Mag Talk Weekly Shonen Jump (2026) - News and Discussion!

[Shinuki no Reborn]

Moderator Notice:

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP THREAD RULES​

#1. No fights or personal insults.
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#10. Regarding rule #9, an exception will be made for when we have new series, in this case, spoilers will be allowed only for the first 3 chapters of a new series for the users who are interested in knowing informations and details about the new series, these spoilers will obviously be kept under tags to protect anyone that doesn't want to be spoiled, so don't worry about it.
~ Shinuki

I hope everyone reads the rules and use it as a guide to behave well in the thread, thanks!

 

[Lord Anubis]

I'd love to have Inagaki back. Who would you want to be his artist? I'm thinking JJK Modulo's/Cypher Academy would probably be the top choice right?

Probably Matsuura, that way they have at least one success...

 

[Axel7]

This is a meta commentary on Alien Headbutt, but the more I’ve paid attention to online discourse and ToC the more I’ve noticed a phenomenon where western fans latch on to mid series and axebait and insist they are under-appreciated masterpieces. I kind of understood it with Otr because of the Norse influence probably being more appealing to westerners, but with AH I don’t get it. I know taste is subjective but the series has almost no plot and extremely thin characters - it’s just MC suplexing aliens. The art I guess stands out from other series but is hardly amazing. But you see on places like Twitter and Reddit people acting like the series is amazing and a gem that is being overlooked.

Maybe I am assuming a lot, but it feels like some western fans latch on to these series as a way of showing they have superior taste to Japanese readers. Like they think the Japanese are too stupid to appreciate something that isn’t isekai and heavy fanservice, but these western readers are so enlightened so they know these axebait series are actually under-appreciated masterpieces that aren’t given a chance they deserve. It’s pretty predictable that if an action series comes out to a weak reception, people on Reddit will start insisting it’s amazing. This kind of goes hand in hand with western readers who will apparently read and enjoy manga, read and enjoy WSJ series, but insist common tropes are bad, and any series that eschews common tropes is inherently good. I dunno, just something I’ve observed.

Sorry for commenting so late after posting your message, but I found what you said interesting. Alien Headbutt has the best first chapter I've read in a series for a simple reason: it doesn't "end" in the same chapter. Instead, it continues as if we were in a normal multi-chapter arc, whereas most chapters simply end with the protagonist obtaining their new power, and then some time passes with the situation resolved—a random enemy appearing and being defeated by the protagonist's new power. But that doesn't happen here. Chapter 2 starts almost at the same time as the end of chapter 1, continuing with the mystery to be solved. It includes a series of one-shot chapters that are resolved within the same chapter, introducing new characters, the protagonist learning their new power, the new master, the new place where the protagonist will be, etc. The situation remains the same as the end of chapter 1 in subsequent chapters until around chapter 10, when "that" happens—to avoid spoilers. The same goes for the protagonist; I think he's one of the best I've ever seen, considering his situation. He always rises to the challenge, doesn't depend on anyone else, and is willing to kill if the situation warrants it, etc.—something I don't see in other shonen protagonists, especially not from the very first episode, as is the case here. I see him as an "adult" protagonist, in quotes, because he's not your typical 13-17 year old shonen protagonist. Then, when he does that thing after what that alien does, replicating "it," I thought it was outrageous and something you don't see very often. The series obviously isn't perfect. From the reunion between the protagonist and that relative onward, until episode 12, which is the last one released in Spanish and that I was able to read, it seemed like a terrible, generic shonen manga that had been canceled. But before that, I thought the series was incredible. Sorry if I didn't explain myself well; I'm using Google Translate to answer you.

 

[Xanji06]

Alien Headbutt Volume 1 & 2 will both be released in July apparently lmao (unless this is a mistake since it isn't visible on the shonen jump website)

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

Sorry for commenting so late after posting your message, but I found what you said interesting. Alien Headbutt has the best first chapter I've read in a series for a simple reason: it doesn't "end" in the same chapter. Instead, it continues as if we were in a normal multi-chapter arc, whereas most chapters simply end with the protagonist obtaining their new power, and then some time passes with the situation resolved—a random enemy appearing and being defeated by the protagonist's new power. But that doesn't happen here. Chapter 2 starts almost at the same time as the end of chapter 1, continuing with the mystery to be solved. It includes a series of one-shot chapters that are resolved within the same chapter, introducing new characters, the protagonist learning their new power, the new master, the new place where the protagonist will be, etc. The situation remains the same as the end of chapter 1 in subsequent chapters until around chapter 10, when "that" happens—to avoid spoilers. The same goes for the protagonist; I think he's one of the best I've ever seen, considering his situation. He always rises to the challenge, doesn't depend on anyone else, and is willing to kill if the situation warrants it, etc.—something I don't see in other shonen protagonists, especially not from the very first episode, as is the case here. I see him as an "adult" protagonist, in quotes, because he's not your typical 13-17 year old shonen protagonist.

