RJ Writing Ink

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 13 Review

Queen Bee has been defeated, and Naruhata is supposed to be safe. Pop is starting to gain traction as an idol. And Koichi is starting to get the hang of being a vigilante, even if he still needs help. It seems like life is going well for everyone in Naruhata! Except Knuckleduster suddenly goes missing. Where did he go?

Life Goes On…

Ever since Narufest, POP☆STEP has been doing better than ever. Her performance has been going viral on social media, and she is loving it! She’s gotten plenty of fan mail (actual mail!) And the festival was so successful that the department store has decided to make it a regular event, with POP☆STEP and the others recurring performers!

As for Koichi, he has been continuing his work as a vigilante. Given how what he’s doing is technically illegal, it can seem weird that he’s now doing it so openly in the public eye. However, it feels like the Pro Heroes give him leeway because he’s proven capable in situations, and they know he means well. It also helps that he knows when to leave things to the professionals. Case in point, when a certain bat-villain returns to get revenge on him, Koichi lets himself be saved by Captain Celebrity. It just so happens that this helps Pop keep a promise to bring a Pro Hero to the next Narufest. Needless to say, this helps the performance remain a success.

At the same time, though, the fact that the bat villian reappeared is a worrying sign. One would think that the fall of Queen Bee would help make Naruhata safer. Instead, things are only getting worse.

But Knuckleduster is Nowhere to Be Found

Despite Queen Bee no longer able to distribute Trigger, the Instant Villains aren’t going away. In fact, they’re only getting stronger. In the aftermath of Pop’s Eel fan, Teruo, going on another rampage, he didn’t turn back to normal. He’s stuck in his more monstrous form, meaning the change is permanent. The authorities are already calling these new Villains “Next-Level Villains,” and they are on a wholly different level from what the Naruhata Vigilantes have been facing. So it would seem that All for One’s experiments with Trigger haven’t been slowed down at all.

Things are going to get more dangerous for Koichi and Pop from here on out, and if they want to continue being vigilantes, then they’ll have to step up their game. However, they’re going to have to do it without relying on their mentor, because Knuckleduster is nowhere to be found.

After saving his daughter’s life, Knuckleduster rushed her to the hospital where his wife was being treated. During his earlier pursuit, he had gotten a call saying that his wife’s condition had gotten worse, but he had managed to keep that out of his mind long enough to save Tamao. Tragically, by the time he makes it to the hospital, his wife is already at death’s door. He only has enough time to let her know that Tamao is safe before she…goes.

This is a genuinely sad moment for the story. Knuckleduster had fought so hard to try and put his family back together, and now he’ll never have the chance. His daughter will never have the chance to say goodbye to her mom. He doesn’t even have the heart to directly tell her that her mom is Dad, yet you can tell that she already knows.

Time to Go it Alone

Not long afterwards, Knuckleduster disappears altogether. He leaves behind his mask and knuckles at Koichi’s place. Presumably, he’s gone off to continue fighting the people behind the Instant and Next-Level Villains on his own. As for Koichi and Pop, they plan on continuing to live their lives.

Thus, the first season of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes comes to an end. I’m sorry that it took so long for me to watch the season, but once I got started, I was reminded why I fell in love with MHA in the first place. No matter how old I get, I love superheroes and what they represent. And while the main series is ending this fall, I can rest easy knowing that Vigilantes will return next year to keep the fire going. Going Beyond, PLUS ULTRA!!!

I Give “What a Man Takes With Him” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 12 Review

When you’re a dad, you want to be a good dad to your kid. And since there’s no universal manual for being a parent, that means most of them are going to make mistakes. But no matter what, a good dad will do whatever it takes to make sure their kid is safe. And for Knuckleduster, that means pulling out all the stops to save his daughter from Queen Bee!

Narufest Lives!

Thanks to Queen Bee hopping Pop’s Eel-fan on more Trigger, there’s a blackout in Naruhata, putting Narufest in danger of being shut down. And since the heroes have to prioritize the crowd’s safety, there’s not much they can do to fix things. Thankfully, Koichi manages to come in clutch for everyone by grabbing Pop’s mic. If Pop can keep everyone calm until they get the backup generators (thanks, Captain Celebrity), they can salvage Narufest.

Pop Step's song "My Hero" was so very good #heroaca_a #MHAVigilantes#Anime #ヴィジランテ #ヒロアカ pic.twitter.com/kHhw7vtGJf

— W9AHEE8D (@WAHEE8D_88) June 23, 2025

Its actually a pretty gutsy move having Koichi openly call himself by his vigilante name in front of Mic and Midnight. Then again, they probably know by now that he’s capable and well-meaning. Whats even gutsier is the fact that Pop fights to overcome her stagefright to get in front of such a big crowd. But once she gets past her initial fears, she gets to show off how good she is at working a crowd. And once she starts singing…the magic begins.

