Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia Illegals
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia Illegals is everything I ask of a good shonen and superhero story. In this review, I will not only defend why this is the case, but also explain why, in many aspects, it feels like a more accomplished and focused narrative.

It’s hard to put into words how moving and inspiring this manga is, but I’m going to do my best to convince you to give it a try.

Starting with the characters, the story does not try to focus on too many at once. Instead, it commits to deeply exploring its three protagonists and their interactions with the inhabitants of the ... Naruhata neighborhood. This simple premise highlights one of the key strengths of VIGS: its reduced, everyday-scale approach makes the story feel more intimate, relatable, and human, allowing us to truly understand its characters.

There’s the magic of Koichi, a character you’ve probably heard everyone praise. He’s an everyman: someone who could never take the hero exam (for saving someone’s life) and who, realistically, wouldn’t have passed anyway due to his seemingly useless quirk. When Koichi gets hurt or finds himself in danger, it hurts us. When he grows as a person and improves his quirk, we feel happy. When someone finally recognizes his worth, we feel proud. He has the heart of a hero, but because of the society he lives in, he cannot officially become one. In many ways, he strongly echoes the spirit of characters like Spider-Man.

On the other hand, we have the beloved Knuckleduster, the mentor figure: a complex, unorthodox character who drives the plot and is far from what he seems at first glance. Saying more about the beauty of these characters would only ruin the experience, so it’s better to leave it at that. They are truly the heart of the series.

One of the most noticeable weaknesses of the main continuity, at least for me, has always been its world-building. How does society actually work? What rules govern it? Why are extremely unstable individuals not only accepted as heroes, but also repeatedly excused for behavior that clearly endangers others? Why does a society with superpowers function almost exactly like ours? Much of this is presented in an inorganic way, and we’re often deprived of seeing everyday life, resulting in a simplistic and one-directional depiction.

VIGS, on the other hand, doesn’t just expand the lore, it improves it. Customs, laws, and social norms are introduced naturally and diegetically thanks to the more grounded setting. We see the history, consequences, and structural problems that arise from a society built around heroes. This has real narrative weight and becomes one of the central pillars of the manga: the so-called “sociology of the hero.”

The series goes even further by brilliantly exploring characters like Aizawa, while also giving meaningful screen time to figures who previously lacked narrative weight, such as Midnight (at least at the time of publication).

Another aspect where this story shines is its treatment of the superhero genre itself. Rather than relying on superficial aesthetics or familiar structures, it embraces a more urban tone that fits perfectly, drawing heavily from classic superhero comics and fully committing to the idea of a superhero manga. This influence is even visible in the cover art.

Although this series will always be a 10 in my heart, my objective side won’t let me rate it higher than an 8/10, which is still an excellent score. This is due to some inconsistencies, a few overly simple sections, and several asspulls during the final arc (some justified, others not). Additionally, All Might, despite being a character I like a lot, often disrupts tension more than he should.

There’s still a lot more to mention, such as the excellent villain and the artwork, but going any further would be redundant. I don’t want to spoil the extremely satisfying experience that is reading this short manga.

Highly recommended, and a must-read for shonen fans!

"I know I don't have a chance of going pro at this point. But still, if only for a second, I just wanna fly."

- Koichi, Chapter 2

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a prequel series that takes the core themes of My Hero Academia and looks at them from a new focal point. While using a pre-established setting and plot, Vigilantes manages to build its own identity surrounding the world of quirks and heroes. There are a couple of elements that will be hindered due to it originally being published alongside the main series, especially in regards to plot reveals that are reflected in My ... Hero Academia and possibly affecting how the series might feel when being read as a complete narrative. 

Vigilantes starts with a strong and clear focus, taking the concerns of the main series and offering a new perspective; looking at a side of society which is often brushed over in the main series. By exploring society outside of the labels of 'heroes' and 'villains', we can focus on characters that don't easily fit into these labels. It promises and tries, even if not successfully, to be a series that is less afraid to question the world that has already been established. While it does end up having a similar attitude to the main series, the beginning of the series definitely marks itself as something new and refreshing.

