My Hero Academia's Bakugo is a divisive character among fans, with some finding his fiery intensity off-putting while others appreciate his character growth. Compared to rivals in other anime like Naruto and Dragon Ball Z, Bakugo's development is considered lacking by some critics. Characters like Kuwabara from Yu Yu Hakusho, Killua from Hunter X Hunter, Satsuki from Kill la Kill, Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist, and Griffith from Berserk are seen as rivals with more depth and development than Bakugo.

Despite Bakugo's growth and heroic moments, these rivals display greater maturity, vulnerability, and complexity, surpassing Bakugo in character development. While Bakugo has shown improvement over the series, he still falls short compared to these well-established rivals. Ultimately, opinions on Bakugo's character will vary among fans, but it is clear that he has evolved significantly throughout the series.