Pop☆Step’s singing has always been a highlight of Vigilantes, but in this case, it’s even more special than normal. Koichi and the audience may not understand it, but viewers should know right away that her new song is about how Koichi inspired her as a kid. It’s almost like her love song to him. It’s really sweet, and its only the opening act. The remix of the Marukane Department Store’s theme song turns really good! Who would have thought? Guess J-Pop can make anything awesome!

The real focus of the episode, though, is on the fight between Queen Bee and Knuckleduster. Or rather, the fight between Tamao and her Dad.

Knuckleduster Fullfills his Dad Role

As the last episode revealed, Queen Bee’s true identity is Tamao Oguro, Knuckleduster’s daughter. Or rather, Tamao is the person who Queen Bee is using as a host. Queen Bee is actually a parasitic Quirk that jumps from body to body, turning it into a hive for her bees. She possessed Tamao after the latter stormed off following a heated argument with her dad. Being the good dad he is, Knuckleduster won’t let his daughter stay the puppet of a villainous bee, and he pulls out all the stops to rip it out of her. He was even willing to stop their hearts to make sure that they could make it back together!

👊Knuckleduster Vs Kuin Hachisuka🐝 Pt. 3#MHAVigilantes #MhaVigilanteSeason1 #MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes #bokunoheroillegals #MyHeroAcadamiaIllegals pic.twitter.com/f3ngNnznqT

— PaTTWorks #ReleaseByeByeBunny (@Branion7651) June 24, 2025

Knuckleduster might act tough, but he’s a big softie at heart. He’s a good dad. When his kid was in danger, he did whatever it took to save her. He did have to stop her heart to force Queen Bee out, but he started it right afterward. And the resulting parasite was disgusting to look at! Thankfully, Queen Bee is not going to bother anyone for a long time. And I only say that because a mysterious man manages to capture a single bee and take it away to places unknown.

For now, though, it seems the threat of the Instant Villains has been stopped. Naruhata should become a more peaceful place from now on, but that does beg the question: what will the Naruhata Vigilantes do now? Because it looks as though Knuckleduster might not be sticking around. Only time will tell, as apparently, next week is the final episode of the season, not this week.

I Give “Goodbye to Dad” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 11 Review

Many people don’t like bees. They may be important to the global ecosystem, but the sight of an angry swarm of bees can terrify a person. And given how the bees used by Queen Bee are spreading Trigger amongst the people of Naruhata, there is good reason not to like these bees. With Narufest approaching and Pop☆Step getting a real shot at a big break, Queen Bee can’t be allowed to ruin everything. But can Knuckleduster stop her in time?

Let the Training Begin

Having agreed to take part in the upcoming Narufest, Pop☆Step and Koichi are introduced to the rest of the performers by Makoto. Unfortunately for Kazuho, she gets off on the wrong foot with some of them when Feathers, a pop duo, mocks her for her appearance, making her feel even more nervous than she already was. Thankfully, they’re the only ones who are of any issue, with the rest, being either indie band members, or a high school group, all act professionally. Beyond one of the high schoolers and band members falling for each other on the spot, everything seems to go smoothly.

Go, Pop!

Makoto’s strategy for the actual performance is fairly straightforward, as it will have Pop take center place amidst the song and dance routine. However, while this means she’ll get the most attention, it also means she won’t be able to move around much. That effectively denies her the use of her Quirk, which is one of the main reasons she’s gotten so popular. She does take to learning the music with gusto, though, but then everything changes when one of the members of Feathers injures her ankle. That’s when Pop makes a big decision. For the sake of the performance, she agrees to let the injured member take center stage. She will help cover her with her bouncing around during transitions.

This can be seen as a moment of maturity for Pop☆Step. She wants to be a successful idol more than anything, but she’s able to recognize her own limitations and is willing to work around them. That, in turn, endears her to the other performers, and by the day of, everything looks set for a memorable performance. Some familiar faces like Present Mic and Midnight even show up to make guest appearances, a move that makes fans of the main series very happy!

There’s just one problem: Queen Bee.

QUEEN BEE MUST BE PUNISHED!

