2024’s Top New Manga Revealed: A Controversial Choice

As 2024 draws to a close, the popular Manga Plus app from Shōnen Jump has released noteworthy data showcasing various manga award winners across multiple categories. Notably, the “Most-Read Chapter”honor was awarded to Chainsaw Man chapter #167, titled “Super Smooch,”which outperformed strong competitors like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia, both of which concluded this year. Among the highlighted categories, the “Top New Manga” award was triumphantly claimed by Drama Queen, which made its debut on December 1, 2024, within the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump.

Drama Queen Dominates New Manga Rankings on Manga Plus

First Chapter Surpasses 500,000 Views

The “Top New Manga”category on Manga Plus is determined by the number of views accumulated within the first week of a manga’s release. Drama Queen chapter #1, launched on December 1, achieved remarkable success with over 500,000 views, far surpassing its peers. Among the 57 new releases in 2024, Drama Queen stands out as the only title to exceed half a million views upon debut. This surge in interest can largely be attributed to its bold and controversial narrative.

In its inaugural chapter, Kuraku Ichikawa’s Drama Queen chronicles the tumultuous interactions between humans and aliens who have come to Earth after averting a catastrophic meteor strike. The primary protagonists express feelings of animosity toward their extraterrestrial counterparts, venturing into unsettling territory as one character is depicted eating aliens. The narrative hints at a core theme of the series: the main duo, Kitama and Nomamoto, is intent on eradicating alien inhabitants from their city, leading to dialogues that many have described as xenophobic.

This narrative has incited intense discussions among readers, compelling some to question how such a narrative could be published by a leading manga publisher. Others argue that this trend exemplifies Shōnen Jump’s dedication to fostering creative freedom. The resultant controversy has only heightened the manga’s profile, reflecting a significant shift in audience engagement with sensitive themes in the manga and anime landscape.

Shifts in Industry Trends Highlighted by Drama Queen’s Popularity

Cover page of Drama Queen's first issue with Nomamoto

While Drama Queen has taken the lead with its provocative storyline, Chainsaw Man also garnered attention for presenting what is deemed its most contentious chapter yet. This trend of manga delving into controversial and unconventional subjects suggests that Shōnen Jump might be pivoting towards more sensitive narratives that resonate closely with contemporary societal issues.

This shift is further exemplified by the release of the Dandadan anime this Fall, showcasing how series that break away from traditional shōnen conventions are experiencing substantial success. Although commercial viability remains a priority for Shōnen Jump, it is clear that standing out in today’s competitive landscape requires more than adhering to classic shōnen paradigms. The emergence of boundary-pushing titles like Drama Queen signals a notable evolution in what defines success in the manga industry.

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