The Hidden Truth About Vigilantes and Heroes in My Hero Academia Revealed

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Summary

  • Quirks brought chaos, leading ordinary citizens to become vigilantes who later were recognized as heroes.
  • America was the first to regulate heroes and vigilantes, making laws around their use of quirks.
  • The Hero Licensing System leads to conflicts with vigilantes; corruption within organizations raises questions.

In the world of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, unique abilities known as quirks exist, leading to the creation of both protectors (heroes) and threats (villains) in society. However, there are individuals who operate on a gray area, neither fully hero nor villain – these are the vigilantes. The question arises: how do people differentiate between these groups of individuals?

In essence, heroes, villains, and vigilantes, despite their contrasting roles, share a commonality as individuals gifted with supernatural abilities pursuing their objectives. What sets them apart is their moral compasses. The Hero Licensing System, as portrayed in the universe of “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes”, lays down the guidelines for becoming a hero. However, what sparked this system’s creation and evolution?

The History of Vigilantes and Heroes

Vigilantes Came First

In a whirlwind of unexpected events, I found myself living during a time when extraordinary abilities sprang up like wildfire, igniting with the birth of a radiant child in China. It wasn’t long before it seemed as if every person on Earth had been bestowed with supernatural powers, which in turn led to chaos in our societies.

Over time, ordinary people took it upon themselves to uphold law and order, acting as self-appointed enforcers. Initially, these individuals were often hailed as heroes, but the reality is more complex than what’s commonly portrayed. Not every self-appointed enforcer was celebrated as a hero; some were actually branded as villains instead.

Initially, in a scholarly context, vigilantism refers to a citizen-led law enforcement mechanism that emerges unofficially when society experiences chaos or unrest.

Most of these groups tend to be temporary, and over time, as society becomes more settled, their members either integrate into established institutions or disband.

– Makoto Tsukauchi, MHA: Vigilantes, Episode 7

America, the Birthplace of Hero Society

As heroism and unofficial crime-fighting sprang up in various locations, it was America that became the pioneer in creating laws to regulate this phenomenon. In the state of Rhodes Island specifically, a total of 189 vigilantes found themselves under the oversight of what was known as the Rhode Island New State Statute. However, out of these 189, only 7 were officially recognized and honored as heroes.

It was determined that the surviving vigilantes were considered villains due to their unlawful use of their powers. The criteria separating chosen heroes from these vigilantes remains unclear, but it’s likely related to how they utilized their powers, their backgrounds, and their moral compasses.

The Existing Conflict between Heroism and Vigilantism

Although the Hero Licensing System was initially inspired by Vigilantism, it fundamentally denies their validity. However, the requirement for vigilantes persists since heroes can’t be everywhere simultaneously, and there are significantly more villains than heroes in existence. Heroes such as Ingenium enable the presence of vigilantes like Koichi, but the law remains unfavorable towards them.

The Problems with the Hero Licensing System

The Hero Licensing System facilitated the creation of entities such as the Hero Public Safety Commission, shaping our perspective on the universe of “My Hero Academia.” In this world, heroism is recognized and respected, with heroes collaborating to safeguard the general populace. However, no system, not even one as robust as this, is without its flaws.

A Defined Path to Follow

The Hero Regulation System clearly defines who qualifies as a hero. Engaging in quirk usage outside of this role, whether it’s a villain causing chaos or a vigilante trying to preserve order, is considered unlawful. Due to the very nature of society’s laws, even the most virtuous vigilante remains viewed as a threat. The journey towards heroism doesn’t exactly make things easier in this regard.

The process is quite extensive, beginning when one enrolls in a hero training program and concluding upon earning a Hero License. However, we’ve noticed characters such as Koichi and Hitoshi face challenges in joining this training program, despite their potential. Due to circumstances, like Koichi missing the exam while rescuing a child, he was forced to resign. Unfortunately, Hitoshi, who has a powerful quirk, failed to pass because his quirk didn’t function effectively on the robots during the final assessment.

Corruption in the Organization

In their position of ultimate authority, organizations such as the Hero Public Safety Commission are often considered infallible. However, history has shown that even those dedicated to upholding justice can succumb to corruption from within. As Lady Nagant puts it, there have been instances where numerous heroes allegedly conspired with villains for personal gain like fame and money, yet they have managed to avoid public accountability for their misdeeds.

Instead, Nagant found employment as a ruthless assassin, eliminating both corrupt leaders and seemingly innocent individuals in the name of preserving order, yet crucially, bolstering the commission’s reputation in the public eye.

Throughout their adventure, Koichi and his team are consistently testing the boundaries between being labeled as heroes or vigilantes. Can they eventually achieve official recognition for their vigilante actions?

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

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2025-06-04 21:49