After wrapping up a decade of epic battles and unforgettable heroes, one of the industry’s most influential creators is ready to explore his darkest side. Renowned mangaka Kohei Horikoshi, creator of the massive franchise My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), will make his anticipated return to the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump on August 10 with a new 61-page one-shot titled Warawanaide yo Shijima-san (Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san).

This new installment moves away from the colorful world of quirks to delve into a chilling boy-meets-girl horror story. The project will feature a central color page and has already revealed its first promotional image, showcasing the unsettling designs of the protagonist and heroine. For the author’s fan community, this turn toward the macabre isn’t entirely surprising, as Horikoshi had already admitted in 2022 his strong desire to try his hand at a purely horror original work once Deku’s story concluded.

The return of a Shonen Jump titan

This release marks Horikoshi’s first published work since concluding the serialization of his masterpiece in August 2024. The combined issue 37 and 38 of the magazine will not only celebrate the return of the author from Aichi but will also include a six-page special for the 50th anniversary of the legendary original manga KochiKame. With a distinguished career in the manga industry—from his beginnings with Oumagadoki Zoo and Barrage to becoming a global phenomenon—the artist proves his ability to reinvent himself remains intact.

Given that Horikoshi’s visual style has always been characterized by impeccable shading and highly detailed grotesque designs when depicting his villains, do you think this new horror one-shot could become his next major series, or would you prefer he continue experimenting with short, independent stories?