Shonen Jump+ has introduced a new manga competition called the “Bad Guy Manga Award,” aimed at discovering stories featuring captivating and compelling villains.
The competition runs from June 3 to September 15, and submissions can be made via the Jump Rookie! platform, a web submission form, or postal mail. Winners will receive either the “Grand Bad Guy Award” or the “Outstanding Bad Guy Award,” with their works published on the Shonen Jump+ platform.
This contest highlights characters described as 魅力的な悪いキャラクター, referring to villains who are ruthless or dangerous yet possess qualities that make them memorable and appealing.
To mark the launch of the award, Jump Rookie! has also released interviews with five manga creators:
Naoya Matsumoto (Kaiju No. 8) revealed that Kaiju No. 9 was inspired by the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 virus, aiming to make him feel more like a natural disaster than a typical villain.
Yuji Kaku (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku) emphasized that compelling villains need a consistent internal logic or belief system, rather than being simply “evil.”
Takahiro (Chained Soldier) explained that the Shikoku was influenced by mythology and designed with distinct traits like cruelty and charm to stand out among other visually striking characters.
Tohru Kuramori (Centuria) aimed to make his antagonist Arcos strategic and intelligent, enhancing the protagonist’s growth through his presence.
Kuraku Ichikawa (Drama Queen) deliberately exaggerated Nomamoto’s flaws to make them oddly satisfying and memorable.
This initiative is part of a series of 10th anniversary projects by Shonen Jump+, including an anime adaptation project for one-shot manga in collaboration with WIT Studio, Production I.G, and CONTRAIL, spearheaded by production company JOEN. The platform has prioritized one-shots, publishing over 2,000 titles to date and releasing more than 200 annually.