Volume 5 (Vigilantes)/Extras

Extra Content from Volume 5 (Vigilantes).

Master and Koichi
"The so-called Team Vigilantes trio (Master, Koichi and Pop) struck a really nice balance, but that balance had to be rocked if Koichi was ever going to grow. With Master gone, there's no one to explain things, deal the finishing blow to enemies, etc., so while it feels like a big inconvenience plotwise, it also broadens the range of decisions that Koichi has to make."

- Hideyuki Furuhashi

Master's Private Side
"I posted this sketch of Master on Twitter. At the time, didn't know much about his background, so this was the image I had of what he looked like, during his free time.

He seems kind of solitary. Solitary? Like the sad Keanu Reeves meme. (LOL) Showing someone eating and drinking always feels like a glimpse of their private side

Koichi's civilian clothes are the epitome of inoffensive. (LOL)

Pop doesn't exactly have bad style, but she's not sophisticated either. I struggle with her."

- Betten Court

Praying Mantis Villain
Praying Mantis Villain "Another bio engineered villain, like Teruo the eel boy. The defining characteristics for this guy were "Extremely mutated," "Pretty big" and "Body is black because of the drugs coursing through him (when not on drugs, he's white)."

He’s just convenient cannon fodder at first, but he turns out to be friends with the Hotta Brothers and gets some character development later."

- Hideyuki Furuhashi

"The concept art felt a little lacking, so I added more details for his actual appearance in the story, Of course, adding details amounts to digging my own grave. Striking that balance is tough. (LOL)"

- Betten Court

Casual Midnight and the Little Sisters
"In private, Ms. Kayama keeps her sexy hero side subdued and comes off as more of an ordinary woman. Almost motherly even.

The three little girls are cute and inoffensive, making them easy additions to any scene. By the way-they're in middle school, making them teenagers, just like Pop and the twins."

- Hideyuki Furuhashi

"For Midnight's casual look, I referenced her "house clothes" profile page from the main series. I’m a big fan of knit one-piece and boots, but sadly there weren't any really good angels of the boots in the story (LOL)

In Furuhashi's rough draft, all three of the girls had the same face, but I decided to make one of  the three a little off, just like with the Sturm and Drum perv brothers. It's becoming a trend."

- Betten Court

Fat Gum
Fat Gum: Vigilantes version


 * Real Name: Taishiro Toyomitsu
 * Birthday: 8/8
 * Height: 250 CM (?)
 * Favorite Thing: Takoyaki
 * Quirk: Fat Absorption

"I mostly had him conform to his image in the main story, but I made him a little more aggressive all around, since we learned that he used to be more of a brawler. This version also has those protectors on his arms."

- Hideyuki Furuhashi

"I was more than a little nervous while drawing Fat Gum, since not only is he a popular character from the main series, he's also a personal favorite of Horikoshi's. (LOL)"

- Betten Court

Kaniko & Crab Mech
Monika Kaniyashiki Monika Kaniyashiki & Kanidoge mascot suit?


 * Real Name: Monika Kaniyashiki
 * Birthday: 6/22
 * Height: 160 CM
 * Favorite Thing: Kani Miso
 * Quirk: Scissors

"The Osaka arc needed a native Osakan, another idol to interact with Pop and a law enforcement type working with Fat Gum. All those elements combined into this single character. She's a little absurd, but she really helped move the story along. Design-Wise, she straddles the line between hammy variety act and cute girl, which is quite delicate balance. Also, the mech suit! Can't forget that crab mech."

- Hideyuki Furuhashi

"When I saw Kaniko in Furuhashi's rough draft, I thought, "How'm I supposed to make her look cute…? I was really concerned at first, but as I started drawing (and reading her dialogue), she began to exude this mysterious charm. She may look like that on the outside, but there's something deliciously savory about her on the inside. Just like a crab. (LOL)"

- Betten Court

Ichiro Hotta & Jiro Hotta
Hotta Brothers

"These are some gray-zone types Aizawa interrogates. My thought process was as follows: crooked pawnshop (battaya in Japanese; batta also means “grasshopper”) -> grasshopper monsters -> knockoff Kamen Riders. They’re always together, and even their friends call them the Hotta Brothers, which contributes to that fun sense a tight-knit community."

- Hideyuki Furuhashi

"There are already so many bad Kamen Rider knockoff designs out there, so this was hard to pull off. The inspiration is clear at a glance, but the subtle differences in the insect elements are... Nah. Never mind, forget it. They're grasshoppers. It's fine. (LOL)"

- Betten Court

Message from Kohei Horikoshi
Vigilantes Volume 5!!

"Thanks for giving Fat Gum some action!"

- Kohei Horikoshi