My Hero Academia has made waves as a high-energy, action-packed superhero manga and anime ever since its release in 2014. Its depiction of a world filled with superpowered heroes and villains is a great homage to comic books while telling an amazing story all of its own. One of the most exciting aspects of My Hero Academia's setting is the hero society created as a result of the rapid increase of humans with supernatural abilities called "quirks". In order to keep the peace in the resulting chaos, quirks were restricted by law, and only heroes with a proper license are allowed to use their quirks.
While licensed heroes are the focus of the main story, a side story called My Hero Academia: Vigilantes focuses on another side of heroism: those that are not licensed to use their powers in hero work, but do so anyway. These vigilantes are technically labeled by the law as criminals, even though they work just as hard to help people the same way that pro heroes do. While pro heroes are backed by the government, there are some things that vigilantes can offer that pro heroes can't.
How Hero Society Works
In order to operate as a pro hero, potential candidates must complete education at a high school specializing in heroes. They must then obtain a Hero License, which will allow them to use their quirks in their capacity as a hero. Most pro heroes will work from Hero Offices and employ newer heroes as sidekicks. Heroes generally perform rescues, battle rampaging villains, and help to evacuate civilians. In general, heroes are people who are allowed to use their quirks in order to protect society as a whole.
For everybody else, quirk use is extremely restricted. Using a quirk without a license can be punishable by law, although in general quirk use is acceptable so long as not too many people are being affected. This restriction is important because problems can occur if everyone was allowed to just use their quirk as they pleased, especially those with particularly dangerous quirks. However, this can also prevent people from using their quirks in order to help people in need. Quirk restriction is an important part of the world of My Hero Academia, but it can also be a very inconvient limiter at times.
The Benefits Of Vigilantes
In the early days, when quirks were not regulated and quirk users often ran rampant with their abilities, heroes that used their powers to stop such villains and rescue people in need were called vigilantes. However, such vigilantes have been made obsolete thanks to the pro hero system and the quirk restrictions. Vigilantism in general is discouraged by the police and the government at large as well, although support from them is occasionally accepted by the public and heroes.
Still, vigilantes have advantages of their own. While pro heroes have a lot of reach and resources, there are many times where they can only respond once they have been alerted by the police. Vigilantes who are not beholden to pro hero procedures can respond faster and have a better chance of stopping a crime before tragedy occurs. They can also stop crimes that heroes wouldn't normally be called out for, like minor muggings and sudden street attacks. While vigilantes can be dangerous because they don't follow protocol the way pro heroes do, their flexibility allows them to operate when other heroes can't.
Can Vigilantes Have A Place In Hero Society?
Pro heroes do a lot to keep the peace in a world filled with superpowered humans, but even All Might can't be everywhere at once. Whether it's because they aren't on call, or they're busy dealing with another crime, there are always blind spots that pro heroes can't always deal with. In these situations, vigilantes can fill in the gaps that pro heroes can't fill. Even in a situation where they can't beat a villain, they can at least buy time until a suitable hero arrives to finish the job. Vigilantes also don't have to deal with a lot of the media attention and branding that heroes have to deal with, giving them more time to conduct their hero duties.
While it's true that quirk regulation is important for establishing peace in a world of superhumans, these same restrictions can also leave people undefended in times of need. While vigilantism can be dangerous, it can also mean the difference between a tragic incident and a lucky escape. At the end of the day, vigilantes are merely heroes without a license, and while there are dangers to that, they can ultimately do more good than bad. Even if they are not recognized by the law, pro heroes and local vigilantes can work hand in hand in order to keep the peace in the city.