Shonen Jump Reprints Its Most Controversial Series

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Controversies serve as a unique means to generate interest in a series. Although they may cause dissatisfaction, they often pique readers’ curiosity, leading them to explore the series unknowingly. This phenomenon was clearly demonstrated with Kuraku Ichikawa’s manga titled Drama Queen, which started serializing in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ magazine in December 2024. Shortly after its release, the series garnered a significant amount of negative attention due to contentious themes. Specifically, because the storyline involved aliens settling on Earth, the series faced accusations of promoting anti-immigrant sentiments.

Despite being embroiled in controversy, the series consistently led readership rankings on official platforms during its height. In the same month of its debut, it was recognized as the top Newly Serialized Titles of 2024 on Manga Plus, with the ranking based on views seven days after the initial chapter’s release. It surpassed WSJ’s rising star “Ichi the Witch”, which ranked second on that list. With the upcoming third volume, Ichikawa recently confirmed on X that there will be reprints of the first two volumes and expressed gratitude towards fans for reading them.

What Is the Plot of Drama Queen?

1巻2巻重版しました
いつも読んでくれてありがとうございます

— 市川苦楽 (@krk_rrr) July 28, 2025

In a contemporary Japan, nine years post-alien settlement on Earth, I find myself living amidst this extraordinary era, where these celestial beings are revered as heroes for their role in saving our planet from annihilation. They walk among us with honor and esteem, embraced by society with open arms, granted an exalted status. Yet, in the midst of this adoration, I, an ordinary factory worker named Nomamoto, cannot help but question their true nature.

These aliens, while hailed as saviors, exhibit an air of arrogance, looking down upon us humans with disdain. The very boss at my factory, a being from the stars, demands my labor for meager wages, a stark reminder of their superiority complex. It’s as if beneath their heroic facade, they maintain a veil of contempt towards humanity.

One day, she encounters Kitami, a young man whose kin was brutally slain by extraterrestrials. They discover a mutual animosity towards aliens upon getting acquainted. Yet, complications ensue in Nomamoto’s life when Kitami shows up at her doorstep bearing an alien corpse, which he claims to have eliminated himself. The narrative takes a grim turn as the pair embarks on an unspeakable act together.

Additionally, readers pointed out two points of contention beyond the accusations of racism. One is the portrayal of Nomamoto’s initial interaction with a pair, comprising an alien and a human, in the opening chapter, which some found to be unpleasant.

In a similar way to women who refer to their male partners as “partners,” she expresses her annoyance by stating that she dislikes aliens. This statement sparked debate among readers, who felt it might be disrespectful to LGBTIA+ couples who use gender-neutral terms for their significant others. Shonen Jump made adjustments to the line in the official version to manage the controversy effectively. The series has grown increasingly popular, with 27 chapters published thus far. The third manga volume is set to be released on August 4th, 2025. All chapters are accessible for free on the Manga Plus app.

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2025-07-30 00:10