Stendhal’s Dark Transformation: The Shocking Truth Behind My Hero Academia Vigilantes!

by

This article contains spoilers from My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.

Summary

  • The Stendhal Arc in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes introduces a new deadly Vigilante, Stendhal, who cuts down villains lacking conviction.
  • Stendhal’s encounter with Instant Villains and Kuin Hachisuka deepens his ideology, leading to his transformation into Stain.
  • The interaction between Stendhal, Knuckleduster, and the “Legendary Senpai” Soga questions justice and heroes’ true nature in the series.

Vigilantes” is a separate storyline from the well-known show “My Hero Academia.” This spin-off introduces a new main character who yearns to be a hero but feels held back by what he perceives as a weak superpower. Consequently, he takes to patrolling the streets at night as a vigilante.

Following the “Vigilantes Beginnings Arc,” which spans Chapters 9 to 11, we delve into the “Stendhal Arc.” This arc serves as an introduction to another major antagonist, Kuin Hachisuka, who hails from the Villain Factory. The subsequent arc, known as the “Vs. Queen Been Arc,” follows this introduction. The Stendhal Arc offers a deeper understanding of the enigmatic villain Stain, his beliefs, and the fundamental differences between a Vigilante and someone advocating for chaos or imposing their moral views on others.

Stendhal Is Introduced As A New and Deadly Vigilante

Though Seemingly Friendly to Those Who Are “Just,” Stendhal Cuts All Those Who Lack “Conviction”

First Appearance Chapter 9 “Judgement”
Chapters 9 – 11

At the start, we join Koichi and Kazuho pursuing a criminal from the Instant gang, a villain they’ve previously captured. Interestingly, this specific villain hadn’t repeated his misdeeds earlier, but Koichi felt it necessary to arrest him preemptively to prevent further damage. Given his strong commitment to justice, as is expected of a hero, Koichi took action.

In Chapter 9, we meet a new character named Akaguro Chizome, who takes on the role of Stendhal, a vigilante. His mission is to restrain criminals who cause harm to the innocent populace. Meanwhile, Kuin Hachisuka embarks on constructing the Villain Factory, an old project belonging to All For One and Garaki Kyudai. Her assignment involves eliminating several high-tier villains, both Instant and Next-Level.

The name’s Stendhal. Another meddler, just like you.

Though he quickly defeated the powerful enemy, he eventually let him escape when a crowd gathered, as being seen as someone interfering in matters that weren’t his became risky. As the law enforcement was nearby, this new Vigilante slipped away. In the world of My Hero Academia, Vigilantes are outlaws and cannot legally use their powers to combat crime. However, due to hazardous locations and delayed Pro Heroes, these Vigilantes feel obligated to suppress villains until the police or Pro Heroes arrive on the scene.

When Koichi reached his home, he praised Stendhal and the impact his image had on him, despite their encounter being brief. At that moment, Koichi voiced his belief in having a strong moral compass; characters like Stendhal and “Legendary Senpai,” who turned out to be Kugisaki Soga, have rekindled Koichi’s desire for heroism. Throughout this storyline, the concept of a “strong sense of justice” versus one’s “personal sense of justice” was debated. This discussion set the stage for the true objective of the Vigilantes: whether they are striving for a greater good or imposing their ideals on villains.

In the subsequent chapter, Stendhal reappears, tracking down the elusive Antagonist who had earlier slipped away. During their second encounter, Stendhal’s beliefs were revealed, criticizing the Antagonist for utilizing power without sincerity. Given his lack of conviction, he was instantly deemed the villain. With this judgement, Stendhal promptly dispatched the villain, and Kuin Hachisuka observed the event from a distance.

Stendhal Becomes Stain And Strengthens His Ideology

Now, With Resolve and Conviction, Stendhal Continues His Murder Spree With A New Category of Targets

It was known that Kuin Hachisuka and Stendhal had a prior connection, as she had provided him with specific targets to eliminate. More specifically, Kuin had once supplied Stendhal with several vials of blood which he used to eradicate the Yakuza group, the Abegawa Tenchu Kai. This collaboration led Stendhal to promise the elimination of four members from the Instant villains’ organization.

In this conversation, Stendhal shares that when he takes off his mask, he is no longer the “character of the superior,” the being who transcended human limitations. Stendhal clarifies that once unmasked, he becomes an ordinary individual, deeply committed to the philosophy of heroes and striving to keep these two identities separate. Although Stendhal has reservations about collaborating with Kuin, he defends his actions by pointing out that even the lowliest creatures can offer worth if they eliminate their adversaries in the context of his beliefs, which would eventually become central to his role in My Hero Academia.

Following this exchange, Kuin will reach out to Kugisai Soga, often referred to as the “Revered Senior,” along with his companions Tochi Moyuru and Tokage Rapt, who were once Instant Villains. After refusing the Trigger drugs, Soga encountered Kuin in a secluded alley, but it was a trap set by Stendhal, who had been lying in wait for him.

In a tight spot, Soga believed he was unfairly stereotyped because of his “villainous” power. This prompted him to metamorphose into a beast, a move that seemed to validate Stendhal’s belief in killing him, as his supposed “true character” surfaced. Shortly after, Koichi intervenes, having previously known these two individuals who supposedly upheld strong moral principles. However, his indecision led to Stendhal attacking and injuring Soga.

In his desperate attempt to flee, Koichi carried Soga, but Stendhal abruptly halted him by freezing him in place with his Quirk, Blood Curdle. Just when it seemed like the end, Knuckleduster swooped in, rescuing them both. Throughout this encounter, Knuckleduster’s brave actions epitomized heroism. Growing up, Stendhal admired heroes profoundly, particularly All Might, who stood atop his pedestal of respect. This reverence led him to view heroes as extraordinary individuals who leap beyond the boundaries of the ordinary world.

  • Stendhal idealized heroes to the point of enrolling into a heroic high school to follow his dreams.
  • During his time there, he learned how corrupt society was and that most heroes were unjust in their reasoning to become a Pro Hero.

Following Knuckleduster’s brutal punch that shattered Stendhal’s nose, Stendhal experiences a profound realization: The genuine villains are the “deceptive role models” who don cloaks or masks to persuade themselves they are unbeatable. Grateful for Knuckleduster’s guidance and lessons that have shed light on his understanding, Stendhal swiftly exits the area. Not long after, Kazuho appears with a medical kit and tends to Soga, who was wounded with a chest injury and bleeding.

Wherever I travel, tracks are left behind… guiding bloodstains… that cannot be wiped away…

After reaching Stendhal’s rundown home, he sadly acknowledges his lack of determination and decides to cut off his own nose. Shortly after, Kulin interrupts his soliloquy, receiving a quick slash across her left eye, hidden by her hair. Following the amputation of his nose, Stendhal feels liberated from a “mask”, believing he can now discard his deceptive persona and finally grasp the truth of the world. However, unaware to him, Kulin survives the attack, as bees intervened. After his confrontation with Knuckleduster, Stendhal gains notoriety in the My Hero Academia storyline as the villain Stain. Meanwhile, Kulin persists in her efforts to distribute Trigger drug in Naruhata.

My Hero Academia is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Read More

2025-03-08 23:55