The epic conclusion of Kohei Horikoshi’s globally dominant manga, My Hero Academia ($MHA), has officially marked the end of an era in weekly shonen serialization. Following a decade of captivating readers with the journey of Izuku Midoriya and the world of Pro Heroes, the final chapter has been delivered, prompting a fervent discussion among fans and industry analysts: What comes next? While the void left by a top-selling manga is massive, the celebrated mangaka is not one to rest on his laurels. Our investigation reveals that Horikoshi is already deep into the concept development for his next major series, a venture that promises a radical shift in genre and narrative focus.

The anticipation surrounding a successor to a cultural phenomenon like My Hero Academia is immense. The series not only became a billion-dollar franchise across manga, anime, films, and high-demand merchandise but also established itself as a cornerstone of modern superhero storytelling. For any new series to fill these giant shoes, it must offer something both innovative and compelling. Horikoshi-sensei, known for his dynamic art style and ability to weave complex character arcs, has confirmed he is prepared to meet this challenge.

The New Direction: A Horror Manga Challenging the Shonen Norm

Contrary to speculation about a direct sequel or a spin-off set in the MHA universe, which already has the popular series Vigilantes and an ongoing highly-anticipated final anime season, Horikoshi has repeatedly expressed a desire to explore the horror genre. This is not entirely a surprise to dedicated fans who noted the increasingly dark and grotesque imagery creeping into the final arcs of My Hero Academia, particularly with the transformative appearance of Tomura Shigaraki and the unsettling nature of certain Quirks.

In recent interviews, Horikoshi confirmed he is in the conceptual stage of a brand-new manga series, aiming to return to his roots in a way that My Hero Academia never allowed. He specifically mentioned wanting to channel ideas and concepts that he was unable to explore within the constraints of a major weekly superhero shonen title. This strongly suggests a move away from the optimistic hero narrative and towards a darker, more contained story.

The likely replacement series, or rather, his next major creative endeavor, is rumored to be a horror-centric manga. Horror titles in the weekly shonen landscape often operate on a different scale, typically having a shorter run than their battle-shonen counterparts. This shift could provide Horikoshi with a more flexible schedule, allowing him to maintain the exceptional quality of his detailed artwork while mitigating the notorious burnout associated with the weekly serialization grind. Furthermore, the high-value proposition of a genre-shift from a mangaka of his stature generates significant industry buzz and high CPC (Cost Per Click) potential for advertising due to the novelty factor and crossover appeal to fans of darker titles like Chainsaw Man or Jujutsu Kaisen.

Impact on the Manga Ecosystem and Jump Succession

The conclusion of My Hero Academia coincided with the endings of several other mega-popular titles, leaving a noticeable gap in Weekly Shonen Jump’s lineup. The question of a definitive “successor” in the magazine is a multifaceted one. While Horikoshi’s next work, once announced and serialized, will undoubtedly command a premium market position, the magazine is also looking for new, organic hits.

Intriguingly, Horikoshi himself has publicly recommended new, burgeoning titles, notably praising the dark fantasy series Ichi the Witch. While this particular title is not his replacement, such endorsements from an industry titan significantly boost the visibility and sales of the newly launched series, effectively helping to cultivate the next generation of manga hits. This act of “passing the torch” highlights the collaborative, yet fiercely competitive, nature of the manga world.

For fans and investors alike, Horikoshi’s commitment to creating a new series, coupled with his stated intent to serialize it in Weekly Shonen Jump once the concept is fully realized, is a powerful indicator of the long-term stability and creative vitality of the medium. The new series, whatever its final genre, will be one of the most anticipated launches in recent manga history, driving up user engagement and search traffic globally.

What We Know About Horikoshi’s Post-MHA Workload

Despite the manga’s conclusion, Horikoshi’s involvement in the My Hero Academia franchise is far from over. His current commitments, before the full-scale launch of his new manga, include:

  • Extended Final Content: The final volume of MHA is set to include new, extended content, specifically additional pages that further flesh out the ending and epilogue, a development that is driving record pre-orders.
  • Anime Final Season Involvement: Horikoshi is heavily involved in the production of the upcoming final anime season, promising new, anime-exclusive scenes and tweaks to the ending to enhance the reception and delivery of the story’s conclusion. This high-level involvement keeps the brand value consistently high.
  • Art Exhibitions and Fanbooks: New illustrations, art books, and exhibitions are scheduled, confirming that the MHA intellectual property (IP) remains a commercial powerhouse that requires the mangaka’s creative input.

Horikoshi stated in an interview with a major outlet that he felt “a sense of emptiness” after concluding MHA, a sentiment common among creators who pour a decade of their lives into a single work. However, he quickly transitioned to the concept phase for his next work, indicating a deep-seated passion for storytelling. He has confirmed he intends to handle both the writing and the art, a decision advised by his editor, which is a massive vote of confidence in his multifaceted talents.

The Takeaway: The ending of My Hero Academia is not a final curtain call for Kohei Horikoshi, but rather an exciting interlude before a significant creative pivot. His next project, likely a high-quality horror manga, is positioned to become one of the most talked-about launches, a necessary injection of new blood and different genre exploration into the shonen landscape. Manga investors and global fandom should prepare for a completely new experience from a proven master storyteller, one that is guaranteed to generate maximum online visibility and set new benchmarks for serialized fiction.