Classic Japanese comics such as Dragon Ball and Naruto, along with current titles such as Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia have become so popular in the west, that manga is now a staple of American comic book readership. Despite this, even the most popular manga series eventually come to the end of their run, raising the ongoing question of which mange will replace them as leaders in the genre. When it comes to shonen manga, two possible manga leaders in waiting are Jump Comics’ Spy x Family and Dr. STONE. But what makes these stories so special?
As with many mangas that have risen to the top of the industry, the underlying premise to Spy x Family is relatively mundane. To best execute his mission, veteran spy Loid Forger decides to become as unassuming as possible. To do this, he adopts a persona common to the country he is tasked with spying on. This includes creating a fake family including a wife, who he has previously never met before, and a daughter who is not his own. Forger believes that his "wife" Yor and daughter "Anya" agree to the compromise because it pays well.
The interesting twist in the story, and the reason it could become the next big manga, is that no one in the Forger family is who they seem to be. Everyone in the family is hiding their true identity from the others. As it turns out, Yor is an assassin who sees the job as a great way to avoid detection of her day job. Anya is a talented telepath who - finally being in a safe, family environment - will do all that she can to "keep the family together." It is the true definition of a dysfunctional family. Moreover, as each comes closer to accomplishing their goals, they are ever more willing to do whatever it takes to maintain their fake family at all costs. It is the perfect exposition of contemporary life that is likely to find deep resonance with a comic-reading public tired of the usual beats of superhero stories.
Dr. STONE, on the other hand, is more in line with the current crop of manga popular in Shonen Jump. That is, it offers a mash-up of science, horror, fantasy, and martial arts in the persuasively unique way that top manga is known to do. Moreover, it also includes a historical element that potentially gives it a bottomless source of content. The story centers on Senku Ishigami, a genius and the first human naturally revived after an event that petrifies nearly all of humanity. Ishigami figures out how to revive others, and applies this process to martial arts master Tsukasa Shishio. Sadly, the realization that the way in which they revive others will reshape the world drives a wedge between the two, leading to rival groups set on building very different versions of society. Dr. STONE hits all the interest points of a quality manga. There is existential conflict, romance, betrayal, and science fiction.
Spy x Family and Dr. STONE are two widely different manga that nevertheless fit the profile of the modern idea of a contemporary manga hit. Both tell interesting yet intricate stories, filled with interesting characters, layered tensions, and clear premises that are constantly mined for new surprises. As giants of shonen manga like Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia come to an end, Spy x Family and Dr. STONE are the titles most clearly poised to take their places in readers' hearts.
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