The fifth season of My Hero Academia has begun, and the storyline is about to take another turn. The Alliance of Villains, their arch-rival, becomes even more evil in the episode where they clash with the Paranormal Liberation Army. So, today, I'd like to introduce the Paranormal Liberation Army, the group that clashes with Tomura Shigaraki and his team in Season 5!
What exactly is the Paranormal Liberation Army, an extremist organization?
When humanity first began to awaken to their mysterious powers, "quirks" were called "superpowers." While quirks are commonplace today, those who wielded superpowers at the time were sometimes subjected to unfair discrimination. A leader named Destro stepped up to fight this. However, he lost out in a conflict with a country that was pushing for legislation prohibiting the indiscriminate use of quirks. Destro was arrested, and the Paranormal Liberation Army was thought to have been disbanded.
Reunited! The new Paranormal Liberation Army, led by Re-Destro!
Destro was arrested, but his ideology remained, and his son, under the name Re-Destro, re-formed the Para-Powered Liberation Army. Based in Dorohana City, Aichi Prefecture, the organization's majority of residents share its ideology. With 116,516 members, it is the largest enemy organization appearing in the series. Furthermore, its executives, including Re-Destro, include CEOs of major corporations, politicians, professional heroes, and even police officers.
The Para-Powered Liberation Army launches a war against the League of Villains!
The Paranormal Liberation Army then captured and tortured Giran, a broker with the Alliance, and contacted the Alliance. Their goal was to wage war against the Alliance. The reason for the conflict was that the Alliance had become too well-known as villains. By destroying the Alliance, the Paranormal Liberation Army aimed to demonstrate to society that they were a greater threat than the Alliance. The Paranormal Liberation Army lured the Alliance's executives to their base.
Comrades of the Revolution! Introducing the Members of the Paranormal Liberation Army!
First Leader of the Paranormal Liberation Army: Destro
His real name is Chusei Yotsubashi. He organized the Paranormal Liberation Army over the free use of Quirks and was its first leader, repeatedly fighting against the government. He united like-minded paranormal users and confronted the government, which was promoting legal reform, but he was defeated, arrested, and committed suicide in prison. However, Destro's autobiography, "The Paranormal Liberation Front," which he wrote in prison, was later published, and his will was passed down to his son, Li Destro.
Current Supreme Leader: Re-Destro
His real name is Rikiya Yotsubashi. He is the current Supreme Leader of the Paranormal Liberation Army. His public face is that of CEO of the support company "Detranet," a financial powerhouse with significant social influence, including appearing in commercials himself. He possesses the charisma to unite the Paranormal Liberation Front's ideologically ingrained executives, and is revered by them as the reincarnation of Destro. While he always maintains control of his emotions, he also has a cruel and ruthless side, mercilessly killing those who do not share his beliefs.
Re-Destro's Ability: Stress
Re-Destro's ability is to convert accumulated stress into power. Due to the constant pressure she faces as the president of Detranet and the reincarnation of Destro, her power output is tremendous. By accumulating stress, her body becomes stronger and larger, even becoming giant-like in some cases. However, since the source of stress is stress, her power decreases when she no longer feels stress.
Public Relations Officer: Kyrios
Her real name is Kizuki Okito. She is the only female member of the Paranormal Liberation Army executive team, and her public face is that of the managing director of a publishing company. She is a curious and rather insensitive woman who bombards others with questions without considering their feelings. She is in charge of public relations for the Paranormal Liberation Army, and during the conflict, she conducts an exclusive interview with Toga Himiko. However, at the last minute, Toga, who has developed her Quirk and is now able to use Ochako's powers, drops her from the air and kills her.
Curious's Ability: Landmines
Curious's ability is to turn anything she touches into a detonator. There is no limit to the number of detonators she can create, but its power is modest. Anticipating Toga's Quirk, she plants mines in the blood of Liberation Army soldiers beforehand, causing damage by detonating them from the inside.
IT Company Director: Skeptic
His real name is Tomoyasu Chikazuki. He holds the title of director of an IT company and is a man in a military strategist's position, developing meticulous strategies based on collected information. He hates failure and stubbornness. He is obsessive and nervous, so he's the type to nag at things. He overlooks the trauma of Twice, also known as Bunbeigawara, and mentally pushes him to the brink, but this in turn leads to him overcoming his trauma. His character is based on Tomoyasu Chikazuki, a comedian from the comedy duo "Kinzoku Bat."
Skeptic's Ability: Doll
A special ability that allows him to transform objects of human size into puppets. He can also manipulate multiple objects simultaneously, and precise control is possible using a Detranet microdevice and his own communication system.
Liberation Army Warrior: Apocrypha
A boy favored by Yotsubashi and loyal to him. His real name is unknown. As a result of training his psychic powers without attending school, he has become a core member of the Liberation Army's fighting force, unleashing large-scale ice area attacks. He values strength above all else and usually hides his face with a hood, but in reality, he is a beautiful androgynous boy. The guidebook describes him as a boy, so he's likely male. A family with ice-controlling abilities appears in the story, but their relationship is unknown.
Apocrypha Ability: Unknown
The name is currently unknown. His Quirk allows him to freely control ice, solidifying water into ice. He can even control temperature, and the scale of this ability, which he has been honing since childhood, is extraordinary.
Leader of the Shinkyu Party: Trumpet
A politician who serves as the leader of the political organization Shinkyu Party. His real name is Hanabatake Koukou. He is a well-known politician, and his skillful speeches and the supernatural powers of his voice have a powerful influence, attracting many supporters to the Liberation Army.
Trumpet Ability: Incitement
His supernatural power, the electromagnetic waves contained within his voice, strengthens the mind and body of those who trust him. This power likely also subliminally spreads his ideas, attracting many supporters to the Liberation Army. During battle, he applies a group-wide buff to strengthen the Liberation Army soldiers.
The Mysterious Man of the Liberation Army
The mysterious man who grappled with Spinner and launched an attack. He's a familiar shaved headed fighter who ends his sentences with "shin" and is probably a liar. Does the author like comedians?
Mysterious Man's Ability: Unknown
It's thought to be the ability to grow thorns, but the details are unknown. It's likely we won't hear about it again.
[My Hero Academia] Paranormal Liberation Army Summary
Here's a summary of the Paranormal Liberation Army, appearing in Season 5 of My Hero Academia! In battle stories, the stronger and more compelling the enemy, the more interesting it is. The episode in which the League of Villains, originally arch-enemies, plays a key role and rises to great evil, is a crucial one in the story of My Hero Academia. It's one of the highlights of Season 5, so be sure to check it out!
