The Successor’s Shadow: What Kohei Horikoshi Has Planned After the Mega-Hit My Hero Academia

The final chapter of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) marked the end of an era for the superhero genre in manga, concluding the decade-long journey of Izuku Midoriya and the fledgling heroes of U.A. High. The manga’s conclusion, while offering a definitive end to the main narrative, has left a substantial void in the Weekly Shonen Jump lineup and, crucially, a hungry global fanbase eager for the next creation from master mangaka, Kohei Horikoshi. While the MHA franchise itself will continue through the immensely popular anime, spin-offs like My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and various promotional projects, the focus now shifts to Horikoshi’s next original serialized work—a successor that carries perhaps the heaviest expectations in the industry.

The pressure is immense. Replacing a global phenomenon, one that generated billions in revenue and set a new standard for modern shonen manga, is no small feat. Yet, Horikoshi has not only confirmed he is already developing his next title but has also offered tantalizing clues about the genre shift and core challenge he is setting for himself, promising a departure from the “Quirk”-filled world of heroes and villains.

The Concept Stage: New Horizons and Creative Freedom

In the wake of My Hero Academia’s finale, Kohei Horikoshi has been remarkably open about his future plans, though he remains tight-lipped on specific plot details. His statements confirm that he is already deeply engaged in the concept stage of his new manga, dispelling any notion of a lengthy hiatus.

Horikoshi’s Key Revelations:

• A Return to Solo Work: Despite considering a collaboration where he would only focus on the art, his editor strongly advised him to handle both the writing and drawing, a testament to the high regard for his complete creative vision. Horikoshi confirmed he is now creating the thumbnails (rough sketches and layouts) for his next series as both the author and artist.
• A Conscious Shift in Focus: Perhaps the most compelling insight is his desire to tackle themes and concepts he “couldn’t do with MHA.” This strongly implies a deliberate move away from the established tropes of the superhero battle genre. The massive success of the previous title gives him the rare creative freedom to explore new territory.
• A Possible Dive into Horror: Years ago, Horikoshi expressed a desire to try his hand at a “horror manga, but just a little.” Given the occasional, yet memorable, use of grotesque and chilling imagery in the later arcs of My Hero Academia, fans and industry analysts have heavily speculated that his next project could lean into the darker, supernatural, or horror genres, a significant divergence from the bright, optimistic tone of Class 1-A.

This creative pivot is a calculated risk, but one that could pay huge dividends. By not attempting to replicate the superhero formula, Horikoshi avoids the inevitable comparisons and grants his next title the best chance to stand on its own merits, much like the original My Hero Academia did among its predecessors.

The Unofficial ‘Replacement’: A Horikoshi Endorsed Title

While the world awaits Horikoshi’s official new creation, a current serialized work has been informally crowned the immediate, Horikoshi-endorsed successor to the empty spot in Weekly Shonen Jump.

Ichi the Witch (Madan no Ichi): The Creator’s Recommendation

• The Endorsement: The new manga Ichi the Witch, by mangaka Takuya Sugiyama, which began serialization shortly after the conclusion of MHA, received a rare and powerful recommendation from Horikoshi himself. Such a direct endorsement from a powerhouse creator immediately focuses significant fan attention and commercial value onto the rising title.
• Filling the Void: Ichi the Witch is a fantasy battle shonen series set in a world where magic is primarily a female domain, following the adventures of Ichi, the first known boy to wield the power. It features charming characters and special abilities, embodying the lighter, adventurous side of Shonen Jump that My Hero Academia often occupied.
• A Natural Successor: The series, alongside the darker, action-packed Kagurabachi, is viewed by many as one of the new pillars of the magazine, directly replacing the massive slots left by both My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen. Horikoshi’s public backing solidifies its status as a title that MHA fans, still reeling from the finale, should immediately check out. This strategic recommendation helps maintain reader loyalty within the Shonen Jump brand while the legendary mangaka prepares his own grand return.

SEO Focus: High CPC Keywords in the Aftermath

For readers and industry observers tracking the future of Japanese manga and anime, the keywords associated with this transition are crucial for both search engine optimization (SEO) and understanding the high-value commercial stakes.

• High-Value Search Terms: Manga Successor, Kohei Horikoshi New Manga, My Hero Academia Replacement, Shonen Jump Next Big Hit, Horikoshi Horror Manga, and Ichi the Witch Review are all seeing elevated Cost-Per-Click (CPC) and search volume.
• The Franchise Legacy: The sheer number of continued projects—including the final MHA Season 8 anime, the prequel series My Hero Academia: Vigilantes receiving an anime adaptation announcement, and the massive global World Best Hero character poll—ensures that the My Hero Academia franchise itself remains a dominant, high-traffic entity for the immediate future. These ancillary projects serve as a vital financial and cultural bridge until Horikoshi’s new series is ready.

The strategy is clear: keep the MHA engine running strong with new content and promotions while simultaneously leveraging the creator’s influence to champion the next generation of titles in the magazine, ensuring a continuous stream of premium content for the demographic.

Conclusion: The Next Chapter is Coming

While the tale of Deku and All Might has reached its definitive conclusion, Kohei Horikoshi’s personal story as a top-tier mangaka is only entering a new phase. His confirmed new work, currently in the concept and thumbnail stage, is not a simple sequel or a rehash of his previous success, but a determined new challenge, potentially in the realm of dark fantasy or horror. This willingness to explore new creative ventures is exactly what keeps a mangaka relevant and their work fresh for a demanding global audience.

The official announcement and release of Horikoshi’s next original manga, likely to be serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, will undoubtedly be one of the most significant anime and manga news events of the coming years. Until then, fans have the creator-approved magic of Ichi the Witch and the final saga of the My Hero Academia anime to keep the world of super-powered battle shonen alive. The countdown to Horikoshi’s next global hit has officially begun, and the pressure is on for him to deliver a story that can once again redefine the industry.

Source Note: Information regarding Kohei Horikoshi’s future plans and endorsement of Ichi the Witch is derived from recent interviews published in Japanese media, including Men’s Non-no and official statements to the press following the conclusion of the My Hero Academia manga serialization.