With the final season of My Hero Academia coming up at the tail end of the year, it’s a good time to either reacclimate yourself with the series, or try it out for the first time. Newcomers might look at the seven seasons already out and think that’s a bit of a daunting task, which is why there is an alternative to ease you into the series that might be more up your alley. The spinoff series, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has begun airing and brings with it a different way to experience the series. With a new cast of characters and story, it’s a great way to dip your toes into the series, and even for returnees, an avenue to jump back into the series as a whole. RELATED: How to Watch All My Hero Academia Arcs in Order (Plus Movies) Of course, one of the biggest reasons why Vigilantes is a good entry point for folks is that it’s a prequel to My Hero Academia . Taking place before we meet Deku and Class 1-A, we’re able to get a look at what was happening in this world before a lot of significant events that define the series happen. You’re able to see all your favorite heroes in their prime and what the landscape of the world truly looked like. We’re also introduced to an aspect that makes a lot of sense in a universe full of super-powered people: unregistered heroes. Having the show be based around the idea of vigilante heroes allows for new kinds of questions to arise, such as wondering if it's the right thing to do, and can vigilantes actually be helpful when the pros aren’t around? It’s an intriguing conundrum that allows this series to stand out and lets viewers examine the overall franchise in a different light. Newcomers will be able to see how this idea compares to the main series once they get there and returnees can already have the knowledge to look at how the two series are similar and how they differentiate from each other. RELATED: How Well Do You Know My Hero Academia? Another aspect of this show that helps bring in new viewers and old fans is that the main characters are currently limited to a trio. Something that can be overwhelming about My Hero Academia is the number of characters you meet. Students, teachers, heroes, and villains, it’s a lot to keep track of when you’re jumping in from the start. Vigilantes gives you a chance for a fresh start. While it does showcase some of the main heroes you’ll see later on, they’re still given a decent introduction just in case you aren’t aware of who they are. Perhaps my favorite reason why Vigilantes is a good entry point is the main trio I mentioned: Koichi, Pop☆Step, and Knuckleduster. These three are a set of characters that couldn't be more different if they tried. Koichi is a normal college student, Pop☆Step is a high school street idol, and Knuckleduster is a gruff older guy who has been doing vigilante work the whole time. Even their Quirks are different from one another, and are the kind that don't seem like they'd be much help. Koichi is able to glide on any surface, Pop☆Step has a leaping quirk, and Knuckleduster is, seemingly, Quirkless. In spite of all of that, they’re able to come together and create a group with a common goal of trying to stop a drug that’s turning people into villains. RELATED: 40 My Hero Academia Quotes Worth Remembering In its first few episodes, Vigilantes has really shone when it comes to showcasing the burgeoning group dynamics between the three. Koichi begrudgingly starts to accept Knuckleduster as someone who can teach him the ropes, Pop☆Step realizes that these two can be trusted after they helped save her, and even Knuckleduster sees that these are two kids who can help him with his work. We’re able to get a fun found family dynamic between this trio that you might not expect from the outset of the series. The scenes where all three are basically crashing at Koichi’s place showcase this very well, as despite the short length of time they’ve known each other, all three have managed to get very comfortable with one another (and it makes for a lot of fun and goofy scenes). On top of that, we’re able to see how all of them start to learn how to work together and how they tackle their vigilante work while trying to stay under the radar of registered heroes and the police. RELATED: My Hero Academia and the Truth About Chasing Ideals It can sometimes be hard for a series to create a spinoff that is able to entice both regular viewers and newcomers of its franchise, but My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is managing to do it with great success. Established fans are able to see a new side of the overall story while newcomers get a fresh slate to start with that doesn't feel as overwhelming as the massive world of My Hero Academia . Along with a fun trio of new main characters, Vigilantes is something that every superhero fan should check out.
