Chapter #430 marked the conclusion of Kōhei Horikoshi’s decade-long journey with My Hero Academia, a manga series that has captured the hearts of millions. With over 100 million copies in circulation, My Hero Academia has solidified its place as one of the most beloved manga series of all time. Beyond the manga itself, the series has expanded into spinoffs, anime films, and video games, leaving a lasting impact on fans worldwide.
In a recent interview with ComicBook, Kōhei Horikoshi reflected on how creating My Hero Academia changed his life forever. The series first appeared in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in July 2014, and as of now, it has been compiled into 14 tankōbon volumes.
The interview coincided with the release of the latest film in the franchise, My Hero Academia: You’re Next. Horikoshi expressed his excitement about seeing characters outside of Class A getting more screen time in the film. When discussing the inspiration behind his manga, Horikoshi revealed that a specific scene from Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man 2 played a pivotal role in shaping the series.
“There’s a scene in Spider-Man 2 where Spider-Man stops a runaway train, and the ordinary passengers see his true face. A child then hands Spider-Man his mask and says, ‘I won’t tell anyone.’ That moment really encapsulates what it means to be a hero,” Horikoshi explained.
This scene deeply influenced Horikoshi’s portrayal of heroism in My Hero Academia, particularly in how Deku (Izuku Midoriya), the series’ main character, embodies the essence of a hero. Despite starting out without a quirk, Deku becomes one of the strongest heroes, driven by his desire to help others. Horikoshi emphasized that he wanted the theme of heroism to resonate with readers naturally, without forcing the storyline.
In the final chapter of My Hero Academia, the series comes full circle, with All Might once again stepping in to save Deku. This moment mirrors the scene in Spider-Man 2, where bystanders support their hero, reinforcing the idea of ordinary people aiding those who protect them. As speculation grows about whether Deku will return as a hero, fans eagerly await what’s next for their favorite characters. Stay tuned for the latest updates on My Hero Academia!
