Weekly Shonen Jump may be the home of giants like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Bleach, but even promising new manga can get cooked fast if readers don’t bite early.
That almost happened to Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi, the demon-battling comedy manga from Shoichi Usui. According to information shared from Volume 8 and highlighted by reliable Shonen Jump tracker @WSJ_manga, the series was apparently close to being cancelled after just 15 chapters because its early sales and reader response were weak.
For a Jump title, that is a scary position to be in. The magazine constantly brings in new series, which means underperforming manga often get removed to make space. Usually, a manga gets more time to prove itself across dozens of chapters and a few volumes, but some titles can still be cut early if the numbers look rough.
Luckily, Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi survived that danger zone.
Why this comeback matters
The big deal here is not just that the manga avoided cancellation. It also means Usui now gets to use characters, ideas, and world-building elements he reportedly thought might never make it into the story.
That is huge for readers who enjoy watching a manga grow beyond its first arc. Early Jump chapters often feel like a survival test: introduce the hook, make readers care, and hope the rankings don’t bury you. Once a series gets breathing room, the creator can start opening up the world properly.
Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi has another interesting connection too: Usui previously worked as an assistant to Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Oda even gave a recommendation for the first volume, reportedly calling the demons cute. Let’s be real, an Oda shoutout is the kind of boost most new manga artists would dream of.
But the series could not survive on that name-drop alone. Readers still needed a reason to stay, and it seems the manga has slowly found its footing through its odd mix of demon action, comedy, and surprisingly wholesome character writing.
What is Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi about?
The manga follows Kiyoshi Harai, a 16-year-old prodigy who becomes the youngest graduate of the Exorcist Academy. On paper, he is considered one of the strongest exorcists around. The twist? Kiyoshi is actually terrified of demons.
That fear comes from his past, after his parents were killed by a demon. Even so, he still wants to protect people and use his abilities to exorcise demons. So yes, the setup sounds dark, but the series leans heavily into comedy, with dangerous missions often turning into funny situations.
The manga began serialization in July 2024, and its English Volume 1 was released on May 5, 2026. While it is not being positioned as the next instant mega-hit, the series has gained more attention recently, especially after the arrival of Asuta Roth, described as one of its strongest villains so far.
Why Malaysian and SEA manga fans should watch it
For Malaysian readers, this is exactly the kind of title worth keeping on the radar before it blows up — or before everyone starts talking about it only after a future anime announcement, if that ever happens.
SEA anime fans are already used to discovering Shonen Jump titles early, tracking rankings, and arguing whether a new series deserves to live or kena axe. Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi has that underdog energy: Oda connection, shaky start, weird-cute demon comedy, and now a second chance to expand properly.
If you like shonen that mixes action with goofy heart instead of going full serious mode every chapter, this one might be worth sampling. Not every Jump series needs to be the next Jujutsu Kaisen. Sometimes, you just want a fun demon manga with a scared-but-OP lead trying his best.
Source: ComicBook Anime