Ranking the Top 7 Exceptionally Crafted New Generation Shonen Villains

As many current-gen manga series approach their conclusion, fans could soon see the end of several New Gen Shonen villains. With manga like Demon Slayer and Tokyo Revengers already finished, and others like My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Black Clover in their final arc, fans have been treated to a diverse array of well-written antagonists in the newer series. While some fans may still favor the older generation of shonen animanga, the newer series have provided a compelling lineup of villains.

Makima and 6 other best-written New Gen Shonen villains, ranked

7) Muzan Kibutsuji

Muzan Kibutsuji as seen in Demon Slayer (Image via Ufotable)

Muzan Kibutsuji was the original demon, transformed from a human in an attempt to cure his terminal illness. Since then, he has been relentless in his pursuit of a way to live without fear. He has created numerous demons to search for Spider Lily or a cure for his vulnerability to sunlight.

Although his objectives may seem typical, his unwavering determination and long-term planning make him one of the most well-developed villains in New Gen Shonen. Despite setbacks, he continues to push forward towards his goals, refusing to give up or hide.

6) Ryomen Sukuna

Ryomen Sukuna as seen in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA)

Many anime fans find Ryomen Sukuna and Kibutsuji Muzan to be quite similar, but Sukuna's character is ultimately more compelling due to his rich lore. Sukuna, known as the King of Curses, was the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer from 1000 years ago in the Heian Period, and it took multiple sorcerers to defeat him. Despite this, he managed to survive for centuries by existing as cursed objects. With 19 of his 20 fingers in his possession, Sukuna has yet to reach his full strength.

Using such strength, he defeated Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer in the new era. Hence, he is rightfully one of the best-written New Gen Shonen villains.

5) Dabi

Dabi from the My Hero Academia anime (Image via Bones)

Although Dabi's background is not extensive, his past and objectives place him above characters like Sukuna and Muzan in terms of being a well-developed New Gen Shonen villain.

Toya Todoroki, the eldest son of Pro Hero Endeavor, yearned for his father's attention. Despite being born with only one Quirk instead of the desired combination of Flame and Ice, Toya honed his Flame Quirk in hopes of gaining his father's approval. However, this ultimately resulted in a tragic forest fire that left Toya severely burned. Consumed by a desire for revenge against his neglectful father, Toya became the infamous villain known as Dabi. His compelling storyline and quest for vengeance have solidified his place as one of the most memorable and formidable new generation Shonen villains.

4) Shigaraki Tomura

Shigaraki Tomura as seen in My Hero Academia season 7 (Image via BONES)

Similar to Dabi, Shigaraki Tomura had a difficult past. Tenko Shimura, who didn't possess a quirk, was deeply interested in heroes, much to the disapproval of his father, Kotaro, due to his family ties to Nana Shimura. This led to constant scolding from his father.

One particular incident resulted in Kotaro punishing Tenko, triggering a series of events that caused Tenko to inadvertently use his Quirk Decay, resulting in the accidental death of his entire family. Despite seeking help from heroes, he was ignored.

3) Kenjaku

This is the moment when All For One came into his life, took him in, and gave him the name Shigaraki Tomura. Therefore, Shigaraki Tomura can easily be identified as one of the most well-developed villains in the New Gen Shonen genre.

Kenjaku, as depicted in the Jujutsu Kaisen anime (Image via MAPPA)

Kenjaku is an ancient sorcerer who has utilized his inherent technique to endure for more than 1000 years by transferring his consciousness through time. This has led him to inhabit the bodies of Noritoshi Kamo, giving rise to the Death Painting Wombs, taking control of Kaori Itadori and giving birth to Yuji, and presently inhabiting Suguru Geto's body to carry out his centuries-old scheme.

Kenjaku's goal is to elevate the human race in Japan by combining all of humanity with Tengen. Although the full extent of his plan remains a mystery, his decisive actions have allowed him to outmaneuver other New Gen Shonen villains.

2) Makima

Makima, as depicted in the Chainsaw Man anime (Image via MAPPA)

Within the Chainsaw Man series, Makima is initially presented as a prominent Public Safety officer but is ultimately revealed to be the Control Devil. She is recognized as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and represents the concept of control or conquest.

Makima was an ardent fan of the Chainsaw Devil and sought to harness its invincible powers to establish a world free from fear, death, and subpar entertainment. However, her ostensibly noble objective was pursued through ruthless manipulation, as she orchestrated the demise of Denji's newfound family in order to assert control over him.

With the amount of time Makima works on her plan, she is easily the second-best New Gen Shonen villain.

1) Lucius Zogratis

Lucius Zogratis is depicted in the Black Clover manga (Image via Shueisha).

Regarded as one of the most well-crafted New Gen Shonen villains, Lucius Zogratis was the eldest sibling in his family and was later revealed to harbor two souls within his body, one of them belonging to Julius Novachrono. Exploiting his alter ego, Lucius managed to infiltrate the Clover Kingdom and ascend to the position of Wizard King.

Years later, Damnatio Kira confronted Lucius Zogratis about the discrepancies involving Astaroth and Time Magic. Lucius took control of his body and began the final stage of his plan to remake humanity with undying bodies in order to create peace. This involved killing all the devils in the underworld, consuming Lucifero's heart, and defeating Asta in order to remove him from the equation.

Overall, what sets Lucius apart as the best-written New Gen Shonen villain is the series' inclusion of hints about his two distinct personalities.

These are our top choices for well-written New Gen Shonen villains. If we overlooked any, please share your picks in the comments below!

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am constantly on the lookout for new and exciting content, especially in the realm of anime and manga. The article on the top 7 exceptionally crafted new generation Shonen villains has captured my attention and left me in awe of the creativity and depth of these characters.

The villains mentioned in the article, such as Makima, Lucius Zogratis, Muzan Kibutsuji, Ryomen Sukuna, Dabi, and Shigaraki Tomura, each possess unique traits and motivations that make them compelling and relatable. Their backstories and character development are meticulously crafted, providing a deeper understanding of their actions and the impact they have on the overall narrative.