Characters die continuously storyBut the most shocking deaths are things that linger in fans’ minds for months, weeks and even years. Indeed, the shocking deaths don’t happen to supporting characters or newcomers but instead to important characters and beloved characters in whom fans have become very emotionally invested. who has become real to them, in a sense.
Shocking, in this context, doesn’t mean gory or gruesome, although those can also be shocking in their own ways. In this context, shocking refers to deaths that occur suddenly and with dramatic tension that makes them an intense, visceral event. It’s not necessarily shocking that a character eventually dies, but they do so in a moment or context that no one would expect. Here are ten deaths in the manga that few could have predicted and that fans won’t soon forget.
10 Portgas D. Ace (One Piece)
Although Luffy’s brother Portgas D. Ace may not have started out as a main character in One Piece, he soon became one of the most beloved heroes and an essential presence in many storylines. important story. As the only son of Pirate King Gol D. Roger, he always felt like he was too cool to die. Accordingly, few fans could have predicted that he would sacrifice himself to save Luffy and the Straw Haw Pirates from the Marines. Furthermore, the exact circumstances of his death, specifically a fatal blow by Admiral Akainu, were so unexpected that it not only left many in the One Piece fan community shocked but also saddened. After all, the story’s hero doesn’t fail often, and Luffy’s failure to save Ace will haunt him and his fans for a long time.
9 Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia)
Although Himiko Toga is one of the more sinful villains in My Hero Academia, her heartbreaking story – how she was born with a Quirk she couldn’t control and was shunned – made her become the darling of the fandom. Indeed, even though fans knew that she would eventually be captured or even die, they never thought that she would die by sacrificing herself to save Ochako, whom she had mortally wounded. Indeed, Himiko’s way of expressing love and friendship is to drink the blood of the object of her desire. However, despite confessing to liking Ochako, Himiko did the unthinkable and transferred her blood to the hero instead of withdrawing it. This saved Ochako’s life and killed Himiko in a way fans didn’t know she was capable of.
8 Kyojuro Rengoku (Demon Slayer)
The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps is both the tip of the spear and the last line of defense against the demonic scourge. They are not allowed to die – especially people like Kyojuro Rengoku, who was literally raised in Hashira’s shadow. Indeed, his consistently positive attitude despite a heartbreaking backstory, with an abusive father and raising his brother alone, has made him the most trustworthy Hashira. He’s the one fans hope will survive to the end. It was for these reasons that his death to the Upper Moon Demon Akaza was so shocking, and it created an impression for fans who would soon learn that the Demon Slayer was not afraid of killing Hashira’s It.
7 Makima (Chainsaw Man)
Rarely has a villain dominated a story as much as Makima did in Chainsaw Man: Part 1. She wrapped Denji so tightly around her finger that he practically became her dog. Makima doesn’t dominate Denji, she controls the entire country of Japan thanks to the power she controls. However, while fans certainly believe she is under some sort of reckoning, she is still largely considered unkillable due to the many layers of protection she places around herself. Of course, her death at the hands of Chainsaw Man himself left fans completely unaware. Indeed, the way she was fooled by Denji, of all people, was not something any fan could have predicted or thought possible.
6 Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
No one plays a more central role in the main plot of the story than Attack on Titan’s Eren Yeager. From the beginning, fans’ perception of the story has been influenced by Eren’s thoughts and ideas. While he maintained his role as a tortured hero, his increasing embrace of the dark side turned many fans against him. However, he remains a star in the story until the beginning of Rumbling. At that point, it became clear to fans that there would be a reckoning regarding Eren’s future. What was shocking, however, was that he was ultimately killed by Mikasa – the love of his life and the person most fans hoped Eren would eventually live happily ever after with.
5 Nobara Kugisaki (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Despite the possibility of someone dying, manga usually don’t kill off their main characters, at least not until the bitter end. However, that did not happen with Jujutsu Kaisen’s Nobara Kugisaki. Introduced in the third chapter, Nobara – along with Yuji and Megumi – forms one of the story’s triumvirate of heroes. The chemistry between the three happened almost immediately. This makes fans believe that this trio will fight together until the final battle. Of course, Nobara’s sudden death at the hands of Mahito just when it seemed like she had found a way to defeat him was a shocking surprise that no one expected. However, Nobara’s death was never fully confirmed in the manga, and some Jujutsu Kaisen fans were certain that Nobara would return before the end.
4 Jiraiya (Naruto)
While Naruto and Sasuke have their dueling fans, everyone seems to like Jiraiya. Although he is one of the famous “Sannin”, Jiraiya has always had a soft spot for children who have abilities but do not have famous or powerful families to support them. His most notable recipient was Naruto himself, who became his favorite disciple. There’s also Jiraiya’s peaceful nature – which for a ninja goes against their way of doing things – and that Naruto has inherited. Considering Jiraiya became Naruto’s father figure, it was a huge shock when he was defeated by Pain – another of his former students. Notably, Jiraiya was not brought back as an Edo Tensei follower during the final war, as the author stated that he could not imagine a single moment meaningful enough for his return. .
3 Ai Hoshino (Oshi no Ko)
The concept of shocking deaths in manga should not be applied to supporting characters because they are not necessary to the story. However, this does not happen with Oshi no Ko’s Ai Hoshino. Indeed, as the “gateway character” for readers into the lives of their two children Aqua and Ruby, Hoshino is central in building and providing context for their story. This is the reason why her sudden murder in front of her children caused a shocking reaction throughout the fan community. Indeed, there’s no situation that makes fans worried about what’s to come. She opened the door hoping to see the children’s long-estranged father, but ended up being stabbed in the stomach with a knife. For someone who exudes cheerful positivity, she displays few if any traits that would alert fans to the idea that she’s doomed.
2-faced (Pluto)
It is very rare for the main character to face the central problem of the series and solve it, but just when they are about to enter the “happily ever after” zone, they die painfully. That’s exactly what happened to Pluto’s Gesicht. Gesicht is the main character tasked with finding a robot that kills robots and humans. However, the stress of cases and life as a police detective took its toll on him. After the case was resolved and the alleged perpetrator was identified and detained, Gesicht decided to take some time off from work. One day, while wandering around trying to get away from it all, Gesicht comes across a robot that reminds him of his deceased son. Unfortunately, that robot is controlled by the series’ villain, who then orders it to kill Gesicht. It’s surprising that at the time, it seemed like a strangely random and shocking way to end the story.
1 Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)
If there is a character that represents a series that is not the main character, it is Satoru Gojo. Absent from much of the story, including some of the most important and important arcs, Gojo is nevertheless the face of the Jujutsu Kaisen universe. However, despite his oversized body, fans know he is not necessarily immune to death. Indeed, if creator Gege Akutami has revealed anything about himself, it’s his penchant for killing off fan-favorite characters. What’s shocking about Gojo’s death isn’t that it happened at the hands of Ryomen Sukuna, the “King of Attacks,” but the way the author presents it. While in the previous chapter Gojo seemed to have the upper hand, the following chapter opens with the hero talking to his deceased friends in a version of Heaven, before revealing his body. Gojo’s dissection in front of Sukuna.
Death happens all the time in manga, but there are certain deaths that stick with the fandom forever, even long after the series ends. With material so ridiculous, it’s hard to surprise fans at all, so having a truly shocking death is a testament to the quality of a series. These The most shocking deaths in mangaHowever, they are not only used for cheap shock, they also always make the story more interesting and unpredictable.
