Warning: Contains minor spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen has made huge waves in the anime community, becoming a global sensation and a new powerhouse shonen series. With action-packed battle sequences, detailed characters, and comical interactions, readers and watchers are left at the edge of their seats.

Author and illustrator Gege Akutami has drawn readers in with his unique storytelling, distinctive art style, and color choices. His drawings have a mix of sinistrous elements, vibrant hues, and misplaced humor. Akutami’s artistic choices certainly fit the vibe of his supernatural series, and these covers are a gateway into his tale of survival, sacrifice, and the world’s dualistic nature.

10

Humor in a Dark Place

Volume 5 “Kyoto Sister School Goodwill Event”

With Jujutsu Kaisen holding serious overtones, bloody gore, and curses wreaking havoc across the community, Gege Akutami knows how to incorporate humor into his otherwise dark series. With goofy character idiosyncrasies or silly interactions, there are moments throughout the manga that lighten the mood. One such character is Aoi Todo with his extravagant love for ‘Tall Idol Takada-Chan’. Volume 5, which gives him a spotlight, stands apart from other early volumes as it’s bright, cheery, and playful. Todo and Takada-Chan blow a kiss to readers, surrounded by vibrant hearts.

Todo is multifaceted with quirky behavior and speech but also stands as a pillar of strength for other students and the whole jujutsu society. Even in life-threatening encounters seen early in the manga, Todo’s eccentricity is a welcome breath of fresh air and this colorful cover is a perfect representation.

9

The Fushiguro Domino Effect

Volume 8 “Hidden Inventory”

Although watchers and readers don’t see much of Toji Fushiguro, his character is pivotal to the story, setting up many events and character shifts that have a domino effect throughout the series. Volume 8 depicts the strong ‘Sorcerer Killer’ holding his worm-shaped ‘Inventory Curse’.

Backed by his arsenal of weapons and colored with dark splatters of deep purple and glowing green, this cover reflects the desolate energy he brings through his actions and persona. With the passing details readers learn about Toji, and by seeing his past encounters with young Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, fans can’t help but wish that this Fushiguro had more of a spotlight.

8

Self Preservation Does Not Equate Weakness

Volume 13 “The Shibuya IncidentーThunderclapー”

With volume 13, readers get a close-up of a fierce-looking Atsuya Kusakabe, sporting his cursed energy katana. A plum background sets all focus on his face, contrasted with the bright red blood splattering across the page’s bottom half, keeping on theme for the ominous ‘Shibuya Incident’ arc.

Although Kusakabe does not possess an innate technique like some peers, he is a well-regarded swordsman and Grade 1 Sorcerer. He is introduced with a seemingly disinterested attitude and has an overall fearful disposition, but his skill and intellect come to light with the story’s progression. Although he serves as a minor character, fans love to see his power shine through close-contact fighting.

7

Losing Innocence and Gaining Strength

Volume 1 “Ryōmen Sukuna”

The manga series needs to spotlight its protagonist, and it does just that with Itadori Yuji adorning volume 1. The deep blacks mixed with vivid accents of color are a perfect atmosphere for the series’ visuals and topic matter. Yuji holds out his hand, with Sukuna’s tongue sticking out tauntingly, backed by the ‘King of Curses’ menacing arm looming behind.

With its exposition, Akutami sets up Yuji as a protagonist who is a cheery, strong, and refreshing main hero to follow. Readers can’t help but root for Itadori, and seeing his understanding of harsh realities is impactful as he faces more distressing situations. When revisiting the earlier volumes, it is interesting to see how not only his appearance and ability change but his approach as well.

6

Jujutsu is Better Than His 9 to 5

Volume 11 “The Shibuya IncidentーGate Openー”

Fan favorite Nanami Kento is featured on volume 11, with his infamous animal-print tie, blue button down, and glasses being pushed up his nose. Readers see a highlight of his curse technique in the background, as the ensemble is in the midst of a critical conflict at this point of the manga. Akutami’s illustrative art style is unique with apparent marker strokes, creating obvious contrast and texture, feeding the encompassing gloom of jujutsu society.

