My Hero Academia’s League of Villains is perhaps one of anime’s most recognizable and beloved antagonistic groups. Their role in the series is arguably just as important as Deku or Bakugo’s, since most of the conflicts in the show would not have occurred without Shigaraki and his allies.
Nonetheless, the popular manga created by Kohei Horikoshi hidesa significantly more sinister organization with a boss that far surpasses All For One’s vileness: The Shie Hassaikai. The Eight Bullets, Overhaul’s group of elite bodyguards, was formed by traumatized and often suicidal individuals, whom their boss never hesitated when taking advantage of.
The Eight Bullets Were Perturbed and Desperate Individuals
Chisaki Cared Little For The Lives Of His Subordinates
Among the ruthless and violent Yakuza group known as the Shie Hassaika, one faction stood out for its role in the organization: The Eight Bullets. These elite warriors were tasked with protecting the leader Overhaul at any cost. Despite havingone of the most powerful Quirks in the series, Chisaki hated to have to use it, as his intense germophobia prevented him from touching anything directly. As such, his guards would always stay close to him, preventing any harm from coming his way. While their interactions were brief, they revealed a horrifying truth about their relationship with the boss.
When they were introduced during episode #70 ofMy Hero Academia, fans witnessed howChisaki saw them as nothing more than expendable pawnswhom he could order to do anything. Their loyalty blinded them to the horrible treatment they received, as they were all indebted to the Yakuza group in one way or another. Their pasts, mostly tragic and traumatic, left them with little to no desire to keep living, so servicing Overhaul was their only motive to keep going. Since their broken minds prevented them from leaving the group, Chisaki had no issues regarding them as pets.
While in his presence,they were not allowed to breathe the same air as him, as it would contaminate his lungs, so he forced them to wear masks. In case Overhaul was ever in danger, his loyal pawns would sacrifice their lives for him, something easy for them as they were already looking for a way out. Worse of all, Overhaul was not above painfully killing his lackeys to absorb their strength and heal his injuries, as seen during his battle against Deku in episode #75,one of the best confrontations in the series.
Chisaki Profited From His Minions' Trauma
By Taking Advantage Of Their Weaknesses, Chisaki Amassed A Loyal Following
One of the few positive traits ofMy Hero Academia’s League of Villains was the fact that the members of this sinister groupacted like a family to each other. Most of the antagonists who joined this terrorist organization did, so after society at large rejected them. Their actions might have been misguided and morally reprehensible, but they believed that their battle could create a better tomorrow. Shigaraki, the leader of the group,saw himself as a hero to the villains, someone who could give them hope and unite them under a cause. Overhaul never once cared for his lackeys.
For Chisaki, the trauma that his pawns had to endure only made them that much easier to control. For example, Shin used to fear and distrust anyone around him, as his Quirk would allow him to identify any lie told to him. He began following Chisaki for his brutal honesty, believing that he was the only one he could completely trust. Overhaul never once told him he was a friend or tried to form a real bond, he simply never tried to fake one. The suffering of the Eight Bullets became Kai’s power.
Overhaul Was Far More Ruthless Than All For One
Chisaki’s Brutal Honesty Made Him Much Dangerous
The Symbol of Evil is undoubtedly one of the worst human beings in anime at large,often considered as the series’ only true villain. He is manipulative and cruel, motivated by a desire to own everything, no matter who he had to kill along the way. Although a true monster,All For One would rarely hurt his lackeys, as he still saw value in keeping them around. Chisaki, on the other hand, had no such beliefs and had no issue with letting his men know that they meant nothing to him.
Even though All For One was never known for being forgiving, he would avoid hurting his followers as much as possible, knowing that this would hurt their loyalty. Since the Eight Bullets were already blindly loyal to him, Overhaul could openly harm them, sacrifice them, or simplyabuse them physically and psychologicallywith the knowledge that they would never abandon him. The power he held over his lackeys made him a much more dangerous man than All For One. It is truly frightening to imagine the kind of atrocities Kai would commit with the power of the Symbol of Evil.
My Hero Academiais a series that never shied away from depicting the worst of human nature. Overhaul is a magnificent example of how cruel and twisted someone can become when consumed by power. The Eight Bullets, while completely irredeemable, were simple victims in Kai’s quest to prove himself superior to the rest.
My Hero Academia
Cast
Anime series My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where most have them. Despite his lack of abilities, he enrolls in a prestigious hero academy, striving to learn the true essence of heroism and fulfill his dream of becoming a hero.
