My Hero Academia Creator Kohei Horikoshi Debuts Horror One-Shot 'Quit Laughing, Shijima'

Kohei Horikoshi, the visionary behind the global phenomenon 'My Hero Academia,' has returned to the manga scene with a new original work. The creator has released a horror-romance one-shot titled 'Quit Laughing, Shijima' (also known as 'Warawanai de yo Shijima-san'), marking his first creative venture since concluding his decade-long epic in August 2024.

Debuting in Japan on August 10, 2026, within the combined Issues 37 and 38 of Weekly Shonen Jump, the work is described as a 'boy-meets-girl' horror-romance. The one-shot is a substantial standalone piece, spanning 61 pages and featuring a full-color lead page. For international audiences, the English version is available for free via MANGA Plus and VIZ.

A Departure in Genre

This release represents a significant stylistic shift for Horikoshi. For over ten years, he was synonymous with the high-octane, superhero-driven world of 'My Hero Academia,' a series that expanded into a massive multi-media franchise. By moving from the action-heavy tropes of the shonen superhero genre into the realm of supernatural horror and romance, Horikoshi is exploring a different facet of his storytelling capability. This pivot allows him to experiment with atmosphere and tension, diverging from the battle-centric pacing that defined his previous decade of work.

Industry Implications

The return of Horikoshi is a major event for the global manga community. Because 'My Hero Academia' was one of the most commercially and critically successful series of the last decade, there has been intense speculation regarding what the author would tackle next. This one-shot serves as the first concrete evidence of Horikoshi's creative direction and stylistic evolution in his post-MHA era, signaling whether he intends to remain in the supernatural space or eventually return to long-form serialization. The industry often views such one-shots as litmus tests for broader audience interest in a new concept.

Looking Ahead

While 'Quit Laughing, Shijima' is currently a one-shot, the industry will be watching closely to see if the project evolves into a full series or remains a standalone experiment. For now, the release provides fans with a glimpse into how Horikoshi's art and narrative pacing have adapted after the conclusion of his most famous work. Whether this pivot to horror is a permanent change in direction or a temporary exploration remains to be seen, but it establishes a new baseline for his artistic identity beyond the superhero genre.