The highly anticipated anime adaptation of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes aired its Season 1 finale on June 30, 2025, bringing an end to its initial 13-episode run. The series, a prequel and spin-off to the popular My Hero Academia, premiered in April 2025 and has been available for streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
The Climactic Season 1 Finale: “What a Man Takes With Him”
The thirteenth and final episode of the first season, titled “What a Man Takes With Him,” delivered an emotionally charged conclusion focusing heavily on the character of Knuckleduster. The core of the finale revolved around Knuckleduster’s desperate efforts to rescue his daughter, Tamao, who had been possessed by the villainous Bee User, Kuin. The intense battle culminated in Knuckleduster successfully freeing his daughter, though it involved a perilous procedure of stopping and restarting her heart to remove the parasitic bee.
Following the resolution of this personal mission, Knuckleduster’s status within the vigilante trio became uncertain. The season concluded with his departure from Koichi and Pop Step, as he seemingly stepped away from active vigilantism to care for his daughter and deal with the aftermath of his long-standing fight against the “Trigger” drug threat. While he leaves the immediate group without a word, the ending suggests that Knuckleduster, a lifelong hero, will continue his fight against crime on his own terms. Koichi Haimawari, known as The Crawler, is left pondering his next steps, cleaning his gear in anticipation of his mentor’s potential return.
The Manga’s Conclusion and Future Anime Seasons
While the anime adaptation of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has just wrapped its first season, the original manga series, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, concluded its serialization on May 28, 2022, with its 126th chapter. The manga’s ending saw protagonist Koichi Haimawari, adopting the new moniker “The Skycrawler,” moving to New York City to continue his heroics. Knuckleduster was also revealed to still be active in Naruhata, continuing his vigilante work despite his injuries.
Fans of the anime can look forward to more of the Vigilantes story, as a second season has already been announced and is set to premiere in 2026. The manga offers ample material for future adaptations, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the spin-off’s narrative.
