Deadpool has become one of the most popular Marvel materials in recent years. But, Marvel fans and manga lovers did not see it coming when the franchise teamed up with Shonen Jump+ to produce a manga comic, featuring the famous antihero. In December, Deadpool: Samurai dropped, and has since dominated the space.
Comic Book recently released an update about the latest Marvel comic, emphasizing that it has become the "most widely read" material from the franchise for 2021. As stated, the Shonen Jump+ series has been read by "more people than any other Marvel comic this year."
The best-selling comic from the franchise last year is Wolverine #1. It has, reportedly, shipped an estimated 196,441 copies since its release.
While this number is already a great achievement for Marvel, Deadpool: Samurai easily beats this with its 1 million views for each of the first two chapters. Chapter #7, the latest installment to the comic series, even amassed over 658,000 views upon its release.
The publication continued that the physical releases of the manga series are "performing just as well" after the first volume gets a re-printing process in Japan. This does not go unnoticed as the artist behind the comic material, Hikaru Uesugi celebrated the latest feat in a post on Twitter late last week.
Comic Book Resources noted, however, that Deadpool: Samurai have a major advantage over other Marvel comics. As explained, the material is "free to read" on the Shonen Jump+ app, and it largely explains why it easily amassed millions of views.
The news about the collaboration between Marvel and Shonen Jump+ first emerged in 2020. Behind the actual production, Sanshirou Kasama and Hikaru Uesugi serve as the main artists and creators of the material.
The comic series follows the movements of the antihero Deadpool as he goes back in time to feudal Japan. Reports, also, said that it is part of the Marvel Universe continuity, adding that it is just one of the many collaborations between the franchise and Shueisha, Shonen Jump's publisher.
Screen Rant previously asserted that Deadpool: Samurai is likely proof that more crossovers may happen in the future between Marvel and Shonen Jump. Although details have since remained scarce about the collaborative plans, there is, reportedly, a huge chance that more crossover series will arrive soon, given how manga comics are becoming widely popular in the United States.
These days, though, there is no license yet for an English language release for the Deadpool manga. But, one could, reportedly, be on the horizon soon because of the apparently growing number of viewership in Japan.