Underneath her laid-back demeanor, Queen Bee has proven that she is very much a ruthless villain. Working with All for One was a dead giveaway, of course, but the last two episodes really cement how ruthless and cold-hearted she can be. Even if one doesn’t count the fact that she’s injecting people with Trigger against their will, the last episode revealed that she killed a couple. And to make matters worse, she kidnaps that Eel fan of Pop, and injects him with even more Trigger, turning him into a mini Kaiju. Thanks to that, power in Naruhata goes out on the day of Narufest, and not even Eraser Head is enough to contain the crazed fan!

That’s not even the half of it. The climax of this episode reveals just why Knuckleduster has been so obsessed with hunting down Hachisuka. She is actually his daughter, Tamao Oguro! To be more precise, Queen Bee is the name of the person who possessed his daughter. And like any good dad, he’s determined to save his kid. So determined, in fact, that he brought a stun gun to get rid of Queen Bee.

Get Queen Bee

It might seem overkill, even for Knuckleduster, but given how dangerous and elusive Queen Bee is, it really isn’t. And with the villain willing to wreck Narufest for the heck of it, she needs to be taken down now! Koichi and Kazuho are counting on Knuckleduster to come through for them!

The next episode is likely to be the last of the season, and if it is, I hope that we get to see a good show get put on. Knuckleduster, it’s time to play exterminator! End this!

I Give “The Day of” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 4 Review

In most comics, superheroes are considered vigilantes. They may help fight the bad guys and clean up crime, but they’re also taking the law into their own hands, which is itself a crime. When it comes to the big names like Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man, the police usually let them do as they wish. Mostly because they’re skilled enough to get the job done better, but also because they know fighting them would be pointless. But what happens in a world where heroes are legal, vigilantes aren’t, and they team up?

How Knuckleduster Got his Groove Back

Ever since the incident with the bees, Knuckleduster has been acting different, and Koichi and Pop have both noticed it. It’s as though he has lost his drive to do vigilante work. As the powerhouse and tank of their team, him losing his drive could be disastrous.

Things ultimately come to a head when the trio battles another Instant Villain who’s stronger than any of them. Yet Knuckleduster, in true Batman fashion, decides to fight the villain head-on. Despite every punch being enough to kill him, Knuckleduster isn’t fazed by it: he’s enjoying the thrill!!

As inspired by Batman as Knuckleduster is, there’s a big difference between the two, and it doesn’t have to do with their skills and resources; it’s their attitude. Batman takes everything seriously and never lets his guard down, or rarely shows any signs he’s enjoying the fight. Knuckleduster, meanwhile, not only enjoys the fight, but is the kind of adrenaline junkie who loves getting close to death. That kind of attitude could end up backfiring on him down the road!

Koichi almost got his big break!

Meanwhile, the show now confirms who Queen Bee is working for and the source of Trigger. It should come as no surprise that it’s none other than the ultimate big bad of the franchise, All for One. Keep in mind, this takes place five years before the events of the main series, so it’s likely before or around the time All for One and All Might’s big fight. Anything that All for One has to do with, though, is bad news. Queen Bee is going to be a problem.

In the second half of the episode, Koichi gets what might be his big break. While out jogging one morning, he winds up befriending Tensei Ida, AKA Tenya Ida’s older brother, AKA the speed hero Ingenium! He’s impressed by Koichi’s Quirk, enough to try and recruit him for his agency after he graduates! It could be Koichi’s chance to finally become a pro hero!

Alas, fate can be cruel sometimes. That same night, as Ingenium and his team are hunting down a bat villain that takes them through Naruhata, the Naruhata Vilgilantes end up intervening. They manage to help catch the speed demon, but it costs Koichi his big chance to be a pro hero. Needless to say, he’s sad about it. Thankfully, Ingenium is actually fine with what Koichi does. According to him, he’s already where he’s needed most.

So, in the end, heroes and vigilantes can work together, no matter what universe it might be. It depends on the mind of hero, but given how most of the heroes in MHA are fairly chill, it works out for them. So far, this show is doing well for me.

I Give “Top Runner” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 3 Review

It’s well-known by now amongst My Hero Academia fans that Horikoshi got much of his inspiration for Deku from Spider-Man. Both have a strong sense of justice, are adorkable, and get out through the wringer a lot. The one thing that separates Deku from Spider-Man, though, is that the former doesn’t need to live a double life as a hero. That must be why Koichi, the main hero of Vigilantes, takes after that aspect of Spider-Man. Because he’s doing hero work outside the law, that leads to some…stress.

Like a pair of freeloaders mooching off his house and home without his consent.

