Despite the passage of time, numerous Weekly Shonen Jump manga have achieved worldwide popularity such as My Hero Academia, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen. This success has solidified the magazine’s position as a leading force in the industry.
Despite the fierce competition for readers’ attention within Weekly Shonen Jump, not every manga is able to have a long run. Unfortunately, even promising series can be cancelled before reaching their full potential.
With this in consideration, we will examine 5 Weekly Shonen Jump manga that Shueisha made the correct decision in ending early, and 5 that could have benefited from more time to evolve.
5 manga series from Weekly Shonen Jump that Shueisha was right to end early
Tokyo Wonder Boys
Despite enjoying a short stint in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2014, Tokyo Wonder Boys, a football-themed manga, was eventually canceled.
Despite its charming depiction of the sport and its characters, the manga lacked originality and did not distinguish itself in the already oversaturated sports genre.
Stealth Symphony
Stealth Symphony, written by Ryohgo Narita, the author of Durarara!!, tells the story of Jig, a cursed young boy, as he embarks on adventures in a world inhabited by mercenaries and fantastical beings.
Despite its initial promise and inclusive cast, the story quickly became overly complex and difficult to comprehend. The convoluted plotlines and abundance of characters ultimately led to its downfall, as readers struggled to stay invested in the narrative, ultimately resulting in its early cancellation.
Red Sprite
The show aired for a short span of 3 months before being cancelled.
Despite the manga having a relatively original concept and an imaginative setting, the execution was lacking. The narrative was plagued with problems such as slow pacing and insufficient world-building, ultimately making it challenging for readers to become fully invested in the plot.
4) Hi-Fi Cluster
In Ippei Goto’s Hi-Fi Cluster manga, a futuristic Tokyo is the setting where individuals with downloadable abilities, both heroes and villains, engage in battles. This unique sci-fi concept is introduced as people acquire special powers through the use of barcodes.
Despite initially showing a lot of potential, the series ultimately suffered from underdeveloped characters and an inconsistent plot. The premise alone was not strong enough to make up for the lack of depth in the storytelling.
Robot x Laserbeam
The Robot x Laserbeam series, brought to life by the mangaka behind the beloved Kuroko’s Basketball series, Tadatoshi Fujimaki, was highly anticipated from the start. However, it fell short of matching Fujimaki’s masterpiece and failed to generate the same level of excitement as its predecessor series.
Despite having a strong foundation, Robot x Laserbeam was unable to attract a large audience and sustain the interest of young readers in the sport of golf.
5 Underrated Weekly Shonen Jump Manga Titles
Time Paradox Ghostwriter
Teppei Sasaki, a struggling writer, is the main character of Kenji Ichima’s Time Paradox Ghostwriter, which consists of 14 chapters. Through mysterious means, Teppei gains access to future issues of the Shonen Jump magazine. He uses this knowledge to create a bestselling manga series, leading to ethical dilemmas and shedding light on the intense pressure faced by manga artists in the industry.
Despite its original and thought-provoking concept, the series was cancelled prematurely, leaving readers with a sense of dissatisfaction as it was not given the chance to fully develop.
Phantom Seer
Despite its short run of only 30 chapters, Togo Goto’s Phantom Seer was able to capture the hearts of many fans with its captivating characters, intriguing supernatural concepts, and breathtaking artwork. It was one of the many manga series that had the potential to become something truly extraordinary.
Despite its growing fanbase and well-written narrative, Phantom Seer was unexpectedly axed by Shueisha. It is unfortunate that the series did not have more time to develop into a standout series, as there is no doubt that it had the potential to do so.
Bozebeats
Despite its potential, Shueisha’s decision to end the series early cut Ryoji Hirano’s Bozebeats short. The story follows Tamaki, a young boy who teams up with a group of exorcists to battle demons, successfully blending elements of traditional Japanese folklore with thrilling action.
Despite having all the necessary components for a successful series, Bozebeats was ultimately cancelled by Shueisha. Its world and characters were not fully developed, resulting in its premature ending after only 13 chapters.
Mamayuyu: A Unique Name or Title
Mamayuyu by Yoshihiko Hayashi offers a unique spin on the typical conflict between a hero and a demon lord. In this tale, they are forced to team up in a world where their traditional roles are reversed.
Despite this, just like numerous other series, Mamayuyu’s potential for delving into its story and characters was hindered by Shueisha, as it was abruptly ended after only 29 chapters.
Ayashimon
Despite its unique blend of Japanese folklore and modern crime, Yuji Kaku’s Ayashimon was ultimately canceled by Shueisha despite gaining a considerable following during its 25-chapter run.
Despite being set in a world filled with supernatural yakuza, the story of Maruo Kaido and Urara’s adventures had the potential to become a major hit in the manga industry. Sadly, its cancellation left many fans disappointed and wishing that it had been given the chance to fully realize its ambitious narrative.
Final Thoughts
Despite the presence of successful manga series like Naruto and One Piece, it is important to note that not all manga series achieve the same level of worldwide success. In fact, many series are prematurely ended, leaving fans with a sense of disappointment and curiosity about what could have been.
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