MHA Author Kohei Horikoshi Returns With New Horror Manga
My Hero Academia Creator Returns With Horror One-Shot
My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi will publish a new horror one-shot in Weekly Shonen Jump.
BYKamalikaa
01 AUG 2026, 08:05 AM
Highlights
- Kohei Horikoshi, creator of My Hero Academia, returns with new horror one-shot Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san.
- Described as a “boy meets girl horror,” the manga marks Horikoshi’s first major original work since concluding MHA.
- The standalone release has sparked interest due to My Hero Academia’s own origins as a one-shot.
My Hero Academia (MHA) creator Kohei Horikoshi is returning to manga with a new standalone one-shot horror manga. The one-shot, titled Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san (Warawanaide yo Shijima-san), will debut in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 37/38, releasing in Japan on Aug 10, 2026.
According to Shueisha, the 61-page story will be published entirely in color and is described as a ‘boy meets girl horror.’ Don’t Laugh, Shijima-sanis his first major original work since concluding MHA, one of Shueisha’s biggest modern franchises.
A promotional illustration of the two lead characters accompanied the announcement, though Shueishahas released few other plot details. The project fulfills an ambition Horikoshi said during his previous series’ final arc, when he wrote that he had “a small desire to draw a horror manga.”
Horikoshi Tests a New Direction After My Hero Academia
Horikoshi has framed Warawanaide yo Shijima-san as a standalone one-shot, but history suggests otherwise. Even so, the project is drawing significant attention because it represents Horikoshi’s first opportunity to establish a new original property following My Hero Academia’s end.
MHAitself began as a pilot one-shot in 2008, before launching as a full serialization in 2014. That precedent can fuel speculation about whether the new horror story could expand into a series if reader response is strong.
The stakes are notable for Shueisha. My Hero Academiamangasurpassed 100M copies in worldwide circulation in April 2024, splitting roughly 60M copies in Japan and 40M abroad. Horikoshi also served alongside Tite Kubo, Yūki Tabata, and Gege Akutami as a judge for Shueisha’s talent contest seeking new manga IP, underscoring how closely the mangaka is associated with the publisher’s flagship titles.
Kamalikaa
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master’s in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
Kamalikaa
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master’s in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
Published At: 01 AUG 2026, 08:05 AM
Tags:Anime
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