I just saw the newest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, and it’s celebrating the New Year with a classic cover. Of course, Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece is right in the middle – he’s really become the symbol of Shonen Jump over the past few years, which says a lot about how popular and long-running the series is. Even if you don’t read manga, you’ve probably seen Luffy’s face since One Piece is the best-selling manga ever! But Shonen Jump always features characters from all their current series, and since One Piece is heading towards the end of its story, we know Luffy won’t be on the cover forever. It’ll be a few years yet, but it feels like a big change is coming – other series will have to step up and take his place when that time comes.
With One Piece nearing its end, Shonen Jump is looking for its next big hit. Two promising series, Ichi the Witch and Kagurabachi, could potentially fill that role if they continue to be popular. Modern manga series tend to be shorter than those of the past, which explains why One Piece has lasted so much longer than many others. The latest magazine cover features Luffy in the center, with the main characters from Ichi the Witch and Kagurabachi on either side, acknowledging their status as the most popular new series in Jump right now.
Weekly Shonen Jump Kicks Off 2026 With Kagurabachi and Ichi the Witch in The Spotlight
The first issues for 2026 began coming out in December 2025, and featured both Ichi and Chihiro on the cover. It’s unusual to see two series highlighted together on one issue—it’s only happened a few times in recent years—but Shueisha clearly has high hopes for both manga. Of the series without announced anime adaptations, Kagurabachi and Ichi the Witch are currently the most popular, even surpassing some long-running titles in sales.
Two popular manga series have recently emerged in the fantasy genre. Kagurabachi, created by Takeru Hokazono and released in September 2023, follows Chihiro’s quest to avenge his father and recover the powerful Enchanted Swords he crafted. It has already sold over three million copies and continues to gain popularity. A year later, in September 2024, Osamu Nishi and Shiro Usazaki launched Ichi the Witch, a magical fantasy that quickly became a reader favorite.
I’m so excited about Ichi the Witch! The story follows Ichi, a hunter who unexpectedly develops witch powers – which is a big deal because, in this world, only women are supposed to have magic! It’s already hugely popular in Japan with over a million copies out, which is incredible considering it hasn’t been available in English (or any other language!) until now. But the wait is almost over – the first English volume is coming out in February 2026, and I have a feeling that’s going to send sales through the roof!
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Bloober Team launches ‘Remosd Neul Serorehso Ovam Ceyerd’ countdown website
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Transformers Powers Up With ‘Brutal’ New Combaticon Reveal After 13 Years
- Stranger Things Season 5 Finale Reveals If Eleven Dies (But There’s a Catch)
- Stranger Things Creators Confirm Eleven’s Fate After Series Finale
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- 5 Xbox 360 Games You Forgot Were Awesome
- 5 Best Things 2010s X-Men Comics Brought To Marvel’s Mutants
2026-01-06 05:10