You quite literally just described Toriko

--- Double Post Merged, May 19, 2026, Original Post Date: May 19, 2026 ---

Alien Headbutt Volume 1 & 2 will both be released in July apparently lmao (unless this is a mistake since it isn't visible on the shonen jump website)

Yikes, just how much Alien is bombing for them to want get rid of it this fast?

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

Thanks for your votes!

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ISSUE #24 (2026) - VOTING RESULTS

1. Kagurabachi 121 (63 J-points)
2. Nue's Exorcist 144 (36 J-points)
3. Akane-banashi 205 (32 J-points)
4. Ichi the Witch 89 (32 J-points)
5. Someone Hertz 32 (31 J-points)
6. Witch Watch 246 (30 J-points)
7. Roku's House of Oddities 5 (28 J-points)
8. Under Doctor 15 (25 J-points)
9. One Piece 1182 (21 J-points)
10. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 91 (21 J-points)
11. Drawn to the Fire 4 (21 J-points)
12. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3 (21 J-points)
13. Kinato's Magic 14 (20 J-points)
14. Blue Box 241 (17 J-points)
15. Shinobi Undercover 80 (13 J-points)
16. Sakamoto Days 258 (10 J-points)
17. Hima-Ten! 89 (9 J-points)
18. Alien Headbutt 13 (8 J-points)
19. Me & Roboco 280 (1 J-point)

Notes:

-36 Users voted in the poll & 18 in the comments
-Tied placements decided by which series is older

Poll Source:

Spoiler

Comment Source:

Spoiler

Thehoennhippo

1. Akane-banashi 205
2. Someone Hertz 32
3. Blue Box 241
4. Drawn to the Fire 4
5. Ichi the Witch 89

Xanji06

1. Kagurabachi 121
2. Witch Watch 246
3. Roku's House of Oddities 5
4. Under Doctor 15
5. Nue's Exorcist 144

Kiaida

1. Nue's Exorcist 144
2. Roku's House of Oddities 5
3. Someone Hertz 32
4. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3
5. Me & Roboco 280

Pietro

1. Kagurabachi 121
2. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 91
3. Someone Hertz 32
4. Alien Headbutt 13
5. Roku's House of Oddities 5

WyldViolet

1. Kinato's Magic 14
2. Someone Hertz 32
3. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3
4. Nue's Exorcist 144
5. Alien Headbutt 13

Hawke

1. Kagurabachi 121
2. Witch Watch 246
3. Roku's House of Oddities 5
4. Akane-banashi 205
5. Nue's Exorcist 144

shillin65

1. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3
2. Under Doctor 15
3. Kagurabachi 121
4. Someone Hertz 32
5. Hima-Ten! 89

Discomusic

1. Akane-banashi 205
2. Witch Watch 246
3. Kagurabachi 121
4. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 91
5. Blue Box 241

Inumaru

1. Roku's House of Oddities 5
2. Witch Watch 246
3. Someone Hertz 32
4. Ichi The Witch 81
5. Drawn to the Fire 4

LogicoftheVI

1. One Piece 1182
2. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 91
3. Kagurabachi 121
4. Kinato's Magic 14
5. Ichi the Witch 81

Wookitake

1. Akane-banashi 205
2. Kagurabachi 121
3. Blue Box 241
4. Witch Watch 246
5. Drawn to the Fire 4

Shockzz1234

1. Ichi the Witch 81
2. Kagurabachi 121
3. Witch Watch 246
4. One Piece 1182
5. Shinobi Undercover 80

icrawfish

1. Kagurabachi 121
2. Nue’s Exorcist 144
3. One Piece 1182
4. Akane-banashi 205
5. Witch Watch 246

Javieroski

1. Drawn to The Fire 4
2. Sakamoto Days 258
3. Hima-Ten! 89
4. Under Doctor 15
5. Kinato's Magic 14

NeeNeen

1. Kagurabachi
2. Shinobi Undercover
3. Nue's Exorcist 144
4. Under Doctor 15
5. Roku's House of Oddities 5

Nuesmoker

1. Nue's Exorcist 144
2. Someone Hertz 32
3. Kagurabachi 121
4. Roku's House Of Oddities 5
5. Under Doctor 15

ItsSamu

1. Akane-banashi 205
2. Ichi the Witch 81
3. Kagurabachi 121
4. One Piece 1182
5. Under Doctor 15

KyuKyu555

1. Blue Box 241
2. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3
3. One Piece 1182
4. Sakamoto Days 258
5. Drawn to the Fire 4

Shinuki no Reborn

1. Under Doctor 15
2. Kinato's Magic 14
3. Nue's Exorcist 144
4. Drawn to the Fire 4
5. Roku's House Of Oddities 5

--- Double Post Merged, May 19, 2026, Original Post Date: May 19, 2026 ---

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ISSUE #25 (2026) - POLL & COMMENT VOTING!

