My Vigilante Academia or My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a Japanese superhero manga series written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court. It is a spin-off and prequel to the popular manga and anime series My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi. First serialized in Jump GIGA and later moved to the Shonen Jump+ app, the series ran from August 2016 to May 2022. It has since gained a cult following for its grittier tone, street-level storytelling, and deepening of the My Hero Academia universe. Fans have turned to the series as a source of memes, fan theories, emotional moments, and underrated characters like Knuckleduster and Koichi Haimawari (a.k.a. The Crawler).

Origin:
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes debuted on August 20, 2016, in Jump GIGA before moving to Shonen Jump+ due to popularity and digital serialization needs. The series follows Koichi Haimawari, a quirked but unlicensed hero who fights crime under the name The Crawler. Teaming up with the grizzled ex-hero Knuckleduster and college student/aspiring idol Pop☆Step, Koichi navigates a darker, more realistic side of hero society that isn’t typically shown in the mainline series.

While My Hero Academia focuses on the grand spectacle of licensed heroism and the journey to becoming #1, Vigilantes tells a more grounded story. It examines what happens when society’s rules don’t allow someone to help -- so they help anyway.

Spread:
As the manga developed a more dedicated fanbase, it started appearing more frequently on anime forums, meme pages, and Reddit. Particularly active communities included:

Tumblr fan circles who appreciated its mature storytelling

TikTok clips that highlight underrated fights or emotional moments

Twitter reactions praising Koichi’s character development and his "Spider-Man-like" journey

The series gained meme traction for moments like:

Knuckleduster’s no-nonsense attitude and iconic lines like “Quirks don’t make a hero -- actions do.”

The Pop☆Step fandom, which exploded after her tragic and controversial story arc.

The Crawler’s progression from a "lame YouTuber with a weak quirk" to an actual superhero able to outmaneuver professional villains.

Notable Memes and Fan Trends
"Crawler is Just Spider-Man"
A recurring meme and fan comparison is how closely Koichi resembles Spider-Man -- both are awkward, well-meaning guys who get caught up in a world of crimefighting with a power that seems unimpressive at first. Memes often compare Koichi’s sliding mobility to Spidey’s wall-crawling and agility.

“Koichi walked so Deku could run, but Spider-Man web-zipped so Koichi could slide.”

This comparison often comes with edited manga panels or fan art placing Koichi in a Spider-Man suit or referencing Marvel dialogue.

Knuckleduster = Peak Fiction Dad
Knuckleduster has become a meme icon for being one of the most badass and complex characters in the spin-off. Despite having no quirk, he throws hands with villains, corrupt heroes, and drug dealers. He became a meme subject for "badass mentor who disappears without dying" and is sometimes used in "how to write a father figure" joke formats.

Meme Example:

Caption: “When your mentor beats up a Nomu with his bare hands and then vanishes like a ghost” Image: Knuckleduster walking away in the rain, no quirk, no fear, just vibes.

“Where Was All Might??”
Fans often use this phrase ironically to highlight moments where Vigilantes characters endure insane hardship, but none of the top-tier heroes show up -- particularly All Might. This evolved into a meme caption for any situation where the main story heroes were conveniently absent during horrific events in Vigilantes.

Scene: Gigantic explosion, city in chaos Text: “Me watching The Crawler solo a Nomu while Endeavor tweets motivational quotes” Bottom caption: “WHERE WAS ALL MIGHT??”

Pop☆Step's transformation arc and tragic storyline resulted in a wave of emotional and sometimes humorous memes. Often portrayed as the "Harley Quinn" of the MHA world (due to being manipulated and weaponized), her fans post edits, sad AMVs, and reaction images expressing heartbreak.

Fandom
Although Vigilantes has ended, it maintains an active and passionate community. Many fans argue it’s more mature and better written than parts of the main My Hero Academia series. There are frequent calls for an anime adaptation, with fan trailers and speculative casting showing up on YouTube and Twitter.

Fanfiction, shipping (especially Pop☆Step x Koichi), and vigilante-themed AUs in the MHA universe remain common on platforms like AO3.

Impact:
Inspired memes centered on vigilante justice and grassroots heroism
Frequently referenced in My Hero Academia lore discussions
Has been cited as influencing how fans perceive characters like Aizawa, Present Mic, and even villains like All For One due to their expanded backstories
A common gateway for those looking for more BNHA content in world

Trivia:
During its finale arc within the manga in 2022, when Koichi was briefly name-dropped or seen in the mainline series.
Fans began to debate the "best characters" or "most underrated arcs" in the BNHA universe as a sendoff.