hero in Shonen dance often resonate with a wide range of readers because of the contagious nature of their optimistic personalities and their far-fetched dreams that no villain, no matter how powerful or ruthless, can quell. But the most compelling heroes are the ones who have been through so much trauma that they are just tortured souls as much as they are the saviors of the world.
The top Shonen Jump heroes on this list have suffered from their tragic pasts, with their wounds still lingering to this day by profoundly influencing their actions.
10 Nico Robin (One Piece)
One Piece is often celebrated for its many tragic characters, especially Luffy’s Straw Hats. Unfortunately, the majority of them, while sad and heartbreaking, fall completely into flashbacks, falling to the sidelines due to One Piece’s overwhelming cast and excessive world-building. Nico Robin is a rare exception as her backstory is tied to the main antagonists of the series, who tend to appear quite often, resulting in Robin having to relive her trauma. me. The fact that One Piece is now exploring the tragedy of Nico Robin Ohara puts her tortured past at the forefront of debate for herself and her readers.
9 Noelle Silva (Black Clover)
Though incredibly complicated, the trauma caused by the curse that Noelle suffered for most of Black Clover was overcome in part because she knew the truth about why she suffered for so long. She was even able to atone for her family members who rejected and mocked her due to the curse that completely disrupted her sense of self-worth. But what makes Noelle’s situation all the more tragic in Black Clover is that she is then forced to stab Vanica, the host of the evil Megicula who cursed Noelle, the same way Megicula killed Noelle’s own mother.
8 Maki Zenin (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Maki Zenin’s trauma in Jujutsu Kaisen would naturally be a lot higher on this list if the years of mental abuse she endured hadn’t left her with a mentality that greatly reduced the trauma aspects. The most hurtful thing her own actions can cause to herself later. . She may have massacred her entire family, but she was clearly separate during the whole massacre. However, she had to witness the death of her older sister Mai, with whom she had just made peace. Mai’s sacrifice so that Maki could become a more proficient fighter contributed to Maki’s current status as a tortured hero.
7 Juiz (Undead Undead)
Every hero in Undead Unluck has a rather traumatic past because the gods of their world chose to let their Negativity manifest in a tragic way that would hurt them the most. Juiz’s experiences set her apart from her peers because of the self-appointed duty she had long set for herself, which led her to witness the deaths of her close friends. 99 times. If that wasn’t enough, Juiz was forced to seal the ego of her lover Victor into Undead Andy as he felt he had no choice but to kill her to end her suffering. And even though Undead Andy was a different person, he shared Victor’s body and fell in love with Izumo Fuuko, Juiz’s best friend. The fact that the Undead Unluck has been slowly revealing Juiz’s story for quite some time keeps her tragedy and the traumatic effects she endured to this day.
6 Leah (Makes the exorcist fall in love)
The exorcists Leah and the unnamed boy were both severely traumatized. The fact that Leah’s experiences in Make The Exorcist Fall in Love transcend the later hero’s trauma is particularly impressive considering he went through such rigorous religious reprogramming that he scared to love another person and struggle to do it. And yet, Leah was also physically raped and tricked into eating her family. However, the fact that the monster that did this to her had just been defeated, could push that anguish behind the scenes. This is especially possible because she just had a touching “reunion” with the souls of her deceased family who prevented her from ending her suffering forever.
5 Yukio (Green Mage)
Yukio’s trauma in Blue Exorcist grows, all exacerbated by his growing sense of inferiority and self-worth compared to his brother Rin. It all started unsettlingly when he admitted he felt dead inside and wondered if something was eating away at him. But when he discovered the source of his pain, he had repeatedly put his life in jeopardy to the point where it seemed he was trying to achieve something far more sinister. Although Yukio and Rin have recently had a heart, recent events are hinting that Yukio’s hurt has only just begun.
4 Sasuke (Naruto)
Some might consider Itachi to be a more vulnerable character than his younger brother, Sasuke, but there are cases that suggest the opposite. As a true hero, Sasuke had to deal with different stages of trauma, all based on tricks and deception. Not only was his family massacred right in front of his eyes, but he also believes it was his brother’s fault. In the end, when Sasuke avenged their deaths by killing him, he learned that Itachi had just manipulated him to kill him, and that his brother was actually trying to protect their village. Only a few Naruto readers can honestly admit that they didn’t feel anything when Itachi poked Sasuke’s forehead.
3 Denji (The Chainsaw Man)
Season one of Chainsaw Man introduced Denji as potentially the most tortured hero in Shonen Jump based on how much suffering he endured. Denji has essentially lived most of his life as a slave to the Yakuza, which has resulted in him being completely dependent on his supposed savior, Makima. It is revealed that Makima doesn’t even consider Denji a human but only after the ‘real’ Chainsaw Man is beyond anyone’s tolerance.
2 Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
Eren is one of the most controversial heroes in Shonen Jump because of his change in appearance from a hero to an outright villain. There’s also the puzzling embarrassment that Eren actually caused certain events to ensure that his mother would be eaten so he could become the person he needed to be. Even before this revelation, his mother’s death was traumatizing enough for Eren to spend his life freeing from the world of Giants that devoured her. Attack on Titan’s Eren is clearly haunted by his decision to kill his mother when he makes a shocking confession to Armin. However, Eren’s decision to shoulder such a huge burden to save the people of Heaven makes him one of the most complex characters to ever appear in Weekly Shonen Jump.
1 Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
No other Shonen Jump hero on this list comes close to the way Ken Kaneki was tortured in Tokyo Ghoul because of the number of times he actually became a different person as well as the hallucinations he suffered, manifesting. as the first living thing ever existed. tried to kill him. Ignoring the fact that he was forced to become a ghoul and faced with the horrors of wanting to eat humans, Kaneki was physically tortured so completely that he espoused his manners, thoughts, and manners. the torturer’s own way and even demonstrates equally gruesome methods on a victim almost immediately afterwards. The second season of the anime, also written by the original mangaka, explores this motivation further by having Kaneji join the very organization that tortured him.
Weekly Shonen Jump series available from Viz Media.