When Gege Akutami’s hit manga, Jujutsu Kaisen, released its final chapter in September 2024, it signaled the end of one of the defining shonen manga of the early 2020s. The series and its anime adaptation are beloved by millions of fans around the world, and despite the lukewarm reception of the manga’s finale, the JJK fandom has stayed strong in the year since its conclusion. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Akutami has finally released the series’ first sequel manga, Modulo.
Modulo follows Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu, the grandchildren of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin, after they come into contact with a mysterious extraterrestrial named Maru who wields very similar powers to those of a jujutsu sorcerer. The manga is tentatively set for a six-month run in Shonen Jump magazine, and if its first chapter is any indication, it’s set to be a treat for both new readers and longtime fans of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Modulo Immediately Smooths Over Jujutsu Kaisen’s Biggest Faults
As beloved as Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen was, the story of Yuji Itadori had its shortcomings; in fact, these became more evident as the series progressed, culminating in a polarizing ending that left many of the franchise’s biggest questions unanswered. Thankfully, Modulo Chapter 1 — titled “Special Grade Incident” — surprisingly sets up the sequel to avoid the majority of these faults, starting with the setting of the story itself.
Modulo takes place in Japan 68 years after the defeat of Ryomen Sukuna, giving JJK fans a point of reference for the events of the series that was sorely lacking from its predecessor. Jujutsu Kaisen never thoroughly addressed much of its setting and world-building, and although many of these plot holes technically apply to Modulo, they’re easy to ignore given Sukuna’s defeat, rather than his life, is what is important to the sequel. The result is a setting that rarely needs to be explained to its audience, instead shifting its focus to exploring the mystery of the strange extraterrestrial who arrives on Earth early in Chapter 1: Maru.
The introduction of an extraterrestrial to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen and Modulo isn’t the most original plot beat — after all, it’s an idea that’s been popularized by Dragon Ball Z and Naruto: Shippuden, among numerous other manga. Still, it’s a fun pivot that helps Modulo feel fresh, as Maru’s mysterious nature helps the audience focus on something new rather than looking backward for clarification about the events of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Yuka, Tsurugi & Maru Elevate Modulo’s Story as Compelling Main Characters
Yuka Okkotsu is technically the main character of Modulo, but based on Chapter 1, it seems as though its story will closely follow her relationship with her brother, Tsurugi and their extraterrestrial visitor, Maru. Though Jujutsu Kaisen also follows a trio in the form of Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki, the bond between Yuka and Tsurugi is significantly more important to the launch of Modulo than any single relationship in the original series, instantly making them more dynamic than the vast majority of Jujutsu Kaisen’s cast.
On that note, Yuka and Tsurugi are a breath of fresh air when it comes to shonen manga protagonists — especially in comparison to one-dimensional characters like JJK’s Yuji Itadori. The grandchildren of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin are far from perfect, and they’re both driven by a need to prove themselves as worthy (or unworthy, in Tsurugi’s case) of Yuta’s ring. This sibling rivalry and the duo’s insecurities regarding the perception of the Gojo Clan naturally make Yuka and Tsurugi much more complex than the earnest, well-intentioned protagonists seen in most shonen anime.
However, as interesting as Yuka and Tsurugi’s relationship is, the obvious X-Factor of Modulo’s core cast is its alien visitor, the Simurian known as Maru. Maru’s unfamiliarity with jujutsu society serves as a great excuse for Yuka and Tsurugi to address the need-to-know elements of the setting, while his alien nature provides a mystery large enough to dwarf any questions that lingered from the conclusion of Jujutsu Kaisen. He’s a perfect foil to the Okkotsu siblings, and although only time will tell how Modulo’s supporting cast materializes, Gege Akutami’s previous success with JJK bodes well for the future of his new manga.
Modulo Shows Every Sign of Being a Worthy Follow-Up to Jujutsu Kaisen
Overall, Modulo Chapter 1 showcases Gege Akutami’s biggest strengths while building upon the successes of Jujutsu Kaisen. Yuka, Tsurugi, and Maru haven’t had enough time to prove themselves as fully developed characters, but in the span of a single chapter, they’ve already become engaging characters with interesting connections to one another.
One element of Modulo that deserves particular praise is its art. Gege Akutami’s art in Jujutsu Kaisen was generally acceptable, but now that the author is focusing on writing and character design, Modulo’s artist, Yuji Iwasaki, is taking the franchise’s visual quality to an entirely new level. Modulo Chapter 1 is gorgeous without losing the core aesthetic of JJK, making it simultaneously feel connected to its predecessor while also having its own visual identity.
Read more>>
