(Nitsuj): Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Let’s talk about My Hero Academia. Published in the ever popular Shonen Jump magazine, My Hero Academia climbed through the rankings and became one of the best mangas in the magazine during its run. Its story engaging, the characters memorable, and the themes simple but used effectively. In the world of My Hero Academia you’ve got heroes and villains, but there’s a third faction in this world that doesn’t get much attention, the vigilantes. Guys and gals who operate outside the law for a cause. Most times it’s for heroic reasons, but other times it for personal or dastardly reasons. The main season never really touched on this third faction, so it only makes sense to have a spinoff series focusing on them. Written by Hideyuki Furuhashi, Vigilantes served as a prequel to the main series and ran from 2016-2022. While it didn’t reach the same level of popularity as the main series, it was a hit with the fandom, and some even liked it more than the original.
(Shizuku): Personally, I thought the original was better, but this was a good read.
(Nitsuj): Shizuku, so nice of you to join us.
(Shizuku): What, no shock?
(Nitsuj): At this point, I’m used to it. Plus, I know you’re a huge fan of this series.
(Shizuku): Right you are. With the main series being a big hit, Bones (Carole and Tuesday, Noragami, and My Hero Academia) turned the spinoff into an anime much to the delight of fans and in order to keep excitement around the series. How was it? Well let’s find out. This is MHA: Vigilantes.
Opening and Ending Theme
(Nitsuj): The opening is “Kekka Orai” by Kocchi no Kento. It’s a good song and one of my favorite openings from this year. The song just feels like an anthem for vigilantes who see those in trouble and can’t wait around for the hero to save the day. They have to save the day before it’s too late. The beat is good and the lyrics make it sound like it’s being sung by people who support vigilantes and thank them for saving the day when the heroes are too slow or overlook small details. I also like how the animation in the opening embraces its comic book inspiration.
(Shizuku): For the ending we have “Speed” by yutor. This is one of those endings I wasn’t a fan of when I first heard it, but revisiting it and reading the lyrics makes me appreciate it. The song is all about never giving up on your dreams and becoming a better person for tomorrow. Or just being there for someone and giving them the encouragement they need for the future.
Episodes 1-4
So the anime takes place before Izuku met All Might and entered UA. We meet university student Koichi voiced by Shūichirō Umeda (Akira from Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) whose quirk is slide and glide, he can slide on surfaces as long as he’s touching it in at least three separate places (Shizuku: That’s means two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot). Despite looking weird when he uses it the quirk is handy for traveling. The only downside is his speed is about as fast as a bicycle. During the day he’s just your average joe, but at night he works as the vigilante known as Nice Guy. Much like Izuku he’s a fan of All Might (Shizuku: Except, normal) and just goes around helping people and doing good deeds (he’s your friendly neighborhood Nice Guy). While out doing good deeds he runs into Pop Step voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa (Desumi from Love After World Domination) an internet idol known for her unlicensed idol events that happen in the streets (scene here: https://youtu.be/hkNF7XwNQpA?si=4zIgYnnT-OEbh93m). The two get attacked by these street thugs but saved by a real vigilante hero known as Knuckleduster voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya (Shizuku: Best superhero name so far). He beats up the thugs and was even impressed by Koichi’s courage and willingness to act in the face of danger. The two go back to Koichi’s place, where Knuckleduster explains he’s on the hunt for a drug known as Trigger. Just like the venom drug Bane uses in Batman, it increases the powers of quirk but sacrifices the reasoning of the user. Because these cases are so spontaneous, the police and heroes are always one step behind in finding the dealer of this drug, so Knuckleduster has taken it upon himself to stop these crimes from happening. Unfortunately, his methods are reckless. He just randomly interrogates people and threatens to punch them if they don’t comply (Shizuku: He’ll find his target. Eventually). Pop Star shows up and shows them how to use the internet to their advantage before Eraser Head shows up to arrest them (scene here: https://youtu.be/KAzInrO98_c?si=tCuHNWVmxVgMyQMw).
