‘It Is Genius Level’: MHA Creator Opens Up on Shonen Jump ‘New Power Generation’ Hit

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Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of the popular manga My Hero Academia, has gained fans all over the world. But he believes Takeru Hokazono’s manga – a newer series featured in Shonen Jump’s “New Power Generation” lineup – is a true masterpiece.

I was so excited when Shonen Jump launched this cool social media thing called #JumpOshiKatsu last year! It was how I first heard about Kagurabachi, and honestly, it’s become one of my favorite new series. Along with titles like Sakamoto Days, Witch Watch, and Kill Blue, Kagurabachi is really making waves – it’s already sold over three million copies worldwide since it debuted in 2023! It’s a huge hit, and I can totally see why.

MHA’s Kohei Horikoshi Praises Dark Fantasy Hit Kagurabachi as ‘Genius Level’ Manga

In a recent interview, manga creators Horikoshi and Hokazono talked about how their different projects have shaped the way they draw and tell stories. Horikoshi specifically highlighted Kagurabachi, praising its cinematic feel as something special and uncommon in manga.

The story of Kagurabachi centers on seven powerful, magically-infused swords forged by a blacksmith named Kunishige Rokuhira. When Kunishige is murdered by the Hishaku – a group of evil sorcerers who want to exploit the swords’ power – his son, Chihiro, embarks on a vengeful journey. He follows a trail of clues left by a yakuza group connected to the Hishaku, determined to avenge his father’s death.

Horikoshi, the creator of Kagurabachi, praised Hokazono’s skill in showing character connections and moving the story forward without relying on characters talking or making obvious expressions. He specifically highlighted Hokazono’s impressive camera angles and use of shadows. Horikoshi recalled being particularly struck by a scene where the character Samura appears, reacting to a blade being drawn. The scene focuses on Chihiro’s hand in the foreground and Samura in the background, but deliberately keeps Chihiro’s face hidden.

Horikoshi praised Kagurabachi, saying its incredible lighting and how scenes are put together are better than most action manga. He called it “genius level,” comparing the artwork to religious paintings that tell stories through images alone. He was particularly impressed by the ability to convey a narrative simply through the composition of each scene.

Hokazono, known for the visually impressive arrangements in his work on Kagurabachi, shared that his background in film naturally impacts his artistic style. He previously mentioned Quentin Tarantino, director of Pulp Fiction, and David Fincher, who directed Fight Club, as key influences from the world of cinema.

Horikoshi offered some constructive criticism alongside his praise for Kagurabachi. He pointed out that the author, Hokazono, often resolves cliffhangers immediately at the beginning of each new chapter, which can interrupt the story’s flow. Horikoshi noted this is both a strength and a weakness of the series, explaining that while the neatly structured chapters make it easy to read, it might be beneficial to occasionally forgo this structure and continue the story’s momentum directly into the next chapter.

The manga Kagurabachi continues to gain popularity. As of December 7, 2025, it’s currently ranked as the eighth most popular series on Shueisha’s Manga Plus platform. So far, 104 chapters have been released, and they’ve been compiled into nine published volumes under Shueisha’s Jump Comics imprint.

A report from Toyokeizai in December 2024 indicates that Studios Shochiku and CyberAgent are working together on a new project. Currently, there’s no official date for when it will be released.

My Hero Academia and Kagurabachi are both available in English from VIZ Media.

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2025-12-13 22:11