In the first half of 2023, popular soccer manga Blue Lock has surpassed heavyweights One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen to claim the top spot as the best-selling manga, according to Oricon. Shonen manga, particularly Blue Lock, have seen record sales this year.
Oricon, a Japanese company that provides information and statistics on the entertainment industry, released the manga sales chart for the first half of 2023. The chart revealed that Blue Lock has sold over 8 million physical copies, making it the highest-selling manga of the year so far. It has sold twice as many copies as One Piece, a testament to its rising popularity. Blue Lock’s success is likely to continue with the return of the anime, which is expected to boost sales even further.
Blue Lock has been gaining a steady fanbase since it began in 2018. The manga’s unique premise sets it apart from other sports shonen series. Instead of focusing on team dynamics or high school sports, Blue Lock takes soccer to the next level by placing players from all over Japan in a battle arena with real-world consequences for losing. This thrilling and high-stakes concept has attracted a diverse range of fans.
The anime adaptation, which streamed in 2022, played a significant role in Blue Lock’s success. The first season was highly successful, leading to the announcement of a second season and a spin-off movie. The anime’s popularity catapulted the manga into stardom, resulting in Blue Lock outselling Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece combined in the first half of 2023.
With another season and a movie on the horizon, Blue Lock’s popularity is only expected to grow. The sales for the first part of the year indicate that Blue Lock is a force to be reckoned with and could potentially challenge Chainsaw Man and One Piece for the top spots in the shonen genre when the anime returns.
Overall, Blue Lock’s outstanding sales performance in the first half of 2023 establishes it as the rising star in the manga world. Its unique premise, coupled with a successful anime adaptation, has propelled the series to new heights of popularity. With more content on the way, Blue Lock is set to cement its position as a top-selling and beloved manga.
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