Mag Talk Weekly Shonen Jump (2025) - News and Discussion!

[Shinuki no Reborn]

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WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP THREAD RULES​

1. No fights or personal insults.
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~ Shinuki

I hope everybody read these rules and follow it without problem, the comment will soon be sticked at the top of the thread to be visible in every page, so if any doubt about what to avoid doing, just check it, also if i feel like any new rule has to be added in the future, i will do. Thanks!

Obs: Rules about fanart edited!

 

[Franz]

These people are not well in their heads. They are not well at all.

 

[tirakai]

C'mon guys, it's Shark bait, his whole thing is posting whatever will get the most engagement (like hyping up unpopular series about to be cancelled, wishing for more of whatever's the current most disliked genre, etc). This isn't serious either.

Though on the note of battle shounen never having openly gay characters (who aren't villains), there has actually been a couple series on Jump+ which have had them. No main characters as far as I know (unless Muscle Island did? I haven't read it but that series seemed extremely gay so it would make sense) but one series recently revealed the mentor character is gay.

 

[Dogmagril]

C'mon guys, it's Shark bait, his whole thing is posting whatever will get the most engagement (like hyping up unpopular series about to be cancelled, wishing for more of whatever's the current most disliked genre, etc). This isn't serious either.

Though on the note of battle shounen never having openly gay characters (who aren't villains), there has actually been a couple series on Jump+ which have had them. No main characters as far as I know (unless Muscle Island did? I haven't read it but that series seemed extremely gay so it would make sense) but one series recently revealed the mentor character is gay.

Actually,now i'm intrested,what's the name of the series.

 

[nemu asahi]

Just to put in perspective, i was checking Mogura posts in the last days and saw one for the seinen series "Seed of Eros" which is from Grand Jump:



And thought, wait, 2.3 million? 2.3000.000 for 8 volume is around 312.500 for each one, but i remember this series selling nowhere near that, so i checked again, and these are the physical sales for each volume:

Seeds of Eros #1 (4.061)
Seeds of Eros #2 (11.387)
Seeds of Eros #3 (9.099)
Seeds of Eros #4 (10.828)
Seeds of Eros #5 (6.862)
Seeds of Eros #6 (7.117)
Seeds of Eros #7 (6.154)
Seeds of Eros #8 (5.176)

A series that doesn't sell 10k in 2 weeks but have a average of 300k per volume in circulation, so the bulk of the series sales is like, over 90% digital, which means there are series that never even appears on Oricon but still sell between 200k ~ 300k per volume, but we just don't know because we still have no track of digital, obviously you also have to take in count that varies from series to series and that seinen series in particularly are known for performing better in digital than physical, but still, if a erotic seinen series can sell hundreds of thousands of copies in digital, a mainstream shounen series from the biggest magazines must be pulling decent numbers at the very least.

I hate these "circulation" numbers because they cheat with them like hell. These numbers are printed volumes sold (ok) + volumes digitally sold (ok) + printed volumes not sold + CHAPTERS individually digitally sold (how many chapters in a volume, 4 or 5, so you can inflate by 4 the numbers)

It's a marketing strategy to inflate numbers, I want to know the NUMBER OF VOLUMES SOLD, both print and digital. You can print 200 000 volumes (stupid, but) and say than oh, your title is so famous! I call BS!! Cheaters!

I'm not happy with it, but things are like this, so... Gotta drink some camomille to calm down...

PS: I got this info from pro marketers, so it should be verified. But these are way to big numbers whereas I know that a lot of Japanese people pirate and don't spend money like that.

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

This is really interesting though, physical sales look a lot like Jump's bottom performers bar the really bad stuff, but I wonder how much digital is offsetting those. I'm obviously mainly thinking Kill Blue here, and maybe that's what editorial is seeing to keep it alive this long despite falling physical sales + TOC. Of course, someone mentioned earlier shonen manga tend to lean physical so chances are there might not be much difference, but I think for the middling series or newer stuff in general it's probably leaning digital heavy until they blow up a la Kagurabachi or were already huge like MHA/JJK/One Piece etc.

Some jp fans also think Chojo is selling better in digital than physical and in fact if you check Amazon rankings right now Chojo still ranking above Kill Blue, Hima-ten & Chojo in the digital rankings while is far behind them in physical

Kill Blue #7 still ranking fine digital, also worth remember that KB got 10th in the last Tsugimanga Awards with 21k online votes, it's probably doing fine digital.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 1, 2024, Original Post Date: Dec 1, 2024 ---

I hate these "circulation" numbers because they cheat with them like hell. These numbers are printed volumes sold (ok) + volumes digitally sold (ok) + printed volumes not sold + CHAPTERS individually digitally sold (how many chapters in a volume, 4 or 5, so you can inflate by 4 the numbers)

It's a marketing strategy to inflate numbers, I want to know the NUMBER OF VOLUMES SOLD, both print and digital. You can print 200 000 volumes (stupid, but) and say than oh, your title is so famous! I call BS!! Cheaters!

