They really did it — Fans in disbelief as Shonen Jump axes a popular horror manga

The popular horror manga Dear Anemone, which has released 16 chapters and can be read on Manga Plus, will be concluding its run in Shonen Jump magazine. The final chapter will be featured in the 29th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump.

The magazine is highly regarded in the manga industry for its competence, as the fate of a series is often determined within the first couple of episodes. While many authors carefully consider before submitting their first works to this renowned publication, others rush in and are met with the harsh realities of the industry.

Despite much speculation from fans on the internet, the reason behind Jump’s decision to axe Dear Anemone remains unknown. While some fans believe that the author ran out of ideas and the manga was becoming dull, others argue that this was an unfair decision and that the series would have thrived in a different magazine.

The author is solely responsible for any opinions expressed in this article.

The horror manga Dear Anemone has released 16 chapters

Dear Anemone is a horror manga series created by Rin Matsui, who serves as both the writer and illustrator. Matsui previously worked as an assistant to Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of the immensely popular My Hero Academia. This manga is Matsui’s sole series, as they have only released one-shots in their relatively short career.

The series revolves around Gaku, who is joined by 14 men and a woman, as they are tasked with investigating an unusual virus outbreak on the Galapagos Islands. This location is also significant as it is where the renowned geologist Charles Darwin conducted his research and introduced his well-known theory of evolution by natural selection, which remains one of the most prominent theories in biology.

Gaku as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

As they explore the islands, Gaku and his companions encounter unfamiliar and repulsive creatures that have never encountered humans before. Will they survive in this series, or will there be repercussions?

As of now, 16 chapters of the manga series have been released and it is expected to be discontinued after its 17th chapter in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 29, which is scheduled for release on June 17, 2024.

Fan Reactions to Shonen Jump Canceling Another Manga Series

Despite the manga’s praiseworthy art style, the cancellation was met with dissatisfaction from the majority of the fandom. Fans criticized the WSJ magazine for their tendency to cancel series that are well-loved, but remained hopeful that the author will continue to create new projects in the future without the risk of cancellation.

“These authors should really aim for different publishers. i rarely get to see any series bloom when its in wsj,”one fan claimed.

“The manga had its flaws but i didnt expect it to be axed so soon and sub 20 chapters at that. i hope the author gets a chance to be serialized once again. i see so much potential especially in their art,”another fan said.

A monster on the Galapagos Islands (Image via Shueisha)

The primary concern is the cancellation of the Dear Anemone manga by Jump. Although there are varying opinions, a large number of fans denounced the story-writing, alleging that the author became perplexed after chapter 4.

Despite the fandom’s praise for the author’s art style, it was acknowledged that the horror manga may have had better success if it had been serialized in a different magazine.

“Great artwork minus every character looking the same. The premise was decent enough but by chapter 4 it’s like the mangaka ran out of ideas and it was directionless. Made sense why it got axed,”a fan said.

“The writing has been on the wall but it was nice while it lasted,”another one said.

“Feel like this series would’ve worked better in any other magazine besides WSJ,”another one claimed.

Final thoughts on the importance of healthy eating

Anemone as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

The reason Hajime Isayama, the creator of the popular series Attack on Titan, did not publish his story in Shonen Jump was due to the editorial department’s desire to make changes to certain aspects of his manga series and reduce its level of violence.

Makoto Yukimura, the creator of Vinland Saga, made the decision to switch from Shonen Jump to Monthly Magazine for his acclaimed work because he found it challenging to keep up with the weekly deadlines for submissions.

This illustrates the stringent standards of Shonen Jump’s editorial department, whether it pertains to the plot of a manga or the weekly submissions. Therefore, authors must carefully consider their ability to thrive in these challenging circumstances before submitting their work for serialization in this magazine.