Endings aren’t just important to give closure to stories that we’ve loved in the past; they also give the chance for new stories to take their place. As multiple beloved manga wind down or end entirely, it is also time for a new generation of storytellers to take their place. Series like Spy x Family, Sakamoto Days, and The Summer Hikaru Died show that while the face of anime and manga might change, the industry is still going strong.

Admittedly, I follow manga a bit closer than most people – it's a professional hazard, really. So, when I tell you not to lament the fact that your favorite manga is coming to an end, you should trust me. Not only is it a good thing that these stories are allowed to end in a way that the original creator intended, but it gives us all a chance to find something new to obsess over every week. It might not completely fill that Gojo-shaped hole in your heart, but it will start the healing process.

What is fascinating is watching how the next generation of mangaka has been influenced by the series that are currently winding down. You can see how Spy x Family has been inspired by the battle-heavy shonen fare like One Piece, particularly its heavy emphasis on how the horrors of war impact not just those who fought but the next generation as well. Recent arcs of both manga have gone to great lengths to show that war is hell and should be prevented at all costs.

While Spy x Family’s anime adaptation has become a proven hit, other recent manga are just getting ready to make the jump to animation. Sakamoto Days delivers John Wick-esque action with comedic flair and a host of supernatural abilities in its cast. There is a hint of Assassination Classroom in the action and the comedic timings. And if you haven’t read The Summer Hikaru Died, you’re missing out on the sweetest, most horrifying take on the slice-of-life genre we’ve ever seen. It feels like the best parts of Mob Psycho 100, if Mob dealt with demonic horrors from beyond space and time.

Both have anime due out in 2025 and, if they get the treatment they deserve, they’ll quickly prove that there are plenty of great manga ready to take the place of your favorite now that they’ve ended.

We get it; we’re not quite ready to live in a world where there isn’t a fresh chapter of One Piece waiting for us each weekend, but Oda assures us that day is (slowly) coming. It will prove to be a monumental change for the manga industry, perhaps even greater than when Dragon Ball ended its original run back in 1995. As scary as that moment might seem, we’re sure that another title will step up to fill that void. It will look different, but that is the nature of storytelling. Endings come, paving the way for something new, in a cycle that ensures that every generation of manga authors can leave their unique mark on readers.

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