I'm not happy with it, but things are like this, so... Gotta drink some camomille to calm down...

printed volumes sold and not sold are the same thing in the total circulation

 

[nemu asahi]

Well, I dont see things like that but it's only me so you can ignore me. I'm sure numbers are inflated. Yes, camomille, camomille.

 

[TyVip]

they can't really inflate the number too much though.

these stuffs get TAXED man.

Printed Volume has Manufacturing Cost which turn into Business Expense.

They can't be reporting 1 million printed in circulation while on reality only printed say 100k, the 900k will raise some flag during audit.

Also inflated number = they have to pay the author more
They are paid by number of circulation not number of copies sold.

That means if you report 1 million printed in circulation the author better see 10% royalty of that.

 

[nemu asahi]

they can't really inflate the number too much though.

these stuffs get TAXED man.

Printed Volume has Manufacturing Cost which turn into Business Expense.

They can't be reporting 1 million printed in circulation while on reality only printed say 100k, the 900k will raise some flag during audit.

Also inflated number = they have to pay the author more
They are paid by number of circulation not number of copies sold.

That means if you report 1 million printed in circulation the author better see 10% royalty of that.

Yes, I know. I find it so weird that people buy so much manga (I mean, we see fantastic, ENORMOUS numbers now compared to before) though they all say they struggle to make ends meet with inflation (food). I would understand such big numbers for well known titles, but it seems impossible for titles nobody are talking about... Not logical.

Well, I don't have proof, so who cares what I say?

PS: if I get our manga published by a well known publisher I will ask questions around and get you answers regarding this matter. Won't happen because of my health, but I want answers and want to know the truth. I will say I made a mistake after.

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

Well, I dont see things like that but it's only me so you can ignore me. I'm sure numbers are inflated. Yes, camomille, camomille.

I mean that the circulation number, at least the physical part, is simply the total amount printed, if they print 100k copies it doesn't matter if sell 10k or 90k of these 100k, the circulation number reported will be 100k in the end.

 

[monstera11]

To be fair you cannot blame them when the male x male relationship is more developed than the hetero ones.

Also, fandom should be respectful to each other please. No gloating, mocking or mudslingings. I am saying this as someone who like both Bakudeku and DekuOcha.

 

[nemu asahi]

To shinuki.
I know.

 

[tirakai]

Mangaka get money for the amount printed, so how much of that is actually sold through doesn't really matter all that much.

 

[nemu asahi]

Mangaka get money for the amount printed, so how much of that is actually sold through doesn't really matter all that much.

It's just a marketing strategy a despise because it's to fool readers/consumers to buy more. Instead of believing in the title. It's not ethical. Well, don't worry, I have some issues with ethical behavior of others I shouldn't have because I'm nobody so I'm not in the place i can judge others. I'm very judgemental, that's all, which is bad thing. Marketing is marketing. ok, finished to talk about it.

 

[Newkerzy]

Just to put in perspective, i was checking Mogura posts in the last days and saw one for the seinen series "Seed of Eros" which is from Grand Jump:



And thought, wait, 2.3 million? 2.3000.000 for 8 volume is around 312.500 for each one, but i remember this series selling nowhere near that, so i checked again, and these are the physical sales for each volume:

Seeds of Eros #1 (4.061)
Seeds of Eros #2 (11.387)
Seeds of Eros #3 (9.099)
Seeds of Eros #4 (10.828)
Seeds of Eros #5 (6.862)
Seeds of Eros #6 (7.117)
Seeds of Eros #7 (6.154)
Seeds of Eros #8 (5.176)

A series that doesn't sell 10k in 2 weeks but have a average of 300k per volume in circulation, so the bulk of the series sales is like, over 90% digital, which means there are series that never even appears on Oricon but still sell between 200k ~ 300k per volume, but we just don't know because we still have no track of digital, obviously you also have to take in count that varies from series to series and that seinen series in particularly are known for performing better in digital than physical, but still, if a erotic seinen series can sell hundreds of thousands of copies in digital, a mainstream shounen series from the biggest magazines must be pulling decent numbers at the very least.

A Jump series has to be selling at least 3x the number of physical in digital if all the recent information is correct. That would explain why some series have lasted longer than we expected, compared to a decade ago.

Crazy that people are still getting queerbaited by shonen in 2024..... like the closest we've gotten to an explicitly gay relationship being canon is actually JJK to my utter surprise, everything else has been either just played up for the fandom by authors or exaggerated by fans desperate for something.

This is really interesting though, physical sales look a lot like Jump's bottom performers bar the really bad stuff, but I wonder how much digital is offsetting those. I'm obviously mainly thinking Kill Blue here, and maybe that's what editorial is seeing to keep it alive this long despite falling physical sales + TOC. Of course, someone mentioned earlier shonen manga tend to lean physical so chances are there might not be much difference, but I think for the middling series or newer stuff in general it's probably leaning digital heavy until they blow up a la Kagurabachi or were already huge like MHA/JJK/One Piece etc.

