The Next Generation: Kōhei Horikoshi Teases Successor to My Hero Academia as Manga Concludes

The final curtain has fallen on Kōhei Horikoshi’s decade-long saga, My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), leaving a monumental void in the Weekly Shonen Jump lineup and the global Manga Market. The conclusion of Izuku Midoriya’s journey, while definitive and emotionally charged, has immediately shifted the focus to the creator’s next move. While speculation about a direct sequel featuring the new generation of Pro Heroes, or a spinoff like the highly-regarded My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, continues to circulate, the most recent reports and author comments point to a thrilling new direction: a completely original project from Horikoshi-sensei himself.

The end of one of the Best-Selling Manga Series of the modern era is a significant event, not just for the millions of dedicated fans who have embraced the “Plus Ultra” spirit, but for the entire comic and animation industry. As major titles like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen conclude, the search for the next Shonen Successor begins in earnest, a space Horikoshi is uniquely positioned to fill.

Horikoshi’s Post-MHA Plans: A New Creative Challenge

Far from taking an extended hiatus, creator Kōhei Horikoshi has already confirmed that he is deep in the concept stages for his next manga. This announcement is perhaps the most exciting piece of news for the community, promising a fresh IP with the same acclaimed artistic flair and character depth that made My Hero Academia an international phenomenon. This upcoming work will not be a continuation of the hero society we have come to know, but rather a brand new universe built from the ground up.

In various interviews, Horikoshi has hinted at the creative drive behind this transition. He stated that there are certain concepts and themes he was unable to fully explore within the narrative structure of My Hero Academia, and he intends to channel those ideas into his next project. This suggests the new series will offer a distinct flavor, potentially moving away from the conventional superhero genre while retaining the strong character dynamics and dynamic action sequences that are his trademark. This deliberate shift aims to challenge himself creatively and present a unique offering to the highly competitive Japanese Manga Industry.

The most intriguing speculation surrounding the new series’ genre has centered on Horror Manga. While still unconfirmed, the shift in tone and the increasing use of darker, more unsettling imagery in the latter arcs of My Hero Academia—particularly involving villains like All For One and the decaying aesthetics of the final war—have led fans to connect the dots. A horror or dark fantasy premise would allow Horikoshi to utilize his masterful character design skills to craft compelling and terrifying antagonists, offering a stark contrast to the bright, hopeful world of U.A. High.

The Spiritual Successor: The Ichi the Witch Recommendation

While Horikoshi’s personal next work is still in development, the creator has unofficially signaled a spiritual successor already in print, an act that speaks volumes about the community within Weekly Shonen Jump. The emerging title is Ichi the Witch (written and illustrated by Osamu Nishi, the creator of Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun), a manga that began its serialization shortly after My Hero Academia’s conclusion. Horikoshi’s public praise and explicit recommendation for this new series essentially gave it a massive, immediate boost in visibility and sales, a powerful endorsement that immediately draws the attention of the MHA fanbase.

Ichi the Witch is described as a “cuter and more fantastical battle Shonen,” which some analysts see as filling the “early MHA void”—a series with a lovable main character, an endearing world, and special abilities (though in this case, magic wielded predominantly by women). This kind of endorsement is invaluable in the cutthroat world of manga serialization, suggesting that while the MHA narrative is over, the spirit of optimistic, character-driven Shonen action is alive and well.

• Impact of Recommendation: Horikoshi’s stamp of approval is a major Manga Marketing Strategy (CPC) win for Ichi the Witch, driving high-value traffic and new readers to the title, ensuring its stability early in its run.
• Genre Alignment: The series maintains elements of the “special abilities” narrative structure, which appeals directly to the demographic that powered My Hero Academia’s success.

The Continuing My Hero Academia Franchise: An Expanding Universe

It is critical to note that the conclusion of the main My Hero Academia manga does not signify the end of the entire My Hero Academia Franchise. In fact, multiple projects ensure the hero world continues to expand, offering significant Media Licensing and Merchandise Revenue potential:

Extra Content and Epilogues

The final collected volume, Volume 42, includes extra pages of original content by Horikoshi, which further fleshes out the lives of the characters in the epilogue. This additional material, often described as an extended ending, serves to provide the final, satisfying closure fans crave, cementing the status of the former Class 1-A as adult Pro Heroes and addressing lingering questions. This commitment to a complete wrap-up contrasts with many serialized endings, offering immediate high-value content for collectors.

The Rise of Dai: A Potential Sequel?

A minor character who appeared in the final chapters, a young boy named Dai, has been heavily theorized as the protagonist for a potential future sequel series. Dai’s interaction with an adult Deku—a scene that mirrors the iconic encounter between a young Midoriya and All Might—positions him as a spiritual heir. Furthermore, Dai’s prominence on the cover of the final manga volume, mirroring Deku’s original placement, suggests that Horikoshi or Shueisha have explicitly laid the groundwork for a continuation should the demand become overwhelming, exploring a post-All For One hero world that deals with new threats like the Quirk Singularity Doomsday Theory. This provides a clear, but currently untapped, Intellectual Property (IP) Sequel Value.

The Unstoppable Anime and Film Schedule

The anime adaptation, produced by the acclaimed studio Bones, is still moving towards the finale. The eighth and final season is set to adapt the concluding arcs of the manga, promising one of the most anticipated anime events of the next year. Furthermore, the release of the latest canonical film, My Hero Academia: You’re Next, demonstrates the franchise’s continued strength in supplementary media, generating massive box office returns globally and keeping the brand at the forefront of popular culture. The continued production of these high-quality animated works maintains the franchise’s Global Brand Visibility and Consumer Engagement.

Conclusion: The Future of Shonen is in Transition

The end of My Hero Academia marks the closing of a significant chapter in modern Shonen manga. However, the legacy of Kohei Horikoshi is far from over. The anticipation for his new, entirely original manga project is already generating significant buzz, positioning it as one of the most anticipated New Manga Releases of the coming years. Whether he embraces the darkness of horror or explores another exciting new genre, Horikoshi’s return to the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump is guaranteed to be a major event.

For fans looking to fill the void immediately, the creator’s recommendation of Ichi the Witch offers a promising new series, proving that the vibrant, character-driven action that defined My Hero Academia continues to inspire the next generation of mangaka. The hero society may have achieved its peace, but the world of manga remains in an exciting, high-stakes state of “Plus Ultra” creation.