Yo guys & girls, the voting for issue #25 is now open! So please send your votes!

The members who already voted:

Spoiler

Thehoennhippo

1. Akane-banashi 206
2. Witch Watch 247
3. Someone Hertz 33
4. Drawn to the Fire 5
5. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 92

Kiaida

1. Nue's Exorcist 145
2. Roku's House of Oddities 6
3. Hima-Ten! 90
4. Someone Hertz 33
5. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 4

shillin65

1. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 4
2. Roku's House of Oddities 6
3. Someone Hertz 33
4. Hima-Ten! 90
5. Me & Roboco 281

Xanji06

1. Witch Watch 247
2. Shinobi Undercover 81
3. Roku's House of Oddities 6
4. Ichi The Witch 82
5. Under Doctor 16

WyldViolet

1. Akane-banashi 206
2. Nue's Exorcist 145
3. Someone Hertz 33
4. Kinato's Magic 15
5. Ichi the Witch 82

ItsSamu

1. Akane-banashi 206
2. Ichi the Witch 82
3. Sakamoto Days 259
4. Under Doctor 16
5. Witch Watch 247

defensor_de_boruto

1. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 92
2. Under Doctor 16
3. Sakamoto Days 259
4. Drawn to the Flame 5
5. Ichi the Witch 82

kiyoshibro

1. Under Doctor 16
2. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 92
3. Ichi the Witch 82

Pietro

1. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 92
2. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 4
3. Ichi the Witch 82
4. Under Doctor 16
5. Alien Headbutt 14

Javieroski

1. Sakamoto Days 259
2. Drawn to The Fire 5
3. Shinobi Undercover 81
4. Kinato's Magic 15
5. Under Doctor 16

 

[KyuKyu555]

My votes for Issue #24 of 2026:
1. Blue Box 241
2. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3
3. One Piece 1182

4. Sakamoto Days 258
5. Drawn to the Fire 4

6. Akane-banashi 205
7. Under Doctor 15
8. Roku’s House of Oddities 5
9. Witch Watch 246
10. Alien Headbutt 13
11. Kinato’s Magic 14
12. Hima-Ten! 89
13. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 91
14. Shinobi Undercover 80
15. Ichi the Witch 89
16. Someone Hertz 32

12 to 16 were still good chapters.
Sorry about this being so late. Just so it’s known I was literally about to click my poll votes.

 

[Wookitake]

#25

1. Akane
2. BB
3. WW
4. DttF
5. Kiyoshi

--

In regards to UD, I'm liking it, but there is clearly something missing. And I don't know if it's simply corrected following SD's steps.

Also, I want to resume reading Roku. Maybe I was too harsh with it.

 

[Neala897]

Bleach trailer for last part

 

[cameronney618]

Hitoner has a twitter account open. When is UD's going official?

『ヒトナー』公式 (@hitoner_pr) on X

少年ジャンプ＋で隔週水曜連載中！ 屋宜知宏先生「#ヒトナー」の公式アカウントです。 📕コミックス第1巻発売中‼️ 無料試し読みはリンクからご覧ください。 ↓

x.com

--- Double Post Merged, May 19, 2026, Original Post Date: May 19, 2026 ---

Also, it seems like hitoner is eligible for the digital slot for tsugimanga 2026. No bother guessing who's winning that one.

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

My votes for Issue #24 of 2026:
1. Blue Box 241
2. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz 3
3. One Piece 1182

4. Sakamoto Days 258
5. Drawn to the Fire 4

6. Akane-banashi 205
7. Under Doctor 15
8. Roku’s House of Oddities 5
9. Witch Watch 246
10. Alien Headbutt 13
11. Kinato’s Magic 14
12. Hima-Ten! 89
13. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi 91
14. Shinobi Undercover 80
15. Ichi the Witch 89
16. Someone Hertz 32

12 to 16 were still good chapters.
Sorry about this being so late. Just so it’s known I was literally about to click my poll votes.

Since you post just after i posted the result i decided to include your comment votes, so the results is now updated!

But please try to vote sooner this week

 

[tirakai]

Bleach trailer for last part

I'm very excited to see what's done with this, I think there's only 25 chapters left compared to Blood War part 1 & 2 adapting 60-70 chapters each and part 3 adapting around 50 chapters and that's with it significantly expanding a few fights. That means this season should end up being mostly comprised of new and expanded scenes (and maybe some stuff from the LNs).

The last 10 or so chapters of the manga in particular were very rushed with the non final fights just kinda ending suddenly and the last battle being lightning quick, so I'm hoping we get a good deal of extra content there especially.

