My Hero Academia is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi, which has since become a popular TV series. It follows the adventure of a boy with no powers born into a world of heroes. One such hero is Hawks, an enigmatic fan favorite, with a look and abilities similar to Warren Worthington III, a.k.a Angel from X-Men.
While Hawks the noble superhero is well-known, the man behind the alter-ego is more enigmatic. As is common in manga, you get to know the character's past gradually through watching their future unfold. Here are 10 things you need to know about Hawks.
Real Name
The character went by the name Hawks from the get-go, and even though his real name was already noted by official My Hero Academia character books, there was no mention of this in the fiction until issue #266.
During the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, it was revealed that Hawks' real name is Keigo Takami. The villainous Dabi drops the truth nugget to Hawks while fighting a losing battle, hoping to regain control.
Appearance
Hawks is a slim man of average height and, on occasion, has mentioned that he feels the broadness of his back is inadequate. He has fluffy blonde hair, usually slicked back lazily, sure to leave a few strands sticking up or hanging loose.
Hawks' eyes are "golden-brown" and unusually triangular for a human. He has thick eyebrows and a 5 o'clock shadow, along with two massive red wings protruding from his back. These wings are feathered, with longer feathers the further down the wing one gets.
Costume
Hawks wears a black T-shirt bearing a cryptic golden pattern akin to a crop circle. His boots are black and his trousers are tan-colored, both giving the impression of an aviator's uniform.
Hawks' jacket is similar but also features a high, wide collar, wing holes, and a thick inner lining of fur which extends to the collar and cuffs. He also has two square studs in his earlobes and usually dons a yellow visor and yellow earphones.
Quirk
Keigo's Quirk is "Fierce/Mighty Wings," which grants him 2 large red feathered wings on his back and consequently the ability to fly. He can also telepathically control the movement of every individual feather, often using them as projectiles. The feathers are incredibly strong and sensitive, giving him powers similar to echolocation.
A drawback of these incredibly resilient wings is that they shed feathers until Hawks has none, then it takes two days for them to grow back. Hawks often has to be selective about how and when he uses his powers and can't always save everyone.
Other Abilities
While Hawks will be the first to admit he's not among the most physically strong heroes, he makes up for it with extraordinary speed and agility. He is also extremely intelligent, cunning, and is a good improviser under pressure.
This, along with his wings' unique abilities, makes Hawks good with politics, spying, and playing both sides. He also seems to possess exceptional vision.
Allegiance
Although he is an independent and intelligent figure, Hawks has proven to be extremely loyal to the HPSC (Hero Public Safety Commission). He often acts sarcastically subservient and is often quite cynical about what's expected of him; however, he always carries out his duties.
Keigo doesn't show any particular desire for power and recognition, which may explain why he is more comfortable taking orders than giving them.
Personality
Despite being action-driven, My Hero Academia is known for its strong characters. While being inherently good and noble, Hawks is not without personality; he is known for being genuine, honest, and very talkative amongst people he knows.
Keigo has a laid-back, bordering on lazy attitude towards life and herodom, encouraging others to work with a similar attitude. Rick Sanchez would agree.
Work Ethic
Despite his laid back unambitious attitude, Hawks is committed to his obligations as a hero. He believes public opinion is the most important measure of a hero since it is a hero's job to make people feel safe as well as protecting them, but also claims this is something he's incapable of doing.
While committed to the cause, Hawks has stated he would prefer being among a lower class of hero where less was expected of him, where he could "take it easy" and not have to worry about setting an example while doing his job.
Scar
Dabi, a.k.a Blueflame, is one of Hawks' main antagonists and has shown up in numerous storylines. He has been affiliated with the League of Villains' Vanguard Action Squad, the Paranormal Liberation Front (formerly the Meta Liberation Army), and the Vanguard Action Guerilla Warfare Regiment: Violet.
It is Dabi that reveals Keigo's real name, opening up his back story to suspicious speculation. Hawks' was also once struck in the face by Dabi in battle, leaving a permanent patch of scarred skin down the left side of his face.
Goals
As a hero, Hawks knows it's his duty as a good guy to stop the bad guys and takes his profession seriously. As an individual, Keigo was never one for fame and attention and pursues a stress-free existence.
He has pondered his ideal role within the HPSC out loud on multiple occasions: A lower-ranking hero position where he can leisurely patrol the streets and enjoy his free time in peace, something we can all relate to on some level. It makes sense that a hero in the public eye would be the kind of person who sees a coma as a holiday.