The first season of the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes anime adaptation concluded its run on June 30, 2025. The spin-off and prequel series to My Hero Academia, produced by Studio Bones, aired for 13 episodes after its premiere on April 7, 2025. While the manga series concluded in May 2022, the anime’s inaugural season offered a significant milestone for fans of the beloved prequel.
The Climactic End of the Vs. Queen Bee Arc
The season one finale, which covered manga chapters 27 through 30, served as a transitional point, bridging the Vs. Queen Bee Arc with the subsequent Osaka Arc. A central focus of the finale was the intense confrontation involving Knuckleduster and the revelation surrounding his daughter, Tamao. It was unveiled that Tamao was the true identity of Queen Bee, having been manipulated by a swarm of bees.
The emotionally charged conclusion saw Knuckleduster successfully rescue his daughter, achieving his primary objective. Following this, Knuckleduster made the decision to step away from vigilantism, departing from the team without a word. This left the status of his return in future seasons uncertain, although the manga’s progression suggests he will eventually reappear to continue his fight against the drug “Trigger.”
Critical Reception and Future Outlook
While delivering key emotional beats and resolving the immediate conflict surrounding Queen Bee, some critical reception of the season one finale noted it felt more like an open-ended “bridge” to future events rather than a definitive capstone for the season. Despite this, the first season was largely praised, and its ending has left fans anticipating the continuation of Koichi Haimawari, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster’s journey.
The good news for fans is that a second season of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has already been announced and is slated to premiere in 2026. This confirms that the anime will delve further into the rich narrative established by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court in the manga, which concluded with 15 volumes. The series is considered canon to the main My Hero Academia storyline, with protagonist Koichi Haimawari even making a brief cameo in the main series’ Final War Arc.
