Gollini Family#
Valdo has been the leader of the Gollini Family since usurping control of the organization from his father. Following his takeover of the mafia family, they became a feared crime syndicate all over Europe, with even heroes in other countries being wary of them.
Valdo clearly holds his family in high regard, with them dressing in fancy suits and dresses and being adorned in jewelry as per typical mafia fashion. He goes a step further as he designs his family's fortress, Symbol of Paradise, with fancy decor, complete with statues of himself. Upon changing names, he also commands his group to refer to him as "Dark Might" instead of "boss". Despite this, he has no problem with threatening and punishing his subordinates should they fail him, as seen with Paulo and Simon, proving himself to be a ruthless leader.[1]
Unnamed father#
Valdo's father was the original leader of the Gollini Family. Not much is revealed about their relationship, although Valdo's father seemed to favor ruling his organization through honor and values rather than strength, something that clashed with his son's intense megalomania.
Valdo felt slighted by his father's ideals, stating how All Might became the world-renowned Symbol of Peace through nothing but strength. Valdo's father corrected him, saying that All Might was never defined by his power and achievements, but instead the strength of his will. Insulted, Valdo proceeded to gun his father down in his own office, killing him and seizing control of the Gollini Family.
Upon being defeated by Deku, Valdo realized that his father was right all along; All Might's strength was never what truly defined him, but instead his heroic will. Even then however, Valdo did not halt his actions or realize the error of his ways, instead taking the form of a giant monster and continuing his desire to conquer the world and rebuild it in his image.[1]
Paulo Gollini#
Paulo is one of Dark Might's henchmen. After Paulo allowed Ginji Kurau to escape with Anna Scervino, he wanted to make it up to Dark Might by killing Giulio Gandini and Deku. Dark Might permitted Paulo to go ahead, but warned him that he was on his last chance.
Shortly after Paulo and his minions were defeated by Deku and Giulio, the purple man attempted to flee, but was held up into the air by golems created by Dark Might's Alchemy Quirk. Dark Might acted as though as he was full of sorrow, saying that it pained him to do this, but called Paulo out for his repeated failures, saying that his sloth was a deadly sin and that he wouldn't allow any "bumbling idiots" to tarnish the Gollini Family's name. Sweating and panicking, Paulo begged Dark Might for one more chance, promising that he would never fail or disappoint him again. While Dark Might contemplates sparing Paulo as it would look good as part of his "heroic" image, he says that he will do so if they cross paths in their next lives. Dark Might chooses to drop him, with Paulo screaming as he plummets to his death down a hole summoned in the ground.[1]
Deborah Gollini#
After failing to dispose of Giulio and Deku and being shot by the former, Deborah presented herself to her leader and apologized for her failure. Dark Might was sure that Deborah wouldn't fail him again, something that the woman promised in fear of retribution. It is likely that Dark Might couldn't afford to punish Deborah as he did with Paulo and Simon, as she was the only one keeping Anna under control thanks to her Day Dream Quirk.[1]
Ginji Kurau#
At first, Valdo considered Ginji as an ally when he arrived in Japan, until he betrayed him. While Ginji managed to deceive the Gollini Family and escape with Anna, Valdo and his mafia crew soon managed to track the Tartarus jailbreaker down. Upon confronting him just after announcing himself as the new All Might, Valdo states that he suspected Ginji may have been compatible with Anna's Overmodification Quirk, but hadn't expected him to betray them, and decides to teach him a lesson. Enraged, Ginji rushes and tries to attack Valdo, but the latter launches a giant glowing fist at Ginji, immediately taking him down.[1]
Heroes#
All Might#
Dark Might holds a profound fixation towards All Might, admiring his unmatched power and strength along with his achievements and legendary status as the Symbol of Peace. He took this obsession to the extreme, using Alchemy to model his appearance after All Might's muscular form and owning countless photographs of All Might in a dimly lit room. Upon watching All Might's rematch against All For One, Dark Might took the hero's message to heart, believing that he was destined to succeed him as the Symbol of Peace. This led to him kidnapping Anna, wishing to use her Quirk as part of his plan to conquer Japan to lead the country's citizens to what he called a bright new future.
Upon appearing in Japan, Valdo unmasked himself and declared that he was the country's new All Might, wishing to take up the mantle of the Symbol of Peace following the original All Might's retirement, which left Japan in the hands of "amateur" heroes. After creating his colossal fortress, the Symbol of Paradise, and kidnapping the students of Class 1-A and countless civilians, Valdo contacted U.A. High School, saying that he would only talk to All Might himself.
