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.
-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
Praying Mantis Villain#
The Rough Design#
Praying Mantis Villain
Really shouldn't use a design that's so hard to draw...
Too grotesque...?
Behind the Scenes#
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.
-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
Casual Midnight and the Little Sisters#
The Rough Design#
Midnight on her day off
Fur-like beret
Knit one-piece underneath
Military coat
Long boots
St. Lila's Girls
Behind the Scenes#
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.
-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
Fat Gum#
- Real Name: Taishiro Toyomitsu
- Birthday: 8/8
- Height: 250 cm (?)
- Favorite Thing: Takoyaki
- Quirk: Fat Absorption
The Rough Design#
Fat Gum: Vigilantes version
Almost feels like a baddie
Behind the Scenes#
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.
-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
Kaniko & Crab Mech#
- Real Name: Monika Kaniyashiki
- Birthday: 6/22
- Height: 160 cm
- Favorite Thing: Kani Miso
- Quirk: Scissors
The Rough Design#
Monika Kaniyashiki
Grrr!
Kanidoge mascot suit?
Behind the Scenes#
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.
-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
Ichiro Hotta & Jiro Hotta#
The Rough Design#
Hotta Brothers
Same design for both
Behind the Scenes#
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.
-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
Message from Kohei Horikoshi#
Vigilantes Volume 5 ·
Thanks for giving Fat Gum some action!
-Horikoshi