Warning: Spoilers for My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Episode #6My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is going deeper down the path of showing why vigilantism can be a bad thing with Stendhal, who was revealed to be the secret identity of Chizome Akaguro, the man who would eventually become the Hero Killer, Stain. The Hero Killer's stint as a vigilante is what directly led him to kill "false heroes," in a seriously dark and twisted manner.

In the previous episode of Vigilantes, Stendhal made his first appearance, saving Koichi from a rampaging villain. However, when the villain fled, Stendhal hunted him down and finished him off, killing the man. Koichi was impressed by Stendhal and his sword, and looked forward to interacting with him again in the future. However, episode #6 revealed that Stendhal is specifically targeting certain people with criminal records, starting with some Yakuza before moving on to a more familiar face: that of Soga Kugisaki, the delinquent Koichi has faced off with before.

Vigilantes Shows the Hero Killer's Descent into Madness

The Series Reveals What Drove Him Over the Edge

When Stendhal came to kill Soga, who had been exposed to Trigger against his will by Kuin Hachisuka, Koichi overheard and interrupted the scene. However, when Stendhal voiced his intent to kill, Koichi took action, knocking Stendhal off his feet and fleeing with Soga over his shoulder. Stendhal didn't hesitate to turn against Koichi, hitting him with a knife. Koichi was paralyzed by Stendhal's Quirk and crashed, and it seemed all might be lost before Knuckleduster suddenly arrived.

Knuckleduster made a physical line, daring Stendhal to cross it, and stood in defense of both Soga and Koichi. As the two vigilantes briefly discussed their ideologies, it became apparent that Stendhal was a fanatic who couldn't be reasoned with. When Stendhal took action against Knuckleduster, the old man delivered a powerful punch, caving in Stendhal's face and breaking his nose. Stendhal declares his new intention: to battle against those he sees as false heroes, and takes off into the night. Stendhal ends up cutting his nose off and discarding his vigilante identity.

Stain's lack of a nose has certainly been something fans have wondered about for years, so finally seeing it explained in such a gruesome way really helped to sell the insanity of his character. The reveal of Stain's vigilante past has certainly painted the character in a different light. He didn't immediately leap straight to killing "False heroes," but originally tried to be a force for good of his own. However, his methods and ideology were just far too extreme. Stendhal's days as a vigilante were definitely numbered, whether or not he crossed Knuckleduster.

Stain Makes the Perfect Contrast to Koichi

The Two Represent Opposite Ends of the Vigilante Spectrum

Being a vigilante means operating outside the law, but it doesn't necessarily mean disrespect for the law in general. Koichi operates without a license and uses his Quirk without permission, but these are relatively small problems since he isn't causing trouble. Stain, on the other hand, is stalking and killing without mercy, and it's clear from his list of targets that anyone who has done Trigger even once is someone to be killed. Koichi is only trying to help people, while Stain has declared himself Judge, Jury, and Executioner, effectively taking the law into his own hands.

Bringing in Stain was an excellent decision, revealing more of his past and how he became the anti-villain that he is. It shows how broad the definition of "vigilante" can be in this world, and how the actions of a man can cause problems for everyone. Stain makes for an excellent foil to Koichi and his friends, highlighting the dangers of going too far and taking an ideology too seriously. It also explains why the My Hero Academia world is so cautious about vigilantism, as it can be a slippery slope to absolute villainy for the wrong kind of person.