My Hero Academia: Are Stendhal and Stain related?

In My Hero Academia, the villains serve a greater purpose than just being an obstacle for heroes to overcome. These characters, who play the role of the villains, are often mirrors or symbols that serve as a cautionary tale to society. The creator has introduced the main boss, All for One, to the chaotic violence of Himiko Toga; each villain represents a different consequence of society’s flaws. Yet one villain stands out among them—one who shook the very foundations of society and questioned what it means to be a hero in their world.

His presence in the main My Hero Academia series created waves among both the characters and the fandom. But what many fans don’t realize is that Stain’s origins lie in the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes spin-off series, where he went by another name, Stendhal. So yes, Stendhal and Stain are the same person.

The Vigilantes series takes place years before the main story starts, but during this timeline, Stain did not exist. Rather, a boy named Stendhal existed; he was already disillusioned with the modern hero society, believing it to be full of false heroes who only cared about fame and fortune rather than justice and sacrifice.

However, as Stendhal, he still needed one final push to transform into Stain and become one of the major antagonists in the main My Hero Academia series. Even as Stendhal, he was already powerful and mentally unstable. He acted as a vigilante, violently attacking both villains and heroes alike.

One fateful night, he fought against Koichi Haimawari (a.k.a. The Crawler) and Knuckleduster, two main characters in Vigilantes who operated outside the law but upheld a strong sense of justice. It was in this battle that Knuckleduster unknowingly helped push Stendhal into becoming the murderous Stain.

According to the spin-off story, it was clear that he was already mentally unstable. He believed he was the only one capable of enforcing true justice, and that most Pro Heroes were frauds. This black-and-white thinking, where people were either truly heroic or irredeemably false, left no room for nuance or empathy.

In many ways, Knuckleduster represented the kind of hero Stendhal admired: gritty, unafraid, and willing to act without a spotlight. But the older man’s refusal to mentor or reach out emotionally left a vacuum.

His transformation could have been avoided as he didn’t need more beatings; he needed guidance, purpose, and perhaps therapy. What he got was rejection and confirmation that society wouldn't listen unless you screamed loudly and violently.

Why some people actually agreed with Stain in My Hero Academia

What makes Stain’s ideology compelling isn't his strength. In the universe of My Hero Academia, the idea of heroism has become a commercial business rather than just focusing on actually helping civilians in need. The purity of what it means to be a hero has been tainted.

Fundamentally, Stain's belief was simple: only those who are selfless and righteous deserve to be called heroes. The extreme part of his ideology was that anyone in it for fame, money, or ego should be eliminated. In his eyes, it was only All Might who was a true hero and deserved to be praised.

Even viewers and readers of My Hero Academia have had moments of sympathy or agreement with Stain. His actions were wrong, but his message wasn’t without merit. In a world where justice has become branding, where even children like Todoroki carry generational trauma, Stain forced everyone to confront a fundamental question: what does it truly mean to be a hero in a world where noble acts are commodified?

Final thoughts

While Stain and Stendhal are the same person in My Hero Academia, the only difference between them is that Stain became a cautionary tale to the world. This character is a product of a flawed society, failed mentorship, and a mind spiraling into obsession. In the end, he shows everyone what happens when society elevates image over impact, when the system prioritizes power over purpose, and when people who seek justice are left alone in their madness.

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