Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia Illegals Episode 5 Discussion

mid so very mid words can not express

The plot, the action, the backstory, and what a twist! The MC is actually likable in a My hero academia show 🤯. Honestly surprised to see everything come together like this only 5 episodes into the season. This is by far the best episode we've seen and im excited to see where the story goes from here. Also the introduction of this new stain-esc vigilante is just the icing on the cake. I wonder if stendhal is actually stain because the vibe and outfit is practically identical 🤔.

Another great episode from this spin off that to me already surpasses the original.

We got to see more about Koichi and Kazuho's past from another one of their interactions at his house. I don't really get the people who say they hate him. Look at how nice he is as well as his positivity and sense of justice, he's cool. Meanwhile, we now know more on the reason why Kazuho as Pop Step approached him at the beginning of the series and how much she believes him to be her hero... and maybe more. I'm all for this relationship and the contrast in their reactions.

But enough about that, now there's a roaming killer with a sword and spiky dude is up next. This is so good.

The episode's start was so normal, but it suddenly turned into a horror show with the dark and gloomy atmosphere—I loved it, it made me laugh. Damn, Kouichi’s a hardcore All Might fan, with all that merch!

The past memory that Kouichi shares, along with the missing info and extra details Kazuho reveals, tells me that when she saw Kouichi for the first time during her street concert in episode one, she realized he was her hero. When Kazuho went to Kouichi’s place, all prepared to thank him and probably confess, Knuckleduster just had to be there to ruin the perfect moment she ever had. I can’t wait for the day she finally tells Kouichi how much she loves him—though who knows how long that'll take.

Kouichi and Kazuho met another vigilante, Stendhal by the looks of it. Kouichi seems to like him now, but I think his opinion will change drastically once he finds out what else Stendhal does besides making villains run with just one slice of his sword.

From what I understood, since Stendhal told Kouichi that they’ll meet again and his next target is Kugizaki, I’m guessing Kouichi will run into him again when he tries to kill Kugizaki.

@rasterman7 How does Vigilantes surpass the main series?

mid so very mid words can not express

@TornadoZW I don't know why you say that in a way that implies that Izuku Midoriya isn't likable, when he's the best character in the show.

@deg Not anyones fault that they choose to guess while having the answer right in front of them.

@animefanftw123 thats hilarious you think its super obvious while being a manga reader or already know it before this episode came out

@deg thats hilarious you think im a manga reader of this series.

Again, just look at the VAs and the weapons the character uses.

You and everyone else like you choose to be ignorant.

@animefanftw123 well duh not all people look at the voice actors every time they watch blind youre too arrogant for your own sake here its still a spoiler because im sure in the manga there are no voice actors so you cannot even check that before

anyway im just pointing its a spoiler but im fine with spoilers myself

@deg Bro....

Of course mangas dont have VAs yet this thread isnt for discussing the manga.

Its for discussing the episode which does have VAs.

Ppl really need to start learning what is/isnt a "spoiler".

Also love how you havent debunked the fact they both use the same weapons.

Theres also the fact they have the same philosophy.

@animefanftw123 again only small number of people check the va list of an episode youre too arrogant

@deg Ok lets move on from that, what about the ppl ignoring the weapons and philosophy?

@animefanftw123 did you forget they are guessing its stain?

@deg How does that disprove anything?

Why should they be guessing when both use the same weapons and have the same philosophy?

Theres your answer.

@animefanftw123 jumping to conclusions is a cognitive error you know

@deg So is ignoring the obvious.

Its clear you're just trolling so im done here.

@KingBaller06 I agree that Deku is likable, but hes far from the best character.

That spot is reserved for Stendhal/Stain.

As for the best character in this series, its Knuckleduster.

@KingBaller06 Better cast, pacing, animation, scope, use of quirks and overall engaging story at least from what I've watched.

Regarding some point people are discussing here:

Is it better than the originals series?
Yes, I dropped the manga right after the Overhaul arc, but my main complaint was how HeroAca always seemed to be in "a controlled environment", where here things seem to have a lot more freedom (Kinda thematically lines up with being a hero vs a viligante, huh?), that's not to talk about the stories being a lot more personal and the artstyle objectively superior (And I rarely use that word).

I was thinking about it, and some guy on /a/ kinda said it very well: Vigilantes is kinda structured like a super-hero comic, isn't it? Each episode usually covers two chapters, and it's very blatant when that happens because each half feels "different" from the other. It's manga likely follows the "Every comic issue is someone's first" mentality where each chapter must also act like an interesting story in it's own.
I can even imagine the covers "In this issue, the special appearance of the super hero Ingenium?", "The secret past of PopStep? Check now in the newest issue of VIGILANTES!", "A new vigilante? Just who is the mysterious Stendhal?".
I'm not much into comics, so I would like someone who's into them to confirm if those vibes align with reality.

Is it a spoiler to say who Stendhal is?
First of all, people here are officially posting theories, but if that enough classifies as spoilers, it just tells you how fucking obvious his identity is, LMAO.
Come on, guys, Vigilante's manga started in 2016, season 2 of HeroAca was there in 2017, for anyone at the time reading it it would have been obvious from historical context alone, and now we have a character with the same fighting style and voice-actor, COME ON.

Hidden crushes and moral dilemmas. The plot thickens.
As for Knuckleduster, "I dunno'. Folks justifying their fighting based on their own sense of right and wrong is slippery slope." And nobody called him out for saying that?!