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 admittedly spectacular action panels. 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.