Kohei Horikoshi, the acclaimed creator of My Hero Academia, is set to release a new manga one-shot titled "Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san" (Warawanaide yo Shijima-san). The upcoming work is described as a “boy-meets-girl horror story” and will be published in the 37/38 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump on August 10.
The 61-page manga will be presented in full color. It is anticipated that the one-shot will also be available on the Shonen Jump app concurrently with its magazine release, a common practice for the publication.
This foray into horror may come as a surprise to some, given Horikoshi's most well-known work, My Hero Academia, is a vibrant superhero series. However, the author himself has expressed a past interest in the genre. In the April 10, 2022, issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, Horikoshi noted a "small desire to draw a horror manga."
Furthermore, elements of body horror and psychological distress are present within My Hero Academia itself. Characters like Tomura Shigaraki undergo disturbing physical transformations, and villains such as Himiko Toga and the Nomus incorporate unsettling imagery that strays from typical superhero fare. Even the seemingly spectral Kurogiri contributes to the series' darker undertones.
My Hero Academia concluded its 10-year run on August 5, 2024. Since then, Horikoshi has continued to produce illustrations for the anime adaptation, impressing fans with his output even when not on a weekly schedule. The conclusion of the anime series in December further clears the path for his new projects, making "Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san" a highly anticipated release to see if he can maintain his creative momentum.