Syd Craft no Saishuu Suiri c01 (Cover, Lead Color Page, New Series by Tsutsui Taishi <Boku-tachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai>)
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Opening this edition, we had Syd Craft no Saishuuu Suiri, which revealed itself to be a true romantic comedy with mystery taking a back seat. The author clearly knows how to write romantic comedy and is simply returning to their comfort zone, which is a bit disappointing but still a logical bet. I always enjoy seeing authors reinvent themselves. Syd Craft will be released in English on MangaPlus.
This edition also featured color pages for Himaten, which will get a reprint of volume 1. It’s not an urgent reprint, but still good news. Madan no Ichi also got a color page, receiving more attention than Himaten, likely due to being more popular. And we had a color page almost in the Bottom 5 for Negai no Astro, signaling that the editors don’t have much faith in the series anymore.
In first place on the TOC, we had Ao no Hako, which will likely get a cover soon to celebrate the success of its anime, which is providing a continuous boost for the manga. The next volume should sell over 150,000 copies in 4-5 weeks. It’s a good result that, in my opinion, still doesn’t put the series as a “poster child of the magazine,” but if it keeps growing (and it should), it will earn an increasingly prominent and relevant position in the magazine. Ao no Hako is a success, and so is its anime.
In second place, we had One Piece, but at the same time, we didn’t have One Piece. The series is listed in the TOC, yet there was no chapter due to the author’s sudden illness. Some chose not to count One Piece, but I decided to include it since it appears in the TOC. We don’t know exactly what happened, but the forecast is for a return in Issue #01 (December 2), where I believe the series will get a cover to celebrate both the comeback and the start of another commercial year for the magazine. It will be interesting to see if this extended absence of One Piece this quarter will impact the number of copies in circulation or if the magazine will maintain its circulation numbers despite the hiatus. We’ll see.
In third place, we had Witch Watch, which made a big leap forward. The series seems to be gearing up for another Battle arc, so it might start ranking higher in the TOC. Remember, the current arc, featuring Nico as a child, has been ongoing since October 30, 2023, over a year now. So it’s natural to soon see Nico return to being a teenager and an arc dedicated to that transformation. Besides that, Witch Watch appears to have had a drop in sales for the last volume, but aside from Sakamoto Days, every series did, even One Piece.
Yes, Akane Banashi, Kill Ao, Witch Watch, and Choujun all experienced a decline in sales. This dip might be partly due to the shift to digital formats and the end of Jujutsu Kaisen and Boku no Hero Academia. I always say the magazine is an ecosystem where all manga benefit from the success of one: when a hit series ends, and that reader leaves the magazine, they also stop engaging with the other series. When a new hit debuts, that new reader may start reading the other manga. The success of one manga not only benefits itself but also the ones you love.
In fourth place, we had Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi (The Elusive Samurai), which remains stable in the magazine, riding the positive reception of its first season.
In fifth place, we had Sakamoto Days, which should see an increase in sales for this volume compared to the last. But what surprises me most is that Sakamoto Days still manages to sell more than Dandadan, which is experiencing a good boost for older volumes but hasn’t translated into higher sales for new volumes yet. At this rate, it’s possible that Sakamoto Days, even with a problematic anime, will continue to sell more than Dandadan.
In sixth place, we had Boku to Roboco, which remains stable in the magazine, not at risk of Axe. Considering the absurd amount of padding that Weekly Shonen Jump has, and that Boku to Roboco is a simple comedy, I’d say the series is safe until at least 2026. So expect the manga to reach 5 years of life, or even 6, without facing Axe.
In seventh place, we had Undead Unluck, whose spoilers leaked again, and I must say, they’re quite concerning if true, since the series sped up its pacing once more. There’s still a chance it could end in February. Even though I revised my closure forecast to April-August, I now extend it back to the February-August window. We might have a big Batch with Hakutaku getting Axed and Yozakura-San and Undead Unluck ending. However, this is just a hypothesis we should consider.
