With season 8 of “My Hero Academia” scheduled for release at the end of 2025, the franchise is staying active by delving into its past. Debuting in 2016, “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” is a spin-off and prequel that takes place a few years prior to the main storyline. This series focuses on three characters who aspire to do good, but lack the powerful quirks necessary to become Pro Heroes in the traditional sense.
Hideyuki Furuhashi’s manga concluded in 2022 following 15 volumes, and it attracted a sizable group of devoted fans throughout its run. An anime version was long-awaited, but Studio Bones eventually produced an adaptation for the Spring 2025 season.
Despite being primarily tailored for MHA fans, Vigilantes can still be appreciated by those not deeply invested in the original series. While there are some characters that appear in both stories, they are each given adequate introductions within the spin-off, so it’s worth giving a watch if one is intrigued. As the main characters of MHA Vigilantes become the highlight, let us focus on them and address questions such as “What is the height of Pop Step?” and “How old is Knuckleduster?
In this context, we’ll primarily discuss the anime version of “Vigilantes”, and to keep things interesting for those who are also reading the manga, spoilers from the manga will be minimized as much as feasible. Therefore, characters from “Vigilantes” that have yet to appear won’t be emphasized at this time.
In this conversation, we’ll be discussing plot points from the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes manga (and subsequent anime episodes), which will be enclosed in “Caution” sections to avoid spoilers.
MHA Vigilantes Age, Birthday, And Height Statistics Chart
| Character | Vigilante Name | Age | Birthday | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koichi Haimawari | Nice Guy (Episode 1) | 19 | February 22 | 5’77” / 172cm |
| Kazuho Haneyama | Pop Step | Not Stated, But Probably Between 13-15 | May 28 | 5’22” / 158cm |
| Iwao Oguro | Knuckleduster | 45 | N/A | 6’1″ / 185cm |
| Soga Kugisaki | N/A | 20 | November 8 | 5’11” / 182cm |
| Shota Aizawa | Eraser Head | Mid-20s (Aizawa Is 30 At The Start Of My Hero Academia) | November 8 | 6’0″ / 183cm |
Koichi Haimawari (Nice Guy)
Quirk: Slide and Glide
- Koichi’s Age: 19
- Koichi’s Birthday: February 22
- Koichi’s Height: 5’77” / 172cm
- Debut Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Here”
- Japanese Voice Actor: Shuichiro Umeda
- English Voice Actor: Jack Broadbent
The main character in MHA Vigilantes, known as Koichi, is actually quite ordinary compared to the grand scale of things, much like many other college students his age. Just like them, he idolizes All Might and strives to emulate his selfless traits. However, his luck in terms of Quirks was not as fortunate; Slide and Glide only allows him to move along the ground when he has three points of contact, and even then, it doesn’t make him move very quickly. This ability, while slightly useful in everyday life, is far from what one would expect from a Pro Hero.
In his free time from a demanding job, Koichi dons an improvised costume and takes to the streets, looking for people to assist. Aware of his own capabilities, he focuses on small acts of kindness rather than taking on full-blown heroism. Yet, much like Deku from ‘MHA’, he cannot turn a blind eye to someone in need, and is prepared to sustain injuries if necessary, to lend a helping hand.
At first, Koichi is known as “Nice Guy” as his alias for his vigilante activities. Later on, he is persuaded to switch this to “The Crawler” once he joins the Naruhata Vigilantes.
Kazuho Haneyama (Pop Step)
Quirk: Leap
- Kazuho’s Age: Mid-Teens
- Kazuho’s Birthday: May 28
- Kazuho’s Height: 5’22” / 158cm
- Debut Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Here”
- Japanese Voice Actor: Ikumi Hasegawa
- English Voice Actor: Macy Anne Johnson
Kazuho, much like Koichi, is a teenager who takes delight in employing her Quirk to bring happiness to others. Instead of offering assistance directly, she employs her Leap ability to organize street idol performances, performing under the alias Pop Step, which is strictly forbidden in the world of My Hero Academia. Essentially, she begins as a lawbreaker, but swiftly transforms into a vigilante upon encountering Koichi.
From the outside, Kazuho may appear to be around the same age as Koichi. But upon closer inspection, I realize that Koichi is a couple of years senior. During his teenage years, it was Koichi who rescued the younger Kazuho.
Despite not being particularly combative, Kazuho swiftly demonstrates her courage. She confronts Soga and his followers, aware they pose a significant threat, and without a second thought, she joins Koichi and Knuckleduster in probing the source of a novel drug that’s been sweeping through the city.
Iwao Oguro (Knuckleduster)
Quirk: None
- Knuckleduster’s Age: 45
- Knuckleduster’s Birthday: N/A
- Knuckleduster’s Height: 6’1″ / 185cm
- Debut Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Here”
- Japanese Voice Actor: Yasuhiro Mamiya
- English Voice Actor: Jason Marnocha
Making a striking entrance reminiscent of raw natural power, Iwao, also known as Knuckleduster, leaves an indelible mark in both the anime and manga. Immersed in the world of vigilantism, he demonstrates an impressive ability to stand his ground in combat, largely due to his robust physique honed over years of rigorous training.
To be honest, there are moments when Iwao seems rather dimwitted, yet his actions always stem from his unwavering dedication to his principles. He firmly believes in justice, understanding that Pro Heroes can’t be present everywhere simultaneously, and more crucially, they are subject to laws, unlike vigilantes. Given his age, background, and skills, Iwao assumes a guiding role within the trio that forms the heart of My Hero Academia’s main characters. Without him, this team wouldn’t exist, but he also depends on both Kazuho and Koichi for their unique contributions.
Iwao was not always a vigilante or Quirkless.
Soga Kugisaki
Quirk: Spike
- Soga’s Age: 20
- Soga’s Birthday: November 8
- Soga’s Height: 5’11” / 182cm
- Debut Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Here”
- Japanese Voice Actor: Kosuke Toriumi
- English Voice Actor: Joshua Waters
Soga is initially portrayed as the first villain in the series MHA Vigilantes. However, his impact on the story extends far beyond that of a typical antagonist, offering more depth than just a throwaway role. At this point, he embodies the archetype of a bully, focusing his aggression on those he perceives as weaker. Interestingly, Rapt and Moyuru are presented as Soga’s associates or followers in this narrative.
Soga’s actions often stem from feelings of low self-worth and the belief that others view him negatively or see him as someone who is bound to turn into a villain. As a result, he tends to react defensively and aggressively towards anyone he perceives as disrespecting him.
Shota Aizawa (Eraser Head)
Quirk: Erasure
- Eraser Head’s Age: Mid-20s
- Eraser Head’s Birthday: November 8
- Eraser Head’s Height: 6’0″ / 183cm
- Debut Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Here”
- Japanese Voice Actor: Junichi Suwabe
- English Voice Actor: Christopher Wehkamp
Among the numerous characters from My Hero Academia who belong to the Vigilantes group, the character known as Eraser Head holds a more prominent role compared to many others. However, it’s important to note that he is primarily a supporting character, appearing intermittently, so he isn’t as prevalent as Koichi, Kazuho, Iwao, or even Soga. Nevertheless, Shota (Eraser Head) has a significant initial presence which helps establish a connection between the two anime series, more so than All Might’s brief introduction in Vigilantes’ first episode. Given that Vigilantes is set approximately half a decade before My Hero Academia, Eraser Head is still an active Pro Hero within the Vigilantes series, and he hasn’t yet enrolled at U.A. High School. In the main show, we witness his combat abilities, but the spin-off focuses more on Eraser Head in his prime.
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2025-04-12 14:06