Who Is The Crawler MHA Vigilantes and What Are His Powers?

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes introduces fans to a different kind of hero — one who operates outside the professional hero system but embodies heroism in its purest form. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a spin-off and prequel to the main series. The manga is written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court. Koichi Haimawari, known as The Crawler, serves as the protagonist of this canon prequel and offers a refreshing take on what it means to save people in the Hero Academia universe.

As a kind man inspired by classic superheroes like Spider-Man, Koichi’s friendly, approachable nature sets him apart as a crawling hero. Whether you’re catching the anime on Crunchyroll or diving into the manga, we’re breaking down everything fans need to know about this beloved vigilante.

Key Takeaways

• Koichi Haimawari is the main protagonist of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, a college student who becomes an unlicensed hero operating in the Naruhata district of Tokyo
• His Quirk, Slide and Glide, starts weak but evolves dramatically throughout the story — from bicycle-speed sliding to full flight and powerful repulsion blasts
• The Crawler represents the "What if Deku never met All Might?" concept, showing what happens when someone with a "weak" Quirk refuses to give up on heroism
• The Vigilantes anime premiered on April 7, 2025 on Crunchyroll, with Season 2 beginning on January 5, 2026

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Who Is Umeda Koichi Haimawari?

Koichi Haimawari is a 19-year-old college student and part-time convenience store worker who moonlights as a vigilante in the Naruhata district of Tokyo. He is known for his mild-mannered personality and generous nature. Unlike the heroes at U.A. High School who follow the official path to becoming professional heroes, Koichi engages in hero working—unlicensed hero activity—using his Quirk illegally to help others. He enjoys his vigilante work and dreams of becoming a recognized hero. His activities include picking up trash, returning lost items, giving directions, and stopping petty criminals. Koichi considers these menial tasks as essential to society's safety, equating them to fighting villains.

Character Profile:

Koichi always dreamed of becoming a pro hero like his idol, All Might. However, he missed his chance at the U.A. entrance exam because he stopped to save a drowning child on the way — an act that perfectly captures his character. Rather than give up entirely, he chose to help his community in his own way, becoming the vigilante known as “Nice Guy” before adopting the name “The Crawler.”

The Crawler's Ultimate Moves

Koichi's Quirk is one of the most fascinating power progressions in the entire Hero Academia franchise. What begins as a seemingly useless ability transforms into something remarkable through consistent training and life-or-death battles.

How Slide and Glide Works

The Quirk allows Koichi to emit repulsive force from his hands and feet. By pressing at least three points of contact against any surface, he creates a frictionless cushion that lets him slide across the ground. Think of it like a human hovercraft.

Quirk Evolution Timeline:

• Infancy: Baby Koichi could actually fly, floating and crawling through the air
• Post-regression: After his mother's Fly Swatter Quirk repeatedly swatted him from the air, the ability regressed to ground-level sliding at bicycle speed
• After meeting Ingenium: Learns proper braking techniques, allowing faster movement
• Mid-series: Gains wall crawling and temporary air walking abilities
• Late series: Achieves full flight, repulsion blasts, and defensive barriers
• Final form: Masters "Knuckle Style" — creating four repulsion fields on his knuckles for devastating punches that rival the speed of the Overclock Quirk

The regression backstory adds emotional depth to Koichi's journey. His mother's fear of losing her floating baby inadvertently limited his potential for years. Only through constant vigilante battles — against Trigger villains, Kuin Hachisuka, and the villain Number 6 — does he gradually unlock his Quirk's true capabilities.

The Naruhata Vigilantes: Key Characters

Koichi doesn't work alone. The Naruhata Vigilantes form a ragtag group of unlicensed heroes who protect their community outside the law.

Knuckleduster (Iwao Oguro)

Knuckleduster is Koichi's brutal but caring mentor — a Quirkless former pro hero who drags the young Nice Guy into serious vigilante work. He provides Koichi with protective gear, combat training, and the "Crawler" name itself. Their relationship blends teacher-student dynamics with something almost father-son-like.

Pop☆Step (Kazuho Haneyama)

Pop☆Step is a street performer and idol who becomes Koichi's partner and close friend. Her Leap Quirk allows acrobatic bouncing movements. What Koichi doesn't realize is that Pop☆Step has been watching him since before the story begins — he once saved her (disguised as a boy) when she was in trouble, making her a secret fan of his heroism.

