My Hero AcademiaandOne Piecehave a lot of overlap with each other, but it goes well beyond their being published in the same magazine. Kohei Horikoshi was once just another fan ofOne Piece, and he once sent Eiichiro Oda fanart of his favorite character, Smoker, that Oda published in volume 23’s SBS, with Oda even highlighting that 13 years later in volume 77’s SBS.
My Hero AcademiaandOne Piecewas a rare example of a manga running side-by-side with its inspiration, and that made it all the more special thatMy Hero Academiabecame one of the most popular manga inWeekly Shonen Jumpright alongsideOne Piece.My Hero Academiarecently ended its historic ten-year run, and to honor both that achievement and their connection,Eiichiro Oda included a special tribute toMy Hero Academia’s ending inOne Piece’s latest chapter.
It’s not the first time Oda’s done something like that, and it might be the best example of it, to date.
One Piece’s Creator Recreates My Hero Academia’s Artwork For Its Finale
My Hero Academia’s Most Touching Tribute
As previously discussed, in 2002, when Kohei Horikoshi was just another fan ofOne Piece, he sent Eiichiro Oda fanart of Smoker that was published in volume 23’s SBS, a story the two recounted 13 years later when they met at a party followingMy Hero Academia’s debut. Because of that, whenMy Hero Academiareached its conclusion in early August 2024,Eiichiro Oda honoredMy Hero Academia’s finaleby redrawing Kohei Horikoshi’s fanart of Smoker, the artwork even featuring the words “23 UG” in reference to the SBS the original artwork hailed from.
This is hardly the first time Eiichiro Oda has done something like this, of course. Over the years, Oda has often used cover pages to pay tribute to one of his peers ending a long-running story, with notable examples includingNarutoin 2014 andTorikoandKochikamein 2016. Oda’s tribute toMy Hero Academiais far more personal a tribute, of course, and the fact that it exists at all means thatOne Piece’s Eiichiro Oda sawMy Hero Academia’s Kohei Horikoshias a true peer of his, and that makes the manga’s ending all the more heartwarming.
How One Piece & My Hero Academia Complemented Each Other
While Both Creators Held Each Other In High Regard, the Two Series Share Have More In Common Than One Might Think
Eiichiro Oda’s tribute to Kohei Horikoshi is nothing but touching to see, and it highlights how wellOne PieceandMy Hero Academiacomplemented each other over the years.BothOne PieceandMy Hero Academiaare famous for their stellar artwork and inventive action wrapped around an eccentric cast of characters, and while their narratives differed, reading one story often created the same feeling of euphoria someone got from the other. Few manga have captured the strengths ofOne PiecelikeMy Hero Academia, and Oda’s tribute was the perfect way to highlight that one last time.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a multimedia franchise that follows a young boy named Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without superpowers. These superpowers, known as “Quirks” are found in most people after birth, but Izuku wasn’t so lucky - until a fateful encounter with All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, Izuku inherits his Quirk and enrolls in U.A. High School to learn the true meaning of heroism. Alongside his classmates, each endowed with unique abilities, Izuku faces rigorous training and lethal threats from villainous forces.
