Published Jun 16, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT
An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.
His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.
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Serialized from 2012 to 2020, there was little that could compete with the feel-good sports vibes of Weekly Shonen Jump's Haikyuu!! The series was the perfect combination of various underdog story formulas as the players for the once-illustrious Karasuno High School, particularly the short king at its center, Shoyo Hinata. The manga and anime franchise balanced strong animation with exceptional character development, presenting winsome scenarios that drove audiences to cheer the team on, and plenty of BL fanships. But even over a decade since its debut, few sports anime have risen to meet similarly gratifying heights in their debuts.
In the case of Spring 2026's latest debut, Hal Formula, Shonen Jump may just recapture that energy, but with a peculiar shift in its featured sport. Instead of high school volleyball, Kento Terasaka (Green Green Greens) brings the action to the ultra-high octane tracks of WF1 racing. It's a gorgeous new series which, hopefully, can outlive Terasaka's other two Shonen Jump serials. But fittingly, the series features a risk-averse star, pushed to face his fears in order to shine on the racetrack and ascend from the lowly WF4 circuit to the top.
Shonen Jump's Channeling Haikyuu!! Vibes In Its New Sports Series
Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Hal Formula Chapter #1!
There have certainly been exceptional sports and coming-of-age manga to similarly embody Haikyuu!!'s spirit, like Blue Box balancing competition and growth in badminton, basketball, and romance. Even Akane-banashi features a similarly engaging protagonist. At the center of this new series, though, is 19-year-old Miharu Suzukaze representing Adler Lights Racing, whose inability to make it to the top 10 puts his career at heavy risk of ending. What's perhaps most tragic, though, is that his four-year-old brother Haruka absolutely idolizes him, understandably finding his racer brother to have the coolest job in the world. But once again, disaster strikes, and he crashes out of the race.
Hal Formula appears to set its racing leagues up like the Formula 1 feeder leagues. WF1 is the world's premier racing league in the series, with WF4, where Miharu currently races, at the bottom.
It turns out that, while Miharu is a gifted racer, being seen as a worthwhile prospect in WF4. But nobody will want to invest in a racer who is "not a fighter", that is, not somebody who takes the calculated risks necessary to pull ahead. Despite significant hurdles ahead, Haruka, a naive young dreamer, is steadfast in supporting his brother, believing he can break into WF1, despite it only housing 20 drivers in the world. The way Miharu tells it, he got onto the scene ever since discovering the joy of racing and competition while go-karting as a child, "driving like his life depended on it" ever since. But Miharu had it all wrong: he was driving defensively, to protect himself, rather than using that motivation to push harder.
Miharu is frankly a lovable shonen protagonist. He's paralyzed by his fears, but still can't help but shout to the skies above that he'll race to the top. There are glimpses of rivals who passed Miharu by, an obvious, fitting trope that will surely provide multiple noteworthy characters ahead, even if it leaves Miharu insecure when told his whole life is ahead of him. Yet, he perseveres, while Haruka feeds off this, finding his brother to be a positive role model, willing to defend his honor against other kids at daycare who dare to disrespect him. It produces wonderfully heartfelt moments where Haruka gives his idol a special medal made from his gold origami paper, sure to be a prized token Miharu will look upon in future chapters.
Hal Formula, despite being wildly different from Haikyuu!! and not even being set in high school, still has the juice to hit similar emotional heights. One might even reasonably compare Miharu to Asahi Azumane with his "Glass Heart", with him growing increasingly crushed by later defeats, unable to hide his shame from Haruka. He has a rational fear of death, a real consequence of catastrophic failure on the track, and the prospect of quitting initially gives him relief. But Haruka once again gets through to him, facing his boyhood fears, in a bid to inspire Miharu. It's a magnificent display, prompting a spectacular race in the finale.
Hal Formula Shows All Facets Of Its Potential In Chapter #1
Being a Shonen Jump manga, it was practically a foregone conclusion that Miharu would win the pivotal race and stay in the game. But seeing him don his brother's origami medal was a true class act moment for the character, vowing to his brother that, in a last-ditch effort, he'd secure a victory on the track as well as against his own worst enemy, himself. The chapter showcases the kinetic fury of vehicles racing at 220 km/h, with the only hope of getting ahead being to risk one's life. It's gorgeously drawn, showcasing the tension of these drivers in their open-cockpit vehicles, thumbing their noses at death. Miharu, knowing this could be the last race Haruka watches, puts on a hell of a show.
The rest is Terasaka at his best. With the mangaka swinging for the fences, Hal Formula is his third serialized manga, so the tension is felt in the detailed art and in his writing throughout. It's a gripping final act in which Miharu stares down death, pushed almost foolishly by his little brother's words, to break through a devastating wreck that occurs around him. It's not even a great moment of driving, but instead a massive personal victory, and readers will understandably be moved to see just how much joy and adoration is seen in the manga's central sibling bond.
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01
Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama, is one of the most influential manga ever published in Weekly Shonen Jump. The series follows Goku on his journey from a child to the universe’s greatest fighter. What is Goku’s original Saiyan name?
AVegeta BKakarot CBardock DRaditz
✓ Correct! Goku’s birth name is Kakarot, given to him on Planet Vegeta before he was sent to Earth as a baby. His Saiyan rival Vegeta famously refuses to call him “Goku” and always refers to him by his true Saiyan name, Kakarot.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Kakarot. Vegeta is the Saiyan prince, Bardock is Goku’s father, and Raditz is Goku’s older brother. Kakarot is the Saiyan name given to Goku at birth before he was sent to Earth.
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02
Naruto Uzumaki dreams of becoming the Hokage — the leader of his village. Throughout the series, Naruto carries a powerful entity sealed inside him since birth. What is sealed within Naruto?
