Kaminari is My Hero Academia's most underused character, and his Quirk proves it

My Hero Academia's Kaminari Denki, with his electrifying personality and potent Quirk, was one of the series' most intriguing yet underutilized characters. Although he became a fan favorite thanks to his comedic antics and lovable personality, his combat potential remained significantly sidelined compared to other Class 1-A students.

Kaminari's Electrification boasted staggering attack power. Strengthening it further, he developed his ultimate move, Indiscriminate Shock, which was a prime instance of the power he holds. However, the series rarely tapped into the destructive potential of his Quirk, leaving fans questioning why he wasn’t portrayed more formidably.

Kaminari’s role often leaned more toward comic relief than that of a heavy hitter like Izuku Midoriya or Shoto Todoroki. In truth, his Quirk made him a truly untapped asset and one that could have shone brightly if given the appropriate narrative focus.

Disclaimer: This article contains the opinion of the author.

My Hero Academia: The potential of Electrification was testament to how underutilized Kaminari was

Kaminari's Quirk Electrification

Denki Kaminari in My Hero Academia (Image via Studio Bones)

Denki Kaminari's character was underused in the series, and his Quirk, Electrification, stands as proof. Despite his amicable and humorous personality, the narrative largely sidelined him in combat and underutilized his remarkable abilities. The power of Electrification became evident, especially as he gained greater control over it.

Speaking of the Quirk itself, Electrification enabled him to store and discharge electricity from all over his body. This energy could also be discharged over distances, but initially, he lacked control. If he released too much energy, it would shoot outward indiscriminately. Additionally, exceeding his wattage limit resulted in his brain short-circuiting, rendering him defenseless for an hour.

To counter this effect, he trained by running strong electric currents through his body to build a tolerance for it. Furthermore, he could absorb and neutralize electricity from other lightning-based Quirks. With time, he gained control over his power and developed his own moves. Indiscriminate Shock: 2 Million Volts is likely his strongest ultimate, showcasing the Quirk's raw destructive power.

Learning the ropes

Initially, Kaminari couldn't properly control his Quirk, which limited its effectiveness. His Indiscriminate Shock was a loose canon, threatening to affect everyone in his vicinity and subsequently rendering him defenseless, making him a liability. He would be reduced to a state of short-circuited brain and a comical cognitive dysfunction. This led to his relegation to a support role instead.

However, as the story progressed, Kaminari began to understand and grasp his abilities better. The support item he received massively boosted his control over Electrification, allowing him to direct his electricity with precision and considerably adding to his tactical versatility. Kaminari using his Quirk to derange his opponents while avoiding his allies during the Joint Training Arc was an instance of his growth.

Kaminari's contributions in major conflicts like battles against the League of Villains and in the Paranormal Liberation War are quite limited. For example, in the latter instance, Kaminari protected his team by absorbing a huge electric attack. While this was immensely brave, impressive, and very useful, his act of valor faded to the background as other characters stepped to the forefront.

The potential of Electrification

To elaborate on Electrification, Ohm's law reveals that volts alone don't determine lethality, but their interaction with resistance does so. During combat, where sweat and minimal insulation reduce resistance, even a fraction of such voltage can be deadly. This can lead to destructive amperage levels, capable of incapacitating and/or even killing targets.

Moreover, electricity is an extremely versatile energy form and can be used for both offense and defense. Kaminari's Quirk could potentially impair electronics, offset projectiles, and even form electric barriers to protect himself and his comrades. However, even these possibilities weren't enough to afford Kaminari the spotlight he deserved. Some might believe that Electrification's versatility puts him among the strongest in his class.

Sidelining such power adds to the frustration when counting its unique strengths. His ability to immobilize multiple opponents simultaneously would've been invaluable in large-scale conflicts. Moreover, possessing technology-disabling capabilities would be a game changer against villains reliant on mechanical support or gadgets. But these potential tactical benefits remained unexplored.

In conclusion

Kaminari’s comedic and lighthearted nature in My Hero Academia contributed to him being overshadowed as a serious Hero. While his personality undoubtedly livened up the story, it also limited his capabilities. Thus, there was a disconnect between his personality and his power. Unlike Bakugo and Todoroki, Kaminari wasn't given the same chance to grow into a prodigious Hero and evolve beyond his comedic traits.

Had the narrative properly focused on his Quirk, Kaminari could have evolved into one of My Hero Academia's most versatile and powerful Heroes. Further training would have allowed him to selectively target foes with deadly precision and protect civilians with barriers of electricity on rescue missions. Additionally, villains dependent on technology and enhancement devices wouldn't stand a chance against his technology-disrupting abilities.

Finally, Denki Kaminari and Electrification were a massively untapped bit of potential in My Hero Academia. Given its ability, versatility, and potential for development, Kaminari would have been a standout Hero. The series seemed to have missed out on this opportunity, focusing on other characters instead. Nevertheless, Kaminari could have been both powerful and endearing, proving that sometimes the brightest sparks go unnoticed.