The big question is, how much of this “rush” is the author’s decision, how much is a possible Axe from Jump (which has several other series in worse shape), and how much is simply the author failing to meet a potential deadline to finish the series? If it ends in February, Undead Unluck would get a cover a few chapters before the end, possibly around the same time as Yozakura-San, increasing the chances February was set as a Deadline for both series. Yozakura-San prepared well to end on time; perhaps Undead Unluck didn’t. It’s a possibility, as this has happened before.
It’s also possible that it’s just the author’s choice, a naturally rushed ending. Bleach had a rushed finale, yet it was the author’s decision. Discussing Axe for veteran series is always tricky since we lack concrete proof (except for cases like Shaman King). Either way, I advise readers to stay calm before concluding Undead Unluck will end in February. The manga entered the realm of rushed works, but it’s not certain it will remain there. Maybe it’s all a joke from Tozuka.
At least Undead Unluck will get a cover and an opening color page next week. My advice to readers is to savor this cover, as it might be the last. We hope it isn’t, and that Undead Unluck makes it to April and gets its deserved fifth-anniversary cover, but also be prepared for the possibility this could be the last.
In eighth place, we had Kagurabachi, which remains stable in the magazine and is set to release its fifth volume in December. I believe the series will get another cover in December, probably in Issue #02 or #03 (one of these should be dedicated to Ao no Hako). I think this fifth volume will be quite emblematic for Kagurabachi; besides announcing new circulation numbers (probably over 1.1 million), it could also mark the series as the second-best-selling manga in the magazine, surpassing Ruri Dragon and trailing only One Piece.
In ninth place, we had Shinobigoto, which should stay in these mid-range positions until the first volume drops in January, provided it remains stable in votes. The series could drop if there’s a severe decrease in votes over the coming weeks, which is possible, but not something we can rule out. Even so, I don’t see Shinobigoto getting Axed in the February Batch, so the author still has time to find the right path for the series.
In tenth place, we had Yozakura-San Chi no Daisakusen, which is heading toward its conclusion, expected in January this year. The story is in its final battle, with most loose ends tied up, so if you want to catch the series’ last chapter live, I genuinely recommend starting Yozakura-San now, so when it wraps in the latter half of January (likely), you’ll be up to date.
Right after, in eleventh place, we had Exorcist no Kiyoshi-Kun, which will get a reprint of volume 1 on December 6. Does this guarantee Kiyoshi-Kun is a success? Not necessarily, as MamaYuyu was still Axed despite two reprints. However, it’s undeniable that Kiyoshi-Kun has a better chance of surviving the February-March Batch, selling over 10,000 copies (as it seems it will, between 10-12k copies in four weeks) and with a reprint on the way in December. The series’ situation is still critical, but Axe is not a done deal.
In twelfth place, we had Akane Banashi, which dropped in ranking but nothing alarming. The series consistently ranks first in about a quarter of TOCs under Saito’s management and has an impressive average, so it should soon return to higher positions. Let’s not complain too much, everyone. Right after, we had Hunter x Hunter, which, as I’ve noted, should stick around in the magazine until at least chapter 410.
In fourteenth place, we had Kill Ao, with Choujun! Chojo-Senpai in sixteenth. Both these series aren’t selling well. Kill Ao’s seventh volume should sell between 19,000 and 21,000 copies, marking a decline. Choujun also seems to have dropped, selling between 10,000 and 12,000 copies for the third volume. Both are thus in a tight spot, potentially saved only by the end of Undead Unluck and Yozakura-San and by how many manga debut in the next Batch. Negai no Astro also doesn’t seem safe, but among those at risk, Kill Ao and Choujun! seem in the most dire straits.
In fifteenth place, right behind Choujun, was Nue no Onmyouji, which continues to rank low but appears better off than Kill Ao and Choujun. Last place is the only certainty for the next Batch: the Axe of Hakutaku. The manga about game development didn’t work out, and even I, who defended the first chapter, started criticizing it from the second. The Japanese didn’t like what they read, as I mentioned in previous analyses, disliking the characters and the art, which they found outdated. Thus, Hakutaku is the first certainty for the February Batch.