Valdo was elated to meet All Might and immediately introduced himself, saying that he would be the one to succeed him. When All Might inquired about the safety of the students and civilians, Dark Might merely dismisses them, saying that the "specimens" are a valuable part of his plans.
All Might is disgusted by Dark Might's villainous actions, having never imagined that someone would twist everything he stood for so radically and pointing out that the mafia boss was the very opposite of him and a villain to the core. While initially shocked at being called out by his supposed idol, Valdo quickly brushed All Might's criticisms off, instead choosing to don the new alias, Dark Might. All Might told his evil imposter that he had already chosen a successor and that he would be defeated by the hero students he took captive. Upon learning of this, Dark Might became very interested in finding out who All Might's chosen successor was and seeing if the students could truly be called heroes, arrogantly welcoming the challenge they posed to him.
Dark Might admires All Might enough to take on his image, mimicking his bombastic and dramatic flair, donning his Silver and Golden Age hero costumes, and adopting a similar fighting style of dominating his opponents with hard-hitting blows, using Alchemy to create giant flaming fists in similar fashion to All Might's Ultimate Moves. Dark Might extends this obsession to the rest of the Gollini Family, angrily telling Paulo that they must be infallible like All Might was in his prime before disposing of him. Even bearing a small graze on his face after being attacked by Deku was enough to agitate him.
Despite Dark Might's supposed admiration for All Might, it soon becomes clear that he holds no true respect for the man himself or his heroism, instead looking up to his power, strength, and status as the world's strongest hero. While sitting down and enjoying a glass of wine in his fortress, Dark Might comments that All Might is no longer the legendary hero that he used to be, but is now just a retired old man and that the world must look to him as the new future, demonstrating his twisted desire to replace All Might, not as the hero that he claims to be, but rather as a self-absorbed, power-hungry villain who wishes to rule above all.
After taking enough damage in battle, Dark Might panics when his transmuted appearance drops and his original face is revealed, further showing how the mafia boss clings to All Might's powerful image, and is vulnerable and cowardly without it. Following his initial defeat at the hands of Deku, Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight, and Shoto, Dark Might realized that his father was right and that All Might's power was never what defined him.
Izuku Midoriya#
Deku first encountered Valdo when the Gollini Family arrived in Japan to retrieve Anna after she had been taken by Ginji. He was stunned by Valdo's uncanny resemblance to All Might in his prime, but his Danger Sense went into overdrive, signalling that this so-called "new All Might" was trouble. After swiftly taking down Ginji for betraying the Gollini Family, Valdo confronted Deku, identifying him as a hero-in-training before casually offering him a chocolate bar. Despite the seemingly harmless gesture, Deku quickly realized Valdo was nothing like the hero he idolized.
Valdo dismissed Deku's concerns, claiming a "naïve child" couldn't possibly understand what he stood for. He then used Alchemy to create cameras and recording drones, hijacking Japan's news networks to broadcast a bold declaration. In his announcement, Valdo proclaimed that, with All Might retired and "amateurs" left to protect Japan, abandoned by other nations in their darkest hour, he would step in as the new Symbol of Peace and "embodiment of justice". Quoting All Might's final words as a hero, he declared, "Now, it's my turn." However, Deku interrupts the broadcast, flying in to confront him. He condemned Valdo's version of "justice", accusing him of resorting to excessive violence and reckless destruction, something All Might would never condone. Though Valdo bore All Might's image, Deku saw through the façade. Valdo merely scoffed, telling Deku he'd soon regret those words.
Not long after, Deku and his classmates were captured and held hostage inside Dark Might's newly constructed stronghold. When Deku faced Dark Might again, the villain immediately noticed he could wield multiple Quirks and questioned if he was All Might's successor. Deku attempted to strike, but the imposter immobilized him before launching him across the fortress with a devastating Bologna Smash.
Among all the enemies Deku has faced, none have provoked him quite like Dark Might. Both he and his close friends, Dynamight and Shoto, are deeply disturbed by Dark Might's grotesque imitation of All Might, twisting their mentor's legacy into something monstrous. Teaming up with Giulio to rescue Anna, Deku eventually uncovers the truth: Dark Might is none other than the true head of the Gollini Family, Europe's most dangerous crime syndicate, with his goal being to destroy U.A. High School and dominate Japan under his warped vision of justice.
