As 2024 comes to an end, Shōnen JumpThe company's popular manga app, Manga Plus, has revealed a collection of data highlighting several award-winning manga in different categories. The "Most Read Chapter" award was won by chainsaw man chapter #167, titled "Super Smooch", surpassing two major competitors, Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academyboth completed this year. Among the highlighted categories, the "Top New Manga" award went to Drama Queenwhich premiered on December 1, 2024, published in Weekly Shōnen Jump.
Manga by Kuraku Ichikawa Drama Queen follows a storyline where aliens take up residence on Earth alongside humans after saving the planet from a deadly meteor. However, not everyone welcomes this change, as the protagonists harbor a deep resentment towards foreigners and are determined to act against “immigrants”. With the protagonist openly expressing hatred and even eating aliens, the manga generated significant controversy, eventually causing Drama Queen the most popular manga of the year.
Drama Queen tops the charts for the new manga that debuted on Manga Plus
An impressive number of over five hundred thousand views for the first chapter
Manga Plus' "Top New Manga" category is determined by the number of views generated in the first seven days of a manga's debut chapter. Drama Queen Chapter #1, released on December 1st, has accumulated over 500,000 views, securing first place by a significant margin over its competitors. Among the 57 new manga releases on the platform in 2024, Drama Queen is the only title to surpass half a million views in its debut chapter. However, it is clear that the manga's popularity is largely driven by its controversial plot.
The first chapter of Kuraku Ichikawa Drama Queen depicts the protagonists, Nomamoto and Kitama, expressing sentiments that some readers have described as xenophobic and anti-immigration. It also depicts Nomamoto developing a peculiar desire for extraterrestrial flesh, relishing it enthusiastically. At the conclusion of the chapter, it becomes clear that the main narrative will revolve around Kitama killing the aliens, while Nomamoto consumes their carcasses, with the pair working together to rid their city of the alien inhabitants.
The controversial storyline, unsurprisingly, sparked heated debates among fans online. Some questioned how a major manga publisher could allow the publication of content that apparently promotes prejudice against immigrants. On the other hand, others argue that this reflects Shōnen JumpThe company's commitment to freedom of expression fueled an endless discussion that only expanded the manga's popularity. Meanwhile, the trend of controversial manga and anime gaining momentum this year highlights a shift in perspective in the anime and manga industry.
Drama Queen's popularity suggests a shift towards the industry
While Drama Queen took first place with its controversial plot, chainsaw man stole the spotlight with what is considered the most controversial chapter of the series. Dubbed the "alley incident" by fansthe chapter portrays Denji and Asa in an unexpectedly intimate moment, defying typical expectations of a shōnen series. The growing popularity of such controversial themes and unconventional narratives suggests that Shōnen Jump may be gravitating toward sensitive topics that resonate with people in real life.
The launch of Dandadan anime this fall further highlights how anime and manga that break away from traditional shōnen tropes and offer something exceptional are finding greater success. While Shōnen Jump is ultimately interested in the commercial success of his manga, which could be the case for Drama QueenIt's clear that achieving recognition as a cutting-edge new manga or anime now requires more than adhering to conventional shōnen formulas.