Koichi in My Hero Academia: A Guide to the Spin-off Protagonist

Despite the spinoff’s release, many fans of Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia manga have been questioning the identity of Koichi Haimawari in the spinoff series Vigilantes. This confusion arises not only from fans of the mainline series who have not read the spinoff, but also because Koichi is never mentioned in the mainline series.

This has caused fans to wonder about the identity of Koichi Haimawari in My Hero Academia Vigilantes and whether both Koichi and his series were recognized as canon. This question has been a source of frustration for many fans, as while they personally viewed the series as canon, there has been no official confirmation.

Despite the approaching conclusion of Horikoshi’s mainline manga series, Vigilantes fans were granted the answer they had been eagerly awaiting in My Hero Academia chapter 424.

Although this answer has only been confirmed through spoilers at this time, these leaks are usually reliable enough for fans to rely on the accuracy of the information.

Koichi Haimawari’s Role in My Hero Academia Vigilantes

Koichi as seen in his vigilante outfit in the Vigilantes manga (Image via Shueisha)

Koichi Haimawari is the main character in the My Hero Academia Vigilantes manga series, created by author Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrator Betten Court. This series serves as both a prequel and spin-off of Horikoshi’s primary manga, occurring five years prior to Izuku “Deku”Midoriya’s adventure.

Upon their initial encounter, Koichi is a 19-year-old Japanese citizen who, much like Deku, shares a profound admiration for All Might. He, too, harbors a desire to become a hero, inspired by his idolization of All Might. Koichi is also recognized as a vigilante under the alias “Nice Guy,”offering assistance with tasks such as giving directions and returning lost belongings.

Despite this, everything changes when he encounters the vigilante Knuckleduster, who assists him in a battle and invites him to join the fight against Trigger, a drug that enhances Quirks. While the drug does increase the power and abilities of a Quirk, it also causes the users to become more aggressive.

Koichi initially declines Knuckleduster’s proposal, however, upon returning to his apartment the following day, he discovers that Knuckleduster is there waiting for him, signaling the beginning of his adventures.

Koichi’s Powers, Explained

Koichi possesses a Quirk known as Slide and Glide, which enables him to effortlessly slide over flat surfaces by generating a repulsive force from his hands and feet.

This enables him to effortlessly slide across these surfaces and travel in any direction, even backwards or up vertical surfaces, using a minimum of three limbs. Furthermore, he has the ability to levitate and fly proficiently due to the repelling nature of the force.

As his Quirk evolves, he gains the ability to emit powerful force from any part of his body and shoot rapid energy blasts. This also grants him the ability to create a protective force-field around himself or a larger area. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most versatile and formidable Quirks in the entire franchise.

Is the Canon Status of Koichi and My Hero Academia Vigilantes Confirmed?

Despite its popularity, fans frequently questioned the canonicity of Koichi and My Hero Academia Vigilantes due to the lack of recognition from the mainline series.

Despite the inclusion of the franchise’s films and its characters in the Final War arc, Koichi and his comrades had not yet been introduced in a significant manner.

Despite the previously limited information, new details have emerged regarding chapter 424, which is expected to be one of the final chapters in Horikoshi’s mainline series. According to @RukasuMHA, a series leaker and X/Twitter user, and the alleged raw scans for the chapter, it is revealed that Koichi will make an appearance in a single panel, demonstrating his flying abilities with his Quirk.

Based on this understanding, it is now unquestionably confirmed that Koichi, Vigilantes, and the events portrayed in the series are all canon. This, of course, also solidifies the canonicity of the other characters in the prequel spin-off series, such as Knuckleduster and others.