#yokumirumera

The Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC) in My Hero Academia is depicted as an organization deeply entrenched in corruption, operating under the guise of maintaining public order and the pristine image of heroes. While the series ultimately shows its downfall and a move towards reform, it's a compelling thought experiment to consider the ramifications if the HPSC had remained as corrupt as it was, continuing its dubious methods without significant internal or external pressure for change.

The Foundation of Corruption

As detailed in the provided document, the HPSC's corruption stemmed from a "Utopia Justifies the Means" philosophy. Their core aim was to preserve society's trust in heroes and maintain the status quo, even if it meant resorting to extreme, illegal, and morally reprehensible actions. Key aspects of this corruption included:

Assassinations: Employing individuals like Lady Nagant to secretly eliminate "stains" on society, including corrupt heroes, terrorists, and even protesters, without due process.

Child Soldiers and Brainwashing: Scouting young children with powerful quirks, like Hawks, and grooming them from a young age to be loyal agents, effectively brainwashing them and forcing them to abandon their identities.

Cover-ups and Manipulation: Fabricating stories (e.g., Lady Nagant's arrest) and concealing evidence to protect the Commission's image and prevent information leaks.

Abuse of Power: Overturning decisions of other hero bodies, conducting their own criminal investigations with questionable ethics, and even endangering students for high-profile missions.

Disregard for Individual Rights: Depriving individuals of fair trials and due process, prioritizing the collective "peace" over individual liberties.

Treating Heroes as Disposable Assets: Viewing their agents as tools to be used and discarded, as exemplified by their threats to Lady Nagant.

The Erosion of Public Trust and Hero Morale

If the HPSC had continued its corrupt practices, the most immediate and devastating consequence would be the complete and irreversible erosion of public trust. While the Commission successfully managed to keep many of its darker secrets hidden for decades, "rumours would spread about their illegal methods." With the increasing interconnectedness of society and the heightened scrutiny on heroes, it would become progressively harder to suppress the truth.

Leaks and Whistleblowers: The sheer volume of morally compromised actions would inevitably lead to more internal dissent. Heroes or agents, like Lady Nagant, who became disillusioned, would either actively work against the Commission or leak information, further exposing their misdeeds.

Public Outcry: Once the full extent of the assassinations, child soldier programs, and cover-ups became public knowledge, the faith that society placed in heroes would shatter. This wouldn't just be a loss of trust in the HPSC, but a deep-seated cynicism towards the entire hero system, potentially leading to widespread social unrest and protests.

Loss of Hero Credibility: The very image the HPSC sought to protect would be irrevocably tarnished. Heroes, even those genuinely striving for good, would be viewed with suspicion, their motives questioned, and their actions scrutinized. This would make their work significantly harder, as public cooperation is crucial for effective heroics.

A Dysfunctional and Decaying Hero Society

A continuously corrupt HPSC would lead to a hero society that is outwardly stable but internally rotting.

Disillusioned Heroes: The best and most morally upright heroes would find it increasingly difficult to operate under such a system. Many might retire, become vigilantes, or even defect, creating a brain drain of genuine talent and integrity. Heroes like Hawks, who were "swayed partially into the Commission's ideals" but remained "conflicted," would either break under the pressure or become hollow shells of their former selves.

Rise of "Commission-Approved" Heroes: The heroes who remained would likely be those willing to compromise their morals for status, or those too deeply entrenched to escape. This would create a hero landscape dominated by individuals who prioritize obedience to the HPSC over true justice, further alienating the public.

Ineffective Crime Fighting: The Commission's focus on image over substance would severely hamper their ability to combat genuine threats. Their methods, such as assassinating potential criminals before they commit crimes, would be reactive and short-sighted, failing to address the root causes of villainy. Their "Oddly Small Organization" and "understaffed" nature, combined with their dubious tactics, would make them inefficient against large-scale threats like the Paranormal Liberation Front.

Increased Villain Power: Villains, particularly intelligent ones, would exploit the growing distrust between the public and heroes. They could easily expose the HPSC's secrets, turning public opinion against the heroes and recruiting disillusioned citizens to their cause. The moral high ground would shift, making it easier for villain organizations to gain traction and legitimacy among certain segments of the population.

Political Instability and International Condemnation: A government agency operating with such impunity would eventually face severe political backlash. Other nations would likely condemn Japan's hero system, leading to diplomatic crises and potentially sanctions. The "collapse of Japan" seen after the Paranormal Liberation War would be less about physical destruction and more about societal and governmental breakdown due to internal rot.

Specific Character Fates

Hawks: If the Commission remained corrupt, Hawks would likely be trapped in a cycle of moral compromise. His optimism would be crushed, and he might eventually become as jaded and broken as Lady Nagant, or perhaps even turn against the Commission in a more direct and destructive manner, unable to reconcile his true desire for peace with the dirty work he's forced to do.

