Although it feels like it only started yesterday, Jujutsu Kaisen is nearing its end. In fact, the manga might already be over by the time you read this if you wait until September 2024. Without a doubt, it is one of the most exceptional shonen manga series in a long time. But I still find that the best part and the best story arc of Jujutsu Kaisen is the beginning, consisting of arcs like “Cursed Child,” “Fearsome Womb,” and “Vs. Mahito,” that gets things going.

In retrospect, the beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen feels so different from the rest of the series. It starts off in an almost gruesome way. Yuji Itadori’s weakness to the curses he suddenly discovers is so fascinating. On top of that, the blood was so surprising and was in stark contrast to the other, similar shonen series that were running at the time.

While elements of this introduction were retained throughout the rest of the series, such as the bloody action, things eventually change. Gege Akutami follows a very different mood than the Kyoto Arc in Jujutsu Kaisen. Perhaps the best example of this is the more personal and focused nature of the series’ early storylines. It’s not just about destroying the entire city and unleashing new powers.

Instead, the beginning Jujutsu Kaisen Starting with the “Cursed Child” story arc, it’s simply about surviving torturous missions against curses. The main characters, especially Yuji, really develop due to their new circumstances. My personal favorite part of the entire series takes place during the “Vs. Mahito” story arc. That’s when the villain really shows up for the first time. The first impression is incredible and just gets better from there.

Mahito’s insane, terrifying nature is on full display here in a way that hurts even more than his appearances later in the series. He comes across as one of the most terrifying anime villains in a long time. We see a man willing to slaughter anything and anyone who gets in his way. Worse, he seems unstoppable at this point.

To make it even better, my favorite character in the series, Junpei, gets his moment here. Junpei is by far one of the most complex characters in Jujutsu Kaisen. His relationship with Yuji is still the most emotional for the protagonist, even as we near the end. This is where Yuji is pushed to his limits and grows as a character in a much more natural way.

This does not mean that there is no development for Yuji later on. Quite the opposite. My only problem with Jujutsu Kaisen Sometimes the character development and deaths Akutami uses seem too forced or just for shock value. Don’t get me wrong, I love the barrage of twists.

But I also prefer the centralized nature of these early arcs. The twists at the beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen are less frequent and farther apart. This gives them room to breathe and get enough attention and development. Therefore, in my opinion, they are still the most effective surprises and tragic character deaths.

This idea extends to Jujutsu Kaisen 0 too. Yuta and Rika’s story is heartbreaking and has the same focus and emotional resonance as the first parts of the main series. That’s not to say I don’t love it. Jujutsu Kaisen. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It took a while, but I love this show.

Jujutsu Kaisen is by far the best new generation shonen series in its category. It just took me a while to realize that the core of the series is over-the-top, bombastic fights and one shock after another. Once I accepted that, I found this series to have the best action of any similar series.

Actually, Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the few series in the more mature, bloodier side of shōnen manga that doesn’t lose interest in the second half. I find that’s a big problem with other similar series like Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man, which almost lost me completely.

To be honest, I am not looking forward to the end of Jujutsu Kaisen because I liked it so much overall. I just still prefer the earlier parts of the manga. Here Yuji Itadori captivated me as the most compelling shonen protagonist in a long time. He is not the typical savior of the world or a guy who rises from nowhere.

Instead, almost everyone hates him and wants him dead. This only made me root for him more in these earlier storylines. As we approach the end of the Jujutsu Kaisen Manga, I can’t help but remember that time fondly. After all, it still feels like the best part of the series to me.

The Jujutsu Kaisen The manga is available to read on Viz Media and Manga Plus. The anime adaptation is streaming on Crunchyroll.