The Most Unsatisfying Shonen Manga Endings

Highlights

Naruto’s
finale left fans unsatisfied due to excessive plot armor & lack of character development.
Demon Slayer’s
ending disappointed with lackluster final fight and a school-life twist.
My Hero Academia’s
conclusion was deemed unfair by fans, leaving the main character back at square one.

As someone who has spent countless hours engrossed in these captivating narratives, I must say, it’s a bittersweet feeling to witness such seemingly perfect stories taking unexpected turns that leave fans craving more.

As a devoted fan, I can attest that there’s an undeniable charm in shonen manga that captivates not just the young but also the young at heart. It’s no wonder it’s hailed as one of the most beloved genres or widely accepted among Japanese comic enthusiasts. However, shonen manga has a reputation for something less than ideal: often, they don’t quite deliver on the promise of a satisfying conclusion.

Many long-running series, some spanning over a decade, often find it challenging to achieve the perfect balance between character growth and leaving room for future possibilities – a moment all devoted fans anticipate in the final installments of their beloved stories: closure. Regrettably, several shōnen manga series on this list have disappointing endings that could leave fans disgruntled for years, constantly revisiting their memories of how these series concluded.

Spoilers Ahead for all series listed

6 Naruto

When Plot Armor Ruins The Ending

The Most Unsatisfying Shonen Manga Endings

Author(s): Masashi Kishimoto
Initial Release Date: September,1999.
Ending Date: November 10, 2014.
Genres: Martial Arts, Battle Manga, Adventure, Mild-Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Every avid Naruto fan is well-versed in the Fourth Shinobi World War Arc and its shortcomings as both an ending for the series and as a war narrative. Despite having some memorable scenes (such as Asuma’s reunion with Team 10), it’s hard to ignore the fact that the plot was often overshadowed by the use of plot devices, which were employed at convenient moments to save the lives of underdeveloped characters, while characters who deserved a positive outcome met their demise instead.

In conclusion, the final Naruto Shippūden arc preceding Generations failed to satisfy fans and instead left them frustrated with its author.

5 Demon Slayer

The Lackluster Final Fight, And The School-life Ending

Author(s): Koyoharu Gotōge
Initial Release Date: February 15, 2016
Ending Date: May 15, 2020
Genres: Supernatural, Terror, Dark Fantasy, Action, Drama, Adventure

In contrast to the finale of Naruto, the Final Battle Arc of Demon Slayer differs significantly as it delves into the tragic impacts of war, resulting in many sorrowful deaths that leave fans of the manga heartbroken. However, this arc was somewhat brief and had its drawbacks. The primary concern lies in the stark contrast between the fight sequences, particularly those involving Kokushibou and Muzan. While Kokushibou’s fight was intense, engaging, and deeply rooted in his backstory, Muzan, who was supposed to be the demon progenitor, failed to live up to expectations and did not convey the sense of a true Big Bad Evil Guy (BBEG).

Leaving aside the disappointing conclusion, what transpired seemed more like a dream (an unfortunate narrative misstep, even among novice authors), featuring a character who bore an uncanny resemblance to Tanjirō and was, it turned out, a relative of Zenitsu and Nezuko. To add insult to injury, the ending of that school manga raised eyebrows, at least. Was it hinting at a future “Demon Slayer” manga set in contemporary times? Or merely gratuitous fan service? In either case, fans were left seething with frustration.

4 The Seven Deadly Sins

The Poor Pacing And Loose Ends Kill The Mood

Author(s): Nakaba Suzuki
Initial Release Date: October 10, 2012
Ending Date: March 25, 2020
Genres: Action, High Fantasy, Battle Manga, Adventure

Though the conclusion of “The Seven Deadly Sins” wasn’t poor in general, it created a vast amount of unanswered questions and gaps in information that have left fans scratching their heads. Some believe this may be intentional on the author’s part, setting up a foundation for the potential sequel series to make sense.

