Shonen Jump‘s American run was huge for manga in America. It brought over popular series like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sand Land, and Yu Yu Hakusho in an all-new right-to-left readable format. With the popularity created by shows like Dragon Ball Z and Yu-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 art did a great job of conveying the theme of the manga anthology through bright and sharply-illustrated images.

While Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan had many characters from different series on their cover, the American version was centered on the most popular characters in the country at 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.

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Shonen 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 in the 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 to the 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 from Bleach is on the right promoting Bleach’s new Nintendo DS and Wii games.

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Shonen 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 the Death Note puzzle, Naruto promises to reveal snake ninja secrets, and Bleach is getting ready for its Siege on the Soul Society arc.

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Shonen Jump #2

Kid Naruto Has Never Looked More Vicious

The cover of Shonen Jump #2 features Naruto during the earlier chapters of the manga looking 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 from Dragon Ball in his Super Saiyan form, Luffy from One Piece with a huge smile across his face, the gang from Sand Land racing 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.

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Shonen Jump #53

Ichigo Kurosaki Looks Menacing As He Faces Aizen

The cover of Shonen Jump #53 is dedicated to Ichigo Kurosaki and the antagonists of one of Bleach’s best arcs, the Invasion of Soul Society. Ichigo is looking fierce with his blade on his back and 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 Jump also 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 be Ginatama’s last chapter in the anthology. Naruto is also seen above the Bleach display advertising a recent behind the scenes look at mangaka Masashi Kishimoto’s studio.

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Shonen Jump #49

Yu-Gi-Oh! Gets Its Turn Up Front

Yu-Gi-Oh! made Shonen Jump popular in America before the manga anthology even came over, thanks to its hugely popular anime. Americans also fell in love with Yu-Gi-Oh! as a card game, encouraging distributors. The cover of Shonen 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 to Shonen Jump‘s 4th year of publication in America.

Yami Yugi isn’t the only character from Yu-Gi-Oh! to feature, as Jaden Yuki from Yu-Gi-Oh! GX also appears on the cover, letting everyone know that the new generation is here. Gintoki from Gintama is 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.

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Shonen Jump #6

Yu Yu Hakusho Rocks The House

Shonen Jump #6 features Yoshihiro Togashi’s first smash-hit manga, Yu Yu Hakusho. Before he created Hunter x Hunter, Togashi created the world of Spirit Detectives, centered on one Yusuke Urameshi. Yusuke takes up the cover of Shonen 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 about Dragon Ball GT while Yami Yugi sits beneath him looking ready for a duel. Team Seven, including Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi, from Naruto is in the lower right corner looking ready to battle on top of one of the sage frogs.

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Shonen Jump #61

Naruto Is Finally Back From His Training

The cover of Shonen 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 in Shonen 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 Jump writes that Naruto 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 from Death Note is trying to get people to dress in a “Shinigami Style” and Ichigo offers a choice of new Bleach powers.

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Shonen 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 the Shonen Jump title. 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’s punching bad guys first and asking questions later, something this cover does a great job of showing.

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 from Bleach is also seen up top with some game-changing card tips sure to give you an advantage over your opponent.

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Shonen Jump #10

Super Saiyans Unite

The cover of Shonen Jump #10 features not only three of the strongest characters in Dragon Ball, but three of the strongest characters in manga. Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta are all in their Super Saiyan forms on the cover of Shonen 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 from Shaman King is also on the cover showing off some skills from his universe. Shonen Jump included a popularity quiz with this edition of their manga anthology as well, giving readers the opportunity to choose their favorite Dragon Ball Z character.

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Shonen Jump #0

Goku, Luffy, Naruto, And More Share The Cover

Shonen Jump #0 is the best American Shonen Jump cover by far. It shows off several 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 from Yu Yu Hakusho is pointing his Spirit Gun towards the reader while Luffy from One Piece throws 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 representing Yu-Gi-Oh!, Asakura Yoh from Shaman King is there as well, along with the whole gang from Sand Land . The cover of Shonen Jump #0 shows what the magazine does best: bringing all of manga’s best heroes together.