Following the emotional conclusion of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), creator Kohei Horikoshi has returned to the pages of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump with a captivating short project titled Quit Laughing, Shijima. While conceived as a standalone story, the piece demonstrates that Horikoshi's storytelling prowess and signature visual flair remain as sharp as ever, sparking widespread discussion on whether this new project should evolve into a full-fledged weekly series.
Mastery Beyond Heroics
Horikoshi built his international reputation across a decade of serialized heroism, establishing My Hero Academia as one of the defining shonen titles of the modern era. In Quit Laughing, Shijima, the author shifts gears, channeling his expressive character rendering and nuanced character dynamics into a fresh setting. The narrative balances expressive comedy with underlying thematic gravity, showing off Horikoshi's skill in establishing rich character motivations within just a few dozen pages.
For readers who tracked Horikoshi's career prior to his global blockbuster—including works like Oumagadou Zoo and Sensei no Bulge—this latest story highlights his ability to craft intriguing worlds on a smaller, more intimate scale. Should Shueisha decide to grant the project a full serialization, Quit Laughing, Shijima has the narrative depth and stylistic polish required to anchor Weekly Shonen Jump's next generation of flagship manga.
