After 10 years and 430 chapters, My Hero Academia ended its serialisation earlier this week. Written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi, the series first began in July 2014 and has since spawned a media franchise spanning anime adaptations, video games, spin-off manga, stage plays, and light novels. By April 2024, the manga had over 100 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time.
To commemorate its ending and ten year anniversary, publisher Shueisha is hosting their first ever worldwide character popularity poll for the manga. The “World Best Hero” popularity poll is currently live on the official website, and fans can vote daily from now until September 30th at 11:59PM Japan time.
A total of 278 characters will compete in this two-month poll on the “Main Stage”, with the final results announced in a special program on Shonen Jump’s official YouTube channel, Jump Channel, on December 2nd at 7:00PM Japan time.
The top three characters from the “Main Stage” will then advance to the “Plus Ultra Stage”, where there will be a special 24-hour vote to determine the #1 character from the top three. The winner of this stage will receive a brand new illustration from Kohei Horikoshi, which will serve as the base design for a special bronze statue.
This voting stage will take place from December 2nd, 8:00PM to December 3rd, 7:59PM Japan time. The winner will be announced on December 3rd, 9:30PM on the Shonen Jump YouTube channel.
Fans can also share the results of their vote on X / Twitter to win a personally dedicated digital signature from Kohei Horikoshi. Anyone can join by clicking the share button on Character Popularity Poll Results Page from August 5th to September 30th. Three winners will be selected and announced in mid-October.
Other than that, Shueisha also announced an official fan art contest taking place from August 5th, 6:00PM to September 1st, 11:59PM. Fans can join by posting their illustration on X / Twitter using the hashtag #WBH_FANART or #頑張れって感じのファンアート
Ten winners will be announced on September 15th, and will be featured on the official website. They will also receive digital data with a personalised signature from Kohei Horikoshi.
Besides that, the World Best Hero website contains other activities including a My Best Hero Generator and more polls for Best Hero Name, Best Quirk, Best Chapter, and Best Manga Volume’s Inside Covers. The results of these voting events will be compiled in My Hero Academia’s final fan book, which will be sold exclusively in Japan in January 2025.
Amidst all these announcements, My Hero Academia has also confirmed its first art book in April 2025, a new large-scale art exhibit in Summer 2025, and the release of its 42nd and final volume in December 2024. The anime adaptation’s seventh season is still ongoing, and its fourth anime film, My Hero Academia: You’re Next, premiered in Japan last week.
Comments 1