My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Just Gave Fans a Hilarious Avengers Cameo — But Blink and You’ll Miss It

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has always played with bold ideas and unexpected character cameos, but the latest episode might have pulled off its cheekiest Easter egg yet. Amid the gritty backdrop of underground heroics and violent justice, the show snuck in a full-blown parody of Marvel's Avengers, and if you weren’t paying close attention, you might’ve missed it entirely.

In this episode, the vigilante known as Stendhal (also known to manga readers as an early version of Hero Killer Stain) bursts into a meeting of Yakuza-affiliated villains. What makes this particular scene stand out isn’t just the carnage—though it’s brutal—but the obvious nods to the world’s most famous superhero team. One villain summons mechanical armor reminiscent of Iron Man, another goes full Hulk-mode with a muscular blue transformation, while a third channels Thor with his electric Quirk, long hair, and a helmet—hammer included. There’s even a makeshift Captain America wielding a manhole cover like a shield, and soon after, two additional characters crash the scene resembling Hawkeye and Black Widow.

If that wasn’t enough, fans on Reddit (notably user /u/SomeonesBlue) pointed out a final fighter with a bionic arm and masked face—a subtle yet unmistakable nod to Winter Soldier. Unfortunately for these superhero lookalikes, they didn’t get the Marvel-style victory they were perhaps hoping for. Stendhal dismantles the entire group in a bloody rampage described by the show's characters as “a window into Hell,” effectively wiping out this Avengers parody squad in mere minutes.

This isn’t the first time Vigilantes or the larger My Hero Academia franchise has played with Western pop culture references, and it definitely won’t be the last. Earlier episodes have already hinted at characters resembling Cyclops and Wolverine, complete with Quirk abilities that echo their mutant powers. And if reports are to be believed, future episodes may even include a villain inspired by Thomas the Tank Engine, proving that the creators are happy to draw from all corners of global pop culture for both humor and homage.

The broader My Hero Academia universe has always worn its Western comic book influences on its sleeve. Series creator Kohei Horikoshi has often cited Spider-Man as an inspiration for Deku, particularly in how the Blackwhip ability mirrors Spidey’s web-slinging. The show has even dropped Star Wars references, including naming the setting Naruhata, a likely nod to Nal Hutta, a planet from the Star Wars universe.

While these clever cameos are easy to dismiss as gags, they reveal something deeper about the creative spirit behind My Hero Academia and Vigilantes. Writers Hideyuki Furuhashi and artist Betten Court, alongside Horikoshi, are clearly fans themselves—deeply immersed in both Eastern and Western superhero lore. These pop culture crossovers add a layer of fun and intertextuality that rewards observant viewers while connecting global fandoms in unexpected ways.

So if you’re a Marvel fan, anime lover, or just someone who enjoys spotting creative nods, keep your eyes peeled. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes isn’t just expanding the world of heroes—it’s doing so with a wink and a knowing smile to the genre’s biggest icons.

For more fun crossovers, anime news, and fandom breakdowns, visit www.nestfact.com.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes, Avengers cameo anime, Marvel parody anime, My Hero Academia references, anime Marvel references, Stendhal Vigilantes, MHA Vigilantes villains, Iron Man anime, Thor anime parody, Hulk anime Quirk, Winter Soldier anime, Kohei Horikoshi Marvel, Blackwhip Deku, My Hero Academia Easter eggs, MHA x Marvel, Vigilantes anime episode, anime cultural references, MHA Vigilantes Reddit, anime superhero parody, Marvel anime inspiration, Vigilantes character breakdown, nestfact