REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia: Vigilantes’ Season 2 Episode 1 -“Day-Tripping Down to Naniwa!”

Seemingly invigorated after its fun, if forgettable, first season, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1 comes bursting back with greater energy. Based on the series written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, serving as a prequel to My Hero Academia, the changes are slight but necessary as we embark on the next leg of Koichi’s (Shūichirō Umeda) story. 

Part of the fun of the spinoff is spotting both the differences and similarities of the origin story. And there are a lot of the former, given how many crossover characters appear in both stories, with pro-heroes Eraser Head and Fat Gum both making appearances in the premiere alone. The foundation and the core of the series aren’t touched so much as the style that comes out of it. While the series by Kōhei Horikoshi draws on obvious superhero iconography, Vigilantes, more than anything, emulates the actual tactile feeling of flipping through a comic book. 

It’s that added, grainy quality that gives My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1 its texture. Because, in many ways, “Day-Tripping Down to Naniwa!” is almost too casual as a premiere. Yes, there’s a lot of setup, both in terms of Koichi’s plight, the threat of a new big bad, and the addition of other characters joining the fray. But it adopts a leisurely pace that feels more like a continuation than the start of a new season. In some ways, it even feels like filler, as we literally travel with Koichi and Pop (Ikumi Hasegawa) as they head to Osaka, where the latter will be taking part in an idol showcase at a local mall. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1 goes to Osaka. 

But the traveling itself opens up a neat new learning curve for Koichi. As he runs late to catch the train with Pop, itself already a hilarious visual gag, he uses his quirk that lets him stick to surfaces. In this case, the train. While Koichi doesn’t get much time to investigate the new limitations or benefits of his quirk evolution in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1, it’s a promising reminder that his powers aren’t static. He might not have gone to a school that trains young heroes to hone their powers, but it isn’t always the way people can learn and grow. 

The Osaka setting allows for some fun, playful visuals, especially as the series plays with famous iconography (the iconic Glico Running Man, which hovers at the center of Dōtonbori, is now All Might, for example). It’s in Osaka where they also meet up with a familiar face in Fat Gum (Kazuyuki Okitsu), along with Monika Kaniyashiki, an idol who works for a crab supplier and spends much of her time in a robotic crab fixture to sell their merchandise. 

However, Monika is actually a cop who is working undercover with Fat Gum and Detective Tsukacuhi. The two are investigating a drug ring that appears to be using the crab supplier as a front. The introduction of this plot line in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1 helps remind viewers of the varying levels of conflicts taking place in Vigilantes.

Vigilantes scale down the threats from global to local. 

It’s less about global scale destruction and more about local crime that threatens small towns and businesses. This element is one of the series’ great strengths because it underscores the necessity of heroes like Koichi, even if he has to act as a vigilante rather than a pro-hero. 

This links up to what’s happening back at the home front, where Eraser Head (Jun’ichi Suwabe), in an excellent appearance, is looking into his own drug investigation. His revolves around the use of Trigger and body modifications taking place in the area. His standoff with the Hotta Brothers (who both transform with Grasshopper quirks) is a hilarious, propulsive sequence that allows the animation to shine through both the pop art elements and the kinetic motions of Eraser Head. 

Directed by Sayaka Morikawa, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1 is a welcome reminder of the zippy energy that makes the series such an engaging watch. It might not have the emotional heft of its origin series, but the story, in comparison, is still in its infancy. The premiere is a fun, breezy installment that sets the stage without forcing the storyline, with some truly fantastic pacing and worldbuilding. More than anything, there’s a clear sense of confidence that a second season will surpass its first outing. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 1 is out now on Crunchyroll.