This year has brought many news of manga series that have entered their final act/arc/stage/phase in 2021, and the list includes some huge shonen hits, as well as some popular romantic comedies. They’re all sure to leave huge holes for every fan, and we can only wish for the authors to conclude them the way they want and when they want to. Without further delays, let’s take a look at every manga series that is in its final phase:
The list:
Fire Force
Atsushi Ohkubo’s popular Fire Force officially entered its final arc in chapter 287 this October. It has run in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine for over 6 years since September 2015, and Kodansha USA licensed it in English. They describe the story:
The city of Tokyo is plagued by a deadly phenomenon: spontaneous human combustion! Luckily, a special team is there to quench the inferno: The Fire Force! The fire soldiers at Special Fire Cathedral 8 are about to get a unique addition. Enter Shinra, a boy who possesses the power to run at the speed of a rocket, leaving behind the famous “devil’s footprints” (and destroying his shoes in the process). Can Shinra and his colleagues discover the source of this strange epidemic before the city burns to ashes?
The series got an anime adaptation in 2019, which had 24 episodes. Animated by David Production, it then announced a 2nd season immediately in December 2019. The sequel aired in 2020, and it also ran for 24 episodes. Funimation streams both seasons, while season 1 is also available on Crunchyroll.
Dr. STONE
The next manga that entered its final phase in 2021 comes from Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, and it’s Dr. STONE, written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi. It officially entered its final arc in chapter “Z=212: Final Part: Stone to Space” in September this year. You can read the manga on VIZ or MANGA Plus, and they describe the story:
One fateful day, all of humanity was petrified by a blinding flash of light. After several millennia, high schooler Taiju awakens and finds himself lost in a world of statues. However, he’s not alone! His science-loving friend Senku’s been up and running for a few months and he’s got a grand plan in mind—to kickstart civilization with the power of science!
The series also received an anime adaptation by TMS Entertainment, which ran for 24 episode from July 2019. It got a season 2 in January 2021, which ran for 11 episodes. Crunchyroll streams both seasons. Finally, a sequel of an unconfirmed format was announced, and more details are expected at a later date.
Tokyo Revengers
Another manga from Weekly Shonen Magazine that entered its final phase in 2021 is Ken Wakui’s Tokyo Revengers. The manga officially entered its final arc in the 27th issue of the magazine in June this year. Kodansha USA publishes the manga digitally in English, and they describe the story:
Watching the news, Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his girlfriend from way back in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, has died. The only girlfriend he ever had was just killed by a villainous group known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. He lives in a crappy apartment with thin walls, and his six-years-younger boss treats him like an idiot. Plus, he’s a complete and total virgin … At the height of his rock-bottom life, he suddenly time-leaps twelve years back to his middle school days!! To save Hinata, and change the life he spent running away, hopeless part-timer Takemichi must aim for the top of Kanto’s most sinister delinquent gang!!
Crunchyroll streams the first season, which has a total of 24 episodes. Studio LIDENFILMS animated the show. If you want to continue reading the manga where the anime left off, check out this guide.
JUJUTSU KAISEN
Back to Shueisha and Weekly Shonen Jump, another big hit from the magazine had something similar to a ‘final phase’ reveal in 2021, and it’s Akutami Gege’s JUJUTSU KAISEN. To be exact, the author said that he intends to end the manga within 2 years. This was in February 2021. However, unlike the others on this list, it’s not yet officially in its final act, so we should take it with a grain of salt until some new update arrives. You can read the manga on VIZ or MANGA Plus, and they describe the story:
For some strange reason, Yuji Itadori, despite his insane athleticism would rather just hang out with the Occult Club. However, her soon finds out that the occult is as real as it gets when his fellow club members are attacked! Meanwhile, the mysterious Megumi Fushiguro is tracking down a special-grade cursed object, and his search leads him to Itadori…
The series received a 24-episode-long anime adaptation which aired in Fall 2020, and it’s available on both Funimation & Crunchyroll. There’s also the upcoming JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 Movie, which will release in Japan on December 24, 2021.
©Akutami Gege / Shueisha
My Hero Academia
Moving on with WSJ manga, Horikoshi Kohei’s My Hero Academia series also entered its final phase in 2021. To be more precise, it was officially announced as the ‘final act’ back in March this year. You can read the manga on VIZ or MANGA Plus, and they describe the story:
Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…
The series has received 5 anime seasons so far, with season 6 also on the way.
ONE PIECE
The longest running (by far) manga series on this list and another one that has entered its final phase in 2021 is Eiichiro Oda’s ONE PIECE. It also runs in Weekly Shonen Jump, and Oda-sensei said that the story entered its final stage in September this year. However, every fan of the series knows that he previously said last year that One Piece would end in 4-5 years as well. He’s not exactly reliable when it comes to estimates, but the story being in its final stage might mean it’s really nearing its conclusion. Either way, we know we’ll be in for a few more years of enjoyment at the very least! You can catch up to the latest ONE PIECE manga chapter on either VIZ website or MANGA Plus, and they describe the story:
As a child, Monkey D. Luffy was inspired to become a pirate by listening to the tales of the buccaneer “Red-Haired” Shanks. But Luffy’s life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit and gained the power to stretch like rubber…at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, still vowing to become the king of the pirates, Luffy sets out on his adventure…one guy alone in a rowboat, in search of the legendary “One Piece,” said to be the greatest treasure in the world…
You can watch the anime on Funimation or Crunchyroll, and it recently released its milestone episode 1000.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Now for a romantic comedy manga series on this list that entered its final phase in 2021, Akasaka Aka’s Kaguya-sama: Love is War. The manga began serialization in Shueisha’s Miracle Jump in May 2015 and was transferred to Weekly Young Jump in March 2016. It officially entered its final arc in October this year. VIZ licensed it in English, and they describe the story:
As leaders of their prestigious academy’s student council, Kaguya and Miyuki are the elite of the elite! But it’s lonely at the top… Luckily for them, they’ve fallen in love! There’s just one problem—they both have too much pride to admit it. And so begins the daily scheming to get the object of their affection to confess their romantic feelings first…
The series received 2 anime seasons by A-1 Pictures, which were incredibly well received. Season 2 was even voted as the Anime of the Year for 2020 by our fans, with votes from 47,323 people! It also has 2 live-action films, and 3 new OVA episodes came out in May 2021. A season 3 TV anime will also premiere in April 2022.
The Duke of Death and His Maid
The 2nd romantic comedy series that entered its final phase in 2021 is Koharu Inoue’s Duke of Death and His Maid. It runs on Shogakukan’s Sunday Webry since October 2017, and it officially entered its final arc in November this year. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed it in English, and they describe the story:
When the duke was a young boy, a witch made it so that any living thing he touched died. Unable to cope with such a cursed child, his family sent him away to live in an old mansion. Now a young man, his only companions are an elderly butler and his childhood friend, a buxom, blonde maid named Alice. Despite the fact that touching the duke means instant death, Alice is constantly teasing him, getting close and flirting mercilessly. But even though Alice loves to make the duke blush, her affection for him is the real deal. Can the two figure out a way to break the witch’s spell?
The series received an anime adaptation produced by J.C. Staff, which Funimation streamed. After the broadcast of the first season’s final episode, a sequel was also announced.
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of the manga series that entered its final phase in 2021. While it will certainly be sad for fans of each and every one when they do end, the only thing we can do is enjoy them while they keep going, and hope there will be new hits to enjoy afterwards.
