Jump ShonenThe new manga line hopes to replace giants like One Piece and Kagurabachi-led Jujutsu Kaisen, and this dark revenge story has surpassed My Hero Academia in the hottest manga rankings on Manga Plus.
Three new manga were introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from the NEXTWAVE project. From the sports and drama focused Two on Ice to the fantasy series Mama YuYu, the future of manga looks bright. However, a new series, Kagurabachi, has gone viral on social networks. With the explosion in demand for anime and manga over the past few decades, more and more manga are being published to satisfy the thirst of fans. Although many movies were eventually canceled, some still slipped through the cracks to take the world by storm, most notably My Hero Academia. And now, Kagurabachi has usurped My Hero in the most popular manga rankings on Manga Plus.
Kagurabachi skyrocketed through the Manga Plus rankings
Kagurabachi has entered the top 5 manga on Manga Plus, Shueisha’s official manga reading app, after just two chapters. On the way to asserting that position, it surpassed many famous manga series such as Kaiju No. 8, Oshi No Ko, Dragon Ball Super and finally My Hero Academia. The My Hero Academia manga is in its final and possibly best run, so for Kagurabachi to surpass one of Shonen Jump’s most successful series is a great sign that the NEXTWAVE campaign has truly been a huge success. Even Japanese people are shocked and surprised by the popularity of manga around the world.
In just one chapter, Kagurabachi dominated social media, receiving many memes about it and even fake announcements about the anime. This ultimately contributed to the frenzy that brought the manga to such heights but the manga itself was responsible for its emergence. The series’ dark and cold-looking main character attracted attention, but the story and whimsical setting were what sold it. Kagurabachi is a gritty revenge story set in early 20th century Japan with a touch of the future. The main character is the son of a murdered swordsmith on the path to revenge and retrieve his father’s precious magical katanas.
The first two chapters grabbed the manga’s attention and the following chapters should be kept if they want to dethrone the likes of One Piece and Chainsaw Man. Takeru Hozano’s Kagurabachi has a lot to offer, and the manga has now garnered attention and with more chapters expected to increase, so do expectations. While Manga Plus’ rankings aren’t the best way to measure a manga’s popularity, Kagurabachi surpassing My Hero Academia is a promising sign of what’s to come.
Jump Shonen‘S Kagurabachi available to read on Manga Plus.
