Summary

• Top mangaka endorsements didn't save MamaYuyu from Shōnen Jump's cancellation axe.
• Even with compelling characters and engaging storytelling, the series still ended abruptly.
• MamaYuyu's cancelation is a reminder that no new series is safe in the competitive manga industry.

Even with endorsement from top mangaka, Shōnen Jump's MamaYuyu still couldn't navigate the famously rigorous and intricate standards for a successful long-term serialization. But if top-level recommendations offer little help, it prompts the question of what steps a manga artist must take to endure as a Shōnen Jump manga.

Earlier this month, without much fanfare, Shōnen Jump quietly canceled MamaYuyu despite it having what looked to many like the beginnings of a long publication run. Moreover - and more importantly - in a short time, MamaYuyu captured one of the most influential fandoms a new manga could ever hope to have - fellow mangaka.

First, as reported by recommendation from Jujutsu Kaisen's Gege Akutami who posted his fan art of Minerva -one of the characters in the story - and said:

This [MamaYuyu] is what I consider to have good taste ... Hayashi-sensei is a turning point for Jump.

Then, as posted by @MangaMoguraRE on X, formerly Twitter, Bloom Into You author Nakatani Nio and Law Of Ueki creator Fukuchi Tsubasa also voiced their recommendation for the series.

MamaYuyu Is Cancelled Without A Proper Finale

Being recommended by some of the top mangaka of the industry didn't help the new series

It's almost unheard of in the manga industry for a new manga to receive an endorsement from so many prominent mangaka. A mangaka's word carries weight within their fandom, specifically and within the manga world in general. MamaYuyu broke the mold by getting endorsed by several mangaka who are authoring some of the hottest titles in the business.

They are not just fans, they are experts who, one would assume, understand all the details of what makes a story good and successful. Moreover, these are endorsements coming from within Shōnen Jump's prime community, as both Akutami and Fujimoto are among Shueisha's headliners.

Still, a good endorsement is only useful if the manga it's praising is actually good. Indeed, MamaYuyu had all the same elements found in the best manga, including compelling characters, engaging storytelling, awesome art, and action-packed fight scenes. It was an interesting story with plenty of room for growth in multiple directions.

The Lessons Of MamaYuyu's Fall

For fans, it's a reminder that no new series is safe and that the best way to make sure a favorite series survives is to convince as many people as possible to read it.

Nevertheless, being put in the best position to succeed was not enough to save it from Shonen Jump's ax. Outside its cancelation, what was even more important was the manner of its cancelation. While some issues were resolved in the final chapter, namely hero-demon harmony, it also ended with an all-out battle with Grisha about to begin. Indeed, it wouldn't be surprising if Hayashi was also caught off-guard and performed some story triage to end the series as best he could while also keeping open the possibility that if it returns, the story could pick up where it ended.

MamaYuyu's cancelation serves as a symbol of sorts. On the one hand, for fans, it's a reminder that no new series is safe and that the best way to make sure a favorite series survives is to convince as many people as possible to read it. On the other hand, for manga authors and creators hoping for a long publication run with Shōnen Jump, it's a reminder to keep grinding, developing, and getting better, because you never know when the Shōnen Jump ax will fall.

MamaYuyu is available on Viz Media and Manga Plus.

Read on Manga Plus

Source: Comicbook.com, @MangaMoguraRE