The manga "My Hero Academia" (author: Kohei Horikoshi) concluded its serialization in the combined issue 36-37 of "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) released today, August 5th, marking the end of its 10-year run since its start in July 2014. Reflecting on the conclusion, Horikoshi expressed, "I'm surprisingly sad."

The final chapter, spanning 17 pages with a poster-like center color opening, includes a special message card featuring a newly drawn illustration of the protagonist, Deku (Izuku Midoriya), and a message from Horikoshi. Additionally, there is a special service for all applicants to receive a digital print mini of the entire final chapter.

Yuki Kaji, who voiced Shoto Todoroki, conveyed, "Thank you, My Hero Academia. Thank you, Shoto Todoroki. Until the very end, I will perform with passion and composure. Horikoshi-sensei, thank you very, very much. Thank you for the greatest heroes. Their story will continue within us."

It was also announced that the final volume 42 of the comic series will be released in December, a commemorative fan book in January next year, the first art book of the series in April, and a large-scale original art exhibition in the summer of next year.

Reflecting on the end of the 10-year serialization, Horikoshi revealed in an interview with "news zero" on Nippon TV, "I'm surprisingly sad. I feel like I can finally reach the goal."

Regarding the manga's massive popularity, surpassing a cumulative total of 100 million copies, he said, "I don't really understand it (laughs). I didn't feel like 'Yay!' or anything. It was really just 'Why?' It might have just continued for a long time."

He also remarked on the series' global popularity, "I didn't consciously aim for it, and I didn't expect it at all. It feels like what I drew just happened to be accepted by people overseas with different cultures. It's quite mysterious."

Horikoshi shared the reason behind writing "My Hero Academia": "After two cancellations, I thought 'I'm done with manga.' But my editor at that time told me, 'Don't give up' and 'Keep trying,' so I decided to give it one last shot, incorporating a lot of my favorite things and focusing on what I found easiest to draw."

Serialized from July 7, 2014, "My Hero Academia" is set in a world where people with supernatural abilities called "Quirks" are commonplace. The story follows Izuku Midoriya (Deku), who aims to become a hero who protects society and fights villains who misuse their Quirks, growing alongside his friends at the prestigious U.A. High School for hero training. The manga has released 41 volumes to date, with a global circulation exceeding 100 million copies. The TV anime adaptation began airing in 2016 and is currently in its seventh season. The series has also been adapted into games, staged for the first time in 2019, and has seen the release of four theatrical anime films.

Profile of Author Kohei Horikoshi

Born in 1986 in Aichi Prefecture. In 2006, he won an honorable mention in the 72nd Tezuka Award for "Nukegara." In 2007, his one-shot "Tenko" was published in "Akamaru Jump," marking his debut. The following year, "Boku no Hero" was published in the same magazine. He made his serialization debut in "Weekly Shonen Jump" in 2010 with "Oumagadoki Zoo." After serializing "Sensei no Bulge" in 2012, he began serializing "My Hero Academia" in issue 32 of 2014.

Source : ORICON NEWS