Connections to the Main Series

Vigilantes features several characters who appear in the main My Hero Academia story:

• Eraserhead (Shota Aizawa): Appears as a younger pro hero who often supports the vigilantes' activities
• All Might: Shows up in his prime, still operating as the Symbol of Peace
• Stendhal/Stain: The Hero Killer's origin story is revealed — he was once a vigilante who targeted criminals before turning against "fake heroes"

Koichi vs. Deku: What Makes The Crawler Different

Writer Hideyuki Furuhashi created Koichi based on a compelling concept: "What if Izuku Midoriya never met All Might?" This framing highlights everything that makes The Crawler unique as a protagonist.

Key Differences:

Koichi's heroism feels radical precisely because he receives nothing for it. No fame, no recognition, no system support. He helps people simply because someone needs to do it. While Deku's journey follows prophecy and destiny, Koichi's path demonstrates that anyone can be a hero through consistent, selfless action.

Fans who appreciate this grounded take on heroism can explore our My Hero Academia collection for merchandise celebrating both the main series and its beloved characters.

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The Villain Factory and Number 6

The main antagonist of Vigilantes is Number 6, a mysterious villain created by All For One as an experimental weapon. Like Tomura Shigaraki in the main Vigilantes series, Number 6 received multiple Quirks to become a threat capable of challenging even the strongest heroes.

Number 6's Arsenal:

• Overclock: Stolen from Knuckleduster (whose real name is Iwao Oguro, formerly the pro hero O'Clock), this Quirk allows superhuman speed
• Bombify: Allows him to create biological explosives from his own body
• Regeneration: Enables rapid healing and transformation
• Bomber Cells: Control of explosive parasites

The climactic battle between Koichi and Number 6 spans multiple chapters and pushes The Crawler's Quirk to its absolute limits. It's during this fight that Koichi finally masters his ultimate moves and proves he belongs among the strongest heroes.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Anime

The Vigilantes anime brought Koichi's story to life with stunning animation from Studio Bones Film.

Anime Details:

The anime features a distinctive comic-panel animation style that sets it apart from the main Hero Academia series while maintaining the quality fans expect. Voice actor Shuichiro Umeda brings Koichi to life in Japanese, with Jack Broadbent handling the English dub.

Critical Reception:

• IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
• The manga was named "Best Manga" at San Diego Comic-Con 2018
• Barnes & Noble called it one of "Our Favorite Manga of 2018"

Koichi's Journey: From Nice Guy to Skycrawler

The Crawler’s character arc represents one of the most satisfying progressions in the Hero Academia franchise.

After the 'Final War,' Koichi plays a crucial role in helping rebuild Japan, working alongside other heroes and international aid to restore hope and stability. This marks the completion of his journey from a local community helper to a national symbol of hope for Japan.

The Beginning: Nice Guy

Koichi starts as a well-meaning but aimless college student. His "heroism" consists of picking up litter and helping lost tourists — actions that earn him the ironic nickname "Nice Guy." When Knuckleduster recruits him, Koichi has no combat skills, no confidence, and no understanding of his Quirk's true potential.

The Middle: Trouble Man

A running joke throughout the series involves people mishearing “The Crawler” as “The Cruller” (like the donut) or “Trouble Man.” Many characters get Koichi's name or identity wrong, leading to misunderstandings about who he really is. This actually protects Koichi when police issue an arrest warrant for “The Crawler” — since most locals know him as “Trouble Man,” the name confusion keeps him hidden.

The End: The Skycrawler

By the story’s conclusion, Koichi has defeated Number 6, earned recognition from pro heroes, and become the official sidekick of American hero Captain Celebrity. His new name — The Skycrawler — reflects both his evolved flight abilities and his journey from crawling on the ground to soaring through the sky. Koichi literally becomes a hero in the shadows, regarded as a legend among those who know his true story.

Fans who love tracking character journeys can document their own fandom adventures with this My Hero Academia Notebook featuring Izuku Midoriya.

Themes and Messages

One of the most powerful messages in the Vigilantes series is that heroism isn’t defined by fame, a flashy quirk, or a professional hero license. Koichi, also known as Umeda Koichi Haimawari, proves that even small, selfless acts—like helping a lost child or cleaning up the streets—can make a real difference. His story shows that you don’t need to be a pro hero to embody the spirit of heroism; what matters is the willingness to help others, even when no one is watching.

