Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#127: MHA Vigilantes

Have you ever wanted to go beyond and SMASH someone? If so, then get strapped because we are going to be discussing the world of MHA Vigilantes by Betten Court and Hideyuki Furuhashi.

Summary

For the past century, now society has built its entire infrastructure on the birth-given superpowers known as Quirks. Eventually, they became so ingrained into society that the people started marketing the people who would use them for good or evil. However, between the daring heroics, we often see plastered on millions of merchandise and the decrepit villainy seeping through the cracks lies the world of vigilantes.

Often composed of ordinary individuals, these renegades take Hero-like work outside the law, taking into their own hands. For our main character Koichi Himawari aka the Crawler, though, it's more of an accidental side effect of just wanting to help people out. Though his days as a local nuisance fundamentally changes forever when he meets the hardcore vigilante Knuckleduster.

Against his will, the young boy gets wrapped up as the brawler's sidekick. A decision that opens Koichi to a whole new world as the two, along with idol sensation Pop Step, investigate the mysterious villain factory. A group of ner do wells who s experiment and drug innocent people to become "Instant villains." With heroes and villains closing in all sides, it seems it's up to the Naruhata Vilagntes to take to the streets.

Characters

Koichi: Our main protagonist Koichi has all the natural traits of a hero but never had the chance to be one due to circumstances. He's a kind, relaxed, mild-mannered, air-headed do-gooder willing to jump in to help no matter the risk to himself. He views his vigilante work mainly as using his Quirk Slide and Glide to help anonymously. Nevertheless, his alter ego as the Crawler is here to help anyone who needs it.

Knuckle Duster: Known as the former pro hero O'clock and aka Iwao Oguro, he is the batman of the MHA world with his Quirkless status. While he maintains a fierce, intimidating, fearless, and jaded persona to his enemies, there is a lot more dimension to him, mainly that he is a highly caring, wise, and ruthless fighter who is willing to get his hands dirty, so others don't.

PopStep: Better known as Kazuho Haneyama, Popstep uses the vigilante status as merely a way to be an undercover pop idol. In real life, though, she is a far more timid individual underneath the tsundere persona. Nevertheless, she takes her profession rather seriously. Even if her crush on Koichi often gets in the way of things. Her Quirk: Leap allows her to jump incredibly far.

Overview

I don't know how surprising this is, but My Hero Academia is one of my favorite anime and manga. Shonen and superheroes were my bread and butter growing up, so having the two combine into a narrative reflecting grim parallels to real life is a treat. However, if you aren't entirely familiar with the series, then fear not because Drako is here to give you the deets.

Vigilantes is a prequel/side series that takes place roughly five years before the main series. While the series has a lot of cameos of past villains and heroes, I still think you can enjoy the series as its own thing. If My Hero is meant to focus more on the dichotomy of heroes and villains in a superhuman society, Vigilantes instead features a look closer to the ground.

For every rampant attack from a villain, there is just as much focus on real-world problems and smaller-scale adventures. The distinctive slant allows the series to explore more morally gray aspects of Quirks' world. From Quirk-enhancing drugs, unique fight clubs, and even the history of vigilantism, we see many darker elements that pepper both it and its predecessor.

On the same flipside, though, the more personal narrative means we get a largely endearing cast of original characters across several years. All of whom either become victims of the Villain factory or helpful allies to Koichi. The model is a nice touch to make Naruhata legitimately feel alive through its people.

This gives the series a calm atmosphere for the everyday escapades and gripping personal stakes when the action ramps up. Speaking of ramp-ups, the villain factory has some great antagonists. They may rely on the poor unlucky souls within their clutches, but throughout the story, their schemes escalate while we learn of their true faces.

The exact form of development extends to our "heroes'' as well. Koichi's story from small-time nuisance to genuine urban legend is one of the most endearing evolutions I've seen in a long time, a feeling that extends to many characters. Combine that with the spotlight on many lesser-used Mha characters. There is plenty to like in this 126-chapter run.

Epilogue

Whether a new fan or a seasoned veteran reads, Vigilantes served as a refreshing superhero story. With how popular the franchise has become, I'm surprised vigilantes has never gotten an announced film, but I guess we will have to see if that changes in the future. Until then, let's shine the spotlight somewhere else.