The main story of My Hero Academia is over, and devoted fans know who all the important endgame characters were: Deku, Katsuki Bakugo, All For One, and Tomura Shigaraki. Right now in this anime universe, all eyes are on My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, which has its own cast of cool and important characters to keep track of. Interestingly, while underdog Koichi Haimawari was central to Season 1, this spinoff's current season has little use for him, and his importance is diminished.
Until it's time for Koichi/The Crawler to return to prominence, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is basing its story on a few other important characters who have plenty to do in Naruhata's streets. Some of them are heroes or vigilantes who are tracking down the dangerous Trigger drug, and other important cast members are supporting characters or villains who round out the story in between all the major Quirk battles.
Knuckleduster is a Bloodhound Sniffing Out Trigger's Distributors
Knuckleduster is a Great Example of a Street-Level Hero
Two of the three main characters in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes are getting more work done than Koichi is. Or at least, they are more focused than Koichi is, with Koichi getting into surprise fights and honing his Slide and Glide Quirk bit by bit. For now, Koichi feels aimless, as though the story is setting him aside to make room for other characters to shine, which may indeed be the case. Knuckleduster and Pop Step are both busier and more focused than him, with Pop Step advancing her performing arts career.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Reveals the Sad Truth of Pro Hero Retirement
Vigilantes explores the dark side of pro hero retirement, revealing the harsh realities street-level heroes face when hanging up their capes.
Knuckleduster, for his part, is tapping into one of the best elements of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, that being the detective storylines with street-level heroics. Knuckleduster isn't trying to take down the League of Villains or change society, since he doesn't aim that high. He's more grounded and hands-on, using all his vigilante detective skills to track Trigger and its associates everywhere from Naruhata to Hong Kong. Knuckleduster was clearly written to be the anime Batman, and he definitely feels that way right now as one of Naruhata's best detectives.
Number 6 Holds the Plot Together as the Main Villain
Number 6 Keeps Getting Stronger With His Speedy Quirk
Every story arc needs a central villain in anime such as My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and Number 6 fills that role well in Season 2. Back in Season 1, this scarred villain had a peripheral role with his cameo appearances, but now he's having a much bigger impact on the plot. He's at the heart of the Trigger drug's distribution and the rise of Instant Villains, and all the investigators want his head. Because of Number 6, there won't be any peace on the streets in Naruhata anytime soon.
The full truth of Number 6's origins and goals isn't entirely clear yet, though anime viewers can easily tell that he's going to be critically important from here on. Number 6 is testing all the heroes' investigative abilities while playing a part in the Villain Factory, and if need be, he can fight back. Number 6 raises the physical stakes in a big way with his speed-based Quirk, one that has a connection to the Flash-style hero O'Clock.
Naomasa Tsukauchi Will Investigate Trigger By the Book
Naomasa is Knuckleduster's Ally and Foil in the Investigation
The mainline My Hero Academia anime is based on the big picture as pro hero society faces a rising tide of villainy thanks to Tomura Shigaraki. That anime asks all the big questions about what hero society should be like when everyone has superpowers, but that doesn't leave a lot of room for the street-level stuff. That's why side characters like detective Naomasa Tsukauchi tend to get lost in the noise in the main anime, but Naomasa has better luck in the spinoff.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
In My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, the physical stakes are lower and there's more focus on detective work, so Naomasa is right in his element. So long as the Trigger drug and the Villain Factory remain the primary concern, Naomasa is sure to have an important role to play. What is more, as a law-abiding detective, Naomasa serves as a counterpart to Knuckleduster, challenging viewers to decide which style of detective they like more.
Eraser Head Protects the Peace and is a Skilled Investigator
Eraser Head is the Best Street-Level Hero in Vigilantes
With the investigation of Instant Villains, Trigger, and Number 6 dominating the narrative of Season 2, it's natural for sleuthy pro heroes like Eraser Head to rank among My Hero Academia: Vigilantes' most important characters for the time being. Eraser Head isn't that much different from Knuckleduster as a Batman-esque hero who uses cunning, tricks, and advanced close-quarters combat to take down stronger foes.
Eraser Head has a Quirk while Knuckleduster doesn't, and Eraser Head may follow the law closely as a hero, but otherwise, he's a reflection of Knuckleduster. Both are sharp, insightful street-level heroes who won't let this Trigger business go until they capture all the villains responsible for its spread in Naruhata. On top of that, Eraser Head is the star of the current flashback sequence, one taking place in his UA days.
Midnight Uses Her Charms and Tricks to Get the Job Done
Midnight's Strong People Skills Are Like Her Bonus Quirk
The pro hero Midnight only had a minor role to play in the main My Hero Academia anime, such as providing commentary in the UA sports festival and fighting Mineta and Sero in a practical exam. In the Vigilantes anime, Midnight's role is expanded somewhat, and she has a higher percentage of screen time. It helps that the main plot is about investigations and street-level work, allowing Midnight and her friend Eraser Head to show the full range of their skills.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes: Every Main Character's Age, Height, And Birthday
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has a great cast of core characters, so let's go through their ages, heights, and birthdays.
In a way, these heroes are more impressive when they're not fighting, since it's a given they can capture or beat up any villain with their Quirks. It takes a crafty and sly hero to use disguises, tricks, and sleuth work to uncover the truth of the Villain Factory, and Midnight makes it seem easy. Her strong social skills and disguises served her well in recent episodes, and on the side, Midnight is playing a role in supporting Pop Step as a performer, too.
Makoto Tsukauchi Supports Her Brother and Pop Step However She Can
Makoto is Warming Up to the Idea of Vigilantes
Makoto Tsukauchi is another character who has a major role to play in the ongoing investigations centering around Trigger and the Villain Factory. Makoto is a fun foil to her straight-laced brother Naomasa, being a sociable and flexible-minded person who can use her Polygraph Quirk and sharp wits alike to get to the bottom of any matter.
As a bonus, Makoto is one of Pop Step's most critical supporters, gladly pushing Pop Step closer to true stardom. Given how performing is Pop Step's main goal aside from vigilante work, Makoto is one of the anime's most essential cast members at the moment. She's like a mentor and big sister to Pop Step, and she has many skills Pop does not, making Makoto somehow feel even more important than Pop herself at the moment.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
- Release Date
- April 7, 2025
- Network
- Tokyo MX, BS Nippon TV
Cast
-
Shuichiro UmedaKoichi Haimawari / The Crawler (voice) -
Ikumi HasegawaKazuho Haneyama / Pop☆Step (voice)
