Jujutsu Kaisen Takes Dragon Ball’s Spot As Modern Best Fighting Manga
Gege #Gege
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Jujutsu Kaisen #224Despite it supernatural vibe, occult themes, and Byzantine plot points, Jujutsu Kaisen is, at its heart, a classic battle manga that takes the crown that used to belong to Dragon Ball as the best battle manga Shonen Jump currently has in circulation.
As the name suggests, battle manga depict action adventures that feature copious amounts of fight scenes and all their ancillary elements including training segments, the acquisition of next-level techniques, and a never-ending stream of opponents for the protagonists to overcome. Generally, battle manga focus on one or more young protagonists that must endure existential hardship and near-death experiences before they finally are able to transcend themselves and their opponents. Dragon Ball set the standard for the genre in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming the most recognized and widespread manga franchise in the world.
Jujutsu Kaisen Surpasses Dragon Ball As Best Battle Manga 
Many series have followed in Dragon Ball’s footsteps while at the same time trying to innovate as much as they can of its formula. Despite the presence of supernatural and horror elements, Jujutsu Kaisen shines as one of the best battle manga of its generation, as proved by the recent chapter #244, featuring the revolutionary fight between Gojo and Sukuna. Outside a few panels of small talk at the beginning and end, the chapter dedicates nearly 16 pages, approximately 73 percent of its whole length to just the initial “sizing up the opponent” phase of the fight, with the two contenders sizing up each other’s strength while unleashing some devastating attacks.
Prior to Jujutsu Kaisen the quintessential example of classic battle manga was Dragon Ball. Goku’s never-ending quest to be the best fighter in the universe has been the hallmark of the genre for more than three decades. More recently, it has been challenged by the likes of Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, and One-Punch Man, which all brought their own unique flair to the simple premise of the genre. However, as chapter #224 makes clear, Jujutsu Kaisen has set a new standard for battle manga excellence. The supernatural element adds a whole new dimension to the hand-to-hand combat sequences drawn and conceived by author Gege Akutami.
No Other Battle Manga Is Doing “Fighting” Like Jujutsu Kaisen 
Most importantly, while battle manga are said to be short on plot and strong on action, most fans would agree that Jujutsu Kaisen’s plot is anything but bland. In fact, many argue that Jujutsu Kaisen’s plot is too complex, and often confusing. However, the plot helps keeping readers interested during those occasionally “quiet” moments in the story without much fighting or training. In fact, even without the fighting, Jujutsu Kaisen would be a great purely supernatural manga story. But as fans of the series know, it’s that combination of action and complex but intriguing plot that makes Jujutsu Kaisen one the best battle manga currently available, and certainly the rightful successor to Dragon Ball.
Jujutsu Kaisen #224 is now available from Viz Media.