Shonen Jump's underrated new series, The Elusive Samurai, is quickly rising in popularity after the release of a stunning new anime adaptation that's so good that even the manga has sold out. From the same author as Assassination Classroom, The Elusive Samurai got its anime debut this summer, and it looks like it's quickly becoming one of the most beloved.
According to a post on MangaMoguraRE's X, Shueisha has ordered an emergency reprint of all volumes of The Elusive Samurai, a series that has seen its popularity and sales skyrocket since the anime's release. Despite the anime being less than three episodes long, The Elusive Samurai has already climbed to the top of the Shonen Jump Plus chapter sales chart, which is quite an impressive feat.
The Elusive Samurai currently has sixteen volumes in print, with the latest released in early July. Of those, fourteen volumes have been released in English, with the manga currently having over 164 chapters.
The Elusive Samurai Makes Waves as Anime Boosts Manga Sales by 11,398 Copies in First Week
According to data released by Oricon and posted by WSJ_manga on X, The Elusive Samurai sold 11,398 copies in the first week of July since the anime's release. Although The Elusive Samurai's anime premiere was sandwiched between other exciting releases like the second season of Tower of God, the anime still managed to capture the attention of fans thanks to its beautiful visuals, impressive animation, and skillful direction.
Another major reason why The Elusive Samurai became an instant hit was its shocking yet gripping opening, which left viewers wanting to know what would happen to young Tokiyuki after he lost everything. The story also featured a cast of unique, lovable main characters like the protagonist and his vassals, and quirky characters like Yorishige Suwa, who provided a stark contrast to the series' darker narrative tone.
Given the historical setting of the story, it's easy to see why Japanese audiences in particular were immediately drawn to the series after it was introduced through the anime. The setting and art style of Elusive Samurai are also distinctly reminiscent of beloved classics like Inuyasha, which may also explain why the series' sales have suddenly increased.
However, The Elusive Samurai is quickly proving itself to be the most underrated gem of Summer 2024, and at its current pace, the manga could well become a mainstream series that many people love and follow.