Published May 31, 2026, 11:45 AM 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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With the winning sales and series formula boasted by Weekly Shonen Jump, one can reasonably count on three consistent trends for the magazine: One Piece's steady continuation, brutal cancellations of underperforming series, and new titles emerging in their place. This is what the manga giant's all about, pushing iteration on proven trends, and upholding ones that break the mold but in a way that resonates with enough readers in financially viable fashion. Sadly, it means Alien Headbutt, the pro-wrestling sci-fi action series by Akira Inui, did neither sufficiently, with Shonen Jump ending its run on chapter #16.
But the good news is, for those seeking something new to grab their attention, Shonen Jump has confirmed that three new series will emerge in its place starting next week. These feature the creative duo of Robinson Haruhara (Senyu, 'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess) and Taishi Tsutsui (We Never Learn), Kento Terasaka (Green Green Greens, Beast Children), and Reiya Machida (Memento in Kowloon, Vroom!!). With some like Terasaka being established creators returning for another serialization in Shonen Jump, it's an exciting time for those wishing to see them get a chance in manga's most popular magazine, provided they too can dodge the axe.
Shonen Jump Readies Three New Series After Alien Headbutt Departure
Confirmed on Sunday, May 31, 2026's issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, three new series will join following today's finale for Alien Headbutt on chapter #16. Starting next week, the Shueisha flagship will begin running Animal Signal (Haruhara, Tsutsui) on June 7, HAL FORMULA (Terasaka) on June 14, and Cannon Master (Machida) on June 21, with various tried-and-true genre hooks fitting the shonen giant.
Animal Signal, fitting the flexibility of Haruhara's work involving comedy, appears to use the world of animals this time as its draw, focusing on a group of investigators working at a zoo, benefiting from Tsutsui's visual style to blend great character interactions with zany animals. However, the series teases additional twists, primarily involving its central girl and the supposedly unique abilities she boasts as part of the "Animal Countermeasures Center".
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Meanwhile, HAL FORMULA appears to take the continuing focus on sports, dating back to when creator Terasaka was an assistant under Tadatoshi Fujimaki, creator of Kuroko's Basketball, as well as multiple sports serializations of his own. These included the rugby-focused Beast Children, and Green Green Greens, his serialization expanding on his golf one-shot, GAIN, with HAL FORMULA to reveal more details in next week's Shonen Jump preview, with initial speculation tying it to racing and the motorsport world, keeping the sports formula consistent.
Finally, Cannon Master is the first serialization by Reiya Machida, who has been creating noteworthy one-shots since 2019, with this being the first to get a full series in Weekly Shonen Jump. Little is known about the series other than it being possibly the latest battle fantasy to join the publication, which is perhaps the safest of the three formulas featured in this latest batch. Time will surely tell whether Cannon Master becomes a long-running hit to dodge the Shonen Jump cancellation machine, but it's clear that Machida's entry to the magazine is a momentous occasion.
Alien Headbutt The First Of Likely Next Cancellation Wave
As fans know very well by this point, Shonen Jump shows zero hesitation in cutting underperforming series. Alien Headbutt's axing was perhaps unsurprising, but still deeply disappointing, especially as it was a fun, creative spin on battle shonen for longtime readers. Of its batch alongside Under Doctor and Kinato's Magic, Alien Headbutt was the shortest of the three, ending tragically with just 16 chapters. Unless newer manga like Drawn to the Fire or Roku's House of Oddities gets cut even earlier, Inui's sci-fi action series is likely the shortest-lived Shonen Jump manga of 2026.
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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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While certain new additions, like the Gintama creator Hideaki Sorachi's Class 2-B Hero Destroyerz, won't likely be the next to go, Shonen Jump readers will inevitably grow anxious whether other series will be cut to make room. Until such confirmation comes, though, it's best for readers worldwide to continue tangibly supporting the series they love by engaging with them, with all the latest chapters available free on platforms like Manga Plus or the Shonen Jump app.
Cast Mayumi Tanaka, Junko Takeuchi, Masako Nozawa, Masakazu Morita, Daiki Yamashita, Natsuki Hanae, Junya Enoki, Megumi Han, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Mamoru Miyano, Nozomu Sasaki, Gakuto Kajiwara, Yûsuke Kobayashi, Ayumu Murase, Sumire Morohoshi, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Kensho Ono, Ryôtarô Okiayu
Created by Takashi Isono, Kazuhiko Torishima
English (US) ·