Shonen Jump’s American run was huge for manga in America. It brought over popular series likeDragon Ball, One Piece, Sand Land, and Yu Yu Hakushoin an all-new right-to-left readable format. With the popularity created by shows likeDragon Ball ZandYu-Gi-Oh!,more Americans were willing to check out their favorite anime in a more comic-book-like setting. If readers weren’t already pulled in by their favorite titles,Shonen Jump’s cover artdid a great job of conveying the theme of the manga anthology through bright and sharply-illustrated images.
WhileWeekly Shonen Jumpin Japan had many characters from different series on their cover,the American version was centered on the most popular characters in the countryat the time. Goku, Naruto, Gintoki, and a few other protagonists were the characters featured on most covers, giving readers a hint of what’s to come.
10Shonen Jump #58
Super Saiyan 3 Goku Barely Fits Up Front
Shonen Jump #58, released in October 2007, features one of manga’s and anime’s most famous characters in a brand-new form. Goku alone appears on the cover inthe powerful Super Saiyan 3 form, filling the front with his long golden hair. He also has a grimace on his face and a fist wound up, letting the reader know that he has a serious problem with whoever he’s looking at. Goku is also sweating profusely on the cover of Shonen Jump #58, giving the reader a hint as tothe strain Super Saiyan 3 puts on Goku.
While Goku dominates the cover, there are two small guests on either side of him. Naruto is on the left side of the page letting the reader know that Sasuke’s past is about to be revealed, while Ichigo fromBleachis on the right promotingBleach’snew Nintendo DS and Wii games.
9Shonen Jump #51
Gintoki Looks Slick As Ever
Shonen Jump #51 features the most well-known freelancer Gintoki Sakata on the cover with his textbook silvery-blue hair flowing to full effect. He also has his katana’s sheath, or saya, in his mouth, meaning his hands are probably holding the sword itself.Knowing Gintoki, however, it could just be for no reason at all.The cover proudly announces “Gintama: Samurai vs. Aliens!”, a battle not many manga can even come close to.
While Gintoki certainly takes center stage on the cover of Shonen Jump #51, there are a few other popular characters making appearances. Shinigami Ryuk, Ichigo Kurosaki, and kid Naruto are all on the cover as well, advertising for their respective series. Ryuk is asking the reader if they can solve theDeath Notepuzzle, Naruto promises to reveal snake ninja secrets, andBleachis getting ready for its Siege on the Soul Society arc.
8Shonen Jump #2
Kid Naruto Has Never Looked More Vicious
The cover ofShonen Jump#2 features Naruto during the earlier chapters of the mangalooking like an absolute menace.He fills the screen in an incredibly acrobatic stance with his right hand throwing shuriken over his shoulder and his left throwing kunai in between his own legs. If that wasn’t enough weaponry for the child shinobi, Naruto also has another kunai in his mouth. This cover does a great job of displaying Naruto’s ferality before he calmed down post-timeskip.
The cover also features Goku fromDragon Ballin his Super Saiyan form, Luffy fromOne Piecewith a huge smile across his face,the gang fromSand Landracing across the desert, Yugi Muto getting ready to duel, and Yusuke Urameshi getting ready to brawl.Shonen Jump#2 was a huge edition with over 300 pages of manga.
7Shonen Jump #53
Ichigo Kurosaki Looks Menacing As He Faces Aizen
The cover ofShonen Jump#53 is dedicated to Ichigo Kurosaki and the antagonists of one ofBleach’sbest arcs, the Invasion of Soul Society.Ichigo is looking fierce with his blade on his backand his spiky orange hair right above it. In the reflection of Ichigo’s blade, the reader can see Sosuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and a few more enemies looking to wreak havoc.Shonen Jumpalso boasts on the cover the 368 pages included in this issue.
The Substitute Shinigami may be taking up most of the space on the cover, but he’s not alone. Gintoki is to his left saying goodbye to the reader, as Shonen Jump announces that this will beGinatama’slast chapter in the anthology. Naruto is also seen above theBleachdisplay advertising a recent behind the scenes look at mangaka Masashi Kishimoto’s studio.
6Shonen Jump #49
Yu-Gi-Oh! Gets Its Turn Up Front
Yu-Gi-Oh!madeShonen Jumppopular in America before the manga anthology even came over,thanks to its hugely popular anime. Americans also fell in love withYu-Gi-Oh!as a card game, encouraging distributors. The cover ofShonen Jump#49 features Yami Yugi with his Duel Disk on his arm looking as serious as ever. He’s also quoted saying “It’s our 4th-anniversary issue!”, referring toShonen Jump’s 4th year of publication in America.