Fame and recognition are recurring themes throughout the manga and anime. While many heroes in society chase the spotlight, Koichi’s actions as a vigilante often go unnoticed or are misunderstood. Yet, he continues to act for the good of his community, never letting the lack of public acknowledgment deter him. This contrast highlights the idea that true heroism is about doing the right thing, not about seeking glory or approval.

Friendship and camaraderie are also central to the story. Koichi’s relationships with characters like Pop Step and Knuckleduster are built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared desire to protect their city. These bonds help each of them grow, both as individuals and as a team, showing that heroism often flourishes through cooperation and support.

Collecting Vigilantes and Hero Academia Merchandise

Whether you're a longtime manga reader or discovering the series through the anime, officially licensed merchandise lets you celebrate your favorite characters.

For Fans of the Main Series:

• My Hero Academia Shoto Todoroki Pin — This exclusive collectible pin stands approximately 2 inches tall and captures the half-cold, half-hot hero's iconic design
• My Hero Academia All Might Dinnerware Set — Features a 16-ounce ramen bowl and chopsticks celebrating the Symbol of Peace
• My Hero Academia Midoriya and Bakugo Bamboo Chopsticks Set — Includes 2 sets featuring the rivalry that defines the series

For Adult Collectors:

• My Hero Academia 2oz Square Shot Glass 4 Pack — Toast to your favorite heroes with this set featuring different characters on each glass

FAQs

What is Koichi Haimawari's Quirk called?

Koichi's registered Quirk is called Slide and Glide, which allows him to emit repulsive force from his hands and feet. By the end of the manga, when he becomes Captain Celebrity's sidekick, his Quirk is officially renamed to Flight to reflect its evolved capabilities, including true aerial mobility and powerful repulsion blasts.

Is My Hero Academia: Vigilantes canon to the main series?

Yes, Vigilantes is fully canon to the main My Hero Academia story. Creator Kohei Horikoshi supervises and approves every chapter and has incorporated characters and plot elements from Vigilantes into the main manga. Koichi even makes a brief cameo appearance during the Final War Arc, confirming his place in the official timeline.

Does Koichi Haimawari appear in the main My Hero Academia anime?

Koichi briefly appears in the main My Hero Academia manga during the Final War Arc, confirming his story takes place in the same universe. His potential anime appearance would depend on whether the main series adapts that specific arc material. The Vigilantes anime tells his complete story separately.

Who voices The Crawler in the Vigilantes anime?

Shuichiro Umeda voices Koichi Haimawari in the Japanese version of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, while Jack Broadbent provides the English dub voice. The anime premiered on Crunchyroll in April 2025.

How does Koichi's Quirk evolve throughout the series?

Koichi's Slide and Glide Quirk evolves through multiple stages: from slow ground sliding (bicycle speed) to proper braking, wall crawling, temporary air walking, full flight, repulsion blasts, defensive barriers, and finally his ultimate move, "Knuckle Style." This progression happens gradually through constant vigilante battles rather than a single awakening moment.

What is the relationship between Koichi and Knuckleduster?

Knuckleduster serves as Koichi's mentor, providing combat training, protective gear, and the "Crawler" name. Their relationship combines teacher-student dynamics with an almost father-son bond. Knuckleduster is actually Iwao Oguro, a former pro hero who lost his Quirk (Overclock) to All For One and now fights as a Quirkless vigilante.

Conclusion

Koichi Haimawari represents everything fans love about the Hero Academia universe — determination, growth, and the belief that anyone can be a hero. From an awkward college student sliding at bicycle speed to a professional hero capable of flight and devastating attacks, The Crawler’s journey proves that consistent effort matters more than raw power.

Whether you’re watching the Vigilantes anime, reading the manga, or simply appreciating a protagonist who earned his place among heroes, Koichi’s story delivers satisfying character development that rivals the main series. The series is also a lot of fun, featuring exciting hero cameos and engaging moments that add to its overall entertainment value. Explore our My Hero Academia collection to find officially licensed merchandise celebrating these beloved characters.

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Citations:

[1] https://myheroacademia.fandom.com/wiki/Koichi_Haimawari