Gantz Creator Hiroya Oku Reveals He Wrote Thunder 3 Under Pen Name

The Pen Name Reveal and Reader Speculation

Oku stated on X that “Yuki Ikeda is my alternate pen name,” adding that he used the alias so the first chapter’s twist wouldn’t be weakened by his established reputation. The confirmation ends years of reader speculation regarding the manga’s author. Due to the distinctive artwork, visual style, and character designs, fans frequently compared Thunder 3 to Gantz, leading many to suspect Oku’s involvement or to assume the series was drawn by a former assistant or dedicated fan. Kodansha launched the series in Monthly Shonen Magazine in May 2022. It entered its climax in January 2025, went on hiatus in March due to Ikeda’s health, returned in February, and officially ended on June 5. Kodansha published the 10th compiled book volume on August 17, while Kodansha USA publishes the series in English and shipped the eighth volume on February 10.

Story Premise and Anime Adaptation

Thunder 3 follows three ordinary schoolboys—Pyontaro, Tsubame, and Hiroshi—who come into possession of a DVD that supposedly opens a gateway to a parallel universe. When their backs are turned, Pyontaro’s little sister Futaba passes through and is kidnapped by aliens that have overrun that version of Earth. Discovering that their cartoonish bodies make them supermen in the hyper-realistic parallel universe, the boys set out to rescue her. An anime adaptation premiered on Fuji TV’s +Ultra programming block on July 8 at 24:45 JST, streaming exclusively worldwide on Netflix starting the same day. Oku noted that he watches every episode with excitement and gratitude toward the production staff.

Career Context and Prior Works

This is not Oku’s first time using an alternate moniker; he previously wrote under the pen name Kuon Yahiro for his debut manga, Hen. Oku’s Gantz ran from 2000 to 2013 and spawned a television anime, a CG anime film, two Japanese live-action films, and spinoffs including GANTZ:E with artist Jin Kagetsu. Jump TOON launched a vertical-scrolling full-color edition titled GANTZ: T in July 2025, and Deadline reported on a Hollywood live-action adaptation in November 2021. As Thunder 3 concludes, Oku stated in an August interview with Courrier Japon that he plans to retire after finishing his latest manga, Kanrekihime (The Sweet Sixty Princess), which launched in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior magazine in December 2025.