At the start of episode 2 Knuckleduster and Eraser Head fight each other. During the fight Eraser Head discovers that Knuckleduster is quirkless (and now he looks like a bully). At first, Eraser Head thought Knuckleduster had an enhancement quirk (Shizuku: Same here), but nope he’s all muscle and small brain. Because of this Eraser Head stops fighting realizing he’s not doing anything improper or abusing his quirk, so he can’t arrest him despite being suspicious as hell. While those two were fighting, Koichi and Pop Step chase after a businessman who apparently was at all the Trigger incidents meaning he knows something. They chase him down where he morphs into a giant black Goro from Mortal Kombat (or Machamp for those PG-13 and under). He manages to capture Pop Step whose quirk is Leap. She can jump great distances as long as she’s leaping from a surface. However, she gets saved by Koichi who finally confesses he always wanted to be a hero and got a chance to shine (Shizuku: Ship them! Ship them!). Eraser Head comes in to take down the businessman while our vigilantes escape. The next day the three continue to investigate the Trigger incidents where they come across another citizen using it and take him down where Knuckleduster does display a great understanding of quirks and how to counter them.
Not much to say about episode 3. During one of Pop Step’s concerts an over enthusiastic fan takes Trigger and turns into a giant eel hoping to do some “things” with Pop (Shizuku: Well that’s some old school hentai right there. Scene here: https://youtu.be/W4m6vwJC8tg?si=xCoT3xN-w29nd6QZ). She gets saved by Koichi and Knuckleduster and then make plans to talk to a fan later on in the hopes of getting clues on who the dealer is. Unfortunately those plans get interrupted by a girl named Kuin who is a part-time villain (Shizuku: What the hell is that? Gen Z, they’ll say anything to appear productive). She’s the dealer and has quirk known as Queen Bee which allows her to control bees (and I ship her with Candyman). Using her bees she injects a bunch of people with Trigger causing chaos but the heroes show up and defeat them all (scene here: https://youtu.be/d-qU2tYw6cg?si=ajhO3vLMJvXM_8WQ).
Still nothing much to say about episode 4. The only thing of interest is seeing Ida’s brother interact with Koichi and helps him improve his quirk use. The episode does a good job shining a light on his personality that the original manga skipped over (Shizuku: You really do understand why Ida looks up to his brother so much. And makes his fate all the sadder). We get to see him in action, see how he works with his team of support heroes, and even offers Koichi a chance to join his team. He also figures out that Koichi is a vigilante but doesn’t turn him in. While he doesn’t approve of vigilantes, he does respect them and believes they have a place in their society.
Episodes 5-8
(Shizuku): In the first half of episode 5 we find out Koichi saved a very young Pop Step in the past. When she was a child she tried to use her leap ability to jump over a river. But it rained the night before and she slipped into the river where of course she couldn’t swim (Nitsuj: Probably should have thought of that before jumping over a river). However, she was saved by Koichi who at the time thought she was a boy (in his defense she did look like one. Hard to believe the would be idol had a tomboyish childhood). Now that fate has brought them back together she’s been trying hard to repay him for everything he’s done for her. Koichi may have given up on his dreams of being a hero, but in Pop’s eyes he’s already a hero. In the second half of the episode, Koichi and Pop meet a new vigilante named Stendhal, a masked swordsman (scene here: https://youtu.be/Cbuhhxq4uaQ?si=dvo3dRaVyaFyLw5Y. (Nitsuj): Imagine Strider crossed with Goemon) who unlike them takes justice into his own hands. Not only does he fight villains, he straight up kills them (scene here: https://youtu.be/XX8XBeldn4Y?si=-wd-7KigFoYNR5KF. Okay, Strider crossed with Red Hood).