Deku refuses to listen to Dark Might's self-righteous monologues, seeing right through the façade. Determined to save Anna and stop the villain once and for all, he engages in a brutal battle. Ultimately, Deku triumphs, obliterating Dark Might's monstrous form and leveling the entire fortress, bringing an end to his reign of terror.[1]
Katsuki Bakugo#
Dark Might and Dynamight first encounter each other when the villain personally confronts Team 2 of Class 1-A in the fortress's night carnival biome. Seeing Dynamight as a potential successor candidate to All Might, Dark Might offers him and his teammates the opportunity to join his quest to become the next Symbol of Peace. Dynamight immediately rejects the offer with open contempt, mocking Dark Might's costume as ridiculous and calling him an "obnoxious idiot", a reaction that visibly enrages the mafia boss. Rather than eliminating the team outright, Dark Might decides to test them by sending them to an underground dungeon to face Simon's Monster Summon Quirk.
Dynamight despises Dark Might for warping the image of his childhood idol, All Might, into a power-hungry villain, viewing him not as a worthy successor to the hero, but a warped impostor who hides cowardice and selfishness behind a stolen image of heroism. During their battle in Symbol of Paradise, Dark Might praises him and his teammates for their power, acknowledging them as worthy pupils of All Might. However, this doesn't stop him from taunting them for being unable to cause major damage to him, something which particularly irks Dynamight. The young hero shows no mercy to him throughout the fight, relentlessly attacking him and blasting off part of his bodysuit to reveal his true face. Shortly afterwards, he contributes to taking down Dark Might's monster form along with Dynamight and Shoto.[1]
Shoto Todoroki#
During their battle, Dark Might expresses a measure of respect for Shoto, recognizing him and his allies as incredibly formidable, something he anticipated from students of All Might, though he still mocks them for barely grazing him. In contrast, Shoto harbors deep contempt for Dark Might, seeing him as a perverse mockery of the hero he admires. He confronts the villain, voicing his respect for All Might and condemning Dark Might for using his power to exploit rather than uplift. When Dark Might mutates into a monstrous form after his Quirk is enhanced through Overmodification, Shoto joins forces with Deku and Dynamight to bring him down.[1]
Scervino Family#
Anna Scervino#
In his room full of pictures of All Might, a photo of Anna is seen alongside her father. Upon learning of Anna's Overmodification Quirk, which is capable of boosting and modifying other people's Quirks, Valdo led an assault on the Scervino Family mansion that laid waste to the household, killed Anna's father, and badly injured her butler, Giulio. After kidnapping Anna, the Gollinis tried to make use of Overmodification, but learned that only few compatible individuals could be boosted by the Quirk's effects. As a result, the mafia family of 20,000 people were culled down to eight remaining individuals, including Valdo himself.
After reclaiming Anna and having her brainwashed by Deborah's Day Dream Quirk, he brings her into his fortress, acting gentlemanly and saying that it was made in her likeness. A mind controlled Anna replies that it's exquisite as she sits beside Dark Might. He and his mafia group then proceed to use Overmodification to boost their own Quirks, readying themselves for the heroes in training who seek to stop him.
Dark Might was possessive over Anna due to the power she granted him, gloating to Deku and Giulio that he had grown attached to her. He forced her to repeatedly boost his already powerful Alchemy, all while ignoring the pain and anguish she was in. Upon being defeated, Anna's Overmodification fell out of cl and proceeded to transform Dark Might into a gigantic monster. Dark Might relished in the power that Anna gave him, claiming that he couldn't get enough as he proceeded to go berserk, and intended to use Anna and his new strength to conquer the world, even if it killed her.[1]
Giulio Gandini#
Dark Might and Giulio share a deeply antagonistic relationship rooted in their personal history with Anna. Giulio, once the Scervino Family's loyal butler, was severely injured during the Gollini Family's assault on the Scervino estate, leaving him with multiple prosthetics and the loss of his Neutralization Quirk's original functionality. From that day onwards, Giulio dedicated himself to tracking down Anna and bringing an end to the Gollini Family's control over her.
When Dark Might arrives in Japan with Anna in captivity, Giulio relentlessly pursues him. While Dark Might initially regards Giulio as little more than an inconvenience, his opinion changes after witnessing Giulio's persistence; after Giulio and Deku collaborate to take down Paulo and his henchmen, an enraged Dark Might decides to execute him, showing that he has begun to take Giulio more seriously.
Later, when Deku fights Dark Might in the Symbol of Paradise's dome, Giulio tries to shoot at the villain, though he easily defends himself from the gunshots with his Quirk. Annoyed at him for his relentlessness and for interfering in the battle, Dark Might brutally assaults him and kicks him through a large rock. He then decides to make an example out of him by killing him with a giant alchemical palm while also calling him a "nobody". Fortunately, Deku saves Giulio at the last minute by destroying the energy palm.[1]