Lady Nagant: Without the HPSC's collapse and Hawks's influence, Lady Nagant might have remained a hardened villain, or her trauma could have led to a complete mental breakdown, making her even more dangerous or entirely incapacitated. Her potential for reform would be non-existent.

Yokumiru Mera: Mera, who became the acting president and initiated reforms, would either be sidelined, forced to comply with the corruption, or driven to exhaustion and despair without the opportunity to enact positive change.

Conclusion

Non-Biased Analysis: Is Yokumiru Mera as Good as He Seems in My Hero Academia?

Yokumiru Mera is a mid-level employee of the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC), first appearing as the exhausted proctor of the Provisional Hero License Exam (around Chapters 107-121). He is consistently portrayed as an overworked, sleep-deprived bureaucrat who complains about understaffing but carries out his duties professionally.

Key Canon Traits and Actions

Personality and Role: Mera is depicted as tired, straightforward, and somewhat casual (e.g., openly lamenting his lack of sleep during the exam). He supervises Hawks' training as a child/teen, treating him relatively humanely—chatting casually and suggesting training improvements. Hawks later credits people like Mera for helping him retain some humanity amid the Commission's harsh methods.

Involvement in HPSC Operations: He participates in aggressive tactics, such as the trap to arrest Re-Destro (using a fake meeting that leads to an assassination attempt via Twice's double). During the attack on HPSC HQ, he tries to protect the dying President.

Post-War Role: Becomes acting President briefly after the original President's death, then steps down for Hawks. In the epilogue (Chapter 430 and timeskip), he continues as Hawks' close assistant, supporting reforms like better Quirk education.

Quirk Status: Unknown; possibly Quirkless, but not confirmed.

The HPSC itself is canonically corrupt: it grooms child assassins (Hawks, Lady Nagant), orders secret killings to maintain hero society's image, and prioritizes status quo over ethics. However, this corruption is driven by higher-ups (e.g., past Presidents). Mera is never shown initiating or enthusiastically endorsing these darker elements—he follows orders as a mid-tier worker.

Is He "Good"?

Positive Evidence: No direct malice; treats subordinates (like young Hawks) with basic decency; survives and aids reform under Hawks; author Horikoshi notes his name means something like "see goodness well," implying intentional positive framing.

Negative Evidence: Complicit in the system's flaws (e.g., the Re-Destro trap was ruthless). As a long-time employee, he knows about the corruption but doesn't rebel.

Neutral Conclusion: Mera appears as good as he seems—a decent, exhausted everyman bureaucrat in a flawed institution. He's not a reformer like Hawks nor a villain like past Presidents; he's neutral/pragmatic, enabling the system without being its driving evil. Fan discussions rarely paint him as secretly bad; he's seen as comic relief or a "tired salaryman" archetype.

No canon evidence (up to the series end in 2024) suggests hidden villainy.

What If Mera Wasn't Good (Hypothetical Scenario)?

If Mera were secretly corrupt or manipulative (e.g., a mastermind feigning exhaustion):

Story Impact: His closeness to Hawks could make him a late-series traitor—sabotaging reforms, leaking info to remnants like All For One supporters, or preserving old corrupt practices undercover.

Plot Changes: Hawks' trust in him (built since childhood) would lead to a personal betrayal arc, deepening themes of institutional rot. The post-war society rebuild could face internal sabotage, forcing heroes like Deku/Class 1-A to expose HPSC remnants.

Character Twist: His "tired" persona becomes a mask for ambition; perhaps he orchestrated elements like the Re-Destro trap for personal gain.

Why It Wouldn't Fit Canon: This would contradict his consistent portrayal as non-ambitious and Hawks' positive reflections. It'd feel like a forced twist, undermining the epilogue's hopeful reform tone.

Analysis & Speculation on Madam President (HPSC President) from My Hero Academia

Who she really is (Canon Facts):

Real name never revealed in the manga/anime. Her official title in Japanese is 公安委員会会長 (Kōan Iinkai Kaichō) = Chairperson of the Public Safety Commission.

Middle-aged woman, ash-blonde slicked-back hair, turquoise eyes, always in formal black/purple suit.

Served as Vice-President under the previous (extremely corrupt) President, witnessed Lady Nagant being groomed as an assassin, disagreed with the old methods but still covered everything up.

Took over after Nagant killed the previous President, imprisoned Nagant instead of executing her (part mercy, part example), and personally raised/recruited child Keigo Takami (Hawks) to replace Nagant as the Commission’s “perfect” undercover tool.

Public face: calm, reassuring, “we will protect society together” speeches.

