REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia: Vigilantes’ Episode 1 — “I’m Here”

With vibrancy and strong pop art visuals that leap off of the screen, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 makes one thing immediately clear: this isn’t just a retread of the original. Acting as a spin-off and prequel to Kōhei Horikoshi’s manga series My Hero Academia, Vigilantes adopts a street-level approach that works wonders in reestablishing this world of quirks while also setting itself apart. Set five years before Izuku Midoriya (Daiki Yamashita) wins the favor of All Might (Kenta Miyake) and inherits his power, the story finds itself in the hands of an ordinary college student and his desire to be a hero.

Koichi Haimawari (Shuichiro Umeda) keeps to himself. A 19-year-old college student who once aspired to be a hero but has given up on that dream due to his lack of a flashy quirk, he’s resigned himself to being the ‘Nice Guy’ hero. He may not be a licensed hero, but he can use his Quirk – Slide and Glide — to help civilians with everyday problems. He picks up litter and gives out directions, happy to help no matter how inconsequential it seems. His power, which allows him to slide over plain surfaces by emitting a repelling force from his hands and feet, might not be the coolest, but it offers a human lens.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 delivers a strong and effective introduction to our protagonist. It’s not so much that he’s an unwilling hero but someone who has been made well aware of his perceived shortcomings. He knows that his strength doesn’t amount to that of others. And yet he’s still out there each night doing his very best to help in any small way he can.

But his life changes after he and the street performer Pop Step (Ikumi Hasegawa) are attacked by a group who have it out for Koichi. There, they are saved by the hulking vigilante Knuckleduster (Yasuhiro Mamiya), whose strength and knowledge about a new and dangerous drug, Trigger, make him a formidable vigilante looking to take justice into his own hands. At first an unwilling apprentice, Koichi still finds himself following Knuckleduster’s lead, no matter how intimating he finds him.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 establishes its tone and style.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 doesn’t shy away from the comparisons to its predecessor. Instead, the series leans into it. From Koichi not being far removed from Midoriya’s most basic, surface-level traits to their shared, signature red sneakers to seeing at least two familiar faces as All Might and Eraserhead (Junichi Suwabe) bookend the premiere, even the name “I’m Here” is a callback. It’s most notable, however, in how Knuckleduster arrives in Koichi’s life. In his own words, Koichi’s quirk is “measly.” The arrival of Knuckleduster allows him to be something more. Embracing the familiarities makes what stands out and apart from the original series all the more noteworthy.

Based on the manga written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, Vigilantes maintains its superhero tonality while grounding the action. No doubt, there’s humor and levity, but we’re seeing the world through a different and refreshing lens. By rebuffing the system that the original series bases itself around, the spinoff can thrive by setting its tone and pacing.

The only real issue with My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 is how quickly it ends. By the time Koichi, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster are working together, only to be interrupted by Eraserhead, who seems to think they’re villains, the premiere ends. We’re left waiting to see how this interaction plays out.

The pace is quick and energetic as we quickly fall into step with this world again, with new characters worthy of our attention and emotional investment. The odd-couple style grouping of these three oddballs creates an engaging trio of protagonists, none of which play by the expected rulebook of heroic society.

More than anything else, it’s the animation that soars. Produced by Studio Bones and directed by Kenichi Suzuki, the premiere offers rich visuals and defined character designs. The thick linework accompanies the onomatopoeia, giving the series its blatant comic book aesthetic. It works because the series isn’t overly reliant on these harsher aesthetics and heavy-drawn lines. Instead, the series brings together different styles to create something visually engaging.

The introduction to Pop Step is an early highlight. 

A standout sequence is our first introduction to Pop Step, whose power, Leap, is in direct contrast to Koichi. Koichi even mentions that while her singing is unimpressive and no one can tell what she looks like, she momentarily becomes a star because she’s seen soaring through the sky. Meanwhile, onlookers compare him to a cockroach when he uses his Quirk to escape an attack. But in the world of My Hero Academia, it’s not just those without quirks who suffer. Those who have “lesser” or less “flashy” quirks suffer judgment or an unspoken limitation on their ability to succeed. So, Koichi sees Pop Step and is envious.

Beyond the narrative that bolsters the scene, the animation also soars. The backdrop utilizes colors that exude warmth, the reds and oranges painting the sky in the early nightfall aesthetic. This warmer lighting fits a series that seems poised to be set during the early nighttime hours. From the setting sun to a scene lit by the moon, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1  captures the scope and depth of the world, especially from a character like Koichi’s perspective. Without the ability to fly, everything seems that much more significant.

Strong action is another highlight, though we don’t get as much of it as we’d like in the premiere. The sound effects and animation give these scenes the necessary impact, demonstrating Knuckleduster’s strength the second he sends someone flying.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 is immediately captivating, delivering a fast-paced blast premiere. By demonstrating its considerable artistic prowess, dynamic fight scenes, and lovable lead characters, “I’m Here” feels like the perfect spinoff to such a beloved series without ever compromising its own identity.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 1 is out now on Crunchyroll.

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