Yes, it’s kinda amusing but also makes you want to facepalm at these corners of a fandom. If they want a gay couple, they should be looking at BL magazines for crying out loud, and not get their hopes up at a series with a completely different target audience.

I agree in regards to these new information about sales. I think it’s safe to assume every series‘ digital volumes are selling at least twice their physical. It’s not hard, definitive proof but it is still a reasonable assumption to make.

PS: if I get our manga published by a well known publisher I will ask questions around and get you answers regarding this matter. Won't happen because of my health, but I want answers and want to know the truth. I will say I made a mistake after.

You’d be risking your career, but we all know you’d be taking one for the team. Go champ !

It's just a marketing strategy a despise because it's to fool readers/consumers to buy more. Instead of believing in the title. It's not ethical. Well, don't worry, I have some issues with ethical behavior of others I shouldn't have because I'm nobody so I'm not in the place i can judge others. I'm very judgemental, that's all, which is bad thing. Marketing is marketing. ok, finished to talk about it.

I definitely get what you’re saying, but then you realize how tight the competition is, that ANY mangaka would kill to have this kind of promotion, even if it’s somewhat disingenuous. And not to mention that some of them are literally dying of hunger and poverty too.….

 

[Hawke]

Yes, it’s kinda amusing but also makes you want to facepalm at these corners of a fandom. If they want a gay couple, they should be looking at BL magazines for crying out loud, and not get their hopes up at a series with a completely different target audience.

tbh I gotta make it clear I have nothing against shippers and especially not queer shippers but there's something to be said about close platonic male friendships being mistaken for gay that doesn't end well (gojo x geto notwithstanding that shit is actually gay and I'm fully convinced gege wasn't allowed to spell it out more clearly than he already had)

I would love to see more shonen manga embrace it, fujos are a real market (thank you fujos for propping up my beloved kagurabachi) and a battle shonen that actually had an explicitly gay romance would be kinda baller. Maybe soon WSJ, maybe soon.

Some jp fans also think Chojo is selling better in digital than physical and in fact if you check Amazon rankings right now Chojo still ranking above Kill Blue, Hima-ten & Chojo in the digital rankings while is far behind them in physical

Kill Blue #7 still ranking fine digital, also worth remember that KB got 10th in the last Tsugimanga Awards with 21k online votes, it's probably doing fine digital.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 1, 2024, Original Post Date: Dec 1, 2024 ---

printed volumes sold and not sold are the same thing in the total circulation

yeah i've been fully thinking this as well, it just feels like gag manga do better on digital and Chojo's continued evasion of the axe (to my relief) seems to imply this is the case. I definitely think a lot of these newer series are just going to do numbers digitally for a while and only stuff that's explicitly huge will lopside the physical-digital divide in favor of print. Might wanna track this through the year with new releases or middle tier series and see if this holds any water.

 

[tirakai]

I don't think it's particularly disingenuous, circulation numbers are essentially the amount of copies the mangaka has made money on so it's the most relevant number in that sense.

Elusive Samurai has 4 million copies in circulation for example, so regardless of how much is digital and how much is sitting around unsold in stores, Matsui has directly made money on all 4 million of them.

 

[BelTL]

Ichi got blue mark already

 

[Newkerzy]

tbh I gotta make it clear I have nothing against shippers and especially not queer shippers but there's something to be said about close platonic male friendships being mistaken for gay that doesn't end well (gojo x geto notwithstanding that shit is actually gay and I'm fully convinced gege wasn't allowed to spell it out more clearly than he already had)

I would love to see more shonen manga embrace it, fujos are a real market (thank you fujos for propping up my beloved kagurabachi) and a battle shonen that actually had an explicitly gay romance would be kinda baller. Maybe soon WSJ, maybe soon.

I don’t think that will happen even in the next 10 years or so, in a place as conservative as Japan, and as mainstream of a publication Jump is. You’d be lucky to have a minor couple become canon in the background in most shonen mangas. A gay background couple becoming canon? Maybe. But don’t hold your breath for the main couple for that.

That, and of course, we also have to consider the author’s consistency. If the mangaka has been as blatant as Horikoshi has been, then it’s best to accept whatever they write. And if that’s not your thing, more power to you. Just please don’t throw an embarrassing hissy fit. This applies to any canon straight or gay couples

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

Just gotta say, about this digital talk and etc, like it or not @SharkBait was visionary about it, he's been talking about digital sales for ages when no one even considered them any relevant and now digital sales are more than double the physical

Ichi got blue mark already

Well, they just paid for it

 

[Nuesmoker]

Ichi got blue mark already

Kill Blue and Nue also did just recently I think, tho idk if that's particularly good or not