 Exploring an already established world comes with many restraints, from predetermined events to dealing with well-known characters, it can be difficult to create a plot that hooks readers in. By mixing in a number of new characters and being set in a time far enough removed that little is known about it, Vigilantes manages to maintain some tension throughout. Towards the end, as the narrative creeps closer to the story most readers will be familiar with, it begins to slip a little more into a status quo that it struggles to really interrogate as it would destabilise the world of My Hero Academia in a way that would make the main series feel too out of sync. 

 This unfortunately means that some developments are abandoned regardless of how important they initially seemed. This is a flaw that originates from how spread out the narrative becomes, trying to cover a lot of ground but not being given the necessary space to do so effectively. One of the most noticeable instances is that the darker tones and stylistic choices are lost by the end of the series. This doesn't mean that there needs to be an overbearing darkness to it (there is, after all, a large problem with creators trying to make stories more 'serious' in order to appeal to a certain audience) but it does make the tone feel very inconsistent at times. 

 Instead of trying to push its limits as far as it can, Vigilantes ends up falling into the realm of predictability, even when predetermined plot points aren't considered. This is a shame because, at least for the start of its run, the series really tried to stand out. 

 The attempts to stand apart from My Hero Academia are demonstrated in two main ways. The first is through its focus on a different approach to hero culture. Where My Hero Academia starts off with rose-tinted glasses, Vigilantes begins with a more cynical view and this works well; setting up a contrast which is reflected in other aspects of the story. This means that the world is less glamorised, especially when concerned with heroes like Endeavour and Eraserhead, as we see them from an outsider's perspective. Unfortunately, by the end of the series, it struggles to commit to this and comes to resemble the attitude offered by the main series. This is a shame as, rather than developing as the series progresses, the tonal shift feels rather abrupt. Despite this, there are a number of strong emotional moments that shine through the tonal inconsistencies and Vigilantes is at its strongest when it is attempting to challenge the ideals of both characters and readers.

The second way that Vigilantes stands out is through its main character, Kouichi. With his more limited quirk adding restrictions to his activities, he acts as a conduit for the reader without the potentially off-putting naivety displayed by early Izuku. This avoids some of the pitfalls which make Izuku feel like a failed representation of the idea that "anyone can be a hero." Instead of being gifted power through intervention, Kouichi makes use of his limited skill set in interesting ways. His struggles end up feeling more tangible and, while this element of his character slowly gets lost, it is easy to get invested in his struggles. 

 The other important characters are quite an odd mix, some balancing each other out while others tend to be given more plot despite never being deeply developed. This is especially true with the main trio. Vigilantes could have been a little better balanced if it focused more on the student-mentor dynamic between Knuckleduster and Kouichi. Partly because both characters have unique interpretations of the world that complement each other well. It would also mean that the series committed a little more to its own characters, rather than it becoming distracted by already established heroes that the reader has already encountered.

 Pop*Step, despite showing the potential for a lot of character development, finds herself falling into a repeating cycle that wears her character down over time. There is little resolution for her character or exploration of her psyche in any meaningful way. This is made worse by the over-sexualisation of her at times; it is shoehorned into the narrative and often beaten over the reader's heads to a point where it becomes frustrating. It could have opened a potential avenue for Vigilantes to explore that is in keeping with its approach to hero culture, but it quickly slammed the door shut in its own face.

An inevitable consequence of this being a spin-off series is that the original characters are often buried underneath returning characters. This is a shame because a couple of supporting characters are really well-handled and demonstrate interesting character growth that could have been utilised more. Even relying on the more sidelined heroes would be an improvement, rather than fleshing out characters that the reader will already have a good grasp of. That isn't to say that returning characters are handled poorly, it just feels as though they have been relied on too much to carry the story at times.  The original side characters often allow for the exploration of ideas that are inaccessible to the main character, especially around redemption. The slow development allows their progress to feel believable, showing the reader how they have changed rather than simply declaring it. These characters show that, despite some having copy-and-pasted personalities, there was potential for more development. 

The art style is engaging enough, especially with the use of shading; clearly marking it as different to My Hero Academia without straying too far from its main style. The consistency in this, as well as character design, allows Vigilantes to seamlessly slot in without getting too lost in the noise. This meant that, when reading both series at the same time, it was very difficult to mix up or get confused. And, while it would have been nice to see some more experimental panelling later on, the art does its job well.

