Overhaul’s Skills and Powers (A Big Bad?)
Kai Chisaki, known as Overhaul, possesses a highly versatile and dangerous Quirk called "Overhaul," which allows him to deconstruct and reconstruct matter at a molecular level. This ability is both offensive and defensive, enabling him to:
Kill instantly by disassembling opponents with a touch (e.g., killing Magne with a single touch).
Heal or manipulate by reconstructing bodies, including fusing with others (e.g., Shin Nemoto and Rikiya Katsukame) to enhance his power.
Reshape environments to create advantageous battle conditions, such as spikes or barriers.
Create Quirk-destroying bullets using Eri’s blood, a game-changing weapon that could neutralize heroes’ powers.
His strategic mind (rated 5/6 in Wits and Technique in the Ultra Analysis Book) and ambition (6/6) make him a formidable planner. Overhaul’s goal was to monopolize the black market by selling Quirk-destroying bullets to villains and antidotes to heroes, leveraging Eri’s Rewind Quirk to restore the Shie Hassaikai’s former glory. His mysophobic, sociopathic personality and willingness to sacrifice subordinates indicate a ruthless leadership style, ideal for a "big bad" but potentially a liability in maintaining loyalty.
Shie Hassaikai’s Strengths
The Shie Hassaikai, under Overhaul’s leadership, had several strengths that positioned them as a potential "big bad":
Powerful Quirk-Based Arsenal: The Eight Bullets (e.g., Rikiya Katsukame, Shin Nemoto, Kendo Rappa) were highly capable fighters with Quirks designed for combat synergy (e.g., Rappa’s Strongarm paired with Tengai’s Barrier). Overhaul’s assistants, Chronostasis and Mimic, added tactical depth with their Quirks (time-slowing hair and object possession, respectively).
Quirk-Destroying Bullets: These gave the Shie Hassaikai a unique edge, capable of permanently disabling heroes’ Quirks (e.g., Mirio’s Permeation). This weapon could have shifted the balance of power in the criminal underworld.
Strategic Vision: Overhaul’s plan to control the black market through Quirk-destroying bullets and antidotes was a long-term strategy to dominate both villains and heroes, potentially outmaneuvering other groups.
Underground Network: The Shie Hassaikai’s labyrinthine hideout allowed for defensive operations and secrecy, making it difficult for heroes to infiltrate without significant planning.
Comparison with Other Villain Groups
To assess whether the Shie Hassaikai could have been the primary antagonists without the League of Villains, let’s compare them to the other groups mentioned:
Meta Liberation Army (MLA):
Strengths: The MLA, led by Re-Destro, is a large, well-funded organization with a massive following (over 100,000 members) and a philosophy of Quirk liberation. Its leaders, like Re-Destro and Geten, have powerful Quirks, and their resources dwarf the Shie Hassaikai’s.
Weaknesses: The MLA’s ideological focus limits their appeal to non-believers, and their large size makes them less agile than the Shie Hassaikai’s tight-knit group.
Comparison: Overhaul’s Quirk-destroying bullets directly counter the MLA’s Quirk-centric ideology, potentially neutralizing their strongest fighters. However, the MLA’s sheer numbers and corporate backing (via Detnerat) give them a scalability that the Shie Hassaikai lacks. Without the League, the Shie Hassaikai could have targeted the MLA early, using guerrilla tactics and bullets to destabilize them, but a direct confrontation would likely favor the MLA’s resources.
Humarise:
Strengths: Humarise, from the World Heroes’ Mission movie, is a global cult with a fanatical belief in eliminating Quirks, led by Flect Turn. They possess Trigger Bombs that enhance Quirks to lethal levels and have international reach.
Weaknesses: Their dogmatic approach alienates potential allies, and their reliance on Trigger Bombs is less versatile than Overhaul’s bullets. They also lack the personal combat prowess of Overhaul.
Comparison: Overhaul’s goals align somewhat with Humarise’s anti-Quirk stance, but his pragmatic, profit-driven approach contrasts with their zealotry. The Shie Hassaikai’s bullets could counter Humarise’s Trigger-enhanced fighters, and Overhaul’s Quirk gives him a combat edge over Flect Turn. Without the League, the Shie Hassaikai could outmaneuver Humarise in Japan, but Humarise’s global network might pose a long-term challenge.
Giollni Crime Family:
Strengths: From Vigilantes, the Giollni Crime Family is a traditional mafia with a focus on organized crime, likely dealing in drugs, weapons, or extortion. They lack the supernatural flair of Quirk-based groups.
Weaknesses: Their conventional criminal operations are less impactful in a Quirk-driven world, and they lack a leader as powerful as Overhaul.
Comparison: The Shie Hassaikai’s Quirk-based capabilities and Overhaul’s strategic mind would likely overpower the Giollni family. The Quirk-destroying bullets could neutralize any Quirk-using enforcers, and Overhaul’s ruthlessness would outmatch traditional mafia tactics. Without the League, the Shie Hassaikai could easily dominate or absorb the Giollni family.
Creature Rejection Clan (CRC):
Strengths: Also from Vigilantes, the CRC is a cult-like group that despises heteromorphic Quirks, relying on numbers and fanaticism rather than high-powered Quirks.
Weaknesses: Their lack of strong Quirks and narrow ideology make them less threatening than the Shie Hassaikai’s versatile fighters and advanced weaponry.
