Is My Hero Academia Vigilante A Prequel To The Main Series?

The relationship between 'My Hero Academia: Vigilantes' and the main 'My Hero Academia' series is one of those fascinating gray areas that fans love to debate. While 'Vigilantes' isn't a direct prequel in the traditional sense—where every event leads neatly into the main story—it does exist in the same universe and explores events that happened before Izuku Midoriya enrolled at U.A. High. The spin-off manga, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, follows a group of vigilantes operating outside the law, giving us a gritty, street-level perspective on hero society. Characters like Koichi Haimawari (the 'Crawler') and Pop Step feel refreshingly grounded compared to the high-stakes world of professional heroes, and their struggles with smaller-scale villains add depth to the broader narrative.

What makes 'Vigilantes' especially compelling is how it fleshes out backstories for key figures in the main series. Aizawa's younger days as an underground hero, for example, get significant screen time, revealing his early teaching philosophy and his relationship with Present Mic. Even All Might makes appearances, though he's not yet the Symbol of Peace we know in the main story. The spin-off also introduces quirks and societal issues that the main series doesn't have time to explore, like the ethical dilemmas of unlicensed heroes and the everyday lives of civilians in a superpowered world. It's less about bridging plot gaps and more about enriching the universe, making it feel lived-in and expansive.

I'd argue 'Vigilantes' works best as a companion piece rather than a strict prequel. You don't need to read it to understand 'My Hero Academia,' but if you do, you'll pick up on subtle callbacks and lore drops that make both stories more rewarding. The tone is noticeably different—more slice-of-life with occasional bursts of action—yet it retains the heart of Horikoshi's original work. After binge-reading it, I found myself appreciating the main series' world-building even more, especially how it contrasts the glamour of top heroes with the messy reality of those operating in the shadows. If you're craving more 'MHA' content with a fresh vibe, this spin-off is a hidden gem.