The Berserk Shonen Successor is Finally Coming To America

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In the realm of Shonen, Weekly Shonen Jump has seen its share of gritty series, and Chainsaw Man is a notable example of one that doesn’t shy away from violence and gore. Last year, publisher Shueisha introduced a captivating, dark narrative in their manga line, which some liken to Berserk. This new series, titled Centuria, was created by Tohru Kuramori and made its appearance in April of last year. Western manga enthusiasts will soon have the chance to delve into Julian’s story and explore the grim environment where he must endure.

It’s been confirmed that the series “Centuria” will reach North America in 2026. Viz Media made this announcement on their social media, saying, “Announcement: A slave with a bitter past. A deal with cruel consequences. A child needing rescue. In ‘Centuria,’ Julian trades his life to awaken an ancient god and gains powers he must use to protect the innocent in a harsh world. The first volume of this dark fantasy series by Tohru Kuramori will be available Spring 2026.” Although no anime adaptation has been made yet, the franchise’s popularity suggests that it would be a successful venture for any studio considering adapting “Centuria” into an anime.

Announcement: A Cruel Slaver’s Bargain, A Precious Child at Stake. When Julian makes a fateful trade to revive an ancient deity, he acquires powers that he must wield to safeguard an innocent in a ruthless realm. The first volume of Centuria, a gripping dark fantasy series by Tohru Kuramori, is set to launch Spring 2026.

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) June 6, 2025

Centuria’s Backstory

In a recent interview, Tohru Kuramori, the brainchild behind Centuria, acknowledged significant inspiration from Kentaro Miura’s Berserk series. He also credited other substantial elements, “The initial idea for Centuria’s first chapter came from Joseph Mallord William Turner’s painting ‘The Slave Ship.’ I envisioned a scenario where the story’s main character was on that slave ship and developed the narrative further from there. Over time, this evolved into a protagonist who had been given the lives of one hundred people. I believe I’ve been most influenced by Kentaro Miura-san’s Berserk, Tsutomu Nihei-san’s works, and the Cthulu mythos.

Julian, a young man, secretly boards a slave ship and embarks on a journey to a vast continent with a hundred enslaved individuals, each longing for freedom. But their voyage takes an unexpected turn… Join Julian and his companions as they navigate through this thrilling dark fantasy epic!

Ever since the launch of the manga titled “Centuria” a year ago, fans have had ample opportunity to delve into Julian’s narrative. To date, the series boasts four volumes and appears to be continuing its run without any immediate plans for slowing down. Given that the popular manga, “Kaiju No. 8”, is scheduled to conclude in just two more chapters, there could be a significant gap left in Weekly Shonen Jump, which “Centuria” might potentially fill.

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2025-06-06 20:43