Private face: ruthless pragmatist who willingly sacrifices morals, students, and individual heroes for the “greater good”. Forced Hero Work-Studies, sent Hawks to infiltrate knowing he’d have to let people die, etc.

Died off-screen during the Paranormal Liberation War when Twice’s double of Re-Destro attacked the HPSC building. Yokumiru Mera cradled her corpse.

Speculation & Theories about her identity / deeper connections:

She might be Hawks’ biological mother (crack theory but popular). Ash-blonde hair + turquoise eyes are extremely close to Hawks’ color scheme, she personally “saved” and raised him from poverty, extreme emotional detachment fits someone who gave her own son away to be a weapon.

More plausible: She was a former hero herself with a mind/control-related Quirk (hence understanding how to manipulate people so well and why she dislikes overt violence like Nagant’s assassinations).

She could have distant blood relation to the Todoroki family (ash-blonde hair appears in Rei’s side too, turquoise eyes are rare).

Some fans think she’s still alive (body never clearly shown, “death” only confirmed by Mera holding a body, HPSC loves cover-ups).

Her real name is possibly “Takami” (Hawks’ family name) or something we’ll never get because Horikoshi intentionally keeps her mysterious to show the faceless corruption of the system.

She is one of the most morally gray authority figures in the entire series — neither pure evil nor good, just the embodiment of “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” hero society.

Yokumiru Mera is one of the most morally “gray” yet ultimately decent adults in the entire Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC) sphere in My Hero Academia. He is not a saint, but he is also very far from being evil or even one of the worst offenders in the system. Here’s a breakdown of where he actually stands:

1. He is a direct product of the old corrupt HPSC system

He was personally in charge of overseeing teenage Hawks’ training.

That training included forcing a child to carry out assassinations, infiltrations, and other morally dark missions that Hawks himself still has trauma over.

Mera is shown chatting casually with Hawks, coming up with “improvements” to his training regimen, and being the one constant adult presence during that period. In other words, he was complicit in the Commission’s child-soldier program.

He never shows any sign of having objected to what they were doing to Hawks.

→ This alone makes it impossible to call him a purely “good” person in the conventional sense.

2. He is not personally cruel or power-hungry

Unlike the previous HPSC President (who openly ordered assassinations, cover-ups, etc.), Mera never shows sadistic tendencies or personal ambition.

His defining trait is exhaustion and apathy, not malice. He just wants to do his job and go sleep.

When he temporarily becomes President after the old one dies, there is zero indication he uses the position to grab more power or continue the worst practices.

3. He shows genuine respect and care for the next generation

His speech at the end of the Provisional License Exam (“Those who can’t keep up are doomed to fail… but those who failed still have a chance”) is surprisingly compassionate coming from a Commission official.

He personally sets up the remedial courses so failed students aren’t completely crushed.

Eight years after the final war, he is still working under Hawks (now President) and supporting Hawks’ much more humane reforms (expanding Quirk counseling, reducing the Commission’s shady side, etc.).

4. He represents “the system” that won’t rock the boat — but also won’t defend the old ways once they’re gone

Mera never tries to bring back the old assassinations-and-cover-ups era after the war.

He quietly accepts Hawks’ leadership and helps implement the new, kinder direction.

In the epilogue he’s basically just an overworked civil servant again, not a crusader for change but also not an obstacle.

Final Verdict

Yokumiru Mera is neither a good person in the heroic sense (he has too much blood on his hands from the Hawks era) nor evil. He is the embodiment of the exhausted, morally numb middle-manager inside a corrupt system:

He went along with terrible things when that was the norm.

He never enjoyed them or pushed for worse.

Once the system started to genuinely reform under Hawks, he adapted without resistance and even helped.

In short: Complicit in the old sins → neutral → quietly supportive of the new, better direction. He’s the type of person who will never start a revolution, but also won’t sabotage one once someone else (Hawks, the kids, society) forces it through.

The First President of the Hero Public Safety Commission: A Speculative Analysis of Power, Morality, and the Shadows of Hero Society

In the intricate world of My Hero Academia, the Hero Public Safety Commission (HSPC) serves as the bureaucratic backbone of hero society, ostensibly maintaining order in a world overrun by Quirks and villainy. While much attention is given to flashy Pro Heroes and iconic villains like All For One, the organization's shadowy underbelly—revealed through characters like Lady Nagant (Kaina Tsutsumi)—exposes a darker truth. At the heart of this corruption stands the unnamed first President of the HSPC, a male figure who preceded the female Madam President and met his end at Nagant's hands. Though canon provides only sparse details about him, his actions paint a portrait of a pragmatic authoritarian whose ruthless pragmatism shaped the HSPC's unethical practices. This speculative analysis delves into his potential background, motivations, psychological profile, methods, and lasting legacy, drawing from canonical hints in the manga/anime while extrapolating logically within the series' themes of heroism, societal control, and moral ambiguity. We'll explore how this enigmatic figure might embody the perils of unchecked power in a Quirk-dominated world, potentially serving as a cautionary archetype for the erosion of ideals.

