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My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 8

America and Japan have had a long and complicated history. At one point, they were deadly enemies. Today, they’re formally allies and friends, leading to a great deal of cultural exchange. My Hero Academia is the product of said exchange, as it takes most of its inspiration from American superhero comics. As much as the heroes might be inspired by greats like Batman, Superman, and Spider-man, though, what’s even more interesting is getting to see an American superhero play an important role in the story. The main series has Stars and Stripes, but Vigilantes has someone even more interesting: Captain Celebrity.

And he’s…something.

Say Hello to Captain Celebrity

One day while Koichi and Pop☆Step are trying to stop a speeding biker, Koichi almost gets by Truck-Kun. Instead of getting isekaied, though, he gets saved by a man in a classic cape and spandex. His savior then proceeds to brag about his greatness, autographs Koichi’s official All Might hoodie, and then tells him to quit while he’s ahead before leaving.

This man is Captain Celebrity, a hero visiting from America and a physical embodiment of some of the country’s more negative aspects.  He’s arrogant, flashy, thinks highly of himself, and is enough of a womanizer to make Sanji from One Piece cringe. And while he is skilled at being a hero, able to take down a Kaiju-sized villain, he waited to do so until he could make himself look good. To make matters worse, his takedown caused unnecessary damage to a building, forcing Koichi to step in and save trapped civilians.

Wait, he’s Voiced by GOKU!?!?

In essence, Captain Celebrity feels like a lighter, softer version of Homelander, if Homelander weren’t a murderous psychopath and just an arrogant blowhard. He rubs Koichi the wrong way several times, and even Knuckleduster comments on how much trouble he causes. And much to Koichi’s dismay, the womanizing hero sets his sights on Makoto, who’s joined his support staff as one of his…cheerleaders.

Forget Homelander; Captain Celebrity feels like a blonde version of MCU Tony Stark before he underwent character development! What’s even crazier, though, is that he’s voiced by Sean Schemmel, AKA Goku. GOKU!!!

Captain Celebrity is very much a problem, to the point that he’s facing several lawsuits from women he dated. And he’s facing another lawsuit from his wife, to boot for cheating on her so often! Hilariously, though, it turns out Makoto only agreed to help CC because his wife wanted someone to keep an eye on him. The look on his face when he realizes this is priceless!

Koichi’s Mom is Coming to Visit? Oh nooooo….

Overall, this episode didn’t really do much to move the overarching plot along, but in this case, it didn’t need to. Captain Celebrity might be an arrogant blowhard, but there is no denying he has a flair for showmanship, and seeing him freak out over his wife is hilarious. It looks like the Captain is going to be here to stay, so we’ll probably see him more often. However, there’s a more immediate problem: Koichi’s mother comes to visit him! And in the short amount of time we have to learn about her, we learn she’s going to be a problem. Especially since Koichi lied to her about having a girlfriend.

Oh no.

I Give “Major” a 4.5/5

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My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 7 Review

When you’re a hero with a secret identity, its important to make sure only the people you trust know about it. Unfortunately, there’s always going to be that one reporter determined to bust the hero and expose their real identity. And worse, Koichi has found that person in the form of an intrepid college student who is determined to learn the truth about the Naruhata Vigilantes.

Uh-oh.

Koichi Meets a Pretty Girl…

Thanks to his double life (and part-time job), Koichi hasn’t had much time to devote to his college studies. And with a test in his hero sociology course coming up, he’s woefully underprepared. That’s when a seeming guardian angel comes in out of nowhere and offers to help him prepare. Enter Makoto, a fellow student whose college thesis is on the history of vigilantism. And with Naruhata being home for the titular vigilantes, Makoto thinks learning about them is the perfect subject for her research. Thus, she makes a deal to help Koichi study in exchange for protection as she gathers data on them.

Despite knowing how this could end up exposing them if things go wrong, Koichi finds himself unable to say no. Partly because she’s that persuasive, and…because she’s pretty. This second part doesn’t sit well with Pop, who’s hiding and watching the entire thing.

Is Hero and Villain Arbitrary?

As concerning as her goal is, Makoto does serve as an excellent means for shedding more background on the birth of the hero society. As expected, it came into being in America when one of the states passed a law to formally establish the first pro heroes. The problem is that out of the hundreds of vigilantes present, the number that got approval to be pro heroes numbered in the single digits. Worse, anyone who kept up their hero work without permission got automatically labeled villains.

This little bit of exposition helps to explain much of why so few people deserving of being called heroes get the role. The rules that were set in place can seem rather arbitrary and don’t always make sense. Especially since part of it has to do with the fact that it seems based on popularity alone. Granted, part of being a hero includes putting the public at ease, so popularity was always going to be a thing. However, it can also be disheartening to know that, despite you trying to do good, the public may not trust you.

The Pretty Girl is a Lie Detector

As Makoto and Koichi go around Naruhata, Koichi is forced to hear first-hand what the public thinks of him and his comrades. Most people think he’s either nice but creepy and can’t get his name right. Still, its better than Pop☆Step; most of the comments are about her butt. And everyone is scared of Knuckleduster for obvious reasons.

In the end, Pop☆Step’s fears prove well-founded. Not only is Makoto the younger sister of a police officer, her Quirk turns her into a living lie detector. She already guessed that Koichi was the Crawler! It was only thanks to people getting his name wrong that Koichi is able to dodge a bullet!

So, a crisis has been averted for now. Good for Koichi, but he’s going to have to be more careful from now on. Otherwise, bad things will happen.

