Can You Watch My Hero Academia: Vigilantes without watching the original series?

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a spin-off series by Hideyuki Furuhashi. It is in the same universe as My Hero Academia. While the original series focused on Midoriya and other young heroes' journey into becoming pro heroes in a structured manner, and were guided by the most prestigious U.A High School. Vigilantes is a little different, it talks about the unsung heroes who operate outside the law to protect the public.

Naturally, fans wonder if they can watch or read My Hero Academia: Vigilantes without prior experience with the main MHA series. The short answer is yes, they can, but there is a high chance the audience might not fully enjoy it as intended.

Both the universe of My Hero Academia and My Hero Academia: Vigilantes have over 80% of their world's population possessing something known as Quirk, which gives unique powers to individuals. While the story is a prequel, it talks about the broken system of the Hero Association. Also, many characters reappear and get backstories, and we get clarity about them, which did not happen in the main series.

The story centers around Koichi Haimawari, who had a simple Quirk called Slide and Glide. He teams up with Knuckleduster and Pop☆Step to become the heroes of Naruhata. They take on villains when licensed heroes cannot reach them in time. Their character is developed uniquely, and none of them requires knowledge of MHA to understand or appreciate.

Also, the cameos of major popular characters are enjoyed by fans, but they’re not essential to following the story. For viewers who are just watching this spin-off series will see them as powerful figures who help the protagonist.

As someone unsure about starting My Hero Academia, they can ideally start with My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. It offers a compelling, grounded story that focuses more on individual character struggles than grand heroics or explosive battles. Another major appeal of this spin-off series is its length; with just 126 chapters, the story is completed. This means that the anime would not be stretched and could be over within 2-3 seasons.

Why should one watch My Hero Academia first over My Hero Academia: Vigilantes?

While Vigilantes stands solidly on its own, watching My Hero Academia first can enrich the experience in meaningful ways. The series introduces several familiar faces from the main series like like Aizawa and Midnight, so for fans who already know these characters, witnessing their backstories in Vigilantes will only add more emotional depth and context.

Additionally, My Hero Academia gives insightful look at how the hero society operates. From professional licensing to hero agencies and government regulations. This will help to better appreciate the contrast My Hero Academia: Vigilantes offers.

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To sum it up, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes can be viewed as a standalone series. It has its own characters, tone, and requires no prior knowledge of the main series. In fact, for some fans, this series is treated as a gateway to the My Hero Academia universe. It’s a smaller cast and a tighter narrative is a great point to reel in new fans to introduce them to the series.

Also, the art style is gritty, which again complements the storyline. Whether you're a seasoned fan or a newcomer, Vigilantes proves that heroism isn’t limited to the spotlight, it thrives in the shadows too.

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