Potential Background: From Idealist to Enforcer in a Chaotic Era

The My Hero Academia timeline places the emergence of Quirks around a century before the main story, leading to societal upheaval, vigilantism, and the eventual establishment of regulated heroism. The HSPC, as described in the provided document, was formed to balance influence between Heroes and civilians, overseeing licenses, investigations, and coordination with the police. The first President likely rose to power during the early-to-mid phases of this system, perhaps in the chaotic decades following All Might's debut or even earlier, during the "dawn of heroes" era alluded to in flashbacks.

Speculatively, he could have been a non-Quirk user or someone with a minor, non-combat Quirk—fitting the HSPC's emphasis on non-Hero leadership to prevent hero dominance. Imagine him as a former bureaucrat or law enforcement official from the pre-Quirk era, disillusioned by the breakdown of traditional order. In a world where Quirks amplified crime and inequality, he might have started as an idealist, advocating for strict regulations to "protect society." His ascent to HSPC President could stem from political maneuvering during a crisis, such as a major villain uprising or a scandal involving unregulated vigilantes. Drawing parallels to real-world intelligence agencies like the CIA or MI6, he may have been handpicked for his administrative acumen and willingness to make "hard choices," rising through ranks by proving his loyalty to the status quo.

Canon hints at his treatment of "workers as disposable assets, primarily using people from the underside of society." This suggests a classist or elitist background; perhaps he hailed from a privileged family that lost status during the Quirk singularity, fostering resentment toward "uncontrolled" elements. He might have viewed Quirks as a societal disease, necessitating draconian measures. In speculation, his early career could involve covert operations against early villain groups, honing his belief that transparency breeds chaos. By the time he encountered a young Kaina Tsutsumi, he was likely in his 50s or 60s, a seasoned operator with a network of informants and a personal history scarred by losses—maybe a family member killed in Quirk-related violence, fueling his ends-justify-the-means philosophy.

Motivations: Preserving the Illusion of Peace at Any Cost

The document reveals the President's core drive: maintaining the "phony illusion" of hero society. He operated under the premise that public faith in Heroes was paramount, even if it required eliminating threats covertly. His motivations appear rooted in a paternalistic worldview—society as a fragile construct that "regular people" couldn't handle without curated stability. Speculatively, this stems from a fear of anarchy; in a post-Quirk world, where 80% of the population has powers, unchecked corruption among Heroes could unravel everything, leading to villain dominance or civil war.

Why the escalation to using Pro Heroes like Nagant for assassinations? As crimes by organized Heroes increased (per the document), traditional methods—using disposable underworld operatives—proved insufficient. He likely saw Nagant, with her Rifle Quirk's precision, as the perfect tool: a symbol of heroic excellence on the surface, but a lethal enforcer in the shadows. His grooming of her from youth mirrors real-world recruitment of child soldiers or spies, suggesting a calculated detachment from empathy. Motivations here could include personal ambition—solidifying his legacy as the "guardian" of society—or a twisted heroism, believing he was the only one willing to bear the moral burden.

A deeper speculation ties him to broader MHA lore. Could he have indirect connections to All For One? While canon doesn't suggest direct collaboration, the President's methods echo AFO's manipulative style—treating people as assets, discarding them when inconvenient. Perhaps he encountered AFO's influence early on, surviving a encounter that hardened him, or even unknowingly benefited from AFO's chaos to justify HSPC expansions. His insistence on opacity ("lack of transparency was akin to brainwashing," as Nagant put it) might reflect a paranoia born from knowing villains like AFO thrived on exploiting systemic weaknesses. Ultimately, his motivations boil down to control: not just over villains, but over the narrative of heroism itself.

Psychological Profile: The Banality of Evil in Hero Attire

Drawing from Hannah Arendt's "banality of evil," the first President embodies an ordinary man committing extraordinary atrocities through bureaucratic detachment. Canon portrays him as cold and threatening—when Nagant questioned the morality of endless killings, he dismissed her concerns and implied lethal consequences for dissent. This suggests a narcissistic or sociopathic trait profile: high in Machiavellianism, viewing emotions as weaknesses and people as pawns.

Speculatively, his psychology could involve compartmentalization—a coping mechanism for the cognitive dissonance of upholding "peace" through murder. He likely rationalized his actions as necessary sacrifices, much like how All Might's mentor, Nana Shimura, grappled with abandoning her child for the greater good. But unlike Shimura's regret, the President showed no remorse; his veiled threat to Nagant ("silence her") indicates a readiness to eliminate even loyal assets. This points to a god complex, where he positioned himself as the arbiter of justice, above the laws he enforced.

