Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo gets a Promo video for every chapter - Is Shueisha over-promoting the spinoff?

Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo recently released an official trailer for its upcoming chapter, with PR confirming that Chapter 2 is featured in Weekly Shōnen Jump Issue 42, likely a strategic move to boost readership numbers. In recent years, the magazine has entered a critical phase: many of its modern hits have ended or are approaching their conclusions, leaving fans and publishers alike wondering what the future holds.

Into this uncertain atmosphere arrives Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, a spin-off of Gege Akutami’s massively successful Jujutsu Kaisen. Written by Yuji Iwasaki with supervision and collaboration from Akutami, this series could be more than just a side project.

It may be one of Weekly Shonen Jump’s biggest lifelines to retain readership, attract new fans, and prevent a decline in sales as their roster continues to thin out. There are several reasons Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo is poised to help Shueisha survive this transitional era. The original Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most popular manga of the past decade, with over 90 million copies in circulation.

This means Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo doesn’t have to start from scratch; it automatically inherits a massive, loyal audience. Unlike other spin-offs that are monthly or irregular, Modulo runs weekly, directly inside Shonen Jump. This keeps readers subscribing and ensures that Jujutsu Kaisen fans don’t drift away after the main series concludes.

As important as Modulo may become, it would be a mistake for Shonen Jump to rely on it entirely. History shows that no single series can carry the magazine forever, not even One Piece.

The real solution lies in cultivating the “next generation” of hits. Promising titles like Kagurabachi, which has already become an internet sensation, or The Elusive Samurai, with its strong veteran author, could step up. But until those series grow into household names, Modulo provides a safety net to Shueisha.

Lessons from the past: One Piece as the savior

Shueisha has been saved before by the right series at the right time. When Dragon Ball and Slam Dunk ended, many feared the magazine was finished. Then came One Piece in 1997, and everything changed.

Eiichiro Oda’s pirate epic not only restored Jump’s dominance but also went on to become the best-selling manga of all time. Fans who had left came back, and new generations discovered the magazine through Luffy’s adventures.

Now, nearly 30 years later, Jump faces a similar crisis. But this time, instead of waiting for the next big hit to appear, they are using spin-offs like Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo to buy time and keep their readership loyal.

The broader problem of sustainability

The reliance on Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo highlights a deeper issue: Shonen Jump’s current model may not be sustainable. The Golden Age series lasted 15+ years each, providing decades of steady readership. Modern hits, however, are much shorter. Demon Slayer ended after just 205 chapters, and Jujutsu Kaisen headed a similar conclusion.

That leaves Shueisha in a constant scramble to find replacements. Spin-offs like Modulo help, but they’re more of a patch than a solution. The magazine must focus on cultivating new long-term blockbusters rather than leaning too heavily on extensions of existing properties.

Can Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo carry the magazine alone?

Shueisha is undeniably at a crossroads. With My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen ending, and Sakamoto Days being concluded, the magazine is losing too many major players in a short span. One Piece continues to anchor the publication, but even that will end eventually.

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Will Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo become the next Boruto, a solid but divisive extension of a beloved franchise, or could it carve its own path and surprise readers with fresh storytelling? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Weekly Shonen Jump desperately needs it.

If Modulo succeeds, it could very well become one of the pillars holding Jump together in its most fragile era since the end of the Big Three. And if it fails, the magazine may find itself facing one of its toughest challenges yet.

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