My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has introduced the first Ingenium, Tensei Iida, a character who didn't get much opportunity to shine in the original series. Vigilantes' take on the character has proven that Tensei truly was a great hero, just like his younger brother always claimed, and it's a shame he didn't get more of a role in the main series.

In the original My Hero Academia, Tensei is introduced in a fight with the Hero Killer, Stain, who deals substantial (though not fatal) damage to the hero. This prompts Tenya Iida to embark on a quest for revenge, one which eventually drags in Todoroki and Midoriya as well. Regardless of Tenya's revenge, though, Tensei's injuries are severe enough to force him to retire from hero work for good, leaving the name of Ingenium to be ed down to Tenya. Very little is seen of Tensei after this point in the story, so fans never really got a chance to know his character... until now.

Vigilantes Introduces The Real Tensei Iida, A True Hero

Tensei Proves He Had the Personality of a Hero All Along

One thing that has long bothered fans of My Hero Academia is whether Stain had any kind of point in attacking Tensei. Stain's self-proclaimed ideology is to stamp out "false heroes," who look for glory instead of focusing their efforts on helping people. What reason did Stain have for attacking Ingenium, then? Stain's actions are hardly justified, but if only in his own head, was there something Tensei did wrong?

In episode 4 of Vigilantes, though, fans finally get to meet Tensei as Ingenium properly. Tensei is introduced chasing down a speeding bat villain, although he doesn't manage to take the villain down on the first attempt. The next day, out of costume, he meets Koichi, and doesn't chastise him for using his Quirk to get around, even though that's technically illegal. Tensei gives Koichi some tips, and even encourages him to get better, offering a potential spot as a sidekick. The next night, Tensei takes some risks to go up against the bat villain again, but Koichi and the vigilantes end up helping to catch the villain first.

Tensei Iida Didn't Deserve to Be Attacked by Stain

The Original Ingenium Was a Proper Hero

From what can be seen in Vigilantes, Tensei as Ingenium was a true and proper hero. He's concerned about risks to civilians, and is willing to take big personal risks to apprehend a villain, showcasing his bravery. He also recognizes that the law isn't black and white, and that sometimes a technically illegal act can be for the greater good, such as the vigilantes helping to take down the bat villain.

It's a real shame that fans didn't get to see more of this version of Ingenium in the main My Hero Academia series, as he would've fit in well alongside some of the top-tier pro heroes. It turns out that Tenya Iida's description of his brother as a hero was true after all, and My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has finally shown it.