My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a Japanese manga and anime series set five years before the main My Hero Academia story. It follows Koichi Haimawari, a young man who uses his Quirk to help others despite not being a licensed hero. After he and a street performer named Kazuho Haneyama are attacked by thugs, they are saved by a strong vigilante called Knuckleduster, who recruits them to become vigilantes themselves. These vigilantes operate outside the law, taking on crime and helping people in ways official heroes cannot always manage or respond to quickly

. The series explores the concept of vigilantes in the My Hero Academia universe-individuals who use their Quirks without government authorization. Historically, vigilantes were the first to emerge when Quirks appeared, before the hero licensing system was established. Although now illegal, vigilantes continue to fight crime on their own terms, often dealing with low-level threats and protecting their communities. The story delves into the moral and legal grey areas of vigilante justice, showing how some licensed heroes tolerate or even cooperate with vigilantes when necessary

. In summary, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is about unlicensed heroes who take the law into their own hands to protect others, highlighting the early days and ongoing challenges of heroism outside official channels within the My Hero Academia world