Black Torch Is the Canceled Manga That Just Became Summer 2026's Hottest Anime — Here's Why Fans Are Calling It the Next Jujutsu Kaisen

Wait — a canceled manga from 2018 just became one of the most talked-about anime of Summer 2026? Yeah, you read that right.

Black Torch, the supernatural action series by Takaki Tsuyoshi that was axed after just five volumes in Shueisha’s Jump Square, has done the unthinkable: it came back from the dead as a full TV anime — and barely three episodes in, fans are already calling it the perfect Jujutsu Kaisen replacement.

Streaming now on Crunchyroll, Black Torch is proving that canceled doesn’t mean forgotten. In fact, the anime is pulling numbers that rival some of the platform’s biggest shonen titles. Here’s the full story on anime’s most improbable comeback.

From Axed Manga to Crunchyroll Breakout

Black Torch originally ran from December 2016 to August 2018 in Jump Square, completing just five tankoubon volumes. Despite a passionate fanbase and Viz Media publishing the English release, the series never found commercial footing — and Shueisha pulled the plug.

Then, in early 2025, something wild happened: a teaser visual dropped. An anime was happening. Directed by Umabiki Kei at 100Studio (with animation production by Studio EEK), Black Torch premiered in July 2026 as part of Crunchyroll’s stacked Summer 2026 lineup alongside heavyweights like Mushoku Tensei Season 3 and Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You.

The question was whether a series with only 5 volumes of source material could stand toe-to-toe with ongoing manga giants. The answer, three episodes in, is a resounding yes.

Jujutsu Kaisen With a Good Sukuna?

The comparisons to Jujutsu Kaisen aren’t just fan chatter — they start right from the premise. Protagonist Jiro Azuma has the unique ability to communicate with animals, a rough exterior, and superhuman physical strength. Sound familiar? He’s basically Yuji Itadori with a pet communication perk.

But the real parallel kicks in when Jiro fuses with a legendary spirit named Rago — and this is where Black Torch flips the script. Unlike Sukuna, the malevolent King of Curses who constantly threatens Yuji, Rago is a genuinely helpful entity. He brings Jiro back from fatal wounds, fights alongside him, and actually wants to protect humanity from the monstrous mononoke — Black Torch’s equivalent of Cursed Spirits.

A secret government agency called the Bureau of Espionage monitors these mononoke threats, and Jiro quickly finds himself recruited into an elite squad — the Black Torch unit — overseen by an instructor who sees past Jiro’s rough edges to his potential. The team dynamic builds with every episode, giving the series the same “found family” energy that made Jujutsu Kaisen’s jujutsu sorcerers so compelling.

ComicBook.com put it bluntly: Black Torch “continues to prove itself as a close replacement for what Jujutsu Kaisen offered.” That’s high praise for a series whose manga was literally canceled.

Why This Comeback Matters

Canceled manga almost never get anime adaptations. The industry standard is brutal: if a manga can’t sustain serialization, it’s buried. Black Torch breaking through that barrier signals something bigger — that fan passion and a killer concept can outweigh commercial failure.

The production values don’t hurt either. Early episodes showcase fluid action sequences, atmospheric monster design, and a soundtrack that punches well above expectations. The key visual released by the production committee looks absolutely gorgeous, with Jiro and Rago rendered in a striking, almost painterly style.

Crunchyroll has also gone all-in on distribution, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs for the Indian market alongside the English dub — a clear signal that the platform sees Black Torch as a global flagship, not just a summer filler.

What’s Missing?

If there’s one thing Black Torch doesn’t have, it’s a Gojo Satoru. The absence of a ridiculously overpowered mentor figure is noticeable — Jiro has to rely on his own grit and Rago’s partnership rather than a safety net. Some fans argue this actually strengthens the tension, while others miss the chaotic energy that Gojo brought to every scene.

Either way, with just 5 volumes of source material, the anime team has creative breathing room that most adaptations don’t. The pacing feels intentional, not rushed, and every episode leaves you wanting more.

The Verdict So Far

Black Torch is the dark horse of Summer 2026. It’s not just a Jujutsu Kaisen clone — it’s a series that takes familiar shonen DNA and spins it into something fresh. A protagonist who talks to animals. A spirit that wants to be good. A canceled manga getting the second chance every creator dreams of.

In a season packed with returning titans, Black Torch might just be the one people remember most. Canceled? Maybe on paper. But on screen, this fire is just getting started.

What do you think? Is Black Torch living up to the Jujutsu Kaisen comparisons, or is the hype overblown? Drop your thoughts below — we want to hear from you!