So in episode 6 we find out that Stendhal is the man who will become Stain (scene here: https://youtu.be/KLp02aAiXJE?si=ApNBpcwS6szBmNrU. Duh. Duh. Duhhhhhhhh~). However, unlike Stain who had a goal, code, and resolve, Stendhal is a guy who does whatever is necessary to defeat villains even if that means working with them (Nitsuj: He’s basically Stain without a moral compass). In the hopes of getting more data, Kuin tries to get Stendhal to fight against a drug-induced Soga (one of the baddies who attacked Koichi in the first episode). Soga straight up refuses the Trigger saying he’s going to fight using his own power which doesn’t sit well with Kuin who forcefully injects him with her bees (queen’s word is law). We see how even as a kid Soga was viewed as a villain by everyone around him so he decided to live that villain life (Nitsuj: We always create our monsters). With the Trigger-induced Soga, Stendhal tries to kill him but Koichi arrives and tries to save him. He tries to escape with an injured Soga but Stain licks that blood (still disgusting) and paralyzes Koichi. Luckily, Knuckleduster arrives onto the scene to save everyone. He manages to outsmart Strendhal, force him to retreat and help him find the resolve he’s been missing this whole time (scenes here: https://youtu.be/6qyIqtTZ4gE?si=vN0k099lwzr_UzgQ and https://youtu.be/6qyIqtTZ4gE?si=vDbXIeRu-DWIKuIS. (Nitsuj): Strendhal will return in MHA).
We focus on Koichi in episode 7 who is struggling in college thanks to his outside activities. However, Makoto, one of his seniors and a pretty girl, takes an interest in him and decides to help him study. They go back to his place (because let’s be honest, he ain’t gonna do nothing) where Pop has to hide and not cause a misunderstanding. During their study session we actually learn about vigilantes and heroes. When quirks first started breaking out there was a lot of social unrest, so vigilantes began appearing to keep citizens safe. When laws and legislation on quirks came into effect, vigilantes became recognized as heroes. However, not all of them became heroes. The hero licensing system was made in America and in Rhode Island of all places (Nitsuj: It’s about time they were known for something). The state had 189 vigilantes and out of all of them only 7 were recognized as heroes. The rest were recognized as villains because of the way they wielded their quirks which is the licensing system’s true goal. It wasn’t about authorizing heroes. It was about ‘defining true villains’ (managing a hero is easy. Defining a villain is difficult). Naturally, some people didn’t like this and felt it was the government playing big brother and stepping on their rights to use quirks. Before long this gave rise to vigilantism, known as public justice that opposes the licensing system and gives power back to the people (Nitsuj: So it all comes back to the safety vs freedom argument. Should the government be allowed to impose rules, laws, and control on quirks for the “greater good”? Or do we let everyone use their quirks freely for themselves and others without restraint and accept the consequences? No matter which side you pick there’s going to be negatives and positives to each). After their study session, Makoto asks Koichi to help her with her field investigation into the vigilante group that’s been popping up (Nitsuj: Did they decide on a name? (Shizulu): I was under the impression they were called Vigilantes). She believes that they can offer a fresh new perspective into the hero system and she wants to use Koichi as her meat shield/assistant. A few days later they hit the streets to get the public opinion on our vigilantes (Nitsuj: Koichi is creepy, Knuckleduster is scary, and Pop has a nice butt. (Corbin): Indeed she does). There is this one funny scene where someone steals Makoto’s laptop and his quirk is just dribbling a soccer ball while running away. He gets taken down quite easily and then we see Makoto’s quirk, polygraph. She’s a living lie detector and asks Koichi if he’s one of the vigilantes. Thankfully, he passes her test because she got his name wrong. Even if the public says his name is Cruller, it means nothing if the man himself believes his name is Crawler (scene here: https://youtu.be/m7ASYEACh2I?si=OpfR4VH-upr_w2en).
