5 manga endings better than the My Hero Academia finale (& 5 that are way worse)

Manga endings can etch in the minds of readers, boosting a story's legacy or putting a shadow on what once was a dear series. The finale of My Hero Academia marks the closing to years-long fighting and character development, and it has got fans arguing about its effectiveness.

Some of the fans feel it went out on a high note; others felt it missed the mark, while others are still somewhere in between. But how does it stand among other manga endings?

Some have succeeded and finished on more satisfying notes for their narratives; some stumbled across the finish line, drawing out disappointment from fans and driving them with a desire for more.

Whether they were well ahead of the mark or below par, these manga endings made a statement in the manga community. Here are five manga endings that outshine the My Hero Academia finale—and five that don't even come close.

Disclaimer: This list is ranked in no particular order and contains the writer's opinions. Readers' discretion is advised.

Attack On Titan and 4 other manga endings better than the My Hero Academia

1) Fullmetal Alchemist

Elric Edward as seen in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

The ending of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga is highly acclaimed, satisfying, and justly rounded. It ends on a similar note to My Hero Academia, with the protagonist losing his primary powers, and is therefore the easiest comparison to make.

The ending of Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist really closes off everything—from plot to character—into a very intricate narrative for meaningful closure on every character's side. The resolution in the quest of the Elric brothers is heartfelt; it balances action, drama, and sentiment perfectly.

On the other hand, the finale of My Hero Academia is criticized for having rushed key events in it, with some character arcs still remaining underdeveloped. Fullmetal Alchemist's ending is actually a master class on how to end a series—far more complete and satisfying than other manga endings.

2) ⁠⁠Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki as seen in anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Naruto's ending delivered the fullness and closure that really spoke to the fans. Emotionally satisfactory and thematically consistent, Naruto going from a lonely outcast to the Hokage was the realization of a lifelong dream.

The final battle with Sasuke wrapped up their on-and-off complicated relationship and exposed the series' core themes: friendship, perseverance, and redemption.

While this was thematically appropriate for My Hero Academia as far as pushing forth messages about heroism, it did not provide the same sense of closure that the Naruto finale did. This makes Naruto one of the manga endings that did better than what My Hero Academia has provided.

3) ⁠⁠Attack On Titan

Mikasa Ackerman as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

The Attack on Titan ending is perhaps one of the more controversial ones on the list, but with time fans have come to truly appreciate the depth and symbolism of Isayama's choices.

It surpasses the ending of My Hero Academia simply because it brings a deep closure to the many profound themes and changes it brings to its characters. Attack on Titan masterfully weaves together the complex narrative threads to bring forth a conclusion that questions the perception of freedom and sacrifice at its very core.

Eren's final transformation into the last antagonist is haunting but fitting, while the ending proves the futility of humanity's attempts to overcome its nature. On the other hand, My Hero Academia fails to do justice to its central themes the same way. That is why Attack on Titan delivers one of the manga endings that My Hero Academia failed.

4) Mob Psycho 100

Shigeo Kageyama as seen in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

The ending of Mob Psycho 100 was most strikingly realized emotionally and thematically. Where the finale of My Hero Academia did go big with action, the finale of Mob Psycho 100 opted to stay a little more brooding, rooted in personal growth and the value of relationships over the overall spectacle.

From the psychic powerhouse of Shigeo Kageyama to more self-awareness, it was nuanced and real at the core, hence giving a more enriching reflective ending.

The contrast suggests the ability of Mob Psycho 100 to round off its storyline with much-needed character growth at the end, unlike the conventional ending in My Hero Academia, marking it as one of the manga endings that did better than My Hero Academia.

5) Death Note

Light Yagami as seen in anime (Image via Madhouse)

The ending of Death Note holds more of an impact than My Hero Academia because the former is concluded with such an intense, psychologically driven ending. Light Yagami's poetic fall and well-foreshadowed demise result in a gripping chase between him and Near, emphasizing the themes of justice and morality of the series.

It makes for a satisfying resolution with deep resonance in the psychological tension and moral ambiguity. While My Hero Academia did little to make its final episodes special in any way, Death Note nailed a thought-provoking one and left a more lasting impression, making Death Note's conclusion one of the better manga endings.

Tokyo Revengers and 4 other manga endings worse than My Hero Academia

1) ⁠Bleach

Ichigo Kurosaki as seen in anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Though one may not like the My Hero Academia finale, the Bleach manga ending is way worse due to its abruptness and lack of closure. It only stops—badly explaining the last fight against Yhwach, hideously leaving open the character arcs, while major plot points are ignored.

It is well-known that mangaka Tite Kubo was not given the time he wanted to finish his series properly. This left the fans very unsatisfied since both the series' complex plot and some of the great characters deserved a more thoughtful ending. This makes Bleach one of the manga endings that were portrayed worse than My Hero Academia.

2) ⁠⁠Gantz

Kei Kurono as seen in manga (Image via Young Jump)

Gantz has been heavily criticized, mostly for being unfulfilling, which is worse than the My Hero Academia finale. After years of plot development and grueling action, Gantz did a rushed and confusing finale with so many questions remaining open and the character arcs incomplete.

Such redemption—the narrative buildup—ends up being turned into a hurried resolve that finally leaves enthusiasts cheated of a proper ending. That makes Gantz one of the manga endings worse than My Hero Academia.

3) The Promised Neverland

Emma as seen in anime (Image via CloverWorks)

While The Promised Neverland opened very powerfully, with tense psychological battles and high-stakes survival, came to an abrupt close, many plots remained incomplete.

This shift in what had been suspenseful plot lines, into a fantastical and overly convenient ending was what let fans down, leaving them wanting at least something more confusingly complex and emotionally rich for closure.

Although My Hero Academia's ending was imperfect, it did have far more cohesion to wrap up the character arcs and overall story. This gives The Promised Neverland one of the manga endings that feels worse than My Hero Academia.

4) Fairy Tail

Dragneel Natsu as seen in anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

The ending of Fairy Tail is even worse than that of My Hero Academia. It had lesser, more warmed-over resolutions and relied excessively on friendship clichés. Fairy Tail concludes with a final battle that feels repetitive and lacks genuine stakes, as the characters triumph through the power of friendship in a way that feels predictable and unearned.

Additionally, many plot points and character arcs are left unresolved or hurriedly wrapped up, leaving readers unsatisfied. That makes Fairy Tail's endings more disappointing than My Hero Academia.

5) Tokyo Revengers

Hanagaki Takemichi as seen in anime (Image via LIDENFILMS)

The Tokyo Revengers manga ending received heavy criticism for the convoluted and overly complicated way it had to end. What worked in this series from the very start, with loads of potential through the well-executed time travel and character-driven drama, lost momentum as the story progressed to its final chapters.

The sudden plot twists and rushed closure of multiple timelines made the text boring. In contrast, My Hero Academia's ending, while not perfect, provided closure for the majority of the characters.

Although some beats were rushed in execution, at least this provided for a more consistent resolution compared with Tokyo Revengers, whose final arc just became a mess, placing it among the worst manga endings.

Final thoughts

Manga endings are a tremendous deal, capable of making or breaking a series's overall legacy. My Hero Academia's ending was imperfect but at least offered closure of some sort, which many other series have missed out on.

While fans deliberate on whether or not Horikoshi rushed his series, and whether Deku deserved better, we would be remiss if we did not appreciate the series in its entirety. Although it might not have given the readers a closure as well-received as Edward's or Shigeo's, Deku's journey will always be memorable.

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Edited by Tiasha