Dragon Ball legend slams JJK and Demon Slayer.
The modern manga industry has never been bigger. Series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man dominate sales charts, streaming platforms, and social media conversations worldwide.
Yet one of the most influential figures in manga history believes those same titles represent everything wrong with the industry today. Former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Kazuhiko Torishima recently ignited controversy during a panel at Napoli Comicon 2026, via a post from @XMathemagicianX on X, after delivering harsh criticism aimed directly at modern blockbuster manga.
The longtime editor, famous for helping shape Dragon Ball alongside Akira Toriyama, argued that many current hits have become overcomplicated, overcrowded, and no longer accessible to younger readers. Torishima Thinks Modern Manga Has Lost Its Simplicity During the panel discussion, Torishima reportedly said that modern manga pages contain far too much information. According to him, readers should be able to understand a page in roughly three seconds.
Instead, many current titles overwhelm audiences with dense dialogue, excessive exposition, and complicated storytelling structures that slow the reading experience. That criticism led him to specifically single out several of today’s biggest franchises. Torishima reportedly described Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Blue Lock as examples of modern manga he strongly dislikes. He was especially critical of Chainsaw Man, while also claiming he does not believe there is currently a truly great manga running today.
For longtime manga readers, the comments felt shocking because the targeted series are some of the most commercially successful properties in the world. Demon Slayer alone sold more than 220 million copies globally, while Jujutsu Kaisen surpassed 100 million copies in circulation. Chainsaw Man has become one of Shonen Jump’s defining modern hits, especially after its hugely successful anime adaptation and recent Reze Arc movie.
Even One Piece and Naruto Were Not Safe From Criticism Torishima did not stop with newer titles. He also criticized legendary franchises like One Piece and Naruto despite both series rising to prominence during his time at Weekly Shonen Jump. According to Torishima, One Piece has gradually become too dense and no longer feels designed primarily for children. His comments regarding Naruto were equally blunt.
While he praised the series’ early storylines, he reportedly believed the “Pain Arc” represented the last truly strong section of the manga. Torishima also revealed he wanted creator Masashi Kishimoto to permanently kill off Sasuke and leave Kakashi dead in order to preserve the emotional stakes of the story. Those statements show Torishima’s overall philosophy regarding manga storytelling. He has repeatedly emphasized simplicity, clarity, and pacing throughout his career.
That mindset heavily influenced Dragon Ball’s fast-moving structure, where Akira Toriyama often relied on visual storytelling rather than pages packed with explanations or dialogue-heavy narration. The Manga Legend Only Praised One Modern Series Despite criticizing most of the industry, Torishima did point to one modern manga he genuinely admires: Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo. He reportedly called it the only current manga truly worth reading. Torishima also praised Touch by Mitsuru Adachi as one of the greatest manga ever produced.
Torishima additionally warned that manga has become too expensive for children, which he sees as a dangerous trend for the industry’s future. His concern is that if younger readers stop buying manga, future generations of creators may never emerge. For someone who helped oversee one of manga’s biggest boom periods, the issue clearly carries enormous weight.
Related Dragon Ball Editor Slams DBS Manga as the Franchise’s Future Wobbles Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro just received a major piece of criticism from a long-time series editor. Posts By Evan D. Mullicane Not everyone agreed with how his comments spread online, however. Torishima’s agent later clarified that the editor often criticizes works because he cares deeply about them rather than because he completely hates them. Some remarks were also reportedly exaggerated or stripped of context on social media.
Still, the controversy proves that when one of Dragon Ball’s most influential architects speaks about series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer, the manga industry listens.
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