MHA's Original Plan for Deku Would've Made Him Luffy's Rival

As far as Shonen Jump protagonists go, One Piece 's Luffy is as iconic as they come. In recent years, Luffy has effectively become the face of the publication, especially since Naruto and Bleach concluded and Dragon Ball Super's moved to V-Jump.

Naturally, One Piece has inspired many modern-day mangaka, and My Hero Academia is no exception. In fact, One Piece's influence on the beloved superhero series may run deeper than fans think, with Luffy even being the initial blueprint for My Hero Academia's protagonist.

My Hero Academia's Creator Reveals His Original Vision For Deku

One Piece's Luffy cheering alongside My Hero Academia's Deku who is putting his gloves on.

In an interview published in the Autumn 2025 issue of Jump Giga , Kohei Horikoshi was recently