Believe it or not, My Hero Academia‘s favorite Pro Hero Hawks wasn’t originally supposed to exist. Yep, that’s right, Kohei Horikoshi, the mastermind behind the series, openly admitted he created Hawks not because he wanted to draw a neat feathery dude from the beginning but because he was in a bit of a jam with the story.
And that’s wild, because now it seems impossible to imagine the manga or anime without him swooping around, making jokes, and stealing the show. Let’s break down Hawks’ strange origin story in My Hero Academia, why he was introduced so late in the series, and how he totally turned the script around.
My Hero Academia‘s Hawks: Horikoshi Almost Skipped the Coolest Pro Hero
If you were reading or watching My Hero Academia, then you might have had a little bit of a surprise when Hawks simply appeared during the Pro Hero Arc. Up until then, the spotlight had been bouncing between Class 1-A’s training, All Might’s downfall, and the villains’ creepy rise to power.
And then bam, out of nowhere appears a guy with giant red wings, sharp humor, and the sort of confidence like he’s been a part of the series for ages. But here’s the kicker: Horikoshi admitted in the Ultra Analysis book, during a convo with Bleach
I created Hawks because I needed someone to fulfill a specific role for the sake of advancing the plot.
So basically, Hawks wasn’t born out of inspiration; he was born out of desperation. Horikoshi needed a hero who could shake things up and stop the villains from stealing all the spotlight. So yeah, Hawks wasn’t just a flashy addition. He was literally the glue that held the balance between heroes and villains together.
The Rise of Hawks: From Last-Minute Character to My Hero Academia Icon
What’s amusing is that Hawks might have easily remained a dull ‘plot tool’ if Horikoshi hadn’t made him so ridiculously likable. He has the ideal balance of sarcasm, laid-back attitude, and natural talent that makes him impossible not to love.
And unlike other Pro Heroes seeking fame or ranking up, Hawks’ ambition is surprisingly straightforward. And let’s be honest, that makes Hawks so much more likable than the person screaming about being number one 24/7.
Of course, his Quirk Fierce Wings sealed the deal. All the battles he gets himself into are a visual feast, with his feathers functioning as miniature blades, shields, or even rescue devices. He’s quick, flashy, and unpredictable, basically tailor-made for manga panels and anime fight scenes. No wonder he blasted off to the top of everyone’s favorites list.
So, did Horikoshi’s gamble pay off? Oh, absolutely. Hawks wasn’t supposed to exist, but his last-minute creation ended up saving the story from feeling lopsided and gave fans a new favorite hero to rally behind. It’s one of those rare cases where a ‘struggle character’ became an essential pillar of the series.
Actually, Hawks may be the prime example of how shonen manga tends to function: sometimes the coolest, most popular characters aren’t the original master-planned ones, but rather the ones made under pressure to address an issue. Horikoshi needed a bridge, and what he ended up giving us was a legend.
So the next time you spot Hawks swooping down with those stunning red feathers, just remember, he’s a living testament that even a moment of writer’s struggle can give birth to greatness. So, what do you think, would My Hero Academia have been the same without Hawks? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
My Hero Academia is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