In episode 8 the group meets Captain Celebrity who claims to be America’s top hero who’s quirk is flight (can you guess what that is?). After dominating America, he’s decided to take his talents to Japan. Despite his cocky attitude, his skills are impressive, and he has saved a lot of people, but he’s also gotten into a lot of scandals and lawsuits in America (Nitsuj: No surprise there). So chances are he came to Japan to escape the controversy, or he’s no longer allowed to work as an active hero in America. As the episode goes on we see how much of a showman the guy is as well as a womanizer (the more you watch him the more you start to understand Stain and his cause. (Nitsuj): Shallow fuck). He even tries to put the moves on Makoto until it gets revealed that she’s friends with Celebrity’s wife and plans on putting any of his womanizing in Japan in her lawsuit against him (why she married the guy in the first place is a mystery). To cover his ass, he takes a few pictures with Koichi but Makoto suggests a full image change. Thus he becomes a yankee (Nitsuj: Obviously misinterpreting the meaning and everything).
Episodes 9-13
(Nitsuj): Episode 9 introduces us to Koichi’s mom. She’s come to visit to make sure he’s keeping up with his studies and living a proper life. He tries to show off saying Makoto is his girlfriend but she easily sees through him (Shizuku: She knows her son ain’t got game). Things get a little more complicated when Pop Star shows up but it’s Knuckleduster who saves the day for him and Pop. He reveals himself to be a civil servant and has recruited Koichi and Pop to help out (scene here: https://youtu.be/Ma8WOzfsLx0?si=FXLF-wrzrTYHkVxE). In the second half of the episode, we get some good action. While out touring the city with his mom and Makoto, the tour bus Koichi and them are on transforms into a cat bus thanks to a trigger induced cat (don’t be surprise if you receive a letter from Ghibli). Luckily, Ida’s brother and his team appear and move everyone safely off the bus except for Makoto who gets stuck. The bus speeds up and Ida’s brother is getting tired and needs a fuel recharge (Shizuku: Koichi! This is the time where you shine!). Koichi takes the drink and gives it to Ida’s brother where they team up to save Makoto. While Ida’s brother ultimately saves them both it’s Koichi who really stood out. Not only did he find a way to go faster and get Makoto safely off the bus before it crashed, but he also flew (https://youtu.be/yqyixwqiCag?si=_XmjdYkqCanfN5Bq). Yeah, in a shocking revelation we find out that Koichi could always fly as a baby. He was flying before he could even walk. His mom was always afraid that he would fly off somewhere and get hurt, so she started slapping him to make him stop (you slapped a baby? Do you have any idea of the emotional and mental trauma you might have done to him?). All of these years he’s had his quirk suppressed but now there’s a chance he can unlock his full potential and become a hero (scene here: https://youtu.be/wJ0c3O6MG0c?si=HnD8PCRPTDvnwyFA).
Nothing much to say about episodes 10 and 11. We do find out that Knuckleduster has a wife (Shizuku: Makes sense. What woman could resist him?) who is a catatonic state after being attacked by Kuin. While that’s going on Pop gets invited to perform with other local talents at a department store. In the days leading up to the performance we see Pop and the other talents work hard practicing the song and routine. Koichi gets roped in as Pop’s manager and helps them in preparing for the event as well. Once Kuin hears about the event she plans on crashing it but AFO stops her as he doesn’t want to attract attention to their operation. On the day of the event she causes a blackout anyway and gets found by Knuckleduster who reveals that her real name is Tamao and she’s his daughter (Shizuku: He’s a DILF? Damn, this guy gets more attractive).
