The debut of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes with its first episode marks an exciting new chapter for fans, spotlighting the journey of protagonist Koichi Haimawari. Despite his aspiration to emulate the iconic hero All Might, Koichi’s quirk proves unsuitable for heroism.
As a spinoff to the acclaimed My Hero Academia series, Vigilantes explores the lives of those striving to be heroes before Izuku Midoriya enrolled in U.A. High School. Viewers can delight in encountering familiar characters as the narrative unfolds.
Plot Overview of Episode 1: “I’m Here”
Episode 1, titled I’m Here, kicks off with Koichi witnessing All Might valiantly thwart a villain wreaking havoc. However, the excitement turns to anxiety as Koichi realizes he’s late for work, a situation exacerbated when he inadvertently collides with a trio of local bullies.
Utilizing his Slide and Glide Quirk, which allows him to slide along any surface while maintaining contact with three limbs, Koichi narrowly escapes. Though the quirk is innovative, it only enables him to move at a mere fraction of a hero’s speed.
Later on, Koichi observes Pop☆Step dazzling the streets with one of her spontaneous concerts. Struck with envy over her impressive Leap Quirk, he eventually departs for his job. Shortly after clocking in, he finds the same trio of bullies raiding the department store, infuriating him and inspiring a determination to contribute positively to his community under the alias “Nice Guy.”
During one of his good deeds, Koichi reunites with Pop☆Step, only to be confronted again by the bullies, now bent on revealing her true identity online. Attempting to defend her proves futile, leading to a dramatic entrance by the vigilante Knuckleduster.
In a spectacular display, Knuckleduster dispatches the bullies and surprisingly extends an apprenticeship offer to Koichi. Despite Koichi’s doubt concerning his potential as a hero due to his quirk, Knuckleduster remains optimistic. However, the situation escalates as one of the villains threatens Pop☆Step, prompting Koichi to rescue her, only for Knuckleduster to finish off the aggressor with a powerful punch.
The episode progresses as Knuckleduster visits Koichi at home, casually insinuating a mentor-student relationship while revealing his investigation into a dangerous drug named Trigger. This substance enhances a villain’s capabilities, prompting Koichi to advocate for leaving the investigation to the professionals—a suggestion Knuckleduster dismisses as naïve.
Simultaneously, a shadowy figure provides the three earlier antagonists with the Trigger drug, amplifying their quirks to dangerous levels. As the episode unfolds, Koichi follows Knuckleduster during his investigation, concerned about potential dangers to innocent civilians. This introspection is justified when Knuckleduster’s actions cross ethical lines. To complicate matters, Pop☆Step joins their escapades, only for Eraser Head to intervene dramatically.
This thrilling first episode sets the stage for a gripping narrative, as audiences are left wondering how Koichi will navigate his dual life and whether he can truly fulfill his dream of heroism.