Issue 41 2026:
1. Nue's Exorcist: As I thought, all of the main girls in Squad 6 are going to get their own moment in the spotlight. And now (after the very needed lucky touch) we are greeted by the first of possibly many Kins of Kurikara, with a kickass design too, because of course! Technically speaking, the existence of Kins is nothing new, we just saw last arc how Kinu was basically a clone of Soranaki, and even Suzaku's family was the proof that many of these children could exist. However, what's interesting about this dragon, is that he's, well, a dragon. No other Level 4 we've ever seen is THIS beastly and different. It tells me that Kurikara's influence is so strong that it basically creates another species entirely, and I remind you that there are more than just this one Dragon, he said "Kins", PLURAL. It's something the arc has been doing since the start- in spite of his "Absence", the Dragon King's presence is felt due to his passive influence alone. Jesus christ I feel bad for Squad 6 cause even after beating Kasha (and good luck with that already), I have the MIGHTY feeling that the Dragon King will resurface on his own, and he'll somehow be worse than the former.
The action is fantastic as always, I missed Suo's speed in these fights. The back and forth in the air conveys said speed perfectly, with the dragon's cutting of the three and Suo going "I can see it!" especially. She is 100% the second fastest exorcist by now!
And since I am referencing Shimaki already- Suo's new Soul Armor is a reference to Shimaki's own. The single wing, the white chest area with black leggings, and the horn/horns are very much on the nose. It subtly tells us what kind of exorcist she aspires to be like, and it's none other than her former captain! It's also referencing chapter 27's color page, as that one gave Kazusa a wing as well. I'm choosing to count this as foreshadowing!
Keeping up the theme of Gakuro and Squad 6 being now equal, and him trusting them, we are thrown into a callback to the Wanyudo fight, with Kazusa being made to defend hostages, this time not just an hospital, but the entirety of Kagariya Town. Except this time, she's strong enough to let her Kouhai go- she can handle it herself just fine. Once again, 11/10! Hype incoming!!
2. Roku's House Of Oddities: The starting scene is surprisingly really tense, it's not something we are used to seeing in this series, the dark and violent sides of the curses we have grown accustomed to. Still, it's a good bit of depth mixed with good humor that Mikagami and Kariya are shown to be not only reasonable, but willing. The setup will lend itself
3. Hal Formula: The sheer guts of having your strategy be "I'll trust my instincts and the fact my rival's good enough to not crash into me" is pure insanity and exactly what kept me interested in the race, and the acceptance from Hinokura that he'd genuinely die for first place not for his position, but for his passion, is great. Congrats on Terasaka for this first lengthier race!
4. Kagurabachi: It's almost hilarious how fast the attitudes of those in powers are switching up. Giyu wants an Enchanted Blade for power and Kiyora is suspected of human trafficking, yet gets to walk around freely evaluating the steel, while Kunishige, who smelted it, is still stuck in custody. Classic government shit.
5. GrayKeith: Translator Daemonica: A fine first chapter, not the best or worst I've ever seen. The artwork is solid, and the concept of a newly normalized magical society is always inherently interesting, and cultural differences being at the core focus is something I like. The only thing is, I worry that it will take the episodic path for too long.
6. Ura Files: I'm very glad that Kibitsu's secret agent background is used constantly and well at that. I think that someone that is, potential danger wise, equal to the target, this being Ura, puts a good bit of weight behind his actions, his shy behaviour and the relationahop between the two.
7. Animal Signal: I swear, Robinson is just FIENDING to write a Yaoi.
8. Class 2B Hero Destroyerz
9. Someone Hertz
10. Cannon Master
Dropped:
-Under Doctor: I think this series is just... Really not well thought out. The action and the medical drama feel too detached from each other, it's completely unbalanced barring a fee chapters, and unless the latest chapter changed this, it has yet to properly establish AND FOLLOW an overarching plot, something which is something I think every series besides maybe gags should ABSOLUTELY have by now. This latest mini "arc" isn't even THAT bad, just kinda whatever (sure as hell better than that fake doctor one), but there are only so many mini "arcs" that I can go through. Not the worst series in the world, but definitely not a great one either. 5/10.
