Hiroya Oku Reveals He Was Pen Name Yuki Ikeda for Thunder 3
Creator Hiroya Oku confirmed he authored the sci-fi manga Thunder 3 under the pen name Yuki Ikeda, a secret kept for four years to preserve a major twist
Hiroya Oku confirmed on social media on Thursday, September 24, that he created the Thunder 3 manga under the pen name Yuki Ikeda. He kept this secret for over four years to protect a narrative surprise for first-time readers.
Oku stated that the twist in Chapter 1 would have had less impact if the series had been published under his well-known name. Readers might have guessed the story's direction beforehand. "The twist in Chapter 1 would have had less impact if the series had been published under my name," Oku wrote. He wanted readers to be caught off guard. On his X account, he confirmed the long-running fan theory, writing, "Yes. Just as everyone already knows, Yuki Ikeda is another pen name of mine."
Series Background
Thunder 3 is a sci-fi manga that began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Magazine in May 2022. The series entered its climax in January 2025. It faced a health-related hiatus for its creator, Yuki Ikeda, in March 2025 before returning in February of that same year.
The manga concluded on June 5, 2025. More than four years passed between its start and finish. The completed story was collected into 10 compiled volumes.
Anime Adaptation and Release
The Thunder 3 television anime adaptation premiered on July 8, 2025. It aired on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block at 24:45 JST, effectively July 9 at 12:45 a.m. The anime streams exclusively worldwide on Netflix.
The series is now approaching its finale. Episode 12 is scheduled to air on September 30. The anime's official X account framed the pen name reveal as a shocking confession on the eve of the finale. It reintroduced the series as a 'sort-of' new work by Yuki Ikeda-also known as Hiroya Oku!?
Creator Context
Hiroya Oku is a cartoonist best known for major works like Gantz, Inuyashiki, and GIGANT. Despite his ongoing activity, Oku has announced plans to retire. In an August 2025 interview, he stated he intends to retire after finishing his latest manga, Kanrekihime (The Sweet Sixty Princess).
He launched that series in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior magazine in December 2025. Its first compiled book volume was published on May 29, 2026. The Thunder 3 anime finale airs on September 30, following the pen name revelation that coincided with the series’ narrative endgame.
