Jujutsu Kaisen’s Monumental Comeback: One Piece’s Longest Reign Faces a New Challenger

For decades, Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has stood as an unassailable titan in the manga industry. Its epic scope, unparalleled world-building, and consistent sales performance have cemented its status as the number one best-selling manga of all time. Even as new series have risen to prominence and briefly challenged its single-volume sales, no series has been able to match its year-over-year dominance. However, recent data and the undeniable resurgence of a modern masterpiece have made the manga world sit up and take notice. The undisputed reign of the Straw Hat Pirates is now facing a fierce, renewed rivalry as Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen makes a staggering return to the top of the sales charts.

The manga market of 2024 was a testament to the incredible quality and diversity of modern storytelling. While titles like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Blue Lock captivated audiences, the real story was the intense showdown between the old guard and the new. Oricon’s annual sales rankings for 2024 revealed a stunning development: while a single volume of One Piece, Volume 108, was the top seller, the series as a whole was narrowly edged out by the sheer force of Jujutsu Kaisen. This marks a significant shift in the landscape, a moment where a younger, but no less impactful, series is able to compete with a legacy title on its own turf. The return to prominence of Jujutsu Kaisen is not just a fluke; it’s a testament to its compelling narrative and the massive boost from its critically acclaimed anime adaptation.

The Power of the Shibuya Incident Arc

The primary driver of Jujutsu Kaisen’s meteoric rise in 2024 was undoubtedly the incredible success of its anime’s second season. The adaptation of the Hidden Inventory/Premature Death and, most significantly, the Shibuya Incident Arcs by Studio MAPPA was a cultural phenomenon. The second half of the season, with its relentless pacing, jaw-dropping animation, and shocking plot twists, captivated audiences worldwide. This anime-fueled boost translated directly to manga sales, as new and existing fans flocked to read the source material. According to official data from Oricon, Jujutsu Kaisen sold an incredible 7.61 million copies in 2024, surpassing One Piece’s impressive 5.25 million copies for the year. The manga’s final volumes, as the series concluded its long serialization, were at the top of the weekly sales charts for an extended period, demonstrating the immense hype and demand from a global fanbase.

This is not the first time an anime adaptation has had a dramatic effect on manga sales. We saw a similar, if even more explosive, boom with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, which briefly stole the top spot from One Piece. However, unlike Demon Slayer which had a swift conclusion, Jujutsu Kaisen’s dominance is built on a sustained period of high-quality content and a dedicated fanbase that has only grown with the anime’s success. The series has officially surpassed 100 million copies in circulation, a milestone that puts it in the elite company of manga legends like Dragon Ball and My Hero Academia. This achievement is particularly notable because it was reached during the manga’s original run, a feat accomplished by very few series.

One Piece’s Unwavering Legacy

Despite being surpassed in a single year’s total sales, it would be a mistake to count One Piece out. The series continues to be an unstoppable juggernaut. While Jujutsu Kaisen’s yearly sales were higher, a single volume of One Piece, Volume 108, was the highest-selling individual comic of the year. Furthermore, every new volume of One Piece released in 2024 sold over a million copies, a testament to its unparalleled consistency and the devotion of its long-term fanbase. The series holds the Guinness World Record for “The most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author,” a record that is updated with every new volume. Its total worldwide circulation now stands at over 510 million copies, a number no other series can even come close to touching.

The ongoing Egghead Island Arc, with its mind-bending revelations and high-stakes battles, continues to push the boundaries of shonen manga. Eiichiro Oda’s storytelling is in a league of its own, and the Final Saga is setting the stage for a conclusion that could redefine the entire medium. The rivalry between Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece is ultimately a positive for the industry, as it demonstrates the incredible health of the market and the diverse range of storytelling that is captivating audiences globally. It shows that even a legacy series with an unbreakable record still has to fight for its place at the top of the yearly charts.

In conclusion, while One Piece remains the undisputed number one manga of all time, the return of Jujutsu Kaisen to the top of the annual sales charts is a powerful statement. It’s a clear signal that the new generation of manga is not just content with being popular; they are capable of competing with and even surpassing the legends of the past. The return of this rivalry will be something to watch in the coming years as both series continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in serialized manga.