Poor Koichi

The episode opens up with a glimpse at Koichi’s life as a university student as the teacher is, ironically, discussing the origins of pro-heroes in vigilantism. In most comics, superheroes do operate outside the law. The only reason most don’t face charges is because they’re so capable that it would be a bad idea. More importantly, the episode shows how Koichi is miserable in his normal life. He has no college friends and works at a part-time job he doesn’t like. Is it any wonder he’s compelled to be a Good Samaritan in his off-time?

Unfortunately, his home life is no better, as Knuckleduster and Pop☆Step have turned it into their personal hangout with no regard for what he wants. Knuckleduster eats his food like a parasite, and Pop☆Step turns it into her dressing room. Much to his dismay, this is something that doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon.

Then again, it’s not like Pop☆Step has it any easier. Besides the episode revealing how much effort she has to put into her look, her latest show gets crashed by an overzealous fan turned Instant Villain. And this one is a giant eel. The resulting experience is nothing short of cringe for Pop☆Step.

Thankfully, Koichi and Knuckleduster are able to save her before it gets out of hand. More importantly, after the eel guy (Teruro) calms down, the two delinquent fans (Ichimo and Namimaru) from the last episode get to know him and realize he was tricked into using Trigger. So, the three of them agree to meet Koichi and Pop☆Step.

Evil Death Bee

Before they do, though, they run into someone who ends up being more important than they realize: Kuin Hachisuka, AKA Queen Bee.

Thankfully, the pro heroes are able to stop things before the vigilantes have to get involved, which leads to a nice cavalcade of cameos from the main series.

The episode ends on a relatively high note, but Knuckleduster seems troubled by the appearance of the bees. It’s likely that he knows something that he’s not telling the others, but that will have to wait another day. This episode wasn’t that big on the action, but it made up for it by building up its characters, so it was a good one to watch. Good thing I’ve got plenty more to watch.

I Give “Bee” a 3.5/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 2 Review

Anyone who knows about Batman knows why he’s one of the greatest superheroes of all time. He may have no superpowers save for his intellect, gadgets, and martial arts skills, but he’s able to fight alongside veritable gods like Superman. And he’s able to do that because he’s built different. And while Knuckleduster may not have the money or power of Batman, this episode of MHA: Vigilantes demonstrates that he is also built different.

Knuckleduster Doesn’t Need No Quirk

At the end of the premiere, Knuckleduster was about to interrogate another civilian about Trigger when he got stopped by none other than Eraserhead. As Koichi and Pop watch, the pro hero and the vigilante get into a scrap, only for it to reveal something surprising about Knuckleduster. Just as Eraserhead tries to suppress his opponent’s Quirk, it doesn’t work. And it doesn’t work because Knuckleduster…is Quirkless.

My Hero Academia already proved that in a world full of them, it’s possible for someone to be a hero without any powers. Whereas Deku will gain One for All, though, Knuckleduster has no Quirk. Like Batman, he has no superpowers. He’s just a man with brass knuckles and an insane tolerance for pain. Given how most street-level heroes in comics are the ones with either minor superpowers or no powers at all, this means that Knuckleduster fits right in with the likes of Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Batman. It also means that Eraserhead can’t charge him since he’s not abusing his Quirk. However, the pro hero does warn him that he can only get away with being a “concerned citizen” for so long before it gets them into trouble.

Speaking of trouble, the business man that started this mess turns out to be a dealer for Trigger. And once he injects it into him, he turns into a four-armed version of a Titan and starts to manhandle Pop☆Step. The trio is nearly killed before they manage to take him down! While they do manage to acquit themselves well in battle, it has more to do with them getting lucky than skill. There is some merit to the pro-hero system, after all.

The Crawler Cometh

Yet the next time we see them, they’re back at it. The only difference is that Koichi is now going by the name “the Crawler,” and has body armor from Knuckleduster. It doesn’t make him any stronger, but it helps his durability. Sadly, it remains clear that this “team” is still in over their heads. Koichi fails to convince two middle schoolers to stop fighting; Knuckleduster remains determined to punch his problems. In all honesty, Pop☆Step is the only one who makes any headway, warning the students about Trigger as the boys take down an Instant Villain.

Unfortunately for the trio, their activities have not gone unnoticed. By the episode’s end, the police are after them, meaning they’ll have to fight villains while outrunning the cops. Life as a vigilante is never going to be an easy one!

This is only the second episode, and Vigilantes already has me hooked. As a longtime fan of superheroes, I was always going to like something like My Hero Academia. Vigilantes, though, is a love letter to the gritty street-level heroes that many people find relatable, and I’m enjoying it. Expect more reviews for this in the coming days!

I Give “Takeoff” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.