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Jujutsu Kaisen, praised for its gritty, realistic themes and handling of serious story arcs, has left a hole behind in the manga community ever since the last chapter was released in 2024. And while many fans are still caught up in waiting for the newest season to release or watching the series latest theatrical release, quite a few have been debating what series will take the place as the next big thing in the community. So, if you’re searching for a new series to start that is reminiscent of Jujutsu Kaisen’s plot and tone, I suggest checking out some of these manga series listed below, a few of which are already on the rise in popularity and recognition.
10) Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku is a bit of a cheat to add to this list, seeing as it’s also part of Shonen Jump’s Dark Trio and has a decently sized fan base. The manga also has its own anime adaptation, with a second season set to debut in 2026. Despite its popularity, I still feel the need to point more attention towards Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku; it hasn’t received nearly enough attention for how good the manga is, or how it arguably is the most cohesive story among the Dark Trio. The manga finished back in 2021 and has a total of 127 chapters, making for a relatively short read.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku focuses on Gabimaru the Hollow, an infamous shinobi sentenced to death for his crimes. Before the execution can be carried out, Gabimaru is made an offer: travel to the legendary island, Shinsenkyo, and search for the Elixir of Life in order to gain a pardon and return home to his wife. The series handles topics such as redemption, the balance of life, the relationship between life and death, and the nature of power. Not to mention, the series has some of the most beautiful art offered in recent shonen series, making it a visually appealing read, too.
9) Gokurakugai

Gokurakugai is a newer manga series that was first serialized in 2022, with the official English translation released back in 2024. The manga currently has 29 chapters, and is ongoing with a new chapter scheduled to release sometime in October 2025. In a sea of new series, Gokurakugai stands out because of its vivid, detailed art style and trendy character designs. It makes use of creating a unique supernatural world that blends with fast-paced action sequences and slick, dynamic characters who are refreshingly fun to follow.
The plot of this manga is set in the fictional district of Gokurakugai, the series’ namesake, a place where humans live alongside animalist beastmen. Tao and Alma are a pair of “troubleshooters”, dubbed as such for dealing with the problems of paying clients. While working, the duo discovers a darker underbelly to the city, concerning deadly monster-hybrids called Disaster Beats that are threatening the population of Gokurakugai. This manga series deals with themes like complex morality, self-discovery, the dual nature of light and dark, and the importance of relying on others. Hop on the train before this series blows up, because it’s going to happen soon.
8) Dandadan

Dandadan is a series that continues to grow in popularity, first premiering in 2021 on the Shonen Jump website. Since then, the manga has amassed over 200 chapters, or about 20 volumes (the Japanese print at least, as the English translation is further behind). The manga has also been adapted to an anime series that helped capture fan attention, with a second season having debuted in 2025. Audiences are drawn to Dandadan for its genre-blending plot, taking elements from horror, supernatural, sci-fi, and even comedy. There’s also a strong focus on character development and relationships, which is always a plus in shonen manga where battles and training arcs can sometimes take center stage.
The storyline of Dandadan follows high-school students Momo and Okarun, both with strange beliefs in the supernatural. Momo thinks ghosts and spirits are real, while Okarun is convinced that the existence of aliens is an irrefutable fact; together, the duo decides to challenge each other to prove whether or not their beliefs hold any merit. This results in Okarun being cursed by a powerful spirit, while Momo is abducted by aliens, which awakens buried psychic abilities in her. Together, the two must learn more about their new powers while fighting off supernatural threats. The series explores themes such as friendship, the power of real connection, self-discovery, and facing the unknown.
7) Gachiakuta

Gachiakuta is a manga series that first debuted in Weekly Shonen Magazine back in 2022. As of this year, the series has just over 147 chapters and has also had an anime adaptation released in July 2025. The series can be classified as a dark fantasy manga with elements of action and dystopian fiction. It’s already attracted plenty of fans who praise the manga for its art style that easily stands out among other contemporary pieces, using graffiti-like aspects and a grungy aesthetic to properly evoke setting and tone.
In Gachiakuta, we follow the story of Rudo, born in the slums of a utopian floating city that houses the wealthy and prestigious. Beneath the city is an endless chasm dubbed the Abyss, a place filled with garbage, discarded belongings, and monstrous beings. Rudo finds himself exiled to the depths of the Abyss after he’s framed for the murder of his stepfather, cast out from the floating city, and forced to survive in the new, harsh conditions he’s found himself tossed into. Gachiakuta handles mature themes such as finding value in broken things, classism, battling injustice in the system, and social struggle.
6) Sakamoto Days

Sakamoto Days is a highly addictive, fast-paced action manga that interestingly features an older protagonist than the usual teenage shonen hero we’re all used to seeing. The manga first debuted in Shonen Jump in 2020, and has over 220 chapters with the story’s final arc drawing closer. Sakamoto Days also has an anime adaptation that was released in 2025, with the first season split into two parts (the latest airing in July 2025). If you’re a fan of action comedies with hitman-style fight sequences and everyday life blended into the plot, then this manga might be one for you to pick up.
In Sakamoto Days, our main character is Taro Sakamoto, a renowned, retired hitman who currently works at his self-owned convenience store. Though Taro wishes to leave his past behind, it comes knocking in the form of an ever-present stream of assassins, gang members, and underground affiliates looking for the world’s best hitman. To protect himself, his family, and his new life, Taro must rely on old skills to take out the growing threats as they try to invade the peaceful new beginning Taro has created for himself. Sakamoto Days is an awesome manga full of feel-good moments, intense fight scenes, and an emphasis on being able to start over at any age.













