My Hero Academia : Vigilantes [Season 1 Episodes 1-13]

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes – A Prequel That Stands On Its Own (Mostly)

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re a My Hero Academia fan craving more Quirk-filled chaos, Vigilantes Season 1 (April-June 2025) is your new go-to. Produced by Bones Film (the same studio behind the main series), this 13-episode prequel dives into the gritty underbelly of hero society—five years before Deku ever held One For All. But here’s the twist: it’s not about the flashy pros. It’s about the “vigilantes”—regular people using their Quirks to do good, even if it’s illegal.

First off, let’s talk about the trio at the heart of the show: Koichi “The Crawler” Haimawari, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster. Koichi’s Quirk? “Slide and Glide”—basically, he can slide along surfaces like a human skateboard. Not exactly All Might material, right? But that’s the point. As one fan put it, “He’s just a college kid who wanted to be a hero but couldn’t cut it… so he started helping people anyway.” Pop Step is an underground idol with a gravity-defying Quirk, and Knuckleduster? A Quirkless badass with brass knuckles and a vendetta against a drug called Trigger (which turns regular folks into “Instant Villains”). Together, they’re like a ragtag team of misfits—think The Defenders but with more anime flair.

The first few episodes set the tone perfectly. Episode 1 introduces Koichi’s daily grind: helping lost kids, stopping petty thieves, and getting bullied by punks. Then he meets Pop Step at her guerrilla concert, and Knuckleduster ropes them into his mission to take down Trigger dealers. The humor here is on point—like when Koichi’s friends tease him about his “lame” Quirk, or when Pop Step tries to balance her idol career with vigilante work. One fan laughed, “Pop Step’s concert getting crashed by a Trigger user? Relatable. Trying to sing while dodging punches? Less so.”

But Vigilantes isn’t all jokes. It dives deep into the moral gray areas of hero society. Take Episode 6, where we meet Stendhal—aka the future Hero Killer Stain. Back then, he’s just a disillusioned vigilante questioning why heroes get all the glory while regular people suffer. When he cuts off a villain’s hand to “punish” him, it’s a chilling reminder of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface. As one viewer noted, “This show doesn’t sugarcoat it. Being a vigilante isn’t about being a hero—it’s about doing what’s right, even if it’s wrong.”

The mid-season episodes (7-10) slow things down a bit with character development. We learn Koichi once saved a kid from drowning… who turned out to be Pop Step. Cue the emotional flashback! There’s also Captain Celebrity, America’s top hero—an egomaniac who leaves destruction in his wake. His arc is hilarious and frustrating: he tries to rebrand himself to appeal to male fans but ends up causing more chaos. One fan ranted, “Captain Celebrity is the worst… but you can’t look away. He’s like a train wreck with a cape.”

Then there’s the finale (Episodes 12-13). Episode 12 is the emotional core: Knuckleduster confronts Kuin Hachisuka, a villain who’s been using his daughter’s body as a host. The fight is brutal—Knuckleduster has to stop his daughter’s heart to extract Kuin, then perform CPR to bring her back. As one viewer said, “I cried. Like, actual tears. The dad’s love for his daughter is so raw.” But Episode 13? A bit of a letdown. It wraps up with daily life: Koichi becomes Captain Celebrity’s sidekick, Pop Step’s concert goes on, and Kuin escapes to find a new host. Fans were split: some loved the “back to normal” vibe, while others wanted a bigger bang. One user summed it up: “Weak ender, but at least it sets up Season 2. I just wish the trio had more screen time together.”

So, should you watch Vigilantes? If you’re a die-hard MHA fan, yes—you’ll spot cameos (like Eraser Head and Ingenium) and get backstory on Stain. If you’re new to the franchise? Maybe start with MHA Season 1 first, but Vigilantes stands on its own. As one newbie said, “I didn’t watch MHA before, but I got hooked. The characters are relatable, and the action is sick.”

At the end of the day, Vigilantes is a love letter to the underdogs. It’s about people who don’t have flashy Quirks or hero licenses but still choose to help others. As Koichi says, “Being a hero isn’t about the Quirk—it’s about the heart.” And that’s a message we can all get behind.

Final Verdict: 7/10. It’s not perfect (the pacing drags at times, and the finale feels rushed), but it’s fun, emotional, and a must-watch for MHA fans. Plus, with Season 2 coming in 2026, there’s more vigilante chaos to look forward to.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rewatch Episode 12. Pass the tissues.