ComiPress has the details: basically, low circulation did it in. Take that in context: “low circulation” is defined as 420,000 (well, that’s how many copies were printed), versus 1.4 million when it was at its peak in 1989. Licensed titles that come from Monthly SJ include Claymore and Beet the Vandel Buster. Publisher Shueisha says they will replace it with another magazine:
“We plan on creating a new magazine that is more in tune with the times, tentatively slated for a launch this fall.”
As always, Simon (NSFW) Jones puts things into perspective:
As an aside, I would personally strangle every single puppy in the world with my bare hands for a mid-six-figure circulation for anything we publish.
Check the comments for more.
That is somewhat sad and unexpected news as Monthly Shonen Jump was where many interesting manga series got started
I am very sad to hear that, as Shueisha’s monthly publication always really defined what great manga is to me. Hopefully the anticipated new magazine will not fold in the long standing tradition of quality that Shonen Jump had, and will maintain the status quo of awesome.
Oh ya, and by status quo of awesome, I mean Beet the Vandel Buster, not Claymore.