REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia: Vigilantes’ Season 2 Episode 4 – “A Rational Man”

Eraser Head is such a fantastic and fantastically fun (cool, some may say) character that it is only natural for My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4  to spend so much time on him. As is the case with the series portrayal of All Might, Eraser Head (Junichi Suwabe) is both scrappier here and more rounded in his character design. But that doesn’t take away from the character’s appeal, with his rationality and level demeanor giving “A Rational Man” its greatest appeal and humor through his interactions with Koichi (Shūichirō Umeda), the Hotta brothers, and Kirihito. 

Written with more narrative cohesion that was lacking in the still charming “Public and Private,” more than anything, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4 highlights the series distinctive tone and, namely, its penchant for comedy. The series certainly doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to some of the more gruesome scenes, but it has a natural levity. This is, in part, due to the animation style. With the glossier animation style and thicker lines, there’s no attempt at realism. 

The comic book stylings ground the world, but it’s the writing that gives the story its sense of humor. Koichi accidentally teams up with Eraser Head and the put-upon Hotta Brothers to stop the villain Octoid, who is rampaging throughout town. Koichi is no match on his own, and Eraser Head’s Erasure quirk doesn’t work on a modified quirk. However, the two together, along with the Hottas, can lure Octoid to the warehouse where Kirihito is working. 

Eraser Head arrives on the scene. 

The entire sequence of the group working together is packed with big bursts of energy and unexpected hilarity. From the idea of Koichi purposefully avoiding Eraser Head as the latter patrols due to being intimidated by him, to the Hotta Brothers leaping into action only because they know they can call it self-defense, there are a lot of fun, small moments that stick out. 

Above all else, it’s simply nice to get more information on a hero we’re so well-acquainted with by this point. While he goes on a full journey over the course of My Hero Academia, it’s Vigilantes where we truly begin to get a sense of what makes him tick, beyond the pieces we get in the origin series. He isn’t a teacher yet, but he’s still helping mold Koichi’s fighting style. These small interactions and character beats inform who the character will become while also driving the story in the present. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4 really drives home the comedy once the group arrives at Kirihito’s. Kirihito, who is having blessed downtime with tea and music, finds his inner peace, only to be disrupted by the arrival of Koichi and company. It is a very simple joke executed effectively, and sometimes it’s those easy gags that work best. 

The straightforward storyline is elevated by humor and small developments.

Most of “A Rational Man” concerns itself with the fight against the Octoid. It’s a relatively straightforward narrative that manages to integrate some ongoing storylines. Mainly, Koichi’s powers develop as he learns he can produce projectiles from his hands.

It’s one of the many ways in which Vigilantes helps expand the world. This idea of the path unchosen permeates throughout. Sure, Koichi wasn’t able to attend a fancy hero school where they curate would-be heroes. But he’s able to both be an asset to his community and develop his skills outside of that structure. 

It’s what makes him such a strong contrast/inverse for Midoriya. A young person with dreams who finds different ways in which to achieve them despite the odds stacked against them. It just takes a little more time – and, so far, fewer battle scars – for Koichi to reach it. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4 demonstrates obvious confidence. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4 also gives our big bad more time as the Scarred Man brutally attacks Octoid. He nearly kills him too, telling Octoid just how he’ll achieve it with chilling, gruesome detail. It’s another reminder of the bleak underbelly the story revels in, as it can lean a little meaner, a little bleaker, thanks to the older characters at its center. 

Luckily, Koichi, unaware, can stop it. We get hints about who Scarred Man’s inspiration is while also learning that the titular scar is one he gave himself to emulate his mentor. It’s a striking difference from Koichi; he keeps reminding himself not to use his powers the way his mentor, Knuckleduster, did, so as not to become a target of law enforcement. Everyone has someone they’re learning from in this universe. 

While not every action sequence has the same fluidity as Eraser Head’s first brawl with Octoid, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4 still manages to stay light on its feet. Season 2 is off to a strong, confident start with a greater, energized spirit than its debut. As the story continues to develop and Koichi begins to realize his potential, the series gains new life, taking on more explosive storylines with just the right amount of playfulness. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 4 is available now on Crunchyroll. 

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