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Each month, The New York Times curates a comprehensive list of best-sellers across various categories, including a specialized Graphic Books and Manga segment that features 15 standout titles. This list, which combines both Western graphic novels and children’s series like Dog Man, often highlights the consistent popularity of shonen manga, underscoring its strong foothold in the U.S. market.
In the world of manga, the original “Big 3” — Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece — once reigned supreme, elevating the status of Weekly Shonen Jump to unprecedented levels. Although Naruto and Bleach have concluded, a new trio is capturing the hearts of fans in 2025: Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and the enduring One Piece.
Leading the pack, Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 28 finished the year on a high note, securing the number six position on The New York Times best-sellers list for December 2025. Throughout the year, Jujutsu Kaisen maintained its status as a top-selling manga in both Japan and the United States. It consistently featured on the NYT Graphic Books and Manga Best-seller list, making an impressive 13 appearances over the course of the year.
2025’s NYT Manga Best-Sellers Feature New Hits & 1 Big Classic
First and foremost, Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 28 ended the year strong, claiming the number 6 spot on the NYT best-sellers list for December 2025. Other than that, Jujutsu Kaisen kept its ground throughout 2025 as a best-selling manga not only in Japan, but also in the U.S. The series dominated the NYT Graphic Books and Manga Best-seller list, making appearances 13 times throughout the year.
Most notably, Jujutsu Kaisen showcased its massive popularity by landing two separate volumes in the same list during June, August, September, and October. Now, Jujutsu Kaisen manga sales are expected to rise even more as official sources recently confirmed the release of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 in 2026.
My Hero Academia seized a spot in the NYT Graphic and Book Best-sellers four times in 2025. Volume 42 of MHA was number 5 in November 2025 and number 9 in December 2025 on the list, holding its rank for two weeks straight. While Volume 41 and 40 reached NYT best-sellers rank 7 in July 2025 and rank 14 in March 2025, respectively.
My Hero Academia Volume 42 defied the odds by dominating the NYT best-seller list for two consecutive weeks. This achievement is particularly significant, considering the manga had actually ended over a year ago; such a high sales performance is a rare feat for a completed series.
A major factor in the manga’s momentum was My Hero Academia‘s anime finale, released on December 13th, 2025. The emotional weight of the MHA’s anime ending understandably drove fans to secure Kohei Horikoshi’s final volume as a definitive tribute to Deku’s journey.
Last but not least, One Piece continues to assert its dominance on the NYT Graphic Books and Manga best-seller list, with its latest additions, Volume 110 and 109, claiming rank 11 in December 2025 and rank 15 in August 2025 while the series sails through its final saga. As the world’s best-selling manga of all time and an everlasting Shonen powerhouse, Eiichiro Oda’s epic adventure rightfully holds one of the highest placements year after year.
On top of that, One Piece is expected to continue taking spots in the NYT best-sellers lists next year. This is due to both its timeless legacy and the successful first season of its Netflix live-action, as a result of which Netflix has finally announced a Season 2 set to release on March 10th, 2026.
Jujutsu Kaisen Is December 2025’s Best-Selling Manga With the Biggest Future
Even after the original story’s ending, Jujutsu Kaisen remains a powerhouse with readers in the U.S. The series ranked incredibly well on NYT lists, going toe-to-toe with popular U.S. comics like Dog Man, Big Jim Begins and Warriors: The Prophecies Begin, trading spots with them in the top 10 throughout 2025.
Moreover, Jujutsu Kaisen’s performance isn’t just limited to NYT lists. Circana BookScan data throughout 2025 has consistently shown multiple volumes of Jujutsu Kaisen topping the Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels charts, with new English releases frequently claiming the #1 spot in their debut months. These strong performances highlight the series’ enduring appeal, boosted by anticipation for the upcoming anime season and the ongoing English catch-up releases by Viz Media.
On the anime front, Jujutsu Kaisen also stays highly visible, with Blu-ray collections of Seasons 1 and 2, along with the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie, regularly appearing among Amazon’s top-selling anime titles and seeing renewed interest through discounts and limited editions. Fans are now eagerly awaiting Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1, which will premiere on January 8th, 2026, with recent trailers at Jump Festa ’26 racking up millions of views and generating massive hype.
All in all, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece decisively claim the title of shonen manga’s new Big 3 in 2025, dominating the New York Times Graphic Books and Manga best-seller list throughout the year. These series captured a fifth of the available spots month after month, outshining Japanese newcomers and Western titles alike.
