My Hero Academia: Vigilantes started as a modest spin-off of one of the biggest Shonen series in the world. The manga quietly ran alongside the main series until it reached the final chapter back in 2022. It didn’t break any sales records, it didn’t make any headlines, and most of My Hero Academia readers don’t even know about the existence of this spin-off series.

Yet despite all of that, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes slowly but surely managed to gain traction among avid MHA fans. So let’s use this chance to take a look at some of the reasons why My Hero Academia: Vigilantes managed to win over the fanbase.

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A Modest Story

Just like any other big-name shonen series, My Hero Academia has a larger-than-life story. It is the classic heroes vs. villains story where the fate of the world lies on the shoulders of the main protagonists. A story where the chosen young hero fights against the old evil incarnate that has been terrorizing the world for decades. A story that is worthy to be shown on big screens all across the globe.

In this regard, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is the exact opposite of the main series. It is a modest story about a regular young man with an unremarkable quirk (at least that is the case for the first half of the series) who tries his best to be a productive member of society. He helps people around his neighborhood to find their missing wallets, helps the local kindergarteners to safely cross the roads, and catches petty criminals like pickpockets.

If My Hero Academia is akin to Iron Man and The Avengers, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is similar to Daredevil and The Defenders. Both are stories about heroes who live in the same universe, but while the former takes us to the sky, the latter keeps us grounded in a familiar neighborhood. It goes without saying that it is incredibly electrifying to see Deku and his classmates clash against evil overlords like Shigaraki and All-for-One, but there is also a certain charm in following the modest yet equally exciting adventure of Koichi and his ragtag band of vigilantes.

A Small And Lovable Cast of Characters

Along with its larger-than-life story, My Hero Academia also has a larger-than-usual cast of characters. There’s Deku, his fellow 1-A classmates, the other U.A. students, and the countless pro heroes that have graced the screens throughout the years. Add to that the numerous villains that have appeared thus far, and you get a Shonen series with one of the biggest cast of characters in history.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, however, takes an entirely different approach. The story of this spin-off revolves around three main protagonists. The kind-hearted young man with a great sense of justice named Koichi Himawari a.k.a. The Crawler, the energetic street performer Kazuho Haneyama a.k.a. Pop Step, and the rough and brawny old vigilante named Iwao Oguro a.k.a. Knuckleduster.

Sure, there are also quite a few supporting characters like other pro heroes and villains that appear throughout the series. Some of the characters in the main series also appear from time to time, such as Ingenium, Best Jeanist, and even the young All Might, just to name a few. That being said, the main story is still heavily focused on the struggle of our three lovable, relatable, quirky, and three-dimensional characters. So while the large roster of heroes in the main series makes for an excellent spectacle, it is easier for the readers to connect and care about the small cast of characters in the spin-off.

A True Underdog Story

Deku may start the series as a quirkless boy, but as soon as he receives the quirk of the number one hero in Japan, it doesn't take a long time for him to become one of the top heroes in his school. That’s why although his coming-of-age journey thus far has been quite heartwarming and inspiring, it is far from an underdog story.

The journey of Koichi Haimawari in this spin-off series, however, is without a doubt a true underdog story. After all, although he was born with a quirk, it is not an impressive nor useful power by any stretch of the imagination. As a matter of fact, he’s not even a pro-hero. He is just a young man who idolizes All Might and wants to do all he can to emulate his hero. This is the reason why he is always active in the community and later on, protects them by becoming a proper vigilante.

He suffers through a lot of hardships and faces enemies way above his league, but with sheer willpower and determination, he manages to find different ways to utilize his quirk to accomplish all kinds of seemingly impossible goals. This is not unique to Koichi alone, by the way, every member of his team is also in the same boat as Koichi. Pop Step doesn’t have a fancy quirk either, while the old man Knuckleduster even doesn’t have a quirk at all. And yet they still go out every night to fight criminals that are too small for the big heroes to handle.

Bear in mind that a good Shonen series doesn’t need to be about an underdog story. There are plenty of series that feature a strong main character from the beginning of the story, such as Spy x Family, One-Punch Man, and My Hero Academia, just to name a few. The fun and interesting part of the story is to see the growth and the journey of these characters.

That being said, who doesn’t love a great underdog story? We love to support the little guy who tries his best to stand up against the world. That is the story of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and that is also why (along with the other reasons mentioned above) the fanbase slowly but surely begins to appreciate this spin-off series.

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