Summary

Becoming a hero requires mastery over one's quirk & is harder than it seems.
Vigilantes are needed for immediate defense against minor threats heroes can't address.
Vigilantes gain recognition through experience & technology to match heroes' skills.

For almost a decade now, My Hero Academia has told the struggles and glamour of heroes' lives. It has shown how aspiring children grow into trainee heroes and finally contribute to saving the world. But becoming a hero requires mastery over one's quirk, and for the quirk to be useful in combat.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes tells the story of individuals who hold the same sense of justice as heroes. While being limited by their quirks, they contribute to society in their own unique way. But despite their efforts, they possibly can't surpass heroes, so are they really needed?

Koichi in the trailer for My Hero Academia: Vigilantes

My Hero Academia Vigilantes: Who Is Koichi Haimawari, The Crawler?, Explained

Meet Koichi Haimawari, the main character of the My Hero Academia prequel series.

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By Laura Gassert

Why Can't Vigilantes Become Heroes?

The path to becoming a hero might seem common since it was the focus of My Hero Academia. But once we get a broader perspective of its entire world, it's easy to tell that becoming a hero is much harder and rarer than it seems to be.

Joining a Hero Course

While not compulsory, it is a common practice for most aspiring heroes to join a Hero Course at a hero training school like U.A., Shiketsu, or Ketsubutsu. Here, students are taught the basics of becoming a hero. They not only improve their physical strength but also improve and widen the usage of their quirks. But most importantly, learn to work in teams.

But not everyone can join a Hero Course. One is required to pass a qualification test, which might be impossible for someone because of their quirk. This is exactly why, initially, Hitoshi was unable to join the Hero Course.

Obtaining a Provisional Hero License

The most important part of becoming a hero is obtaining a license that allows one to train as a hero in the real world. Even among the students from prestigious Hero Courses, only a handful can get a license on their first attempt, which makes it highly unlikely that someone without proper training will get a license.

Why Are Vigilantes Needed?

Evil Does Not Wait

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Accidents, attacks, and wrongdoings can happen at any second, and it is impossible for a hero to always be present to save the day. This is where vigilantes shine. They manage to immediately defend the defenseless from events that might go unnoticed by heroes. While heroes like All Might are busy protecting society from higher levels of threat, vigilantes deal with minor issues like theft, bullying, or simply cleaning the neighborhood.

All Might's not always available.

No matter how much we want him to come save us,

He's not going to drop in out of the-

Koichi Haimawari, MHA: Vigilantes, Episode 1

Trigger's Existence Justifies Vigilantes

In a world where the majority of people have a quirk, a drug like Trigger creates a major threat. One can instantly turn into a troublesome villain and hurt numerous people before a hero can even hear about it. But vigilantes like Koichi live among the common people and can immediately notice and fight against these instant villains. Working in smaller units, similar to Koichi's, allows them to deal with threats that would be impossible to counter with their individual quirks.

The Future of Vigilantes

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The thing that separates heroes and vigilantes is their official recognition. They both carry the same sense of justice and heroism to protect society. While most vigilantes lack formal training, they gain experience over time and eventually reach a level where they can match the skill of some heroes.

Vigilantes are also mostly held back by their quirks. But we have often seen, with the guidance of Pro Heroes and the help of technology, one can enhance and strengthen their quirks.

my hero academia vigilantes all might knuckleduster

My Hero Academia Vigilantes: What's the Difference Between Vigilantes and Heroes?

The law separates the vigilantes and heroes in My Hero Academia Vigilantes.

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By Cathlyn Melo

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a new perspective on the world of heroes. It shows the will of common people to become heroes and also proves that vigilantes are simply heroes who have not been recognized yet. Will Koichi's journey also eventually lead him to become a hero?

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

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