-Ichi The Witch: Now this one is just infuriating, and I genuinely did NOT want it to come to this, but enough is enough. To start with its strengths, Desscarass. She absolutely carries the series with her charisma, something almost the entire rest of the cast severely lacks. She's funny, badass, and the points of her morality raised even beyond the silly shenanigans are some of the most interesting stuff in the series. The art is USUALLY great, very detailed and expressive, with striking character designs to booth. And, well...
The negatives.
The pacing is just terrible, no two ways about it. Each arc feels like it should be half or even a third of its actual lenght given how little gets done each time. Half of the Chrono arc was JUST the chase, it took 2 whole volumes worth of chapter (18, I counted) from the start of the current arc to begin Hakari's trial, and the double spreads being CONSTANTLY spammed- and speaking of, the fights are just badly choreographed, if at all. Big panel with big flashy attacks over and over and over, no flow whatsoever, and again, double page spreads all over (almost 4 in a row in chapter 81, like jesus christ). And you might say: "Dipshit, double spreads are awesome, what the fuck are you on about?" And the answer is that I think double spreada should hold some weight behind them, a truly special moment, the end of a battle, a unique instance that should be made at least somewhat memorable. But Ichi uses these spreads even for team shots like the ones at the end of chapter 92, or any time any mildy significant attack gets used- most of the time, there's almost no text either, which to me is just a damn waste of precious chapter space, which could be used for plot progression, lenghty character moments, and so on. Just... style over substance.
And the world is so poorly built, SURELY I can't be the only bastard around thinking this, yeah? Mantinel is the hub world where the heroes select missions, and go to places to complete those missions and progress the main story- that's how this world feels: Video Gamey. Of all the the major locales, only Mantinel and Bakugami feel like they had something to tell, history and complex structures to unfold, the rest? A couple of random villages, a boat in the middle of the ocean (oh, but we were told of Minerva's unnamed village which sacrificed people to Chrono, and... That's it. Neat.) and now we got a Labyrynth Fortress™ that uses witches as a power source and is placed... Somewhere. And introducing Magikeepers so late is crazy to me, that's WAY too important info to give us only after 77 bloody chapters.
Oh, and what did I mean by the cast being largely uncharismatic? Kumugi does basically nothing besides being a "cute girlfailure" for 90% of the manga and acting as a mild moral support to Ichi, Gokuraku resolved his character arc long ago and is now there to punch once or twice per arc, many of the major Witches have just not been focused on at all (and Amadoro's boring as hell anyways. Tricaputo's cool tho), and genuinely, who cares for the Magikeepers besides Chung? and Christ are the villains bad, especially Mr "WEAK PEOPLE SHOULD DIE CHRONO, YOU ARE STRONG WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"
They almost all have that one major personality trait that gets hyper focused on, and if you don't like that one trait? Well, too bad!
I don't like the pacing, the fights, much of the cast, the worldbuilding- So why, in god's name, did I stick with this manga for so long?
It's the potential of it. Yep, that damned word, POTENTIAL. Usuzaki's art, in spite of what I said about the spreads and fights, is genuinely gorgeous, among the best in Jump's whole lineup without a doubt. The designs are something I didn't complain about because they are striking and memorable, no bullshit, just really good stuff. The concept of the world is inherently interesting! Nishi is one of the most accomplished writers of this era of manga, her together with an artist like Usuzaki should be the easiest slam dunk ever! And there ARE those chapters which I DO love! 76 is the biggest example, coming right after the Chrono arc which embodies everything I dislike about the series, was all I was asking for. A compact moment where we see all the characters during their lives as the relationship between Ichi and Desscaras develops meaningfully. It uses its time well, tells the full thing in one go, and the moment feels earned at the end. Seriously good, and it's not the ONLY chapter like this, even in these arcs I don't like. But the slog just keeps piling up and those shining chapters feel fewer and farther between.
It's so, SO goddamn frustrating, and I really, TRULY don't want to say this. But this, to me, even while it objectively succeeds big time in the magazine, is the REAL Potential Man™ of Shonen Jump. 5.5/10.
Who won this years' awards? Find out here