Weekly Shonen Jump is Japan's and the world's most iconic manga publishing magazine. Over its decades-long run, it has seen the rise of countless successful series, such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Slam Dunk, Hunter x Hunter, Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen, and many more. All of these legendary stories have been serialized in this magazine and changed the industry as we know it.
Of course, we also can't forget about Gintama, one of the most famous shonen series by creator Hideaki Sorachi. Gintama originally ended in 2019, but Sorachi's career did not end with it. Following Gintama’s end, Hideaki Sorachi returned to Weekly Shonen Jump in 2026 for the new series Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz. In Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz’s first volume release, he confirms that this might very well be his last big project, and his retirement could be ahead of us now.
Gintama is a widely popular manga series. Originally started in 2003, the series had a successful run until its eventual ending in 2019. Behind Gintama is the legendary mangaka, Hideaki Sorachi. Sorachi had his great breakout with his protagonist Gintoki, and his legacy has been cemented ever since. Gintama's success led it to become one of the best-selling manga series of all time by the end of its run. With 77 volumes, it has amassed over 73 million sales overall, and its anime success is clear, with a hit TV anime and popular theatrical releases.
While the story of Gintama ended, it wasn't the end of Hideaki Sorachi. Even after Gintama's end, Hideaki Sorachi made a comeback to Jump. In 2026, Shueisha unveiled Sorachi's most recent project, titled “Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz.” The series debuted with chapter 1 in Weekly Shonen Jump Double Issue #21-22 on April 20, 2026. Quickly, it gained a lot of traction, and even today, it is still ongoing with new releases. Since the series has been going on for a couple of months, it has finally seen the release of its very first manga volume. Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz Volume 1 was officially released in Japan on September 4, 2026.
As is the norm with volume releases, Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz Volume 1 had a short comment from the mangaka Hideaki Sorachi, and he stated the following:
“So, I've been tricked by the international criminal group "Shueisha" into serializing my manga in Jump again. To be honest, I still haven't gotten back into the weekly rhythm, and I'm missing deadlines every week. I don't know what will happen, but I think this will be the last time I'll be able to rampage through Weekly Shonen Jump due to my physical condition.
I've been given this opportunity, and I think this will be my last chance, so I'm going to try my best and ask for your support. I'm also accepting encouraging letters, questions about my work and myself, insults and abuse from the Jump editorial department, so please send them in.” — Hideaki Sorachi in Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz volume 1
As we can see, Hideaki Sorachi confirms that Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz, his new manga that comes 7 years after Gintama's end, will likely be his last big endeavor. With this new message, he sets up his retirement from the manga industry. For now, we can still enjoy his return with Class 2-B: Hero Destroyerz. To be clear, we have no idea how long this 2026 manga will be serialized for. It seems to be a regular-length serialization, but as Sorachi has brought up once again in the new message, he still struggles with health issues. To that end, we can at least look forward to 100 chapters. Hideaki Sorachi won’t be leaving the industry anytime soon, given that the manga only just began.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://gamerant.com/legendary-shonen-jump-mangaka-officially-announces-retirement/