 

[Inumaru]

Issue #25 votes:
1 - Drawn to the Fire
2 - Roku's House of Oddities
3 - Witch Watch
4 - Me & Roboco
5 - Under Doctor

 

[Shinuki no Reborn]

So, what is y'all take on why Alien Headbutt is flopping this hard despite being far from anything actually terrible?

My personal believe is that the series premise and magazine marketing sold a different kind of series, from the premise texts it gave the impression that would be like a actual deathmatch wrestling series against aliens in a desert island but in the end the series turn out to be mostly just the main character walking in the island and fighting non stop as if is a video game where you go to new location and fight enemies, also the complete lack of other wrestling characters and main girl definitely hurt the series.

 

[cameronney618]

So, what is y'all take on why Alien Headbutt is flopping this hard despite being far from anything actually terrible?

My personal believe is that the series premise and magazine marketing sold a different kind of series, from the premise texts it gave the impression that would be like a actual deathmatch wrestling series against aliens in a desert island but in the end the series turn out to be mostly just the main character walking in the island and fighting non stop as if is a video game where you go to new location and fight enemies, also the complete lack of other wrestling characters and main girl definitely hurt the series.

Wrestling is just outdated. Kinnikuman anime didn't do well either. Hell, wrestling in japan is losing popularity as a whole.

You have to waifubait this kind of series to sell in shonen magazines. It could've been written very well like Asumi was and it still wouldn't sell (Just like Asumi)

It amazes me that something like Isshou Senkin hasn't been serialised in Jump yet

 

[tirakai]

I think there's a few issues

- taking too long to introduce a second interesting character
- going too hard on the action too quickly (you need to build the characters first so people get attached and care about why they're fighting before you go full action mode)
- no other appeal to it except pure action either, there's no mystery, barely any character building, no comedy, no romance, just fight fight fight fight fight
- arrogant prideful delinquent-style protagonists don't seem to be popular in general these days

 

[cameronney618]

- arrogant prideful delinquent-style protagonists don't seem to be popular in general these days

Not with that design.

 

[Shonenfan]

So, what is y'all take on why Alien Headbutt is flopping this hard despite being far from anything actually terrible?

My personal believe is that the series premise and magazine marketing sold a different kind of series, from the premise texts it gave the impression that would be like a actual deathmatch wrestling series against aliens in a desert island but in the end the series turn out to be mostly just the main character walking in the island and fighting non stop as if is a video game where you go to new location and fight enemies, also the complete lack of other wrestling characters and main girl definitely hurt the series.

Younger gen does not seem to be into hard boiled stuff. It has an old school charm which is why millennial/older Gen Z westerners like it, but it’s not catching on with WSJ audiences. The fights weren’t really spectacular enough to carry it and the villains were generic until needle boy was introduced. MC’s design is also old school too. Basically, it came out in the wrong era and moved a little too slow at the start imo. I think the author has great potential though.

 

[cameronney618]

AH only had a sign of life only after Mei appeared. Waifubaiting clearly would have worked for this series if he did it early on.

 

[Kiaida]

So, what is y'all take on why Alien Headbutt is flopping this hard despite being far from anything actually terrible?

I just think it's not good. People can't go on about how "kids don't like wrestling anymore in Japan" even though you have characters like Incineroar popular with japanese kids over the last decade. Most Jump readers are in their 20s/30s anyway, so even if that was true it wouldn't explain it flopping.

The story is flat thin and for 10 chapters it was just a guy running around punching monsters. The art also isn't really that good, alien designs may be decent and he can make twitter bait spread pages, but he's inconsistent, action doesn't flow that well and generally isn't interesting. If you can't remember a specific move or action scene, you aren't doing your job with wrestling.

All the key moments in Kinnikuman are memorable because of its flashy techniques and over the top imagery, there's nothing here even remotely as fun as the Kinniku Buster, Kinniku Drive or the Muscle Spark, and this is just mentioning Suguru's techniques, all the enemies have their own iconic signature moves, while Alien Headbutt monsters barely interact in interesting ways with the MC, it forgets how much wrestling leans on BOTH fighters doing theatrics. The wrestling stuff feels more like window dressing than properly integrated to the story anyway.

 

[BelTL]

So, what is y'all take on why Alien Headbutt is flopping this hard despite being far from anything actually terrible?

My personal believe is that the series premise and magazine marketing sold a different kind of series, from the premise texts it gave the impression that would be like a actual deathmatch wrestling series against aliens in a desert island but in the end the series turn out to be mostly just the main character walking in the island and fighting non stop as if is a video game where you go to new location and fight enemies, also the complete lack of other wrestling characters and main girl definitely hurt the series.

Pure no brain unga bunga wont work nowadays