The iconic magazine Weekly Shonen Jumphome to some of the most influential titles in recent manga, such as “My Hero Academia” and “Jujutsu Kaisen“, faces a critical challenge in its near future: the removal of these two series from its pages. Faced with this situation, publisher Shueisha launched an ambitious contest titled “JUMP Next Generation Battle Manga Award”with the aim of discovering the next big star who can fill the void left by these successful franchises.

The contest has a very specific focus: finding the magazine's next heroes, both professional and amateur authors. To this end, Shueisha brought together a panel of renowned judges, composed of Tite Kubo (creator of BLEACH), Kohei Horikoshi (creator of My Hero Academia), Yuki Tabata (creator of Black Clover) and Gege Akutami (creator of JUJUTSU KAISEN). These four manga giants will be in charge of selecting the winners, who will receive not only cash prizes, but also the support needed to transform their works into the next hits of Weekly Shonen Jump.

The contest's grand prize consists of one million yen, along with other cash prizes ranging from 10,000 yen to 500,000 yen. In addition, the first, second and third place winners will be guaranteed publication of their works in the digital edition of Shonen Jump. The first and second place winners will also have their manga published in the special GIGA edition, and the first place winner will win a spot in the printed magazine. All those receiving honorable mentions or higher will receive editorial assistance from one of the four featured judges, which could be the boost needed for future serializations.

One of the most interesting aspects of this competition is that the winners whose works are serialized in the printed magazine will receive a recommendation on the advertising cover (obi) of the compiled volume, written by one of the judges. This type of endorsement is extremely valuable in the manga industry as it can attract a considerable audience from the start.

The deadline for entries is January 20, 2025, and winners will be announced in March 2025. This busy schedule suggests that Shueisha is eager to find its next big hit as quickly as possible, especially at a time when the future of Weekly Shonen Jump is at a crossroads.

The pressure of finding new success

The situation is especially critical for Weekly Shonen Jump because several of its most popular series are coming to an end or have already ended. “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “My Hero Academia,” two of the magazine’s current pillars, are practically finished. Although the resumption of “HUNTER x HUNTER” has been announced for October, fans and the publisher itself are aware that the continuity of the work is uncertain.due to the health problems of its author, Yoshihiro Togashi.

Shueisha's concern for finding the next big manga star is palpable. Weekly Shonen Jump has been the birthplace of countless hits over the decades, but with the release of such influential series, the magazine risks losing its dominant position in the industry if it can't find new work that captures the public's attention. The launch of this contest seems to be a direct response to this need, proactively seeking out talent that can keep Shonen Jump on top.

Source: Natalie in comics