My Hero Academia has reached its finale, and fans have begun mourning the end of the classic series in earnest. While the news of this decade-long franchise is heartbreaking, the question lingers in the air: Will My Hero Academia receive a sequel or a potential spin-off? The answer to both the questions as of this moment is tragically in the negative.
Did Horikoshi Hint at My Hero Academia Spin-off?
In an interview with Viz Media, Kohei Horikoshi was asked if there were any characters or stories that he wanted to explore to which he replied that it’s not an issue of getting a chance, but he does have some characters and their backstories ready at hand, which he didn’t include in the plot.
I have detailed stories for the previous inheritors of One For All. I intentionally left these out.
One For All has had a total of eight inheritors before Deku. It originated inside Shigaraki Yoichi and was later passed onto Kudo, Bruce, Hikage, Daigoro, En, Nana, and Toshinori. We are familiar with All Might, so Horikoshi must have referred to the seven users before him. Not much is explored about them in the story besides their powers, so a spin-off of each user would have been delightful.
However, Horikoshi immediately pressed down on the breaks, admitting that while he has the stories ready, he might never act on them as he is more comfortable hinting at their backstories rather than drawing them completely. He refers to Terminator 2 to explain his reasoning.
For instance, in Terminator 2, John Connor becomes a leader in the future, and Schwarzenegger’s character is sent from that future world. But there aren’t many depictions of the future itself. Because the future isn’t depicted in detail, the viewers’ imaginations expand, and I thought that was really great.
So Horikoshi wants to give the readers’ minds freedom without having to spell things out for them. So, we basically have free reign to head-canon and get creative with the lore.
Will Horikoshi Ever Create a My Hero Academia Spin-Off Sequel?
According to his interview, Horikoshi seems strongly against creating a spin-off series for My Hero Academia. He wants us to let our imaginations run wild rather than restricting them to specific background stories. (Little does he know; he cannot stop the alternate-reality tag.)
However, My Hero Academia had recently teased a huge announcement that fans eagerly awaited. Many fans hoped it was about a potential spin-off or sequel. However, the highly anticipated announcement turned out to be completely unexpected.
Anticipated Announcement Crushes All Hopes For A Sequel
My Hero Academia’s big announcement was revealed to be an ad in the New York Times, one of the most influential periodicals in the West. The ad, a rare occurrence for a manga series, was published on August 5, 2024. It included a message from My Hero Academia’s creator, Kohei Horikoshi, thanking the series’ vast international fanbase for their continued support and a worldwide character popularity poll.
Given how much the announcement was teased, many fans hoped the announcement would be about the series getting a sequel, a spin-off, or even a completely new work by Horikoshi. However, the recognition in the New York Times is a testament to My Hero Academia’s impact on the entertainment industry and its dedicated fanbase.
So, Should We Give Up Hope?
While Horikoshi has no immediate plans for a spin-off or a sequel, it’s important to remember that time can change anyone and anything, and nothing is fixed. Kohei Horikoshi might change his mind later and actually draw a sequel, or he might provide fans with more spin-offs about the different characters.
The future is uncertain, but for now, My Hero Academia has truly ended after its decade-long run. Sit with that for a while.
About My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 2014, with its chapters additionally collected in 37 tankōbon volumes as of February 2023.
It follows a quirkless boy Izuku Midoriya and how he backed the greatest Hero alive. Midoriya, a boy who has been admiring heroes and their ventures since the day he was born, came into this world without a quirk, where almost everybody is born with one.
On one fateful day, he meets All Might the greatest Hero of all time and discovers that he was quirkless as well. With his diligent attitude and unwavering spirit about being a hero, Midoriya manages to impress All Might. He is chosen to be the heir to the power of One for All.
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