In addition to this conclusion, another disappointing aspect was the portrayal of yet another futile war storyline. The aftermath was overly softened and there was minimal action depicted. The narrative seemed excessively centered on the primary conflict (The Sins vs The Demon King), leaving characters such as Gilthunder in the shadows despite his significant character growth, which went largely untapped. Furthermore, the rhythm of events felt out of sync, with the final Arc appearing to be artificially extended for the purpose of delaying an inevitable conclusion. Given that the war itself didn’t span years but merely a few days, it seems illogical that it consumes so many manga installments.

3 Fairy Tail

Stagnated Due To Fan Service, Characters Showed No Significant Growth

Author(s): Mashima Hiro
Initial Release Date: August, 2006
Ending Date: July 26, 2017
Genres: Action, Battle Manga, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, Drama

In the grand tapestry of Zeref’s epic tale, Fairy Tail had the potential to establish itself as a timeless dark fantasy shonen manga, boasting one of the most intricate and ominous storylines, hinting at a captivating backstory for the beloved Dragon Slayer, Natsu. However, what left many fans disheartened was the underwhelming climax of the war against Zeref. The resolution felt unsatisfying, falling short of expectations set by Mashima’s shonen mastery, leaving every follower feeling a tinge of disappointment.

As a dedicated fan of Fairy Tail, I must admit that the battles against these formidable Dark Mages felt rather chaotic and haphazard, despite the characters showing some degree of maturity and growth throughout the series. In this final Arc, it seemed more like we were witnessing spontaneous headbutting rather than strategic clashes against what are supposedly the most powerful Mages ever. Even an esteemed Enchantress and Dragon Slayer like Irene was defeated in a battle that felt underwhelming and lacking in significance, leaving fans questioning: Where is this story headed? Granted, the subsequent series titled 100-Year-Old Quest was undoubtedly already planned, but honestly, it’s hard for us die-hard fans to consider that final Arc as Fairy Tail’s conclusion.

2 The Promised Neverland

Everyone Gets What They Want, No Sacrifice, No Pain

Author(s): Kaiu Shirai – Posuka Demizu
Initial Release Date: August, 2016
Ending Date: June 15, 2020
Genres: Action, Drama, Dark Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Terror

Fans of “The Promised Neverland” universally agreed that this series stood out in every aspect, with its quality and character development exceeding expectations. However, the initial arcs of this captivating (albeit brief) series were well-received until the Imperial Capital Battle Arc. It was at this point where things began to unravel. The turning point seemed to be Norman’s redemption following his horrific actions, which was portrayed as if those actions had no lasting impact, as Emma merely persuaded him to return to the “good side.”

Following several underwhelming episodes, what everyone dreaded finally occurred: the manga started to lose its edge, growing increasingly sweet in tone. This was particularly evident in the ending, where every character received their heart’s desire without having to make any significant sacrifices. Of course, this series wasn’t known for the law of equivalent exchange, but the conclusion felt more like a demolition than a resolution. All things taken into account, it was disappointing and anticlimactic, and the series deserved a more satisfying ending.

1 My Hero Academia

The Most Unfair Ending Of All Time? Fans Say Yes

Author(s): Kohei Horikoshi
Initial Release Date: July 7, 2014
Ending Date: August 5, 2024
Genres: Action, School Life, superheroes, Battle Manga

The narrative of My Hero Academia initially sets out as the account of one striving to become the world’s best hero. However, long-term fans may feel frustrated by the turn of events, realizing that Deku’s supposed happy ending was merely a veneer – a compensation for all his hardships, personal growth, and sacrifices. Essentially, he finds himself back at the starting line with no tangible accomplishments to his name.

His friends have moved on, he is seriously depressed (though he fights really hard to not let it show), and he “allegedly” has the job that he always dreamed of. A paradox in itself, or perhaps a metaphor, what the writers wanted to show their fans was that “Teachers are the true greatest heroes in the world.” Nevertheless, fans have some real bad blood with that ending, and it was so unsatisfying that it might eclipse Attack On Titan’s Pidgeon-Eren flop.

2024-08-07 09:06