My Hero Academia: Tartarus, explained

Key Takeaways

• Tartarus ensures social harmony by imprisoning high-risk villains through state-of-the-art security measures.
• The prison's unique design includes straitjackets, high-tech chairs, steel-plated corridors and smart sensors.
• Inmates are closely monitored through cameras, guards equipped with high-tech weaponry, and visitation rooms that can be bugged to prevent escape.

at My Hero Academia In space, dangerous villains with powerful strangeness and evil intentions pose an existential threat to heroic society. As they wreak havoc, the heroes are forced to take extreme measures in a desperate attempt to stop them. Unfortunately, some villains thrive on chaos and are unperturbed by even the most vicious hunts that come after them. So once captured, the heroes go the extra mile to ensure that such villains never walk free again. For this specific purpose, Tartarus was established, a high-security prison specifically designed to detain unpredictable villains with dangerous quirks.

Not much is known about the history of Tartarus, but this prison has been home to several terrifying characters, including All for One, Hero Killer: Stain, Muscular, Kurogiri, and Overhaul. It was considered trustworthy enough to imprison villains. But why can we trust maximum security prisons so much? In this article, we look at Tartarus' security measures, unique design, and protocols to understand why the prison is so trustworthy.

What makes Tartarus special?

A state-of-the-art prison that locks up dangerous prisoners and ensures social harmony

Equipped with state-of-the-art defense technology and high-level security protocols, Tartarus is used to imprison high-risk villains. As a safety measure, the prison was built on an island about three miles from the mainland. The only way in and out of the prison is via the bridge that connects the island to civilization. Huge gates have been erected on both sides of the bridge to prevent forced entry, and each vehicle is strictly checked by guards stationed on the premises. In emergency situations, the bridge is designed to collapse one section at a time to prevent escape attempts or unauthorized access.

Tartarus is divided into six cell blocks specifically designed to detain inmates of varying threat levels. Some villains have very powerful traits and must be separated from others for security reasons. The worse crimes a villain commits, the deeper their cells are located on the island. For someone as dangerous as All for One, it means being locked in a cell 500 meters below sea level.

Once imprisoned, the prisoners of Tartarus have severely restricted freedom. Not only were they forced to wear full-body straitjackets, but they were also forced to sit in high-tech chairs supposedly equipped with high-tech gadgets that immobilized them. The hallways and doors outside the cells are plated with steel and designed to withstand the destructive force of the strangeness. Additionally, its heavily armored appearance makes escape attempts seem futile.

Besides straitjackets and high-tech chairs, Tartarus authorities use other methods to keep prisoners in check. Each cell is equipped with multiple cameras to monitor inmates at all times. Tartarus guards are always careful not to notice any strange movements of villains. As they deal with dangerous combatants, they are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and have the authority to use lethal weapons if necessary. To add another layer of security, every single conversation between Tartarus guards is also recorded and closely tracked.

In addition to cameras, there are smart sensors throughout Tartarus that monitor prisoners. Not only do they store vital information about prisoners, but they also observe subtle changes in their behavior. These sensors are smart enough to make decisions based on the inmate's thoughts. If a villain attempts to use his quirk, he risks being fired upon by an automatic machine gun.

In Tartarus, the worst prisoners were kept alive using feeding tubes and IV fluids. Police and pro heroes can talk to them to conduct investigations and gather information. This is usually done through a visiting room where guests can converse with the villain on the other side of a glass window. Like the inmates' cells, these visiting rooms are monitored and give guards a 360-degree view of the meetings. The room is equipped with a computer that continuously monitors the inmate's brain waves, giving observers a detailed understanding of what the person is probably thinking.

The visiting room in Tartarus is also bugged, allowing guards to see what conversations are taking place between villains and visitors. This is done to ensure that there are no security lapses and that prisoners do not have the opportunity to pass on information or use manipulative tactics to plan their escape. All security measures combine to make Tartarus a walled fortress that appears nearly impenetrable.

In a world riddled with conflict, high-security prisons like Tartarus provide citizens with the safety and assurance they need for social cohesion. It may be a bleak place for the inmates, but the overarching goal here trumps every individual's concerns, putting the safety and well-being of its people above all else.