Nanami’s character has iconic humorous moments, but he also is an honest and crucial depiction of duality and responsibility. Kento’s honesty about his distaste for the wickedness lingering within the jujutsu world is a dose of sanity in an otherwise crazed community. Despite his antipathy, his unfaltering kindness for his successors makes him beloved by the audience.

5

More Sinister Than It Appears

Volume 16 “The Shibuya IncidentーGate Closedー”

Akutami is no stranger to gruesome illustrations with bodily mutation or harm. Volume 16’s cover is particularly nasty, with a smug Kenjaku lifting his scalp at the stitches and licking brain fluid off his face. Many of Jujutsu Kaisen’s covers are illustrated with sinister energy, and the subject of this edition is the center of attention with the limited but bright color palette lying stark against the priest’s dark robes.

When readers learn the truth of Geto’s demise, about Kenjaku, and how the curse uses Suguru’s body, it makes this drawing one deserving more of a grimace. Despite readers’ reception of the villain, it is undeniable that in comparison to other curses’ explosively violent nature, Kenjaku is crafty and just as vicious in his own way, making him a formidable antagonist.

4

Overwhelming Darkness

Volume 25 “Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown”

Volume 25 is the second to sport main villain Sukuna, who deserves recognition. Artistically, it is illustrated with a more monochromatic color palette. As Sukuna’s vessel is shrouded in shades of red, attention is brought to the dark hair and multiple fingers strewn across the page.

Sukuna’s character is one of dark energy and frightening consequences. With the story’s progression, readers see how his growing strength and resolution for desolation set him apart from other antagonists in the manga. The ‘King of Curses’ reincarnation into modern jujutsu society reassures him as a sadistic and reputable villain with a commanding presence every time he appears.

3

She is Vengeance

Volume 22 “Sakurajima ColonyーRebirthー”

One of the most loved female characters gets a spotlight on volume 22. The cover is colored with somber greys, a scarred Maki Zenin lying on the ground with her sword and making a pinky promise with an unseen figure. This illustration is a seemingly quiet and poignant moment compared to the other more lively or graphic cover art.

Many characters in Jujutsu Kaisen have a complicated family history, and the Zenin twins are painfully familiar with the unfairness surrounding the great sorcerer clans. Her character progression and hardened revenge story undoubtedly drew fans’ eyes, and with the plot’s developments, she has proven that being born without cursed energy does not hold her back.

2

The King of Curses’ True Devastation

Volume 14 “The Shibuya IncidentーRight and Wrongー”

Devastation incarnate, Sukuna takes center stage on volume 14. This was his cover exposition, and it’s definitely visually impactful with the cool tone hues and his mocking figure holding out his hands ready to attack.

At this point in the manga, the audience truly sees his abilities, power, and love for chaos. Contrasted to other antagonists in the story, Sukuna’s motivations lack depth, and this actually becomes a strong suit. His malice does not have some deluded origin or self-righteous inspiration. He is evil for evil’s sake, and that simplicity makes him an interesting character to follow.

1

The Complexity of The Strongest Sorcerer

Volume 4 “I’m Gonna Kill You!”

The strongest sorcerer gets his flowers by decorating the cover of volume 4. Matching his unique eyes, he is backed by blue as he holds out his bloody hand, lifts his blindfold, and teasingly sticks out his tongue. At first glance, Satoru Gojo comes off as a silly but strong sorcerer, but his character holds much more complexity.

His painful past, present conviction, and the curse of his position all fabricate bittersweet attributes on further inspection. The weight of responsibility he carries holds him to higher standards. He paves the way for other sorcerers and shines as a beacon of hope amidst the mayhem, but by doing so, he stands alone in assumed darkness. His might and determination paired with his charming demeanor make him a multi-faceted and beloved hero for Jujutsu Kaisen fans.