My Hero Academia: Vigilantes deserves as much attention as Horikoshi's series

My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi has a spinoff series called My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. The main series did well and is popularly known for its worldbuilding, Pro heroes, and intense fights. As the spin-off is in the same universe, almost 80% of the world’s population has a superpower known as Quirks.

While My Hero Academia is in the spotlight at a global level with its anime adaptations, movies, and merchandise. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes remains relatively underappreciated. The manga is written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, it still has the essence of the main series because Kohei Horikoshi has supervised this project.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is more than just a side story; it manages to explore topics that the main series failed to talk about. It reveals a darker side of society that is obsessed with legality, order, and turning heroes into commodities. In many ways, this spin-off series enhances the original storyline.

One of the most compelling aspects of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is its portrayal of heroism. In this series, the protagonist is not a licensed hero, it is something that was not covered in the main work. Koichi (The Crawler) does not have any flashy quirk; his ability is known as Slide and Glide.

It allows him to glide through any surface. If compared with Deku’s quirk, it seems like an insignificant power. And yet, what is perceived as a weak ability makes Koichi’s journey so compelling.

The main character is not seeking any fame or dreams of glory or becoming the “Number One Hero.” He helps people simply because it’s the right thing to do. In a unique way that My Hero Academia: Vigilantes portrays the true meaning of what it is to be a hero. It does not show the glamour and prestige that comes with being a hero. Rather, they stripped these themes and focused on the selflessness and danger of being a hero, especially the unacknowledged ones.

Every character in My Hero Academia is brimming with potential, and it centered around kids who were selected to attend the prestigious U.A. High School and their journey of becoming Pro Heroes. It shows us the life of the selected few who have been given the opportunity. But Vigilantes shows us what life is like for those without connections, privilege, or opportunity.

We get more information on how normal civilians view Heroes, and how underfunded the local police are, and their struggle to maintain law and order. These break free from the shiny layer of Hero society and show us how there is active corruption and negligence taking place that goes unnoticed by the Hero Public Safety Commission.

This series also gives us an idea of how villainy festers in such a rigid system. Characters like Koichi and his allies are forced to become vigilantes because support is absent. And their choice to break the law to help others does not stem from a desire to rebel, but rather out of necessity.

In this sense, Vigilantes serves as a form of social commentary, inviting readers to question the effectiveness of institutionalized justice and whether heroism should be something that’s regulated by the state.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a Prequel done right

Prequels are famously known to fail for numerous reasons, but My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has skillfully avoided this tricky situation. Despite being a spinoff, it has developed a loyal fan base. Many who choose to give this a chance and find themself being captivated by the storyline. Yet, it remains criminally underrated.

The best part of this series is that we, as the audience, not only get to enjoy a new main character, but a lot of well-known and loved characters also make an appearance, including All Might, Eraser Head, Miss Midnight, etc. To see younger versions of these characters is emotionally charged because they grow up to become key characters and fan favorites. Additionally, parts of their story are expanded that show how their pasts shaped who they became.

Aizawa, particularly, is given more attention, and his tragic past is revealed. This gives the audience an idea of why his behavior was aloof and distant. His backstory provides emotional depth that My Hero Academia only touches on briefly. Also, the main character is nothing like Deku, which is again refreshing to witness because the audience gets something new.

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In conclusion, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a story of unsung heroes who always go unnoticed. It’s a story about the people who don’t get headlines, who don’t have sponsors, and who risk everything without ever receiving thanks. It’s about heroism without the perks. As a stand-alone series, it is still peak storytelling, and it is high time that My Hero Academia: Vigilantes gets the attention and acclaim it so richly deserves.

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