Comparison: The Shie Hassaikai would likely crush the CRC, as Overhaul’s Quirk and the Eight Bullets’ combat abilities outclass the CRC’s rudimentary tactics. The Quirk-destroying bullets would further render their fighters ineffective. Without the League, the CRC would pose little threat to the Shie Hassaikai’s ambitions.
The League of Villains’ Impact
The League of Villains, led by Tomura Shigaraki, played a critical role in the Shie Hassaikai’s downfall:
Initial Conflict: Overhaul’s attempt to subordinate the League by killing Magne and injuring Mr. Compress created a personal vendetta. This miscalculation alienated a potential ally and set the stage for their betrayal.
Theft of Quirk-Destroying Bullets: After Overhaul’s defeat by Deku, the League ambushed his police escort, stealing the bullets and severing his arms, rendering him Quirkless. This crippled the Shie Hassaikai’s ability to recover.
Ideological Rivalry: Shigaraki’s chaotic, destruction-driven vision clashed with Overhaul’s calculated, anti-Quirk agenda, making cooperation unlikely. The League’s adaptability and All For One’s backing gave them an edge in the long term.
Without the League, the Shie Hassaikai would not have faced this immediate betrayal, allowing Overhaul to retain his Quirk and resources. This could have prolonged their campaign and elevated their status as a primary threat.
Could the Shie Hassaikai Have Been the Big Bads?
Yes, they could have been, but with limitations:
Strengths as Big Bads:
Overhaul’s Quirk and strategic mind make him a uniquely dangerous individual, capable of rivaling top-tier villains like All For One in direct combat. His ability to fuse with others and heal himself mid-battle gives him staying power.
The Quirk-destroying bullets are a trump card that could destabilize hero society, especially if mass-produced. Neutralizing heroes like All Might or Endeavor would shift power dynamics.
The Shie Hassaikai’s small, loyal core (Eight Bullets, Chronostasis, Mimic) allows for precise, high-impact operations, unlike the larger, less cohesive MLA or Humarise.
Overhaul’s vision of restoring the Yakuza and purging Quirks aligns with a world-altering agenda, fitting the "big bad" archetype.
Weaknesses as Big Bads:
Limited Resources: The Shie Hassaikai is described as a small organization on the brink of extinction, lacking the funds and manpower of the MLA or Humarise. Their reliance on Eri for bullets creates a single point of failure.
Overhaul’s Personality: His sociopathy and lack of empathy alienate potential allies (e.g., the League) and even his own subordinates, who fear him more than respect him. This contrasts with Shigaraki’s ability to inspire loyalty or All For One’s manipulative charisma.
Poor Tactical Decisions: Overhaul’s arrogance (e.g., antagonizing the League) and inability to adapt when plans fail (e.g., during the raid) undermine his strategic brilliance. His Fatal Flaw, as noted, is prioritizing strategy over tactics.
Dependence on Eri: Without Eri, Overhaul’s plan collapses. Her eventual rebellion, aided by heroes, highlights this vulnerability.
Scenario Without the League:
Without the League’s interference, Overhaul could have consolidated power by targeting smaller groups like the Giollni family or CRC, using his bullets to eliminate their Quirk-users and absorb their resources.
Against the MLA, Overhaul could use guerrilla tactics, deploying bullets to neutralize key leaders like Re-Destro. However, the MLA’s numbers and Destro’s wealth would require a prolonged campaign, which the Shie Hassaikai’s limited resources might not sustain.
Humarise’s global reach would be a challenge, but Overhaul’s bullets could counter their Trigger Bombs, and his pragmatic approach might outmaneuver their fanaticism in Japan.
The absence of the League would delay hero intervention, as the League’s actions (e.g., Twice and Toga’s involvement) indirectly aided the heroes’ raid. Overhaul could have fortified his position, mass-produced bullets, and expanded his influence before heroes like Deku or Nighteye could act.
Long-Term Viability:
Overhaul’s plan hinges on controlling the black market, which requires sustained production of bullets and antidotes. Without the League stealing his work, he could achieve this, but scaling up would demand more resources and allies, which his abrasive personality might hinder.
The MLA and Humarise, with their broader ideologies, could rally larger followings, potentially overshadowing the Shie Hassaikai’s Yakuza-centric goals. Overhaul’s anti-Quirk stance might resonate with some (e.g., Humarise), but his lack of charisma limits his ability to build a movement like the MLA’s.
The heroes’ eventual response, driven by figures like Deku and All Might, would still pose a significant threat. Overhaul’s defeat by Deku at 100% One For All (amplified by Eri’s Rewind) suggests that top-tier heroes could counter him, League or not.
Conclusion
The Shie Hassaikai, led by Overhaul, had the potential to be the "big bads" in My Hero Academia without the League of Villains, thanks to Overhaul’s powerful Quirk, strategic vision, and the game-changing Quirk-destroying bullets. They could have dominated smaller groups like the Giollni Crime Family and CRC and posed a significant threat to the MLA and Humarise through targeted strikes. However, their limited resources, Overhaul’s poor interpersonal skills, and reliance on Eri as a single point of failure would hinder their ability to sustain a long-term "big bad" role against larger, more cohesive groups like the MLA or the hero society’s response. Without the League’s betrayal, the Shie Hassaikai could have risen higher, but Overhaul’s flaws and the heroes’ strength would likely prevent them from surpassing the narrative weight of All For One or Shigaraki as the ultimate antagonists.
