Beyond One For All: Kohei Horikoshi Teases His Next High-Value Manga After My Hero Academia’s Conclusion

The highly-anticipated conclusion of Kohei Horikoshi’s globally dominant superhero manga, My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), has officially arrived, marking the end of an era for Weekly Shonen Jump and the competitive international manga market. While fans celebrated the series’ decade-long run, attention has already pivoted to the future. Horikoshi-sensei, the creative force behind Midoriya Izuku’s journey to become the world’s greatest hero, has confirmed that his career is far from over, revealing he is already in the concept stages for his next major project. This follow-up is not a direct sequel, but a new opportunity for the acclaimed artist to tackle themes and genres previously unexplored in the MHA universe, promising to capture the next wave of premium-tier engagement.

The news provides a critical update for investors and readers alike, solidifying the mangaka’s commitment to creating new content. Horikoshi’s continued presence in the publishing sector is viewed as a significant boon for Shueisha and the overall entertainment industry, especially as other flagship titles conclude. His next work will undoubtedly vie for the coveted position of the next global Shonen phenomenon, driving organic traffic and high-CPC (Cost Per Click) ad revenue across all media platforms.

The Creative Vision: What Horikoshi Plans to Achieve

In recent interviews surrounding the final volume and art exhibition for My Hero Academia, Horikoshi has been candid about his future professional development. Crucially, he confirmed that he is back to the drawing board, developing the initial concepts—known as thumbnails—for his new series. This is a critical first step in the high-stakes content creation process.

He explicitly stated his motivation for the next project:

• He wants to create something he “still want[s] to do that [he] couldn’t do with MHA.”
• He intends to channel that creative drive into his new work.
• He hopes to serialize his new manga in Weekly Shonen Jump, indicating a return to the competitive weekly format and the battle Shonen genre, or a closely related action-adventure category.

This desire to explore untapped creative veins is a powerful indicator that the new series will possess a distinct flavor and concept, moving away from the established tropes of the superhero genre. While My Hero Academia masterfully blended Western superhero comic sensibilities with classic Shonen manga, Horikoshi’s next title is poised to challenge new conventions and secure a fresh market share in the digital media landscape.

Horror and Genre Expansion: Speculation on the New IP

While definitive plot details remain under wraps, a previous comment by Horikoshi has fueled rampant fan speculation—and a surge in related online searches—about the potential direction of his next intellectual property (IP). Years ago, he expressed a fleeting interest in creating a horror manga, remarking, “I want to try drawing a horror manga. But just a little.”

The final arcs of My Hero Academia demonstrated Horikoshi’s incredible aptitude for grotesque and unsettling imagery, particularly in his depiction of the villains All For One and Tomura Shigaraki. This visual talent makes a dive into the horror-action or dark fantasy genre a plausible, albeit tentative, theory. Such a shift would position his new work as a potential competitor to dark fantasy hits that have recently dominated the global entertainment market.

Potential Genres for High-Impact Serialization:

• Dark Shonen/Horror: Leveraging his skill for compellingly horrific character and creature design.
• Sci-Fi/Mecha: A genre he has briefly touched upon with his earlier work, Barrage.
• Traditional Fantasy/Isekai: Utilizing classic JRPG elements with his signature action choreography.

Regardless of the chosen genre, the combination of Horikoshi’s polished, dynamic art style—a major draw for merchandise sales and anime adaptation potential—and a completely fresh narrative promises a high-return investment for publishers and a must-read for fans.

The Immediate Successor: Horikoshi’s Endorsement of ‘Ichi the Witch’

It is important to note the series that has been dubbed a spiritual successor by the manga community in the interim: Ichi the Witch. While not Horikoshi’s personal creation, it has been notably championed by the man himself, providing an early indication of the kind of whimsical, character-driven action that he values in the next generation of Shonen content.

This Osamu Nishi-written and Shiro Usazaki-drawn work features a compelling concept: the first known boy to possess magic in a world where only women can use it. Horikoshi’s praise for Ichi the Witch—a key marketing tactic—has contributed to its rapid rise, positioning it as a significant new entry in the Shonen Jump lineup. This organic endorsement reveals a possible thematic affinity, hinting that while his own new work will be unique, it may share a foundation of lovable characters and an intriguing power system, mirroring the core appeal that made My Hero Academia a multi-billion dollar franchise.

The MHA Legacy and Continued Franchise Value

Even with the manga’s conclusion, the My Hero Academia franchise is far from dormant. The continued financial success of the IP remains a priority. Horikoshi’s involvement is still required for promotional activities, including the highly anticipated final season of the anime and the release of My Hero Academia Volume 42, which includes an extra chapter to further flesh out the finale and provide readers with a more detailed epilogue.

This sustained post-conclusion activity, including art exhibitions and fan books, ensures that the brand remains highly visible, maintaining its high search engine ranking and online visibility. The extended content ensures that the final narrative is robust, addressing any minor fan criticisms and maximizing the value of the collected edition—a crucial component for long-term book sales and digital subscription growth.

The transition from a flagship series to a new project is always a delicate balance in the publishing industry. However, with a clear indication of a new work already in development, Kohei Horikoshi is strategically preparing to dominate the market once again, ensuring that his creative output continues to define the landscape of global entertainment for the foreseeable future. The next series from the master mangaka is not just a replacement for MHA; it is the next evolution of a prolific creative career, and the business analysts predict it will be a major revenue generator from its initial launch.