Yami Yugi isn’t the only character fromYu-Gi-Oh!to feature, as Jaden Yuki fromYu-Gi-Oh! GXalso appears on the cover, letting everyone know that the new generation is here. Gintoki fromGintamais also on the cover with his wonderful blue and silver hair while Naruto is right above him getting ready for the devastating Sasuke vs. Gaara fight upcoming in the next arc.
5Shonen Jump #6
Yu Yu Hakusho Rocks The House
Shonen Jump#6 features Yoshihiro Togashi’s first smash-hit manga,Yu Yu Hakusho. Before he createdHunter x Hunter, Togashi created the world of Spirit Detectives, centered on one Yusuke Urameshi.Yusuke takes up the cover ofShonen Jump#6 with an intense look on his face and fists balled up at either side of him.He’s a hard-hitting delinquent looking to protect the Human World and this cover shows that theme with a great orange and yellow tone.
There is also a Super Saiyan at the top of the cover with details aboutDragon Ball GTwhile Yami Yugi sits beneath him looking ready for a duel. Team Seven, including Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi, fromNarutois in the lower right corner looking ready to battle on top of one of the sage frogs.
4Shonen Jump #61
Naruto Is Finally Back From His Training
The cover ofShonen Jump#61 reintroduces the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in style. Naruto reappears on the cover two years older than he was the last time he was inShonen Jump. He’s returned from his training with Jiraiya and looks taller, more mature, and ready to fight for his friends. Naruto takes up most of the cover and is seen in his new post-timeskip outfit, complete with his Konoha headband and orange and black tracksuit.
Underneath Naruto,Shonen Jumpwrites thatNaruto is “Older! Stronger! (and) …Wiser?“showing that even after two long years,Naruto is still an air-headed hero.He’s not the only character on the cover of #61 as Ryuk fromDeath Noteis trying to get people to dress in a “Shinigami Style” and Ichigo offers a choice of newBleachpowers.
3Shonen Jump #72
Luffy Isn’t Messing Around
Shonen Jump#72 features just a few of the Straw Hats crew. Luffy is most prominent on the cover and he looks furious. Whoever he’s fighting is in for a bad time as Luffy is seen throwing a punch toward the reader that winds over theShonen Jumptitle. Chopper is visibly concerned on the right, while Sanji and Zoro are also a little worried about the aftermath of what’s to come. If there’s one thing Luffy is known for, it’spunching bad guys first and asking questions later,something this cover does a great job of showing.
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The Straw Hats aren’t the only ones on the cover as Naruto is on the top of the page advertising some great ninja gift ideas. Ichigo fromBleachis also seen up top with some game-changing card tips sure to give you an advantage over your opponent.
2Shonen Jump #10
Super Saiyans Unite
The cover ofShonen Jump#10 features not only three of the strongest characters inDragon Ball, butthree of the strongest characters in manga.Goku, Gohan, and Vegetaare all in their Super Saiyan forms on the cover ofShonen Jump#10, displaying their power through long golden hair, beautiful green eyes, and a menacing stance.Vegeta leads the charge while Gohan is draped in Piccolo’s robes behind him. Goku is standing at the back in his normal orange and blue Turtle School Uniform. Behind all three Super Saiyans is an orange and white background that compliments their color schemes well.
Asakura Yoh fromShaman Kingis also on the cover showing off some skills from his universe.Shonen Jumpincluded a popularity quiz with this edition of their manga anthology as well, giving readers the opportunity to choose their favoriteDragon Ball Zcharacter.
1Shonen Jump #0
Goku, Luffy, Naruto, And More Share The Cover
Shonen Jump#0 is the best AmericanShonen Jumpcover by far. It shows offseveral main protagonists from the magazine’s most popular series together on one page in fashion.Goku is the most prominent, flying towards the reader in his Super Saiyan form with a dangerous look on his face. Next to him, Yusuke fromYu Yu Hakushois pointing his Spirit Gun towards the reader while Luffy fromOne Piecethrows up a peace sign in the same direction, showing the very clear differences in their characters.
Naruto is seen on the bottom left of the cover shrouded in a demonic fox-like mist. Yugi Muto is representingYu-Gi-Oh!, Asakura Yoh fromShaman Kingis there as well, along with the whole gang fromSand Land. The cover ofShonen Jump#0 shows what the magazine does best: bringing all of manga’s best heroes together.
