My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is serving up a gritty, street-level spin on the My Hero Academia world, and fans are totally here for it. Dropping on Crunchyroll since April 7, 2025, this anime zooms into Naruhata’s vigilante scene, set five years before Deku’s U.A. glory days. The Stendhal Arc, its second big swing, hits like a Quirked-up punch, revealing the origin of Stendhal—aka Chizome Akaguro, the guy who becomes the infamous Hero Killer, Stain. Episode 5, “Judgment,” and manga Chapters 9–11 unpack how this justice-crazed dreamer turned into a bloodthirsty fanatic. Here’s why Stendhal’s dark start in Vigilantes is such a banger and what it adds to the My Hero universe.
Stendhal: Cool Vigilante or Cold-Blooded Slasher?
The Stendhal Arc, spanning Chapters 9–11 and the anime’s early episodes, brings us Chizome Akaguro as Stendhal, a masked vigilante tearing through Naruhata. Rocking a red-trimmed getup, slick katana moves, and a Quirk—Bloodcurdle—that freezes foes by tasting their blood, he’s got serious ninja vibes. In Episode 5, he saves Koichi Haimawari (The Crawler) from Akira Iwako, a hopped-up Instant Villain juiced on Trigger. Koichi’s totally fanboying, hyping Stendhal to his crew—Kazuho Haneyama (Pop☆Step) and the no-nonsense Knuckleduster—like he’s the coolest thing since All Might.
But Stendhal’s not playing hero. His version of justice is brutal. He lets Akira off to avoid cops, then tracks him down and slices him up, muttering about the villain’s lack of “conviction.” The Collider piece nails it: Stendhal’s all-or-nothing moral code—power without purpose is a death sentence—makes him scary intense. Unlike Koichi, who’s all about saving lives and zip-tying bad guys, Stendhal’s out here playing grim reaper, hinting at the Hero Killer he’s destined to be.
From All Might Fanboy to Vigilante Gone Rogue
Stendhal’s backstory is a total heartbreaker. He started as a kid obsessed with All Might, signing up for hero school with big dreams. But he saw his classmates chasing fame and money, not heroism, and it crushed him. He bailed, convinced the whole hero gig was a sellout. Words didn’t fix the mess, so he grabbed a katana, trained like a beast, and became Stendhal, hunting villains to do what pros wouldn’t. His Bloodcurdle Quirk and blade made him deadly, but his “no mercy” mindset pushed him over the edge.
In the manga, Stendhal takes out yakuza from the Abegawa Tenchu Kai, paralyzing and slashing their bosses. He’s “the Convictor,” deciding who lives or dies. Even when he’s working with Kuin Hachisuka, a sketchy Villain Factory operative pushing Trigger, he’s nobody’s sidekick—he straight-up tells her he’ll cut her down someday. He vibes with vigilantes like Koichi but only if they match his hardcore code. Step out of line? You’re toast.
Knuckleduster Knocks Sense—Or Something Else—Into Him
The arc’s big showdown flips everything. Kuin tricks Stendhal into going after Soga Kugisaki, a former Instant Villain with a Spike Quirk. Soga resists Trigger, so Stendhal attacks, nearly killing him. Koichi jumps in but gets paralyzed, and Stendhal’s about to swing—until Knuckleduster crashes the scene. The grizzled vigilante calls Stendhal a “slasher” hiding behind a mask, all talk and no real guts. In a savage brawl, Knuckleduster’s fist smashes Stendhal’s mask and nose, leaving him a bloody wreck.
That beatdown’s a game-changer. Knuckleduster’s rant about masks and resolve sinks in, but Stendhal twists it dark. In Chapter 11, he carves off his own nose, ditching Stendhal to become Stain, now hell-bent on wiping out “fake heroes.” It’s a gnarly moment that shows he was inches from being a hero—and chose the abyss instead.
Why This Arc’s a Must-Watch
The Stendhal Arc isn’t just a villain glow-up—it’s a deep cut into what makes someone a hero, vigilante, or straight-up bad guy. Koichi’s crew breaks rules but saves lives, passing villains to the cops. Stendhal? He’s out here ending them. Collider points out how his early respect for Koichi echoes his All Might love, but his “no redemption” vibe dooms him. It’s a warning about vigilante life going too far.
For My Hero fans, Stendhal gives Stain, a main-series legend, way more depth. His katana, scarf, and Quirk are here, but Vigilantes shows what shaped his crusade, tying into All For One’s Villain Factory and heroes like Ingenium. It’s a prequel that beefs up the lore without stealing Deku’s thunder.
What’s Coming?
Halfway through its 12-episode run, Vigilantes is killing it, and the Stendhal Arc sets the bar high. Stain’s influence hangs over Koichi as he faces Kuin and Trigger’s chaos, with the Vs. Queen Bee Arc up next. Stendhal’s fall is a wild, tragic look at a hero gone wrong. Catch it on Crunchyroll and buckle up—Naruhata’s about to get crazier.
Source: Cillider
