As My Hero Academia reached the conclusion of its nearly decade-long run in Weekly Shonen Jump, praise poured in from creators across the manga industry. Among the most heartfelt was Jujutsu Kaisen mangaka Gege Akutami, who revealed the unlikely inspiration behind his own blockbuster series: Kohei Horikoshi’s groundbreaking superhero epic My Hero Academia.
In MHA, Midoriya and his classmates train to become the next generation of pro heroes in a world where people have begun developing superpowers called Quirks. The series became a global phenomenon, praising ordinary acts of heroism. For Akutami, its debut revived his passion at a doubtful time after titans of the genre ended.
"Jujutsu Kaisen" creator Akutami Gege commented on the "My Hero Academia" Finale:
"Without "My Hero Academia" "Jujutsu Kaisen" wouldn't have started either." pic.twitter.com/jZHJqZbzIc
— Manga Mogura RE (Manga & Anime News) (@MangaMoguraRE) August 1, 2024
“Without MHA, JJK never would have started,” Akutami stated. He elaborated in an interview, recalling feeling lost after Bleach and Naruto concluded. But then came Horikoshi’s debut, breathing new life into Shonen Jump with its dynamic heroes and villains. Akutami was motivated to keep pursuing his craft, leading to JJK and its surreal, occult-themed battle shonen world.
The bond between creators extends beyond praise, as Akutami once illustrated a volume of MHA and the pair have collaborated frequently. Younger mangaka now seek to follow in Horikoshi’s footsteps as he pioneered storytelling conventions. As MHA’s epic climax airs, its profound influence endures – most notably through Gege Akutami’s breakthrough hit series and the enduring friendship between two masters of the genre.