His interactions with Nagant reveal a mentor-like manipulation. He "groomed" her, exploiting her youthful optimism (as seen in her excited acceptance of the HSPC invitation). Psychologically, this mirrors grooming in cults or abusive systems—isolating her, burdening her with secrets, and eroding her sense of self until she hallucinated blood on her hands. His death at her hands could be seen as ironic justice: the monster he created turned on him when his control slipped. In speculation, he might have had a Quirk related to perception or influence (though canon implies he's non-Hero), amplifying his manipulative prowess, or perhaps he was Quirkless, resenting powered individuals and using them as tools to assert dominance.

Methods and Operations: The Machinery of Covert Control

The President's HSPC operated like a shadow government, coordinating raids (e.g., Hideout Raid) while handling "dangerous cases" individually. His key innovation: weaponizing Heroes for wetwork. Nagant's assassinations targeted corrupt Heroes and villains, preserving the public's naive view of heroism. Methods included recruitment from vulnerable populations, psychological conditioning, and cover-ups—claiming Nagant's arrest was over a "Hero argument" to deter infighting.

Speculatively, his operations extended beyond Nagant. He might have overseen a network of agents, including precursors to Hawks' infiltration role. Tools like surveillance Quirks, black-site prisons, or even experimental Quirk enhancements (foreshadowing AFO's Nomu tech) could have been in play. His "disposable assets" from society's underside suggest human trafficking elements, exploiting Quirkless or meta-ability outcasts. The escalation to Pro Heroes indicates a strategic pivot during a "hero crime wave," perhaps tied to economic downturns or Quirk singularity pressures. His threat to Nagant highlights enforcement tactics: intimidation, gaslighting, and elimination. In a broader speculation, he could have influenced policies like the Provisional License Exam to weed out "unreliable" candidates, ensuring only compliant Heroes rose.

Legacy and Impact: The Rot That Lingers

The first President's death didn't end his influence; his successor, the Madam President, continued the cover-up, imprisoning Nagant to prevent leaks and grooming Hawks as a replacement. This perpetuated the cycle, leading to the HSPC's downfall during the Paranormal Liberation War, where Re-Destro's Double killed the Madam President amid the organization's hubris.

Speculatively, his legacy is the "dark side" Nagant lamented—a systemic corruption that eroded trust in heroes, fueling villains like Stain or Overhaul. His methods prefigured the series' exploration of gray morality: Izuku's empathy contrasts the President's detachment, while Hawks' conflicted optimism echoes Nagant's broken idealism. In the epilogue era (post-Final War, with Hawks as President pardoning Nagant), his shadow looms as a reminder of how good intentions pave hellish roads. Could unrevealed files expose more agents or scandals? Perhaps his influence indirectly empowered AFO by creating disillusioned figures ripe for recruitment.

In-Depth Analysis of the Hero Public Safety Commission’s Crimes in My Hero Academia: In-Universe and Real-World Legal Perspectives

Introduction

The Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC) in My Hero Academia is a government agency tasked with overseeing hero activities, managing interactions between heroes and society, and investigating high-profile criminal cases. While outwardly dedicated to maintaining peace and public trust in heroes, the HPSC’s actions reveal a deeply corrupt organization that employs unethical and illegal methods to preserve the status quo. This analysis examines the HPSC’s crimes within the fictional universe and evaluates their real-world legal equivalents, drawing from the provided document and contextual knowledge of the series. The HPSC’s actions—ranging from child exploitation to extrajudicial killings—highlight a systemic abuse of power that would face severe legal consequences in real-world jurisdictions.

In-Universe Crimes of the Hero Public Safety Commission

The HPSC’s actions in My Hero Academia violate ethical norms and likely the laws of its fictional Japan, undermining the very hero society it claims to protect. Below is a detailed breakdown of their in-universe crimes, organized by category, with specific examples from the series.

1. Extrajudicial Killings and Assassinations

Description: The HPSC employed Pro Hero Kaina Tsutsumi (Lady Nagant) as an assassin to eliminate perceived threats to hero society, including corrupt heroes, villains, terrorists, and even protesters. These killings were conducted without due process, targeting individuals who had not yet committed crimes or whose actions (e.g., protesting) posed no immediate threat.

Example: Lady Nagant was ordered to kill corrupt heroes and preemptively eliminate individuals suspected of planning crimes, such as two heroes entrapping civilians for bounties. The HPSC also implied that protesters disrupting the status quo were valid targets.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: These assassinations violate the principles of justice in the My Hero Academia world, where heroes are expected to uphold fairness and protect citizens. The HPSC’s actions bypass legal systems (e.g., trials or arrests), undermining the rule of law. Lady Nagant’s eventual rebellion—killing the former president after he threatened her for questioning these orders—highlights the moral toll of these actions.

