Category: My Hero Vigilantes

End of the road, Number Six.

It’s over. No, not the series…yet. The Naruhata Blackout Arc. Number 6 has been defeated. The town is saved. Well, what’s left of it.

All No. 6 wanted was to have a meaningful life. A life where he’ll be remembered. Unfortunately, All For One twisted his brain to where he tried achieving his goals in the worst way possible. Murder, kidnapping, mass destruction. Those aren’t the most noble ways to become a hero. But, again, what can you expect when you’re raised by AFO? That’s what I love about No. 6. Sure, he’s a bastard through and through, but that’s only possible due to the guidance of the King of The Bastards, AFO. As much as a threat No. 6 was, he never overshadowed the true shit head of the My Hero Universe. It’s gonna be so satisfying seeing AFO taken down in the main series. I already got the DJ booked for the victory party!

No. 6 defying “AFO” in his last moment. Given how much of a pawn he is, that was surprising. No. 6 went out on his own terms and achieved what he set out to do, again in the most screwed up way possible. Scarring Koichi, the man he’s wanted dead more than anything else, became the only way he’d truly be remembered. Koichi won’t forget him. Maybe failing to save No. 6 helps lead Koichi down the pro hero path? It’s possible. I really hope so. I’d hate for someone as powerful as Koichi to retire from helping people.

You’re late!

Now there’s something I thought I’d never see in My Hero Vigilantes. All Might and Endeavor working together, kinda. All Might knocked the No. 6 copies in the air while Endeavor burned them up. Pretty cool, to say the least.

And that’s it.

Sure, “All For One” hyped No. 6 up on the last page, but come on! What the hell is he gonna do against All Might, Endeavor, and a crap ton of heroes ready to pound the living crap out of him? Seriously. What’s No. 6’s final play? You know me. I’ve predicted for ages No. 6 is gonna blow himself up in a last ditch effort to kill Koichi. That’s pretty much all he can do at this point, go out in a blaze of glory jealousy.

Haters gonna hate.

Jealousy. That’s what it comes down to. This entire battle is happening simply because Number Six is jealousy of our boy, Koichi. Witnessing firsthand Naruhata’s love of The Crawler sent No. 6 over the edge. Now, everyone’s a target! All of Naruhata’s doomed if No. 6 isn’t stopped.

So many minor characters making cameos! I can’t even place them all. There’s previously seen citizens, former instant villains, and others cheering our favorite vigilante on. Hey! It’s faux Rocksteady and Bebop! And, isn’t that little kid the same one helped by Koichi and Aizawa right before Eraser Head’s flashback? Well, it’s been a couple years, so maybe not. I don’t know. All I know is the town is giving Koichi their full support.

Guess your coffee break’s over, huh heroes?

Finally! The heroes arrived! Well, Best Jeanist anyway. Ingenium, Edgeshot, and Eraser Head are either heading for BJ’s location or implementing a plan to take Number 6 down. Guess we’ll get a flashback explaining it next chapter.

Nice seeing Koichi’s friends and other citizens of Naruhata cheering their vigilante on. No, not vigilante, hero. Official or not, the Crawler is Naruhata’s very own hometown hero.

The Crawler’s gone. But Koichi Haimawari lives on.

Kochi’s All Might hoodie, essentially his vigilante costume, getting destroyed, is symbolic of where he currently is as a person. He’s no longer reliant on it be a hero. Koichi IS a hero. He’s taking on Number 6, not because he has to, but because it’s the right thing to do.

The Crawler + Knuckleduster = Koichi. His heroic nature has always been there, but it’s now refined, encompassing KD’s offensive style and resolve along with Koichi defensive attitude. This is Koichi at his strongest, mentally and physically.

Who says you can’t be a hero?

With Number 6 currently made up of plasma, Koichi can go all out without fear of killing him. This battle just got a lot more fun for our favorite vigilante who’s all smiles during the most dangerous fight of his life. But, is it the end of the road for Koichi? Both literally and for his vigilantism?

Look, as much as I want Koichi becoming an official hero, if he doesn’t want to do it, it’s not happening. But, finally, FINALLY, that spark. That wondrous desire to be a hero has revealed itself. It’s been there for a while now, but it’s Koichi’s acknowledgement of wanting to continue being a warrior of justice that was needed. Now, the option of The Crawler getting a hero license is on the table. It can happen. In fact, if Koichi wants to continue fighting the good fight, he has to get a license.

Remember, the police know his identity. Koichi can no longer operate as a vigilante. Especially with his battle against No. 6 potentially being broadcast all over the country. Liked by the locals or not, The Crawler is no longer too small a vigilante to overlook. It’s either become a legit hero or never use his quirk in public again!

The gang’s back together, sorta.

Last chapter “Knuckleduster” gave Koichi permission to fight. Now, “Pop Step” has given her blessing. Or, at least, their ghosts? Spirit forms? Look, I’m not sure what’s happening here. Maybe Koichi’s injuries are messing with his head. Maybe we’re witnessing the Near-Death-Pep-Talk Trope in full effect. Or maybe it’s a little of both. Safe to say all three main characters are close to death right now. Whether Koichi is really being visited by his near-death friends or not, I don’t think it’ll be fully explained anytime soon. Let’s just go with it.

What? I said Knuckleduster’s dead last chapter? Yeah, I did. Well, maybe he’s not. Give me a break, okay? Frankly, I don’t know anymore. He’s badly hurt. Pop’s badly hurt. Koichi’s badly hurt. What do yo want me to say? That all three characters will die at the end of the series?! …Oh… Oh, no… No, no, no. You can’t do this to me, MHV. You just can’t! Don’t make me love this series, then kill the main cast. That would be horrible!

Knuckleduster’s final gift to Koichi: Permission to fight.

I thought he’d make it. I really did. But, no. Looks like Knuckleduster is dead, for real this time.

Thankfully, his spirit could visit Koichi before passing on. How? It’s a trope, just go with it. The fallen mentor telling his apprentice goodbye in a am I dreaming/hallucinating way to give said hero that last kick in the buns to overcome their current state and win is a classic. I’m just glad Koichi and Knuckleduster got in one last conversation. And after reading this chapter, I can see why the creators waited until now for it to happen.

Koichi knows he’ll be okay. He doesn’t need Knuckleduster anymore. But more importantly, he has permission to fight back. To do what Knuckleduster has always done, punch the crap outta bad guys.

Where for art thou, All Might?

The Crawler’s in trouble. Number 6 not only recharged his energy, but is now stronger than he’s ever been thanks to feeding off the Anons’s exploding bomber cells. Koichi did great. Number 6 couldn’t touch him, but going at 100% for so long finally caught up with our favorite vigilante. The balance of power has dramatically shifted. To make matters worse, he’s badly hurt. So, what now, Y’all?

Number 6 is on a strict plasma and keto diet.

Okay. This fight ain’t over yet. I’m loving it, but what else is there to happen? Number 6 refuses backing down and even absorbed the Anons in a last ditch effort to strike again. So yeah, the Anons are gone. All that’s left of Operation Anonymous is a not so subtle flying plasma skeleton in a dogfight against a vigilante. It looked like No. 6 is about to blow himself up again on the last page. Maybe he now has enough bomber cells/plasma to do that several times. But…that doesn’t seem exciting enough to close out this battle.