A Tribute Amidst the End: Oda Celebrates Horikoshi's My Hero Academia Conclusion with Artistic Nostalgia

As My Hero Academia reaches its conclusion, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, offers a heartfelt acknowledgment to Kōhei Horikoshi, the series' creator, with an exquisite reinterpretation of his adolescent fan art. After a decade and over 400 chapters, Horikoshi's phenomenal My Hero Academia has finally concluded. The most recent chapter, number 430, was released in the latest edition of Weekly Shōnen Jump and on the VIZ site, providing an enticing glimpse into the futures of Deku and his peers. To celebrate this milestone, Eiichiro Oda, a friend of Horikoshi, paid homage to the series with an illustration that emphasizes their artistic connection.

The cover of One Piece Chapter 1,122 features the antagonist Smoker, appearing robust with two cigars, as "Hero Academia" can be seen in the background. The cover includes a note stating, "Cover request: Redraw the artwork of Smoker a boy from Aichi Prefecture submitted 22 years ago." The young artist referenced here was none other than the teenage Horikoshi, who had sent fan art featuring Smoker to Oda long before embarking on his own career as a professional artist.

Along with Oda's illustration came a message (when translated) conveying, "Now you can enjoy Pokémon Go as much as you like! Congratulations on 10 years, Horikoshi Sensei!" This gesture is not an isolated instance; Oda has previously utilized One Piece covers to honor fellow creators. For instance, he celebrated Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto with One Piece #766, showcasing Luffy relishing noodles alongside a character implied to represent Naruto. In a charming complementary move, Kishimoto added a Straw Hat Pirates symbol to the cover of Naruto #700, paying tribute to Oda and One Piece.

The concluding chapter of My Hero Academia is available now and can be accessed through the Shonen Jump website. Interested in diving into manga? Here are 10 remarkable ongoing series you shouldn’t miss out on at this moment.