Two of Shōnen Jump's most influential series are going to be ending in 2024. With such big shoes to fill, which series will be able to take the mantle?
First it was Naruto and Bleach, then it was Black Clover and My Hero Academia , followed by Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man. Shōnen Jump has always had two extremely popular series running alongside One Piece for the big three manga titles. But in 2024 two of the current favorites are going to be ending, so who is going to be top dog now?
My Hero Academia just recently concluded the final fight with an insane climax. Now Kohei Horikoshi, manga artist of MHA is going to be winding the story down. It's also been revealed that Jujutsu Kaisen creator, Gege Akutami, is also looking to finish the extremely popular battle manga within the year. So who will be following up these massive series?
Experts Believe Kagurabachi Will Be The Next Big Shōnen Hit
It seems that Shueisha, the overlords of anything anime and manga related, have high hopes for Takeru Hokasono's Kagurabachi. The series first began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in September 2023 and had its first volume released in February 2024, immediately selling out, showing just how popular the manga has become in such a short time.
Chihiro Rokuhira, whose father was a famous blacksmith known for crafting six enchanted swords, embarks on a vengeful quest against a gang of sorcerers. Armed with a seventh enchanted sword, the last creation of his father before his tragic assassination, Chihiro seeks to exact revenge and honor his father's legacy.
The manga was recently also featured on the popular Japanese television program Manganuma, where the hosts revealed that Shueisha believes Kugarabachi to be the series to carry the newer generation of Shōnen Jump. Those are some high expectations for this revenge story.
Not only has it garnered attention from experts, Kagurabachi has also already grown a large fan base, becoming Animate Bookstores' 2024 list of top recommended titles.
#Kagurabachi | #"(...) they (Shueisha) said they wanted Kagurabachi to carry the next generation of Jump." Kagurabachi was featured in the "Manganuma" TV program presented by Kawashima & Yamauchi's in Japan.Kagurabachi is one of Animate Bookstore's 2024... pic.twitter.com/HLfJmJcDJe
— Kagurabachi Brasil | #Kagurabachi | # (@brkagurabachi) June 4, 2024
What seems to truly set Kagurabachi apart from other Shōnen and giving fans something new and unique to read is the fact that unlike with most other Shōnen Jump protagonists, Chihiro spends the majority of the time seeking revenge against those who killed his father.
Other manga artists like My Hero Academia's Kohei Horikoshi have also praised the manga. Horikoshi even wrote on social media that "the way the composition is done is like watching a movie, leaving me amazed every week. [Takeru Hokazono] is a person who truly understands what the definition of cool is."