What’s wrong, friend? That FOMO feeling’s got you down? Afraid all the cool kids know about My Hero Vigilantes and you don’t? Well, I say don’t fret about it!
Seriously don’t. Just watch the anime cold and enjoy yourself.
…Still here? Fine. Here’re five spoiler-free things you can know about My Hero Vigilantes (assuming it’s a faithful adaption of the manga).
1.) You don’t need to have watched and/or read My Hero Academia to enjoy the series.
My Hero Academia (manga) started in July 2014. My Hero Vigilantes (manga) began in August 2016. The two-year old world of MHA had already established itself enough to carry a spin-off without relying on the main characters or plots from the main series.
Not to mention, the creators of My Hero Vigilantes (writer, Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrator, Betten Court) could always run any questions or ideas by Horikoshi, ensuring nothing they did broke the main series’ continuity. Basically: Vigilantes taking place in the same world as MHA is all you need to know.
Sure, your enjoyment may be enhanced with knowledge from the main series, but it isn’t essential. My Hero Vigilantes contains it’s own story with it’s own main characters for you to invest in and join on their journey. Dekus and Bakugos need not apply!
2.) My Hero Vigilantes takes place five years before the start of My Hero Academia.
MHV is a prequel. That way its creators don’t have to keep changing course if something major happens to the world in the present main series. It gave the MHV creators additional free-reign over their story. And as a byproduct, it allowed readers to see some supporting characters from the main series when they were a bit younger, learning some things about them we never would’ve learned in MHA. A win-win for everyone.
3.) My Hero Vigilantes is a character-driven story.
This is a series aimed at a more mature audience. But don’t break out the expensive silverware and Chateau Lafite just yet. I’m just saying while MHA is a battle Shonen, basically a series where fighting is the focus; My Hero Vigilantes is a lot more character focused. There’s more downtime in-between fights in exchange for more character interactions, drama, and plot development.
Yes, you’ll get your fighty-fights, but the main characters do more than just kick bad guys in the balls. They have school, goals, dreams they’re working towards too. Again, we’re on a journey with the main cast and they aren’t always running into a dark alley for a brawl.
4.) Don’t expect more than three seasons. But…
This is a personal theory, but going by what happens in the manga, My Hero Vigilantes’ complete story can easily be broken up into three parts/seasons. Maybe four if the first season’s really short like MHA’s first season but, currently, I’m expecting a modest three-season anime adaption.
Here’s the “but”: We could get a My Hero Vigilantes direct manga sequel if the anime’s popular enough. That is if MHV’s creators are willing to do it.
If not—or in addition—we could also get a Academia/Vigilantes team-up movie! It wouldn’t be hard to do if there’s a demand for it. And, believe me, there will be a demand once the My Hero Vigilante anime premieres in April 2025.
5.) Quirks can be trained to grow stronger.
If you’ve watched/read My Hero Academia, then you know Class 1-A are constantly training their bodies and quirks to make them stronger. That’s the nature of superpowers in this universe.
What’s that got to do with My Hero Vigilantes? Well…I can’t say. This is a spolier-free list, remember? But I thought I’d leave you with that little nugget of information to chew on.
Now just sit back, relax, and make sure you have enough popcorn or organic pizza rolls ready for the first episode. Hope you enjoy it!
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 