The spin-off series, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, cleverly shows that its new hero is surprisingly similar to All Might. With the main My Hero Academia series recently concluding, Vigilantes is a great continuation of the story, especially since its second season premiered so soon after the original finale. Koichi is stepping into the role of a major hero, following Deku’s path, and the series echoes familiar characters and themes from the main anime.
Despite taking very different paths to reach their ambitions, Koichi and Deku share several similarities – they both started as underdogs and greatly admire professional heroes. Crucially, both of their journeys truly begin when someone takes them under their wing as a mentor. These mentors, while appearing distinct, actually have a lot in common, as demonstrated in an surprising way by My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2. (Be aware that this discussion contains minor spoilers for Season 2.)
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Just Proved How Alike Knuckleduster & All Might Are
In My Hero Academia, All Might mentors Deku, but in the spin-off series Vigilantes, Knuckleduster takes Koichi under his wing. At first, Knuckleduster seems very different from All Might – he’s less hopeful and operates in secret. However, Season 2, Episode 3 of Vigilantes reveals a surprising similarity. After Knuckleduster disappears at the end of the first season, Koichi and Pop Step try to continue his work, and in Episode 3, they jokingly suggest the best way to do so is to do the opposite of what Knuckleduster would have done.
To be fair, Deku and Bakugo could have really used some better guidance. All Might, while a highly respected hero in My Hero Academia, isn’t a perfect teacher. He constantly pushes himself to the limit to save people, often injuring himself in the process. Although he tells Deku and Bakugo not to repeat his mistakes, they end up doing exactly that, taking unnecessary risks in their attempts to emulate him. This makes them heroic, but also leads to trouble.
Even though Koichi and Pop Step tease their old teacher, they’re actually following in his footsteps. Like him, they’re putting themselves in danger by fighting crime as vigilantes. They face the risk of injury fighting stronger villains, and they could get in trouble with the law. While they might not realize it, it was Knuckleduster who first led them down this dangerous path, and they’ve easily adapted to this life because of him.
Knuckleduster Was Always the My Hero Academia Spinoff’s All Might Replacement
A comment about the character Knuckleduster in Vigilantes Season 2 reveals a striking parallel between him and All Might from My Hero Academia. From the start of the spinoff series, Knuckleduster has essentially filled the role All Might plays in Deku’s story – providing guidance and support. Though his impact isn’t as large, he serves a similar purpose in Koichi’s journey. We learn Knuckleduster was once a Pro Hero who lost his powers, mirroring All Might’s situation, though the reasons are different. Despite this loss, both heroes continue to fight for others, demonstrating that they share a fundamental core despite their contrasting appearances and personalities.
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2026-01-27 01:15