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Summary

Deku and Koichi both aspire to be Pro Heroes but have different paths and approaches due to their backgrounds.
Deku was born Quirkless and gained One For All, while Koichi struggled with confidence in his weak Quirk.
Both share admiration for All Might, mentors, and a desire to save others, but have unique talents and views on heroism.

Two impressive protagonists, one from My Hero Academia and the other from its spin-off Vigilantes, each sharing the same love for heroism, All Might, and a desire to save others. However, despite their shared similarities, they couldn’t be more different, whereas one of them had been born without a Quirk.

Based on several defining factors, both protagonists have different approaches to heroism: Koichi, who has become a Vigilante, and Deku, who has gone through a more traditional route. So, how do the two protagonists parallel one another? Are Koichi and Deku two sides of the same coin? Are they significantly different from one another?

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What are the Differences Between Koichi and Deku

While They Have Some Similarities, They Are Unique and Complex Characters

Midoriya Izuku	Deku	Quirk: One For All
Haimawari Koichi	The Crawler	Quirk: Slide and Glide

Midoriya Izuku and Haimawari Koichi are both protagonists from their respective series, My Hero Academia and Vigilantes, although Vigilantes is a spin-off of the former series. In both shows, these protagonists strive to become Pro Heroes, saving civilians and fighting crime; however, there is one key difference. Midoriya Izuku was born without a Quirk, whereas Haimawari Koichi has a supposedly weak Quirk; however, due to his mother's interference and his lack of confidence, for a significant period of time, his Quirk had not evolved.

Deku was given the Quirk: One For All ten months after undergoing rigorous training. Even after that, he continued to train to gain control over the Quirk.
Koichi was born with a Quirk; however, due to circumstances, he did not train or attempt to evolve it.

A significant distinction between the two protagonists is that while both Deku and Koichi admire traditional heroes like All Might, Deku never considered becoming a vigilante. In his youth, Deku consistently dedicated time to his Hero analysis for future notebooks, and he had not engaged in any vigilante activities before acquiring his Quirk. Though he acted somewhat as a “dark hero” following All For One's prison escape during the Dark Hero arc, Deku continued collaborating with Pro Heroes such as Endeavor and Hawks. In contrast, Koichi struggled with self-confidence regarding his Quirk. Consequently, he sought to compensate for his unfulfilled dreams by performing “good deeds,” allowing him to experience a sense of heroism through these acts.

A significant distinction between the two lies in their talent. Deku spent most of his life without a Quirk, while those with Quirks naturally learn about their capabilities and limits through experience. Upon receiving One For All, Deku found it challenging to control, which compelled him to create simulations and develop an understanding of the Quirk to adapt effectively. As My Hero Academia progressed, Deku dedicated considerable time to mastering this Quirk, especially as new abilities emerged from it, necessitating further training. Furthermore, Deku possesses extensive knowledge about Quirks, enabling him to identify their strengths and weaknesses, which showcases his profound understanding of them.

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In contrast, Koichi had a natural gift for his Quirk: Slide and Glide. While he sometimes lacked knowledge about it, leading to confusion in its use, he had a knack for utilizing and continuously developing his Quirk. As he engaged in various battles and encountered different Quirk types, Koichi's abilities unknowingly expanded. Throughout the Vigilantes series, his Quirk evolved multiple times during combat, driven by his reflexes and physical responses. Ultimately, the two protagonists exhibit distinct types of talent in managing their Quirks, influenced by their respective backgrounds. Deku had been intelligent and analytical, using his complex understanding of Quirks to make them shine, whereas Koichi was slightly slow to start; however, after multiple experiences in battle, his Quirk continued to evolve with him, allowing it to blossom.

I have to work harder than anyone else to make it! I’ll never catch up otherwise…!! I want to be like you…!! Like you. The strongest hero.

A fascinating perspective on their personality types relates to how they view their ambitions of becoming Pro Heroes. Deku was born Quirkless, but that didn’t deter his desire to be the greatest hero. Despite those around him believing he couldn't become one, Deku maintained his dreams and aspirations, which led him to create his hero analysis notebooks. In contrast, Koichi thought that heroes achieved their status solely because of their Quirks, as those are the elements that “make them go Pro.” This belief, along with his mother's restrictions on his Quirk usage during his childhood, significantly influenced his ambitions to become a hero.

Moreover, Deku never wavered in his aspiration to be a Pro Hero, regardless of the bullying he faced, the rejection he experienced, and his mother’s doubts. In contrast, Koichi relinquished these ambitions, opting to be a vigilante dedicated to performing good deeds. However, to no fault of his own, Koichi did attempt to take the hero exam during middle school but was sidetracked, causing him to miss his chance. It was only after Deku encountered All Might, who first seemed to undermine his hero aspirations, that he gained a new perspective. Conversely, Koichi remained unaware of his capabilities, despite having an exceptionally strong and intelligent mentor to steer him toward heroism.

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While the two do share a significant number of differences, which makes them great protagonists in their own right, they also share several similarities. The first, and most obvious, is that both of them admire All Might and want to become a hero like him. Both Deku and Koichi share an immense respect for All Might, as they are both fanboys of the Pro Hero. Similarly, they also have merchandise from the hero, whereas Deku takes it to the extreme with the amount of merchandise he has. Koichi finds solace in collecting All Might hoodies, which will also serve as a Vigilante costume for him.

Additionally, both Koichi and Deku have mentors in their respective series. In My Hero Academia, Deku has All Might, who has become a teacher at U.A. High School and has guided him throughout his training, becoming somewhat of a father figure to him. On the other hand, Koichi has Knuckleduster, a former Pro Hero now Vigilante, working hard to remove the Trigger drug from the streets. Both of their mentors have different approaches to their teachings. Whereas All Might has always been a guiding light for Deku, Knuckleduster, at times, would leave Koichi and Pop Step to their own devices while he is away, although he does check up on Koichi.

Nothing like doing good to make you feel good!!

Koichi and Deku both have fought a mentee of All For One, thus making their common adversary All For One. However, Deku had beaten him in MHA. Although Number 6 was a failed experiment, he still provided All For One with the information needed to create the Nomu. Both Shigaraki Tomura and Number 6 were guided by All For One. However, Shigaraki was his ideal vessel.

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As mentioned above, both Koichi and Deku shared a love for heroes, which fueled their dream of becoming one. Deku and Koichi were both able to achieve this dream. Eight years after Deku graduated from U.A. High School, Deku became a part-time Pro Hero, while remaining a teacher at U.A., whereas Koichi became Captain Celebrity's sidekick in America.

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Both individuals value it uniquely. Deku was always aware of being quirkless, feeling that he wouldn't be of much help in serious situations. Instead, he focused on hero analysis and quirk theories, which ultimately benefited him. After witnessing Bakugo kidnapped during a villain encounter, his instinct to save was “activated.” Although his actions were minimal, they demonstrated that even without a quirk, Deku possessed the potential to become the greatest hero. Although Koichi may have been slow to start, primarily due to his initial denial of becoming a hero, he does possess the instinct to save, as evident when he saved Pop Step during his middle school years.

Both individuals shared a mutual admiration for strength and aspired to be heroes in their ways. Although Koichi felt insecure about his quirk, he pursued his dream of heroism by engaging in acts of kindness within his community, earning the nickname “Nice Guy.” Being older than Deku, the reality of his situation must have weighed heavily on him. To compensate for his insecurities, he likely performed these good deeds in an attempt to overcome his failure to become a fully-fledged hero. A flashback reveals that Koichi had been undertaking such actions for some time. Yet, he had not encountered any confrontations with villains or delinquents targeting others while the police and heroes were absent.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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