Overall, if you are a person who enjoys My Hero Academia, then Vigilantes will be a good series to pick up. In some areas, Vigilantes tackles its themes and characters in a way that is more successful than My Hero Academia but in others, it is less so. For me, this is an ideal balance for a spin-off; it should complement without directly overshadowing or regurgitating the main series. Despite this, there are a couple of issues that make it feel like it's wasting its potential at times and making it feel like a bit of a disappointment by its end.  

As a spin-off to one of the most popular shounen of the post-Big 3 Generation, Illegals needs to fill some big shoes. The world of BNHA is large, large enough to accommodate a variety of stories. The author, however, decided to tell the story that could have been the most poignant: the story of illegal heroes. And yet, Illegals' story is not without its share of faults. Despite its adequate illustrations and character designs, Illegals fails where its parent story succeeds, hosting a cast of lifeless characters and a bipolar story.

Story:
The story of Illegals is the story of the forgotten. Behind the glamour ... of the pro-Hero life lies an underbelly of unlicensed heroes taking justice into their own hands. Some, such as protagonist Haimawari Kouichi (“Crawler”), use their low-power quirks to tackle crimes Pro-Heroes miss, while others, such as Haneyama Kazuho (“Pop-Step”), use their powers for personal gain.

It’s a story of potential, one that could have been taken in multiple directions, yet the story fails to pick a path and stick to it. The episodic story oscillates between sub-par comedy relying on tired running-gags and grim showdowns marred by shoddy writing and weird pacing. Through the story, readers are left wondering about the purpose of it all. Where is the work supposed to fit in the BNHA universe? Does it say anything new about the world of Deku, All Might and Best Girl <INSERT NAME HERE>?

The series does try to give some answers to these questions, especially when characters from the main series pop in. One thing that people may not know about this series is that it is a PREQUEL to BNHA in addition to being a spin-off. With that in mind, the story succeeds in providing some nice background to the Chisaki arc of the main series while also providing some nice moments in this story as well.

Characters:
Because of the plot’s inability to focus on the core message of the story, the characters suffer, turning them into puppets rather than people.
To understand this point, let’s look at the protagonist, Kouichi.

Kouchi is a college student who adores top hero All Might and wants to follow in his idol’s footsteps, but lacks the power to do so as a licensed hero. Thus, he decides to don his favorite All Might jacket and take to the streets as The Crawler. Beyond his drive for heroism, love for All Might and slight bitterness about his weak quirk, however, these isn’t much to Kouichi. There’s no reason to care about him. The stakes aren’t high enough for his actions to mean anything significant, his personality isn’t big enough elicit any laughs, and he isn’t even angsty enough for people to relate with him about his weaknesses. There’s no depth to his character, nor is he entertaining to see in action.

Such is the case for most of the cast of Illegals, with the except of (maybe) Knuckleduster. I will also mention that a certain popular villain’s origin story also takes place in Illegals, but the justification for his development feels so sudden and forced that I would recommend that fans skip those chapters all together. Thank me later.

Art:
The art design of Illegals is passable. The style itself is a tad reminiscent of Horikoshi’s western style for All Might, especially when the illustrator draws the muscle-bound Knuckleduster. Some of outfits seem more improvised than others, adding to a much-needed informality to the Vigilantes’ attire. A simple yet effective example is Knuckledusters use of a bandana, jacket and cargo pants. The bandana especially evokes images of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, adding a nice retro touch to the design.

Enjoyment:
If this series was clearer about what it wanted to accomplish, then I may have enjoyed it more. I did enjoy seeing the occasional parallels between this work and the main series, but they felt like Easter eggs rather than key parts of the story.
All in all, it was an inefficient use of my time.

Overall:
With a scatter-brained story and shallow characters, Illegals is a forgettable disappointment.

If you’re expecting for the perfect balance of comedy, drama and action that BNHA provides, you should look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a deep-dive into a particular part of the BNHA world that the main series doesn’t highlight, you should also look elsewhere. If you are desperate for BNHA content, no matter how bad, then maybe you can give this a chance.

But then again, maybe a story this bad is better off behind bars.