7 Things Koichi Can Do That Deku Can’t

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Summary

  • Koichi is an illegal vigilante, contrasting with Deku, who follows the law with his official Hero License.
  • Koichi is more socially adept with girls than Deku, who initially struggled with social interactions.
  • Koichi was born with a quirk and could use it since he was a baby, unlike Deku, who was quirkless until he met All Might.

Following the unveiling of the “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” anime, audiences worldwide have been introduced to the relatable and trustworthy lead character, Koichi Haimawari, also known as The Crawler. Given the popularity of this series, it’s no surprise that fans are now drawing comparisons between him and the protagonist from the main “My Hero Academia” series, Izuku Midoriya. In fact, manga readers have been making these comparisons for quite some time.

Initially, you might find these two leading figures strikingly alike in numerous aspects – such as their humble origins, altruistic intentions towards helping others, and mutual reverence for All Might. However, they exhibit striking differences as well. This discrepancy results in situations where Dekzukami cannot perform certain tasks, but Koichi can. Here are the seven instances where this contrast is most noticeable.

1. Disobeying The Law (For More Than A Day)

Koichi Is An Illegal Vigilante, While Deku Obtained An Official Hero License

In the realm of “My Hero Academia”, being a superhero is more than just a comic book fantasy; it’s a legitimate profession with its own set of rules and regulations. As such, our protagonist Deku lives as an ordinary citizen, striving to abide by the law. His ambition led him to enroll in U.A. High School with dreams of becoming a Pro Hero. While training there, he also earned a Temporary Hero License. Although there have been occasions where he broke the law and worked as an unauthorized hero (such as during the Hideout Raid Arc), he has always faced consequences for his actions.

Instead, the storyline of “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” centers around Koichi taking on an illicit role as a vigilante, employing his quirk to aid and rescue people without an official Hero License. This illegal activity often puts him at odds with the police and other Pro Heroes, necessitating his evasive actions. Despite this, it’s clear that Koichi is a kind and compassionate individual who simply found an unconventional means of assisting others in need.

2. Talking To Girls Without Problems

Koichi Was More Social Than Deku (In The Beginning, At Least)

Throughout his middle school years, Deku endured frequent bullying due to being quirkless, which made him timid and reserved around his peers. This shyness carried over into high school, particularly when it came to interacting with girls, such as Ochaco Uraraka, Mei Hatsume, or Nejire Hado. However, as he adapted to his new environment, he found it easier to engage with women.

It’s clear that while Koichi may have been shy and not have the most vibrant social life, he had no difficulties interacting with people of the opposite gender. In fact, he maintained friendly relationships with Kazuho Haneyama and Makoto Tsukauchi, who later became his romantic interests, without making a fuss about it.

3. Using A Quirk Since He Was Little

Unlike Deku, Koichi Was Actually Born With A Quirk

As someone captivated by the world of heroes, I can tell you that I, much like Izuku Midoriya, was born devoid of a quirk – a trait that seemed to be an essential requirement for heroism in my society. The weight of this fact weighed heavy on my heart, as I feared I would never join the ranks of these mighty protectors.

However, destiny had other plans when All Might chose me to inherit One For All, transforming me into his successor. This underdog story, filled with trials and tribulations, became my own. Though my life eventually flourished, I can’t forget the hardships I faced as a quirkless child in a world where everyone else seemed gifted with incredible superpowers at an early age. The dream of becoming a hero was shared by many, but for those like me, it felt like an unattainable fantasy. Worse still, some even bullied us for our lack of a quirk. Yet, here I am, standing tall and proud, ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead as I strive to become the hero I always dreamed of being.

Koichi lived a more traditional life, having been born with a special ability that his mother said he could utilize since infancy. However, he found Slide and Glide abilities useless and was often bullied by Soga and his gang for it. Fortunately, he avoided the widespread prejudice experienced by Deku. He seamlessly integrated into Japan’s hero-focused society until maturity.

4. Flying Without Additional Quirks

Koichi Learned How To Use Slide And Glide To Soar The Skies

When Deku received One For All from All Might, he discovered how to utilize his newfound strength for long jumps, yet he didn’t have the endurance to remain airborne for extended periods. Later on, when he unlocked Nana Shimura’s Float quirk, which was part of One For All along with her spirit, Deku gained the ability to soar through the skies.

In the narrative of Vigilantes, there comes a time where Koichi discovers his ability to generate strong repelling forces from his hands and feet, allowing him to fly swiftly. Moreover, he can adhere to walls and other surfaces using these same abilities. Interestingly, this was something Koichi had the capacity for since childhood: as an infant, he frequently employed Slide and Glide techniques to float above his crib and evade it, until his mother trained him to stop doing so.

5. Shooting Precise Projectiles Without Any Support Items

“Shooty-Go-Blam” Became A Crucial Part Of The Crawler’s Arsenal

Initially, Izuku Midoriya’s physique struggled to handle the immense power of One For All, so he devised innovative ways to utilize it. For instance, he could create strong blasts of wind towards his adversaries by simply flicking his fingers, however, these wind bursts lacked accuracy and focused strength. This is why he eventually requested Mei Hatsume to construct the Air Force Gloves for him, enabling him to fire numerous wind projectiles effortlessly.

Instead of Koichi’s history with projectile attacks being complex, it became more streamlined as he continued to hone his Slide and Glide quirk, discovering innovative applications for it. Eventually, he mastered the skill of focusing the repelling energy from his hands to produce potent blasts. These projectiles are incredibly accurate and forceful, capable of piercing through compact objects such as metal cans. Remarkably, Koichi managed this feat without requiring any additional support items.

6. Fighting Alongside Famous Heroes On Equal Terms

Deku Eventually Became A Great Hero, But His Teachers Always Saw Him As A Kid

Although All Might is Deku’s top hero role model and idol, he has always harbored profound respect for Japan’s most acclaimed and cherished Pro Heroes, such as Eraser Head, Thirteen, Ingenium, Beast Jeanist, Mirko, and many others. Luckily for him, he got to battle alongside all of them during both the Paranormal Liberation War Arc and Final War Arc. However, most of these heroes still viewed him as a developing hero or a high school student (particularly those who were his teachers at U.A. High School).

Because Koichi didn’t attend U.A. High School and instead chose to become an adult illegal vigilante, his interactions with professional heroes during his adventures were more on par with them as peers rather than subordinates. Although these encounters were often strained due to his criminal status, some heroes like Eraser Head, Ingenium, and Captain Celebrity recognized him as a valuable ally. Additionally, Koichi had the opportunity to collaborate with Iida Tensei and All Might before they retired from hero work.

7. Becoming An International Hero

Koichi Became A Sidekick In The US, While Deku Barely Left Japan

Remarkably, Izuku Midoriya’s journey unfolds entirely within the borders of Japan. Although he has ventured to other nations on a few occasions (such as in the initial and third films), his primary ambition was to excel as the foremost hero in his native land, vanquish One For All, and better his homeland’s society. This admirable objective, however, meant that he had limited opportunities to engage with international Pro Heroes and the hero communities of other nations.

In contrast to Deku’s expansive journey, Koichi’s focus was primarily on Naruhata ward throughout most of the story in Vigilantes. However, as the series concluded, he decided to depart Japan and join Captain Celebrity’s agency in the United States, where he gained recognition as The Skycrawler. Regrettably, his illegal vigilantism had tarnished his reputation at home, labeling him a villain or criminal in the public eye. Yet, his unfortunate circumstances provided an opportunity for him to rise as an International Pro Hero abroad.

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2025-04-29 23:08