Shonen Jump’s newest cover has disappointed many fans by not giving My Hero Academia the focus it deserves in the issue that contains its final chapter. Despite being one of Shonen Jump’s most popular manga series in the last decade, the cover of the upcoming issue fails to highlight its grand finale, leaving fans unhappy.
A post on X by MangaMoguraRE shows the cover page for Shonen Jump’s upcoming issue #36, which features Luffy from One Piece prominently, while Deku from My Hero Academia is pushed to the side. While this might be intended as a lighthearted joke by Shueisha, fans of My Hero Academia did not find it amusing.
Since the upcoming issue includes the final chapter of My Hero Academia, many fans hoped that Deku would finally be front and center on the cover instead of Luffy, who has dominated Shonen Jump’s covers and promotional material for years.
My Hero Academia’s Limited Feature Sparks Debate as One Piece Dominates Shueisha’s Spotlight
My Hero Academia did receive a dedicated cover in last week’s issue, so it was not entirely expected to feature again. However, fans felt it would have been appropriate for Deku to be more prominently displayed now that the series has concluded.
The “shove” might be an unintended result of the collage of character shots, but it is clear that One Piece has always been Shueisha’s favorite. My Hero Academia deserves recognition for its significant impact over the years, becoming one of the most influential manga of the past decade.
Eiichiro Oda Pays Tribute to My Hero Academia with Special Fan Art in Upcoming One Piece Chapter
Despite the controversial cover, there is no bad blood between One Piece’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, and Kohei Horikoshi. In fact, Oda has paid a touching tribute to My Hero Academia in the upcoming chapter of One Piece. The chapter will feature a redrawn version of a 22-year-old piece of fan art of Captain Smoker by Horikoshi as the cover art.
Oda, along with other prominent Jump creators, also provided a comment on My Hero Academia’s ending:
“So you can play ‘Pokemon Go’ all you want now, huh? Horikoshi, thank you for 10 years of hard work and serialization!”
Though cheeky, this comment reflects the long-standing friendship between the two manga artists. Horikoshi previously revealed that he started playing Pokemon Go again after Oda sent him a friend request on the game. This encouraged him to go on walks more often, helping with his weak knees.
One Piece has greatly influenced Horikoshi and his art style, making the latest Shonen Jump cover a disappointment for some. Still, My Hero Academia has an exciting finale ahead, and fans look forward to seeing Kohei Horikoshi’s new work on the cover of Jump again soon.
