Comparing Jujutsu Kaisen to Tokyo Revengers undermines Akutami's storytelling prowess

In recent weeks, there has been harsh criticism from Jujutsu Kaisen fans regarding the overall direction of the series and the writing of the latest events by the creator and illustrator Gege Akutami. Much of this criticism is centered around the frequent deaths of beloved characters like Satoru Gojo and Hajime Kashimo. Some fans have even gone so far as to compare the recent developments in the story to the disappointing conclusion of Tokyo Revengers, created by Ken Wakui, which ended last year and was widely panned for its final stretch and ending.

The comparison between Akutami’s series and Wakui’s ending in Jujutsu Kaisen is likely too harsh, as media reception and criticism are subjective. Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's personal views.

Jujutsu Kaisen fans simply taking criticism too far by comparing series to Tokyo Revengers

Why it’s an insult to Akutami’s writing, explained

The comparison between Jujutsu Kaisen and Tokyo Revengers by fans often overlooks the consistently well-written original manga series by Akutami. In contrast, Wakui's manga has been inconsistent long before its final arc, with fans only recently starting to take issue with Akutami's writing. It's worth noting that the recent criticisms appear to be driven by particular character deaths rather than overall poor writing.

The argument that good writing doesn't require character deaths may be valid, but it doesn't align with the type of series Akutami has created. Throughout the Shibuya Incident and Culling Game story arcs, characters were killed off with meaningful narrative significance. Fans may be particularly critical of recent deaths as the series approaches its end, leading to fatigue with these occurrences.

However, this does not necessarily mean that Akutami's recent choices are indicative of bad writing. For example, Satoru Gojo's death serves as a well-executed narrative choice, freeing him from the identity crisis imposed by Suguru Geto during their teenage years. Jujutsu Kaisen fans who theorize about Gojo's revival acknowledge and even integrate this aspect into their beliefs about his potential return.

While Wakui's writing in the later parts of his manga lacks narrative significance, every move made by Akutami has been carefully thought out. Similar to Gojo, Hajime Kashimo's death at Sukuna's hands provided him with the closure and peace he had long sought after.

The mourning of Jujutsu Kaisen fans over recent character deaths is understandable, but the criticism surrounding these deaths is unfounded. Dismissing the deaths as poor writing overlooks their narrative significance and disregards Akutami's careful planning of the character arcs. Similarly, comparing Akutami's methodical writing to Wakui's more spontaneous approach fails to acknowledge the success of Akutami's work so far. While media criticism is subjective, some opinions and claims are objectively inaccurate, including the recent comparisons between Akutami's writing and Wakui's.

Be sure to keep up with all Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga news, as well as general anime, manga, film, and live-action news as 2024 progresses.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have been closely following the recent discussions and criticisms surrounding the direction of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. While I understand the emotional attachment fans have to their favorite characters, I believe the comparisons being made to Tokyo Revengers are unfair and undermine the storytelling prowess of Gege Akutami.

Akutami's writing has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of character development and narrative structure. The deaths of beloved characters, while undoubtedly impactful, have been carefully crafted to serve meaningful narrative purposes. Each death has contributed to the overall themes of the story and the growth of the remaining characters. In contrast, Tokyo Revengers suffered from a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion, which left many fans disappointed.