2020 was a year that will undoubtedly go down in history. While the world was practically trapped inside for the majority of it, manga fans figured what better way to spend their time than catching up on their favorite series? Readers of all genres of manga took to their couches to follow along with the crazy events as they unfolded. Whether shocking, controversial or simply heartbreaking, here are five jaw-dropping manga moments that left fans speechless (or in some cases, quite the opposite).
Confirming Dabi as Endeavor's Son in My Hero Academia
On the surface, the reveal of Dabi's true identity may not have come as a shock to the until the release of chapter 290. Dabi publicly revealed his real name to be Toya Todoroki. It's fairly hard to ever sympathize with Endeavor. Still, readers can see the shock on Shoto's face as he realizes he has been fighting against a league fronted by his own brother the entire time. Though tragic to the Todoroki family to see what became of Toya, it was exciting for readers to see the manga confirm their theory. While it was not incredibly jarring to many, it's not everyday a fan base gets to say they knew it all along.
Sarada's Battle With Boro
Like his father in the beloved original Naruto series, Boruto also has an array of powerful peers ready to pick up a battle at all times. Chapter 41 contains one fight in particular that shows the true capabilities of Boruto's team. This past year, some readers have argued that the daughter of Sasuke and Sakura, named Sarada Uchiha, should serve as the main protagonist of who the real protagonist of Boruto should be.
The Demon Slayer Finale
This one is less of a shocking moment in manga history, and more of an overwhelmingly precious way to end such a rollercoaster ride of a series. The finale sped years into the future to reveal the fate of Nezuko Kamado. There was already a bit of discourse at this point surrounding when Shonen Jump should (and would) bring the series to a close, considering they have a history of dragging successful storylines on. This proved to be a satisfying ending for fans, but it also sparked a major theory amongst readers; was a hint at more to come. While maybe not the most shocking Demon Slayer moment, it was a controversial yet perfect ending to an incredible series.
Isabella's sacrifice in The Promised Neverland
Fans of the dark fantasy manga series survive in the tragic situation she has been placed in. That all changed in chapter 176 when the mother threw her body in front of a demon in order to protect the children. The chapter left fans in suspense as they wondered what fate Isabella would face in the next issue. Unfortunately, she would meet an untimely demise in chapter 177, as she reflected on her life as a mother. For much of the manga, Isabella's character was defined by her dedication to survival at all costs (just like the children of the series). She may not be a character that readers fall in love with as she assists in dooming innocent children to a horrible fate. This one moment of self-sacrifice proves to be a turning point in her arc, as well as her ultimate downfall.
Hange's death in Attack on Titan
If any manga series knows just how to break the hearts of its fans, it would be Hajime Isayama's fellow fighter Levi Ackerman, she faced her death win honor and was seen reuniting with fallen characters of Attack on Titan past. It's this dynamic moment of both relief and tragedy that brought readers to tears. Of course, no death would have been easy to swallow here...but did it have to be Hange?
