Marvel and Weekly Shonen Jump Exchange Art to Celebrate the Final Volume of 'My Hero Academia'

For decades, comics, graphic novels, and manga have captivated audiences around the globe with the stories they tell and the worlds they build. What is it about this illustrated medium of storytelling that speaks to so many people? Some might say that every page, panel, and text balloon attempts to answer a fundamental question that has intrigued storytellers for eons: what makes a hero?

Acclaimed writer and illustrator Kohei Horikoshi put this question to pen and paper in his blockbuster manga series, My Hero Academia. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a teenage boy born without superpowers (known as Quirks) in a world full of them. Unwavering, Izuku did not let his Quirkless status dissuade him from becoming a hero, enrolling in one of the nation’s most prestigious Hero Academies.

Over the years, Kohei Horikoshi has not shied away from his love of Marvel and the admiration he holds for its heroes. When asked about his journey as a Marvel fan, Horikoshi recalled his childhood: "It was Spider-Man who I first met as a child. And it still is Spider-Man for me today."

"I've always wondered what it means to be a hero, especially when I was writing My Hero Academia. At some point, I finally came to the conclusion that what that means is being a strong part of a community, helping a friendly neighborhood, which is why I respect Spider-Man so much," revealed the beloved storyteller.

Today, the highly anticipated final volume of My Hero Academia hits bookshelves around the world. To mark the occasion, Marvel and My Hero Academia publisher Weekly Shonen Jump hope to bring fans together with an art exchange featuring beloved characters from both franchises, celebrating the impact of comic books worldwide.

My Hero Academia series creator Kohei Horikoshi illustrated the first piece, starring none other than your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Spidey is in good company too, with Izuku Midoriya and the legendary All Might from My Hero Academia by his side. 

Superstar Marvel artists Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado assembled for the second piece, featuring Black Cat and an assortment of heroines from the hit manga series, including Mt.Lady, Star and Stripe, Ochaco Uraraka, Tsuyu Asui, Momo Yaoyorozu, Setsuna Tokage, and Mirko.

With My Hero Academia coming to an end, fans might be wondering what’s next for Kohei Horikoshi. The celebrated creator peeled the curtain back just a bit, giving readers an exclusive first look at what the future holds.

"I feel really lucky over the success of MHA, so I know there's a lot of pressure around my next move," revealed Horikoshi. "I'm planning to start a new manga as soon as I possibly can.

"I was thinking to committing myself to simply drawing my next project, and letting someone else write the story, but my editor advised me 'It will be better if you do it all yourself.' With that in mind, I've slowly started writing and drawing the thumbnails of my next manga. However, there are still several events left surrounding MHA, so for a while I'll still be committed to supporting and promoting it."

You can check out the pieces from the Marvel-Weekly Shonen Jump art exchange now and be sure to stay tuned for future Marvel collaborations and celebrations!