Consequences: The cover-up of the president’s death and Lady Nagant’s imprisonment in Tartarus without a fair trial further demonstrate the HPSC’s disregard for legal accountability. Her false imprisonment under the pretext of killing a hero in an argument shows their willingness to manipulate narratives to protect their image.

2. Child Exploitation and Forced Recruitment

Description: The HPSC scouted and trained children with powerful Quirks, often as young as six, to serve as loyal agents. These children were stripped of their birth names, given code names, and subjected to rigorous training to become soldiers for the Commission. Families were coerced into compliance through bribes or threats.

Example: Keigo Takami (Hawks) was scouted at age six after using his Quirk to stop a car crash. His mother, fearing arrest for harboring a criminal, accepted a house in exchange for relinquishing Keigo, who was renamed “Hawks” and trained to serve the HPSC. Similarly, Lady Nagant was recruited in middle school and molded into an assassin.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: Forcing children into lifelong service, isolating them from their families, and denying them autonomy constitutes severe exploitation. The HPSC’s practice of renaming children and treating them as assets violates their rights as individuals. In-universe, this contradicts the hero ideal of protecting the vulnerable, as the Commission exploits vulnerable children for its own ends.

Consequences: Hawks’ internal conflict over his role in the HPSC’s immoral actions and Lady Nagant’s psychological trauma (e.g., envisioning blood on her hands when meeting fans) underscore the harm caused. The HPSC’s control over these agents’ lives prevented them from pursuing normal childhoods or independent careers.

3. Coercion and Threats Against Agents

Description: The HPSC ensured loyalty through intimidation, implying that defection or resignation would result in severe consequences, including execution or discrediting. Agents were treated as disposable, with no option to leave the organization.

Example: When Lady Nagant expressed reluctance to continue as an assassin, the former president threatened her life, stating she “knew what would happen if she resigned.” This prompted her to kill him in self-defense. Hawks, aware of the HPSC’s methods, complied with their orders despite moral reservations, fearing similar repercussions.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: Coercing agents through threats violates personal autonomy and likely in-universe labor or hero regulations. The HPSC’s treatment of agents as tools rather than individuals contradicts the ethical standards expected of a government agency overseeing heroes.

Consequences: The HPSC’s coercive tactics led to Lady Nagant’s rebellion and eventual imprisonment, while Hawks’ undercover mission for the Commission—despite his partial belief in their “greater good”—resulted in moral compromise and public exposure of their corruption.

4. Endangering Minors

Description: The HPSC implemented policies that put high school students at risk, such as lowering pass rates for provisional hero licenses and ordering students to participate in dangerous missions against their teachers’ objections.

Example: During the Paranormal Liberation War, the HPSC ordered U.A. students as young as fifteen to join the raid against the Paranormal Liberation Front, a heavily armed villain army. This led to severe injuries, with some incidents erased from official reports to protect the HPSC’s image.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: Exposing minors to life-threatening combat without adequate training or consent violates their safety and likely in-universe child protection laws. The HPSC’s disregard for teachers’ concerns (e.g., Aizawa’s objections) shows a prioritization of strategic goals over student welfare.

Consequences: The raid’s failure, with significant student injuries and societal collapse, exposed the HPSC’s reckless policies. Public backlash and the Commission’s eventual shutdown reflect the fallout from these decisions.

5. Unlawful Experiments and Collaboration with Villains

Description: The HPSC conducted experiments on Nomu, bio-engineered creatures created by villains, and ordered heroes to commit crimes to maintain cover during undercover operations.

Example: Hawks was commanded to infiltrate the League of Villains, conspiring with Dabi to stage a Nomu attack on a sea dock and presenting Best Jeanist’s body (in suspended animation) to feign his murder. The HPSC also experimented on captured Nomu, likely involving unethical scientific practices.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: Experimenting on Nomu—created from human corpses—raises ethical questions about desecration and unauthorized medical research. Ordering heroes to commit crimes (e.g., kidnapping, staging attacks) violates hero codes and likely criminal laws in-universe. These actions blur the line between heroes and villains, undermining public trust.

Consequences: Hawks’ exposure by Dabi via public broadcast revealed the HPSC’s complicity in criminal acts, further eroding their legitimacy. The Nomu experiments, if publicized, would likely spark outrage over ethical violations.

6. Cover-Ups and Manipulation of Public Perception

Description: The HPSC manipulated information to maintain the image of hero society, covering up their crimes and framing agents to prevent leaks.

Example: After Lady Nagant killed the president, the HPSC fabricated a story that she murdered a hero in an argument, ensuring her imprisonment in Tartarus to silence her. They also erased student injuries from official reports during the Paranormal Liberation War to avoid scrutiny.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: These cover-ups constitute obstruction of justice and abuse of power, preventing accountability and deceiving the public. In-universe, such actions likely violate laws governing transparency and government conduct.

