Continuing the celebration for the year that was 2023 we’ve put together our selection of 10 Best Shonen Jump Manga Covers of the year. This was another year of fantastic covers from all mangaka. From celebrating major anniversaries or milestone chapters, every cover brought its own hype. Here are our 10 Best Shonen Jump Manga Covers of 2023.
10) MARTIAL MASTER ASUMI CHAPTER 1 – “ROUND 1: MMA”
Artist: Kawada
Sometimes the simplest approach is the best. That is what Kawada does with the color cover for Martial Master Asumi Chapter 1. Our two lead characters in Nito Asumi and Nao Okiba are at the forefront with the rest of that can be expected to see also involved. Each character design stands out as they are all going to be bringing their own story to the table that will complement the MMA journey Nito and Nao will be on.
9) SAKAMOTO DAYS CHAPTER 142 – “DAYS 142: X’S GOAL”
Artist: You Suzuki
While the color cover of Sakamoto Days Chapter 142 does not compliment the actual story of the chapter it does not take away from how eye catching it is. The use of the vibrant colors as Sakamoto and others are tagging is visually appealing. It has a fun energy that works in contrast to the actual story of this chapter.
8) AKANE-BANASHI CHAPTER 86 – “NEW BREEZE”
Artist: Takamasa Moue
Takamasa Moue has consistently delivered some of the best color covers whenever they get the chance to. This color cover for Akane-Banashi Chapter 86 does a great job at capturing the spirit of the title “New Breeze.” Akane and other characters enjoying an outdoor barbeque together has a great energy with the fall colors of the trees and leaves on the ground.
7) ELUSIVE SAMURAI CHAPTER 108 – “ELUSSIVE 1335”
Artist: Yusei Matsui
Yusei Matsui always brings a wonderful painter-like art style for the color covers of Elusive Samurai. The utilization of our lead characters riding blue and red koi kites as waves splash in the background is an excellent way to honor Children’s Day. The way Hojo Tokiyuki, Kojiro, and Kazama Genba are riding the koi kites gives a vibe of going on a grand adventure.
6) MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLE CHAPTER 162 – “MASH BURNDEAD AND THE GENERALLY HAPPY ENDING”
Artist: Hajime Komoto
With 2023 marking the end of Mashle: Magic and Muscle it was only appropriate that the color cover for its final chapter reflected our title character. There is no better way to represent who Mash Burnedead is than him baking cream puffs with his friends and serving it to the entire cast of the series. The design also does a good job at celebrating the wide variety we saw in the cast throughout Hajime Komoto’s series.
5) JUJUTSU KAISEN CHAPTER 227 – “INHUMAN MAKYO SHINJUKU SHOWDOWN, PART 5”
Artist: Gege Akutami
Satoru Gojo vs. Sukuna continued to deliver on how Gege Akutami continues to find ways to deliver fights that have their own distinct energy. This cover does an excellent job at showing how no matter how many scars or injuries each of them have Gojo and Sukuna have a calm demeanor. Their smiles even show with how dangerous the fight is there is a part of them that’s enjoying this one-on-one fight.
4) KAGURABACHI CHAPTER 1 – “MISSION”
Artist: Takeru Hokazon
If you want to make a statement right out of the gate with a first chapter Takeru Hokazon delivers just that with this violent splash color page for Kagurabachi. Immediately this establishes Chichiro Rokuhira as a badass assassin who will take no prisoners when he has his target set. Seeing the amount of blood and limbs flying as Chichiro slashes every one of the yakuza members makes you want to find out why this is even happening.
3) MY HERO ACADEMIA CHAPTER 403 – “THE END OF AN ERA AND…THE BEGINNING”
Artist: Kohei Horikoshi
My Hero Academia Chapter 403 is one of the more important chapters of The Final War Saga, and the series. It is the chapter that marked the full transition from All Might’s era to the start of the one led by Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo. Marking this important chapter by featuring Deku alongside Iron Man All Might and Nana Shimura celebrates this change of eras story Kohei Horikoshi told.
2) ONE PIECE CHAPTER 1094 – “FIVE ELDERS, WARRIOR GOD OF SCIENCE AND DEFENSE, SAINT JAYGARCIA SATURN”
Artist: Eiichiro Oda
After over two decades of publication its tough to remember if there was an even a time before One Piece released. Eiichiro Oda reminds readers he has done other manga work before One Piece with this color cover featuring Roronoa Zoro with the Shimotsuki Family. On top of being a badass cover featuring Zoro this cover features the characters from the Monsters one-shot. This is one of Oda’s pre-One Piece manga one-shots that Oda retroactively made part of the One Piece continuity. It’s a great cover that also promotes the upcoming anime adaption of Monsters, retitled as Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation, we will get early in 2024.
1) UNDEAD UNLUCK CHAPTER 143 – “YOU CAN’T AVOID THIS!”
Artist: Yoshifumi Tozuka
A classic boxing poster has a certain spark that very few fight posters deliver as much hype for. Yoshifumi Tozuka taps into this with this color cover featuring Fuuko Izumo and Void Volks as boxers. Immediately when seeing his poster you want to see the fight go down. The use of blue and pink slash colors in the background enhances the details provided in Fuuko and Void’s boxing designs. It is a home run chapter cover for Undead Unluck by Tozuka.