(Shizuku): In episode 12, Koichi convinces Pop to use her guerilla idol tactics to keep the crowd calm until they can restore power. Meanwhile, Knuckleduster takes on Tamao who is actually possessed by the Queen Bee from AFO. It takes possession of other people to create her colony and then hops from host possessing them. In the past, Tamao was an inspiring musician and Knuckleduster felt she was wasting her time (Nitsuj: He wasn’t the best dad. He didn’t take the time to understand her and just dictated to her). After an argument, Tamao ran away where the previous owner of Queen Bee approached her and took possession of her body. Knuckleduster manages to corner Tamao who uses the Trigger on herself to fight him. She manages to get the jump on him using an electric attack and striking his chest to potentially kill him (even though her arm got messed up in the process, good move). After taking down Knuckleduster, she returns to the concert venue just as they restore power and tries to interfere but Knuckleduster returns for round two (Nitsuj: Can’t keep a good man down). After striking Tamao’s body with an enhanced stun gun that kills her (Nitsuj: Well that’s child abuse), the hive panics and flies out of her body through the eye hole (eww). Knuckleduster pulls out the Queen Bee and uses a pheromone gas that explodes on her and the rest of the hive. Knuckleduster then uses a defibrillator to resuscitate Tamao back to life. However, one bee did escape and it gets caught by a new villain with a scar (scenes here: https://youtu.be/m-AWOkyQd-E?si=lpSNT_bOd_ZH-2vT, https://youtu.be/11lObI2VAmg?si=daYtdJ1bmkg2DEy8, https://youtu.be/A7gQ1rJ4dPE?si=3Yq9HhUkcF6OhFLL, and https://youtu.be/A7gQ1rJ4dPE?si=LhsbISYzIjnr2RCa).
In the final episode there’s not much to say. Pop continues performing at the department store with the others acting as an MC, bringing in more talents, and occasionally getting a hero to stop by. Knuckleduster got Tamao to a hospital in time and seems to have hung up his mask and dusters (Nitsuj: A real shame but understandable. He accomplished his mission, there’s no need for him to continue his activities). However, it is implied that his wife unfortunately passed away shortly after he arrived at the hospital with Tamao (damn). We wrap up with Koichi reflecting on everything that’s happened in his life up until now and how he plans to continue his vigilante activites.
Final Thoughts
(Nitsuj): This anime was a lot better than I originally thought it was going to be.
(Shizuku): Agreed. The story is good and surprisingly has well written characters that are likable and steadily develop as the series progresses. The reveal of Kuin being Knuckleduster’s daughter may sound cliché but it’s brilliant and executed well. I like how the others were off doing their own thing and this was just a one-on-one battle between daughter and dad. It gets no attention and goes mostly unnoticed in the grand scheme of things just like a private family matter.
(Nitsuj): The characters are great just like Shizuku said. Knuckleduster is the best of the bunch and steals the show. His story is good, his innovation in taking down villains despite being quirkless, and his redemption at the end of the anime is done excellently. I don’t know if this will be the last time we see of him, but if is I think it was a great way to end his story. While Koichi does get overshadowed by Knuckleduster he’s still a good character realizing his potential and finding the courage to follow his dreams. I’m looking forward to what they do with his character in the future. Pop Star is one character who kind of annoyed me. Not to the point where I hated her, but her antics and tropes do get on my nerves. She obviously has a crush on Koichi and I do like how the two are connected to each other, but her antics of getting jealous of other girls and attitude take a good character and make her unnecessarily annoying.
(Shizuku): The side characters are good too. I like how we got to see Ida’s brother in action. He’s got a likable personality and a good team. You really do come to understand why Ida looks up to him so much. I like how Makoto isn’t your typical pretty girl who’s shallow. She has some good scenes and a good heart. She wants to do the right thing and has the best interest for everyone. Captain Celebrity is funny. He’s like a male version of Mt. Lady only worse. He’ll still heroic deeds but only if it gets him attention.
(Nitsuj): The animation is nice. While nothing to write home about I feel like this one kind of embraces the comic book aesthetics more than the original series which is cool and helps differentiate itself from it. The action scenes are decent. They’re not as action-packed as the original series and end a little quickly for my taste. Hopefully gets fixed in the next season.
Final Score
(Shizuku): My final score for MHA: Vigilante is 6.5/10.
(Nitsuj): I’m giving it a 6/10. A good series that had a good first season and planted the seeds for an exciting second season and future events.
(Shizuku): Is it better than the original series? Well save our answers for another day.
(Nitsuj): Until then, thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.