I Give “Makoto/Truth” a 4/5

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My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 6 Review

Does a hero have the right to take the life of a villain? That is a question that has been asked about and debated over for countless years, and no one has a clear answer. Nowhere is this better seen than with the likes of Batman. Despite knowing that many of his rogue’s gallery can’t or don’t want to change for the better, he refuses to take a life, and that’s remained true across most incarnations. Then we allies of his who are more willing to kill, like the Red Hood. He’s usually a good guy, but he’s willing to kill criminals if needed. And if Knuckleduster is supposed to be the Batman of MHA: Vigilantes, then the show just got its Red Hood: Stendhal.

Stendhal is Dangerous

In the last episode, Koichi and Pop wound up being saved from an Instant Villain by another vigilante, the katana-wielding Stendhal. At first glance, Stendhal looks like he would make for a capable ally. However, it’s swiftly revealed that Stendhal is not as heroic as the Naruhata Vigilantes. He is willing to kill his enemies.

As previously stated, there is no concrete answer on whether taking a life is morally justifiable. It often depends on the context of the story. That’s why Batman can often find himself at odds with his occasional ally and former protege Jason Todd, AKA the Red Hood. Ever since he came back from his infamous death, Jason has continued to fight evil as Red Hood. Unlike Batman, though, he’s not afraid to avoid killing criminals, his argument being it keeps them from hurting anyone else in the future. Given how many of Batman’s enemies regularly kill people and show no desire to change, is Jason wrong to think that way? That mindset is best shown with Stendhal, as he makes it his mission to kill the Instant Villains the Naruhata Vigilantes have fought.

So, We all Knew Stendhal Was the Future Stain, Right?

That decision, coupled with the fact that he’s working with Queen Bee, brings him into conflict with Koichi when he goes after Soga, aka the guy with the spikes they fought. And this is when Stendhal crosses lines even Red Hood wouldn’t cross. Despite acknowledging Koichi’s genuine heroism, once he gets in his way, Stendhal doesn’t hesitate to try and kill him. Then when Knuckleduster intervenes, despite also acknowledging him as a hero, the two come also come to blows. The result feels like something you would see take place between Batman and Red Hood, and it’s not pretty.

As much as Stendhal seems to be the Vigilantes version of Red Hood, he’s not; he’s worse. Jason Todd might be willing to kill, but there are lines he still won’t cross, like killing people he knows are good. In contrast, Stendhal crosses those lines and ends up proving himself little better than many villains. And after losing to Knuckleduster, he develops an even darker mindset, bringing us to the big twist at the end of the episode.

Anyone who’s seen the main series should have recognized that Stendhal is, in fact, the future Stain. Between having the same voice actors to the same Quirk, the prequel series made no effort to hide it. However, the fact that this and the previous episode serve as the origin story for the future hero killer are what make it so great to watch. Had Stendhal been more open-minded and flexible, he could’ve made a valuable ally to the vigilantes of Naruhata. Sadly, his part in the story comes to an end after this. But at least the heroes saved Soga!

I Give “Crossing Lines” a 4.5/5

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My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 5 Review

When most people think of anti-heroes, they think of someone edgy, cynical, and willing to do morally grey acts. However, this wasn’t always the case. Before the modern version, the anti-hero was usually someone not that confident and plagued by insecurities holding them back. Deku counts as a prime example due to his nervousness and initial lack of self-confidence. However, an even stronger example of a classical anti-hero might be that of Koichi…and Pop☆Step.

Koichi and Pop☆Step are the Classical Anti-Hero

Koichi is, by the judgment of his peers, a creep and a loser. Despite wanting to enjoy his college life, due to a misunderstanding, he botched his big debut. Though, to be fair, he should have better explained that the abandoned building he was bringing people back to for drinks was where his “penthouse” is located. As a result, he got stuck with an undeserved reputation that he desperately wants to shake off.

Like Deku years from now, Koichi is very much a classical anti-hero. He’s a genuinely good guy, but his lack of self-confidence means that he doesn’t give himself the credit he deserves. For example, he tells Pop☆Step the story of how he failed his hero entrance test due to being late. However, the only reason he was late was because he saved a child from drowning. In an ideal world, that kind of act would be enough to give him a pass. Since he has no self-confidence, though, he never fought this decision and laughs it off, much to Pop☆Step’s irritation.

Pop☆Step has even more reason to be mad about Koichi giving up on his dream so easily. The reveal that she was the kid he saved was a nice twist that reframes her relationship with Koichi. It also shows that, despite her outward confidence as an idol, she remains deeply insecure about herself. When she tries to bring herself to tell Koichi, she’s so flustered by Knuckleduster’s presence that she can’t bring herself to do it.

Meet a Modern Anti-Hero

In essence, each of the trio of vigilantes can be considered an anti-hero. Koichi and Pop☆Step serve as more classical anti-heroes due to their flaws, while Knuckleduster represents a more modern take on the archetype. However, they all get eclipsed in terms of being an anti-hero by a newcomer onto the scene.

When Knuckleduster is unable to help them out on patrol one night, Pop and Crawler are met by the Hardening Instant Villain they previously defeated. Hopelessly outmatched, the pair end up getting saved by someone new, a katana-wielding vigilante named Stendhal. After seeing how effortlessly he drove off the Instant Villain, Koichi thinks that Stendhal is amazing. As the audience comes to see, though, Stendhal is even more violent than the likes of Knuckleduster, as he later chooses to kill the villain rather than leave him for the police.

Those who have seen the main series should recognize who this character is by voice alone and know how dangerous he is. However, that will have to wait until the next episode. Stendhal is going to return, and his next target happens to be someone that the trio are familiar with: the guy with the spike Quirk they fought before. To make matters worse, that man turns out to be a potential lead on who is distributing Trigger, so they have to protect him!

The irony is palpable!

I Give “Judgment” a 4/5

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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

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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

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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

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