Consequences: The exposure of these cover-ups by Hawks and Lady Nagant, combined with the HPSC’s collapse during the Paranormal Liberation War, destroyed public trust in the organization, contributing to its shutdown.

7. Abuse of Power and Corruption

Description: The HPSC’s leadership prioritized maintaining the status quo over justice, using their authority to justify extreme measures like assassinations, child recruitment, and experimental research.

Example: The current president, aware of her predecessor’s actions, continued to lock up Lady Nagant to make an example of her and recruited Hawks to continue similar covert operations. The HPSC’s willingness to sacrifice individuals for “peace” reflects systemic corruption.

Moral and Legal Implications in-Universe: The HPSC’s actions represent an abuse of their mandate to regulate heroes, turning a public safety agency into a shadow organization. Their disregard for due process, transparency, and individual rights likely violates in-universe governance laws.

Consequences: The HPSC’s collapse, the president’s death during Re-Destro’s attack, and the public exposure of their actions by Hawks and Lady Nagant ended their influence, with Yokumiru Mera and later Hawks attempting to reform the organization.

Real-World Legal Equivalents

The HPSC’s actions, if translated to real-world legal systems (using a framework like U.S. or international law as a reference), would constitute serious crimes. Below, each in-universe crime is mapped to its real-world legal equivalent, with explanations of applicable laws and potential penalties.

1. Extrajudicial Killings and Assassinations

Real-World Crime: Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Extrajudicial Killing

Legal Framework: In the U.S., ordering assassinations without due process violates federal laws against murder (18 U.S.C. § 1111) and conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1117). Internationally, extrajudicial killings breach human rights laws, such as Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to life.

Specifics: The HPSC’s use of Lady Nagant to kill corrupt heroes, villains, and protesters without trial constitutes premeditated murder. Targeting protesters also violates freedom of expression (ICCPR Article 19). The president’s threat to kill Lady Nagant for attempting to resign could be charged as attempted murder or coercion.

Penalties: Murder carries life imprisonment or the death penalty in the U.S. Conspiracy to commit murder can result in up to 7 years. Internationally, such acts could lead to prosecution at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity if systematic.

Example: Lady Nagant’s assassination of the president would be self-defense in some jurisdictions, but her prior killings under HPSC orders would be prosecutable as murder unless she could claim duress.

2. Child Exploitation and Forced Recruitment

Real-World Crime: Child Trafficking, Forced Labor, Child Abuse

Legal Framework: The U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (22 U.S.C. § 7102) defines trafficking as recruiting or harboring persons through coercion for forced labor or services. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 32) protects children from economic exploitation. Child abuse laws (e.g., U.S. state laws) cover psychological and physical harm.

Specifics: Scouting children like Hawks and Lady Nagant, isolating them from families, and forcing them into lifelong service constitutes trafficking and forced labor. Renaming them and denying autonomy violates their identity rights (UNCRC Article 8). Bribing families (e.g., Hawks’ mother) to gain custody is a form of coercion.

Penalties: Trafficking carries up to 20 years per count in the U.S., with life imprisonment if involving minors under 14. Child abuse penalties vary but can include years of imprisonment and fines.

Example: The HPSC’s recruitment of six-year-old Keigo Takami would be prosecuted as trafficking, with additional charges for psychological harm due to isolation and indoctrination.

3. Coercion and Threats Against Agents

Real-World Crime: Extortion, Coercion, Threats

Legal Framework: U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. § 875) criminalizes threats to injure or kill, with extortion covered under 18 U.S.C. § 1951. Internationally, coercion violates labor rights under the International Labour Organization’s Forced Labour Convention.

Specifics: Threatening Lady Nagant with death for attempting to resign constitutes extortion and attempted murder. The HPSC’s implied policy of eliminating defectors creates a coercive work environment, akin to modern slavery.

Penalties: Extortion carries up to 7 years in prison, while threats to kill can result in 5-7 years. Coercion in employment could lead to civil penalties and compensation claims.

Example: The former president’s threat to Lady Nagant would be prosecutable as a threat to kill, with the HPSC’s broader coercive culture potentially leading to racketeering charges (RICO Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1962) for organized criminal behavior.

4. Endangering Minors

Real-World Crime: Child Endangerment, Negligence

Legal Framework: U.S. state laws (e.g., California Penal Code § 273a) criminalize endangering a child’s health or safety. The UNCRC (Article 19) mandates protection from abuse and neglect. Ordering minors into combat could also violate child soldier prohibitions under the Optional Protocol to the UNCRC.

