My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Graphic Novel Volume 5 cover image

“Quirk” is a term used to refer to superpowers, and eighty percent of the population has them.  If you want to be a superhero, you enroll in the Hero Academy, so that you can be trained and licensed.  There are those, however, who have minor Quirks or who do not have powers, but they want to be heroes.  They are heroes without legal sanction, and they are called “Vigilantes.”  One of these vigilantes is 19-year-old Koichi Haimawari, who has a minor Quirk that allows him to “slide and glide” when he connects his hands and feet to the ground.

As My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Vol. 5 (Day-Tripping Down to Naniwa!; Chapters 27 to 35) opens, Koichi and Kazuho Haneyama (Pop☆Step) have a question.  Where is their partner, Takeshi Kuroiwa a.k.a. “Knuckleduster,” in the wake of his battle with the villain who was possessing his daughter, Tamao?  Is he retired or not?  Later, Koichi travels with Pop☆Step for her show in Naniwa, but they find themselves caught in the middle of a criminal investigation.

THE LOWDOWN:  The My Hero Academia: Vigilantes manga is a cool superhero comic.  It is a treat for me because I am a longtime fan of superhero comic books.  So I was delighted when my VIZ Media rep started sending me copies the My Hero Academia manga and it spin-off series, Vigilantes.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Graphic Novel Volume 5 opens with strong emotions, especially regarding the disappearance of Knuckleduster.  The conspiracy around the “Trigger” drug continues to roil, but there is immediate comic relief in the form of a group of minor villains whose powers are based around fanservice, underwear, innuendo, etc.

Although it is a bit of a come-down from the previous volume, Vol. 5 finds artist Betten Court and writer Hideyuki Furudashi (creator of My Hero Academia) offering a variety of tones and moods.  This volume is a good example of the breath of what My Hero Academia: Vigilantes offers readers – action, comedy, and a touch of drama and a spread of conspiracy.  Fans of this franchise will enjoy this series.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of My Hero Academia, superhero comics, and shonen battle manga will want the Shonen Jump title, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.

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7.5 out of 10