Summary
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My Hero Academia: Vigilantesis set in a dynamic world with unique superpowers called quirks. Quirks have given birth to heroes, who protect society, and villains, who threaten it. Walking between the lines of heroes and villains are vigilantes. But how were people able to distinguish between these groups of people?
Heroes, villains, and vigilantes, despite their differences, can be seen in a similar light because they are all people with supernatural powers helping them attain what they wish to do. What truly differentiates them is their morals. The existing Hero Licensing System has clearly defined the rules for becoming a hero in theMy Hero Academia: Vigilantesuniverse, but how did it all initially come into place?
The History of Vigilantes and Heroes
Vigilantes Came First
Quirks came into existence suddenly, starting with the birth of a baby in China who radiated light. It wasn’t long before the majority of the world was in possession of supernatural powers, which soon brought disorder into society.
To maintain order, ordinary citizens rose as vigilantes and enforced public order. As time passed, these vigilantes were recognized officially as heroes. But the truth is a little different from what is officially being said. Not all vigilantes were recognized as heroes, and some were even labeled as villains.
First, in an academic sense, vigilantism is a civilian peacekeeping system that spontaneously occurs during times of social disorder.
The majority of such groups are transitional, and as society stabilizes, the members are either absorbed into official systems or eliminated.
- Makoto Tsukauchi, MHA: Vigilantes, Episode 7
America, the Birthplace of Hero Society
While heroes and vigilantes were rising everywhere, America was the first place to make laws around it. In Rhodes Island, 189 vigilantes came under the jurisdiction of what was called the Rhode Island New State Statue. But only 7 of those vigilantes were accepted as heroes.
The remaining vigilantes were labeled as villains for illegally using their quirks. The basis on which the selectedheroes were differentiated from the vigilantesis unknown, but it was most likely a result of how the individuals used their quirks, their history, and their morality.
The Existing Conflict between Heroism and Vigilantism
Though Vigilantism gave birth tothe Hero Licensing System, the system completely rejects their existence. The need for vigilantes still exists as heroes can’t be omnipresent, and the number of villains strongly exceeds the number of heroes. While heroes like Ingenium allow the existence of vigilantes like Koichi, the law is strongly against them.
The Problems with the Hero Licensing System
The Hero Licensing System allowed organizations like the Hero Public Safety Commission to establish. These organizations have formed our worldview ofMy Hero Academia. A world where heroism is a reputable profession and heroes work in unity to keep common people safe. Buteven a system like this is not free of its faults.
A Defined Path to Follow
The Hero Licensing System strictly tells us what a hero is. Anyone other than a hero practicing the use of quirks, be it a villain trying to wreck a neighborhood, or a vigilante trying to protect it, is seen as illegal. The nature of the law itself makes any vigilante, regardless of how moral they are, an enemy to society. The path of becoming a hero doesn’t help it either.
It is a long procedure that starts with joining a hero course and ultimately qualifying with a Hero License. But we have seen characters like Koichi and Hitoshi struggle to join the hero course despite their capabilities. Koichi,who missed the exam while saving a young kid, was left with no option but to quit. Hitoshi, despite possessing a powerful quirk, couldn’t pass because his quirk did not work on the robots in the final test.
Corruption in the Organization
Having all the powers in their hands makes organizations like the Hero Public Safety Commission unquestioned. But we have seen that, despite representing justice, the organization itself faces corruption from the inside. According to Lady Nagant, numerous heroes colluded with villains for the sake of fame and money but were never publicly judged for their sins.
Instead,Nagant was hired as an assassinwho mercilessly assassinated corrupt heroes and even innocent “villains” to maintain peace, but more importantly, the commission’s public image.
As Koichi and his squad’s journey goes on, they continue to blur the line between heroes and vigilantes. Will they reach a point where their vigilantism can be recognized officially?