Specifics: Sending U.A. students to fight the Paranormal Liberation Front, knowing the risks, constitutes willful endangerment. Lowering license pass rates to deploy undertrained teens into dangerous situations exacerbates the crime.

Penalties: Child endangerment in the U.S. can carry 2-7 years per count, depending on severity. Internationally, using child soldiers can lead to war crime charges if in a conflict context.

Example: The HPSC’s order to involve students in the raid would be prosecuted as endangerment, with additional negligence charges for ignoring teachers’ objections.

5. Unlawful Experiments and Collaboration with Villains

Real-World Crime: Human Experimentation, Conspiracy to Commit Crimes, Desecration of Corpses

Legal Framework: Unethical human experimentation violates the Declaration of Helsinki and U.S. regulations (45 CFR 46). Desecration of corpses is a crime in many jurisdictions (e.g., California Penal Code § 7052). Conspiracy to commit crimes (e.g., kidnapping) falls under 18 U.S.C. § 371.

Specifics: Experimenting on Nomu, derived from human corpses, constitutes desecration and unethical research. Ordering Hawks to conspire with Dabi for a Nomu attack and stage Best Jeanist’s “murder” involves conspiracy to commit assault, kidnapping, and property damage.

Penalties: Human experimentation can lead to 5-7 years in prison, with fines for ethical violations. Desecration carries up to 3 years in some states. Conspiracy penalties include up to 5 years, with additional charges for underlying crimes (e.g., kidnapping, 7 years).

Example: The HPSC’s Nomu experiments would face charges for desecration and unethical research, while Hawks’ actions under their orders could lead to conspiracy and kidnapping charges, though he might claim duress.

6. Cover-Ups and Manipulation of Public Perception

Real-World Crime: Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, Fraud

Legal Framework: Obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503) includes falsifying evidence or narratives to impede investigations. Perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621) covers false statements under oath. Fraud involves deceiving the public for gain (18 U.S.C. § 1341).

Specifics: Covering up the president’s death and framing Lady Nagant for a lesser crime constitutes obstruction and perjury. Erasing student injuries from reports is fraud to maintain public trust.

Penalties: Obstruction carries up to 7 years, perjury up to 5 years, and fraud up to 7 years per count. Systemic cover-ups could lead to RICO charges for organized crime.

Example: The HPSC’s false narrative about Lady Nagant’s crime would be prosecuted as obstruction and perjury, with fraud charges for manipulating public records.

7. Abuse of Power and Corruption

Real-World Crime: Abuse of Authority, Racketeering, Corruption

Legal Framework: Abuse of authority by public officials can be prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 242 (deprivation of rights under color of law). The RICO Act (18 U.S.C. § 1962) targets organized criminal enterprises. Internationally, corruption violates the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Specifics: The HPSC’s systemic use of assassinations, child exploitation, and cover-ups to maintain power constitutes a pattern of racketeering. Prioritizing the status quo over justice deprives citizens of rights to due process and safety.

Penalties: Abuse of authority carries up to 7 years, with life imprisonment if death results. RICO violations can lead to 20 years per count, with fines and asset forfeiture. Corruption charges could involve international sanctions.

Example: The HPSC’s entire operation, from child recruitment to assassinations, could be prosecuted as a RICO case, with individual leaders facing charges for specific acts like ordering murders.

Broader Implications and Context

In-Universe Context

Systemic Corruption: The HPSC’s actions reflect a broader theme in My Hero Academia of institutional failure within hero society. Their obsession with maintaining public trust in heroes led to a betrayal of that trust, as their methods mirrored those of villains. The collapse of the HPSC during the Paranormal Liberation War, coupled with the exposure of their crimes by Hawks and Lady Nagant, underscores the consequences of unchecked power.

Reform Efforts: Post-war, Yokumiru Mera’s interim leadership and Hawks’ eventual presidency suggest attempts to reform the HPSC. Hawks’ pardon of Lady Nagant and cooperation with heroes like Shinso indicate a shift toward transparency and accountability, though the organization’s future remains uncertain.

Moral Dichotomy: The HPSC’s actions contrast with the heroism of characters like Deku and All Might, who prioritize saving lives over systemic goals. Lady Nagant’s trauma and Hawks’ conflicted loyalty highlight the human cost of the Commission’s utilitarianism.

Real-World Context

Legal Accountability: In a real-world democracy, the HPSC’s actions would trigger investigations, congressional hearings, and international scrutiny. The systemic nature of their crimes would likely lead to the organization’s dissolution, with leaders facing trials for murder, trafficking, and corruption.

Ethical Questions: The HPSC’s “utopia justifies the means” philosophy raises questions about the balance between security and ethics. Their actions parallel debates over preemptive strikes or surveillance in modern counterterrorism, where sacrificing rights for stability remains contentious.

Conclusion