The Era Ends: My Hero Academia’s Conclusion and The Hunt for the Next Shonen King

The highly successful run of Kohei Horikoshi’s seminal work, My Hero Academia (Boku no Hīrō Akademia), has officially concluded its main serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump. This finale marks the end of an extraordinary decade-long journey for Izuku Midoriya, All Might, and the aspiring heroes of U.A. High, leaving a massive, high-value content vacuum in the global manga and anime industry. As fans process the final, extended epilogue content released in the concluding volumes, attention immediately shifts to what comes next. The question isn’t just about the future of the MHA franchise—which continues through the anime’s upcoming final season, spin-offs like My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and a plethora of merchandise—but rather, what is the creator’s next move, and what new series is poised to inherit the mantle of Shonen Jump’s next global pillar?

While the franchise’s ongoing projects, including the final season of the anime adaptation and the continuous release of official art books and exhibitions, will keep the MHA universe alive for the immediate future, the central focus for many is on two distinct ‘replacements’: the new series that Horikoshi himself is developing, and the rising star in Jump that he has personally endorsed.

The Creator’s Confirmed New Project: Stepping Out of the Hero Genre

Following the intense demands of weekly serialization, particularly during the grueling final arcs of My Hero Academia, Kohei Horikoshi has taken a necessary, albeit brief, respite. However, in recent interviews coinciding with the release of the final volume (Volume 42), the esteemed mangaka has provided tantalizing details about his next series, confirming that he is already deep in the concept stage of a completely new manga.

Key Takeaways from Horikoshi’s Statements:

• He intends for the new series to be published in Weekly Shōnen Jump, indicating a desire to tackle the demanding weekly format once more. This shows a deep commitment to the competitive, high-stakes environment of the magazine, which consistently seeks high-volume consumer engagement.
• Initially considering focusing solely on art and letting a writer handle the story, his editor reportedly advised him to handle both writing and illustration. This signals that the new manga will bear his unmistakable creative vision completely.
• Crucially, Horikoshi stated that his next work will be an opportunity to explore ideas and themes he “couldn’t do with MHA.” This points toward a significant departure from the superhero genre and the familiar tropes of Quirks and hero society.
• While the genre remains officially unannounced, the creator has previously expressed a long-standing interest in drawing a horror manga or a series with darker themes. Given the increasingly intense and sometimes horrific imagery incorporated into the final arcs of My Hero Academia, many industry experts speculate that a horror or dark fantasy genre is a strong possibility for his next serialized title, aiming for a different segment of the premium manga market.

The development is currently focused on story and design thumbnails, meaning the public announcement and debut are likely still some time away. Nonetheless, the confirmation that Horikoshi is actively crafting a new, non-MHA universe series is the most significant news update for the manga community since the announcement of MHA’s finale itself. Fans are eagerly anticipating the unveiling of this project, which is set to challenge his own legacy and compete for top market share in the post-MHA landscape.

The Editorially Endorsed Successor: Ichi the Witch

While Horikoshi’s personal project is in development, the immediate void left by the departure of My Hero Academia and the concurrent end of other massive titles like Jujutsu Kaisen has created an intense focus on emerging series within Weekly Shōnen Jump. The current frontrunner being widely hailed as the magazine’s next potential pillar is Ichi the Witch (Madan no Ichi).

The most compelling piece of evidence solidifying Ichi the Witch’s position as a successor is the direct endorsement from Kohei Horikoshi himself. Mangaka endorsements, especially from creators of his stature, are rare and provide an enormous boost to a new series, often securing its longevity in the notoriously demanding Jump serialization ranking system.

Why Ichi the Witch is Being Positioned as MHA’s Replacement:

• High-Concept Fantasy: The series introduces a unique fantasy world centered around a protagonist with special abilities—a familiar Shonen structure that resonates with the core audience of MHA. This world of witches and magic provides a fresh setting for complex character dynamics and large-scale action.
• Strong Character Focus: Similar to Deku, the lead character, Ichi, is a compelling, endearing protagonist whose journey of growth and self-discovery is central to the narrative. This focus on character development is a key ingredient for long-running success and fan retention.
• Critical Acclaim and Early Popularity: Since its debut, the manga has garnered strong positive reception, demonstrating a capacity for sustained reader engagement and digital subscription growth. Horikoshi’s recommendation simply accelerated an organic wave of popularity.

For fans searching for a new manga to fill the void, Ichi the Witch represents the official, institutionally supported continuation of the Shonen spirit—a new high-stakes adventure that Jump is betting on to capture the demographic that faithfully supported My Hero Academia for a decade. The transition of focus from one superpower series to a similarly themed supernatural series is a calculated editorial strategy to maintain audience loyalty and secure intellectual property investment for future anime production and game development.

The Enduring Legacy and Financial Implications for the Franchise

The conclusion of the main manga does not mean the end of the My Hero Academia brand. The franchise remains a massive cash cow, representing billions in global sales across various media. The upcoming final anime season, the continued release of films, and the enduring popularity of MHA mobile games and collectibles ensure the franchise will continue to generate significant recurring revenue. This extended life allows Horikoshi the creative freedom to step away and develop a new, distinct IP without the immediate commercial pressure of needing to match MHA’s output.

The true “replacement” is a dual entity: the ongoing MHA franchise, which acts as a bridge for the faithful audience, and the as-yet-unnamed, highly anticipated new work from Kohei Horikoshi, which represents the next major creative evolution of one of the highest-selling mangaka of the modern era. Industry analysts and fans alike will be watching closely to see if his new venture can achieve the same level of global phenomenon status, cementing his legacy beyond the world of heroes and villains.

Further updates on Kohei Horikoshi’s new project will be released as soon as official announcements are made in Weekly Shōnen Jump.