While Jujutsu Kaisen has had a difficult year with the fans as its conclusion has not gone over well with everyone, it's a fact of life that Weekly Shonen Jump readers seek out the next big thing: enter Kagurabachi in late 2023. I was there when the series debuted its edgy protagonist, unsurprised at the memes mocking his overly serious tone and curious about what drew in readers beyond the ittedly spectacular action s. While it took me a proper year to give Kagurabachi a chance, I'm glad I did, as it has matured into an excellent series.

Takeru Hokazono's manga doesn't stray too much from the battle shōnen formula, which can be a tough sell for readers growing fatigued with its evergreen potential for new offerings. However, these worries are often remedied by a quick glimpse at Kagurabachi's sales performance. While I'm not the type to pick up a series simply because it's popular, I was intrigued by the continued fuss after the memes in Q4 2023 died down. While the series has been widely available digitally, VIZ Media gave me an early copy of Kagurabachi volume #1 to show what I've been missing.

Kagurabachi Is More Than Just a Jujutsu Kaisen Successor

Takeru Hokazono Blends Revenge Thriller Pastiche and Action Manga Style

Immediately upon chapter #1, I was reminded of the stiff characterization of Kagurabachi's main character, Chihiro Rokuhira, as he exploded out of the prologue flashback, wielding his Enchanted Blade while hunting for his father's killers. While Chihiro's one-liners are rough in the first chapter, as many readers already know, this is a facade, with him having a surprisingly careful domestic side, making up for his father's shortcomings at home as a child. The result is a dutiful yet disarmingly comionate swordsman, fueled by revenge yet comionate to others, particularly kids like Char.

One might reasonably see Kagurabachi as the series to take the hype mantle recently vacated by Jujutsu Kaisen, and understandably so. Both feature urban fantasy settings, battling sorcerers, similarly grotesque horror undertones, and beautiful backgrounds set up to be shattered by their stunning action. It's not just generic similarities: Kagurabachi also charts healthily against the likes of seinen favorite Kingdom and fellow Weekly Shōnen Jump hit Blue Box, according to recent Oricon sales data, breaking past a million copies sold in its first year without an anime boost.

Kagurabachi blends more modern weaponry into its arsenal, with Chihiro slicing through grenades in chapter #38 despite a Katana Society with seemingly no guns.

But to dismiss Kagurabachi for its similarities with Jujutsu Kaisen is to throw the babies out with the bathwater; even the influences are differently sourced, such as Kagurabachi's Shinto inspirations versus Jujutsu Kaisen's Buddhist imagery. Against references to Mononobe Tengoku with Sukuna and lotus visuals in chapter #236, Kagurabachi leans more strictly on icons and direct Zen Buddhist or Shinto references like the Hishaku. With iconography like the Hishaku's "Flame" symbol noted by @brkagurabachi on X, infusing Aramitama and Nigimitama, there's plenty to dive into for Kagurabachi's content.

Despite modest differences, Kagurabachi can be celebrated for its common elements with Jujutsu Kaisen, namely how each balances bloody battles in an alternate modern Japan. Each has spectacular ing and a combat-ready streetwear sensibility that will surely draw the eye if animated. But with Kagurabachi's inevitable anime prospects, another, less modern inspiration comes to mind.

Demon Slayer Influences Play Well Into Kagurabachi's Anime Prospects

The Visuals of Chihiro's Enchanted Swords Evoke Another Bestselling Manga's Image

I being stunned by the debut of Demon Slayer's anime when my friend showed me in 2020. Tanjiro's Water Breathing gave similar impressions of traditional Japanese imagery from episode #4 to strikes from Chihiro's Enten in Kagurabachi. As readers know, Chihiro frequently channels goldfish of three colors tailored to his fighting abilities. The goldfish, a last-minute change from a more classically inspired koi motif, was adjusted to fit Chihiro's relationship with his father more, noted in an interview with Takeru Hokazono archived from an Asahi interview by @brkagurabachi.

Comparing Kagurabachi to Demon Slayer is less of a lateral comparison due to their starkly different representations of periods. Still, imagery is key and can help lower entry barriers for Demon Slayer fans seeking something new beyond simpler comparisons, such as swordfighters performing elaborate killing moves to grab the eye. But Kagurabachi's strengths extend beyond how Hokazono handles visuals compared to other contemporary shōnen hits.

Self-Awareness of Shonen Tropes While Still Using Them Exudes Joy for the Medium

Playing the Hits but Remixed

I'm a sucker for shōnen manga clichés, with Kagurabachi already having a storied TV Tropes page including Fantasy Gun Control, a reference to its convenient absence of guns (but not grenades) in a "Katana Society." In a manga about a swordsmith's son setting out to vanquish those who murdered his father and recover the six Enchanted Blades he forged, it's pretty easy to see the story venturing into familiar territory. Yet, Kagurabachi demonstrates self-awareness, recognizing these tropes, practically shouting them out to the reader, and using them humorously.

One early moment comes from Kagurabachi chapter #3 when Chihiro takes on the adorable Char, a clear Anya Forger-type who breaks the fourth wall somewhat. Upon finding out Char is also an orphan, Chihiro asks her if she's eaten lately. Before she can answer, her stomach plays out the classic Growling Gut trope: her rumbling tummy answers for her. Char then turns as if to face the reader, saying, "and there it is..." to Chihiro's confusion. This early moment made me laugh out loud with its disarming and simple humor, compared to the tense first two chapters of Kagurabachi.

One Year Later, Kagurabachi Deserves Recognition Beyond Memes

This Manga and Its Creator Are Going Places

There was a certain je ne sais quoi about what drew me to read more of Kagurabachi, as I didn't truly become "hooked" until chapter #36 when others like Hakuri awakened their abilities. But as I investigated more of Takeru Hokazono's influences, it clicked for me what I loved about him: he draws upon Quentin Tarantino's films for his revenge film themes but has referenced John Wick and Robert Pattinson's The Batman in his WSJ author comments. I adore all three of these, and I suddenly can't help but picture Pattinson's Bruce Wayne visage in Chihiro's more sullen moments.

During these moments, the absurd memes that catapulted Kagurabachi to global notoriety didn't even , as Hokazono also demonstrated how in tune he is with Western pop culture sensibilities. Still, I can't help but look back and be amused by how the memes have jammed up SEO to the point where Google queries yield nonsense like "Kagura means 1800, while Bachi means 56" for Kagurabachi's time setting. To this day, I don't trust landscape photos sent by one particular unnamed friend due to how many turned out to be just AI-generated Kagurabachi memes.

But at the end of the day, the Kagurabachi memes acted as a hook for North American audiences, some wholly unfamiliar with the property, boosting its impressions alongside an already strong Japanese readership. It's an excellent series that takes off a couple dozen chapters in, with a protagonist far more welcoming to teamwork and clever problem-solving in combat than his initially edgy, prickly personality suggests. But for now, I'm glad I gave Kagurabachi a chance, although I'd encourage readers to fully dive into each chapter to absorb the wealth of content beneath the surface.

Sources: Oricon, brkagurabachi on X, WSJ author comments, Kagurabachi on TV Tropes