirio had to go through shouldn’t be overlooked, even Deku didn’t endure those two specific things up to this point. That heavy emotion was on full display not only because of the wonderful production in his moments but also from Tarusuke Shingaki voicing him.
Sometimes we forget he, and many others, are just teenagers fighting in a war where it should be the adults’ responsibility. All of Mirio’s reactions were completely normal, even for one of UA’s “Big Three.” His decision to stop Shigaraki the way he did is in such hilarious contrast to how Mirko went about her way that it shows how differently teens and adults think under pressure.
The Difficult Details Turned Simple in Episode 12 of My Hero Academia Season 7
All For One’s younger form being revived thanks to a temporary use of Eri’s quirk was quite the development. One thing that I loved about this in the anime was that it was much easier to follow than in the manga. The anime did a good job of “dumbing it down” for the audience and not getting into anything to complicated with it.
This wasn’t the only part of the anime that sort of “dumbed down” a key moment. It was the same for Edge Shot and his attempt to revive Bakugo. In the manga translations, the vocabulary used was a lot more difficult to follow unless you’re in the medical field.
That’s not to say that it’s a bad thing. But when it’s harder to follow terminology in the heat of an intense moment when watching an anime, it can take away from the allure of what’s actually happening. In episode 12, that wasn’t the case.
With Edge Shot indirectly telling the viewers what he needs to do without confusing us was the best way to go about it. His own life force was draining with each passing second attempting to revive Bakugo. All this and he still does all he can to motivate Mirko, Jeanist, and Mirio to keep fighting. The episode had to keep us tuned in.
Heroes and Villains
All For One claimed in this episode that he loved the villains in comic books. Well, this episode showed why heroes are pretty damn cool themselves. More often than not they pull more amazing feats than the villains ever even set out to do. Episode 12 put that on full display. I mean, come on… What villain is going to moon a hero to distract them? Only a hero would think of something hilarious and clumsy like that.
Even in the wake of Dabi’s revival, his own “colleague” in Skeptic addressed him as Mr. Daddy Issues and proceeded to go on a rant about how he’s going to do his own thing. Thought it was a cool, yet brief, way to show how the heroes’ teamwork completely trumps the villains in every way.
My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 12 Wrap-Up
All For One’s clock is ticking now that Eri’s quirk has activated and the race to the climax of the war begins. Now that Dabi is back, Deku has finally shown up, and All For One is in his purest form, the war will only get that much more intense. Hopefully, going forward, My Hero Academia Season 7 will continue to uplift the manga under the direction of Naomi Nakayama and Kenji Nagasaki.
Episode 12 rating: 9/10
If you loved episode 12 of My Hero Academia Season 7, then be sure to vote for it in our weekly poll! Episode 13 will be released on Saturday, August 17, after being delayed one week due to the Olympics broadcasting. Crunchyroll is streaming the anime with English subtitles.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
©K. Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project
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