7 Perfect Shonen Manga That Were Ruined By Terrible Endings

Despite manga being a medium that spans a plethora of genres, it's an undeniable fact that Shonen tends to be the most popular among fans. It's easy to see why these kinds of stories capture the attention of audiences around the world, as they are often entertaining, light-hearted, and provide important moral lessons. Most of the most popular manga ever written belong to Shonen, from the iconic Dragon Ball to a newer one Jujutsu Kaisen.

It's unfortunate that another trait that has damaged the reputation of more than a handful of series seems to come with the territory. Over the years, fans have been disillusioned with what would otherwise be considered a perfect manga due to its lackluster finale. Whether the ending doesn't match the message of the manga or the last few chapters deviate from the main plot, these series are notorious for dividing their fandom right at the finish line.

Demon Slayer

Better known for its anime adaptation, which became widely popular for what many consider to be the best animation in modern anime, Demon Slayer the series has seen great success since its first release in 2016. The story of Tanjira, who wants to take revenge on the evil Muzan, is not a groundbreaking premise, but its unique storytelling, stunning art style and lovable cast have marked the lives of millions of fans.

It is because of the love readers had for the series that the ending felt so disappointing to many. Several fans felt that the final battles between the heroes and Muzan's forces were too rushed to fully enjoy. This could be forgiven if the manga then jumps several decades to a modern setting where Tanjiro and his friends are long dead and the audience is forced to follow their descendants, whom they have never met, taking away from the impact of the final battle.

Yu Yu Hakusho

For many older fans, Yu Yu Hakusho is the title that introduced them to the world of manga, and there aren't many better titles to accomplish that goal. Yoshihiro Togashi's first masterpiece is one of the foundations that helped the Shonen genre become what it is today. It has exciting battles, memorable characters and abilities that every reader wishes to have. Additionally, this series has seen some of the best tournament arcs in history written thanks to the Dark Tournament saga.

As the end of this amazing series drew to a close, viewers were excited to learn what Togashi had in store for them. Their expectations were crushed when the story drastically changed tone and pace. Yusuke's father was revealed to have been a demon all along, the heroes were forced to fight in a tournament to crown the new ruler of the underworld, and the fights were nowhere near as spectacular as in the past. Decades later, some fans refuse to accept these final chapters as the true end of the manga.

My Hero Academia

Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia manga shocked the world by becoming one of the best-selling series worldwide almost overnight. Over the past decade, Deku's journey to become the world's greatest hero has dominated the medium, with millions of fans eagerly awaiting the release of the next entry in the series. The manga's fantastic yet realistic approach to society's problems while also gifting fans with some of the best battles in modern Shonen.

While it's true that the arc of the Final War series had everything readers could have wanted, it wasn't until the epilogue that things started to go downhill. Important plot points such as the need for a better Hero Society, deep-seated discrimination, and more importantly, Deku's heroic career were left unexplained. Fans were more than disappointed when the manga revealed that Izuku had to abandon his dream due to a lack of support from the government he saved. If not for the efforts of his friends, the end of the series would have been too bleak.

Bleach

That could be debated Bleach is one of the most influential manga in history. Ichigo's adventures as a Shinigami not only came at a time when the world was desperate for a new Shonen phenomenon, but also introduced a refreshing way to tell these stories. It's not for nothing that Bleach is considered one of the big three alongside the two franchises that still dominate the market today.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc is by no means a catastrophic event, but it is objectively the weakest of the series. The pacing and battles left a lot to be desired, the focus was taken away from the main cast and given to the supporting characters, and the big villain of the season, who was supposed to be one of the most broken characters in anime, was disappointingly defeated. The epilogue was able to bring back the essence of the series, but at that point it was too late for most fans.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo

When Gege is Akutani Jujutsu Kaisen manga ended already in 2024, fans were wondering if there would be a sequel to this worldwide hit. They didn't have to wait long Modulea direct sequel to Yuji's story set 68 years after the Culling Games, was released. Initially, the series managed to impress fans by introducing new and innovative ideas such as an alien race capable of using Cursed Energy and the return of some fan favorite characters.

As the end of the series approached, fans became concerned about the pacing as there were still many story threads that had yet to be explored. Unfortunately, the worst case scenario happened where the manga ended in a rushed and unfulfilling way. Battles ended off-screen, issues that were still relevant were resolved in seconds, and the final pages left readers with a sour taste in their mouths. Discussion of how disappointing the ending was is still fresh online.

The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins has always been a polarizing manga as most readers either love it or hate it with a passion. The idea of ​​this fantasy story caught the attention of many fans because it was something bold and fresh. The heroes were impressively strong but flawed, the world was vivid, and the magic system was unique enough to entertain the audience. Even though it was most popular in its early stages, many fans still found it to be an interesting and entertaining story.

That being said, there was no one who could have imagined how unappealing the end of the story would be, even for the most die-hard fans. Several plot twists were used on more than one occasion, the final battle felt like any other encounter, and the epilogue was as obvious as it could be. It's hard to think of a finale that has generated as much controversy among the fandom as The Seven Deadly Sins and its convoluted final act.

Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki is not only the face of one of the biggest anime franchises of all time, he is also one of the most popular characters ever written for manga. Masashi Kishimoto's eponymous series has left a legacy unlike any other in the history of the industry. It has an amazing and touching storyline, a cast of characters that are hard to forget, and one of the best power systems in Shonen. For many fans, Naruto is the epitome of what manga should be.

The only issues that have arisen among his fandom members are the grief that his last arc, The Fourth Great Ninja War, caused them at the end. What started as an epic showdown against the most awesome and powerful villain in the series, Madara, dragged on considerably, and its impact grew smaller and smaller with each passing chapter. The introduction of Kaguya and the Otsutsuki race as the real villains of the manga was an unexpected and unwelcome addition. Naruto he's still worthy of all the adulation he's received, but his final arc will forever remain divisive.