AThe Ten-Tails BThe Curse Mark CKurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox DThe Rinnegan
✓ Correct! Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, was sealed inside Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, on the day of his birth. What began as a source of fear and isolation for Naruto eventually became his greatest ally and friend.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. The Ten-Tails is a different, more powerful beast. The Curse Mark is Orochimaru’s seal, and the Rinnegan is a legendary eye technique. Kurama was sealed in Naruto at birth by the Fourth Hokage.
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03
In the manga Bleach by Tite Kubo, the main character Ichigo Kurosaki gains the powers of a Soul Reaper. Soul Reapers wield unique weapons that have names and special abilities. What are these signature weapons called?
ASacred Gears BZanpakuto CNen Weapons DBankai Blades
✓ Correct! Zanpakuto are the signature weapons of Soul Reapers in Bleach. Each Zanpakuto has its own spirit and name, and a Soul Reaper must learn that name to unlock its Shikai (initial release) and eventually its Bankai (final release) forms.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Zanpakuto. Sacred Gears are from High School DxD, Nen is the power system from Hunter x Hunter, and Bankai is actually a Zanpakuto’s final release form — not the weapon’s name itself. Zanpakuto literally means “soul-cutting sword.”
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04
In Dragon Ball Z, Frieza is one of the most iconic villains in anime history. He is a tyrannical galactic emperor responsible for destroying the Saiyan homeworld. What is the name of the planet Frieza destroyed?
APlanet Namek BPlanet Vegeta CPlanet Sadala DEarth
✓ Correct! Planet Vegeta, named after King Vegeta, was the homeworld of the Saiyan race. Frieza destroyed it with a single energy blast because he feared the growing power of the Saiyans and the legend of the Super Saiyan. Only a handful of Saiyans survived, including Goku and Vegeta.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Planet Vegeta. Planet Namek is the home of the Namekians and the Dragon Balls, Planet Sadala is the Saiyan homeworld in Universe 6, and Earth is where Goku was raised. Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta out of fear of the Saiyan race’s potential.
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05
My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) by Kohei Horikoshi is set in a world where most people have superpowers. What is the term used for these superpowers in My Hero Academia?
AStands BJutsu CQuirks DCursed Techniques
✓ Correct! In My Hero Academia, about 80% of the world’s population possesses a Quirk — a unique superpower that manifests in childhood. The protagonist Izuku Midoriya was born Quirkless but inherited the powerful Quirk “One For All” from the greatest hero, All Might.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Quirks. Stands are from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Jutsu are techniques from Naruto, and Cursed Techniques belong to Jujutsu Kaisen. In My Hero Academia, superpowers are called Quirks, and they vary wildly from person to person.
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06
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami features a power system based on negative human emotions that manifest as dangerous supernatural beings. What are these beings called?
AHollows BDemons CCursed Spirits DTitans
✓ Correct! Cursed Spirits in Jujutsu Kaisen are born from the accumulation of negative emotions like fear, hatred, and sadness leaked by humans. Jujutsu sorcerers like protagonist Yuji Itadori use cursed energy to exorcise these dangerous beings and protect humanity.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Cursed Spirits. Hollows are from Bleach, Demons are from Demon Slayer, and Titans are from Attack on Titan. In Jujutsu Kaisen, negative human emotions give rise to Cursed Spirits that jujutsu sorcerers must exorcise.
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07
In Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) by Koyoharu Gotouge, protagonist Tanjiro Kamado uses specialized sword techniques called Breathing Styles. What is the first Breathing Style that Tanjiro learns?
ASun Breathing BWater Breathing CFire Breathing DThunder Breathing
✓ Correct! Tanjiro learns Water Breathing from the former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki. Water Breathing is known for its fluid, adaptable movements. While Tanjiro later discovers his connection to the legendary Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura), Water Breathing was his first and foundational combat style.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Water Breathing. Sun Breathing is the original style that Tanjiro discovers later through his family’s Hinokami Kagura dance. Fire Breathing and Thunder Breathing are used by other Demon Slayers. Tanjiro trained under Sakonji Urokodaki to master Water Breathing first.
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08
Weekly Shonen Jump has been the home of many of the biggest manga series in history. Which of these series has sold the most copies worldwide as of 2024?
ANaruto BDragon Ball COne Piece DDemon Slayer
✓ Correct! One Piece by Eiichiro Oda holds the record as the best-selling manga series of all time, with over 500 million copies sold worldwide. Running since 1997, the series follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew on their quest to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is One Piece. While Naruto (~250 million), Dragon Ball (~260 million), and Demon Slayer (~150 million) are all massive sellers, One Piece stands alone with over 500 million copies sold — making it the best-selling manga in history by a wide margin.
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This is all for a victory from the abyssal lows of WF4, with vast challenges ahead. So ideally, for this manga to shine, it'll need reader support in the weeks and months ahead. Hal Formula has the potential to create some fantastic, thrilling racing arcs, with Terasaka easily handling the visceral terror of what it can mean for drivers to fail in the sport. It presents loads of opportunities for characters to grow, flourish, and flame out spectacularly. But it also represents the feel-good spirit of the best Shonen Jump has to offer in its sports catalog, and hopefully will run in the magazine for a long, healthy life.
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Created by Takashi Isono, Kazuhiko Torishima
First Film Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
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Shonen Jump is one of Japan's most successful manga anthology franchises, published by Shueisha. Launched in 1968, it is the source of some of the most beloved and popular anime and manga series, such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Naruto. The franchise has extended into multiple adaptations across various media, including anime, films, video games, and merchandise.
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