Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33, which dropped on July 13, came with a special Luffy limited edition card to celebrate "ONE PIECE"'s 29th anniversary. Naturally, scalpers targeted the issue, leading to a nationwide sell-out at bookstores and convenience stores across Japan.
But Issue #33 wasn't just about the "ONE PIECE" anniversary; it also marked the grand finale of Kouji Miura's beloved series, "Blue Box." Many readers hoping to snag a physical copy to commemorate the ending were left empty-handed, sparking a wave of online complaints and outrage. What should have been a celebratory send-off turned into a chaotic mess.
The "ONE PIECE" card included in this issue had significant resale value, making it a prime target for scalpers who bought up massive quantities. Bookstores and convenience stores were wiped out almost instantly upon release. Some card shops in Tokyo were even reportedly buying the bonus cards for around 1,000 yen, and plenty of resales have already popped up on secondary trading platforms.
This buying frenzy meant many readers who simply wanted to read or collect the "Blue Box" finale couldn't get their hands on a magazine. While "Weekly Shonen Jump" manga content is available digitally, for "Blue Box" fans, a physical copy of the final issue holds immense commemorative value, and many were hoping to own a tangible piece of history.
Social media platforms were flooded with disgruntled fan comments, like:
「This is the first time in 20 years I've bought Jump and felt genuinely unhappy. Couldn't they have given out the card at a different time? "Blue Box" fans are getting screwed out of their finale issue, all because of a "ONE PIECE" card and scalpers.」
「Seriously, this is the "Blue Box" finale! And they pull a marketing stunt that makes it impossible for fans to buy? Do they really think we all just read digital?」
Many netizens pointed out that the real victims here are the dedicated manga fans who've supported the series from the start. They've followed "Blue Box" all this way, only to be locked out of the final issue because of a bonus card. Cards could be given out anytime, so why pick the finale of one of their own beloved series? What were they thinking?!
In light of the chaos, a few thoughtful stores went above and beyond, reserving copies specifically for "Blue Box" fans. Even after selling out, they kept one issue aside for in-store reading, hoping to give fans a chance to catch the finale, even if they couldn't purchase it right away.
This kind gesture earned widespread praise from netizens, who lauded the stores for their "warmth" and "consideration" for readers.
Even author Kouji Miura himself posted an apology, expressing regret that some fans couldn't get their hands on a physical copy of the finale this week, and extended his gratitude to all the fans who wanted to read it.
Of course, the publisher likely knew that a card bonus would create high demand. But even with an extra 500,000 copies printed above the usual run, scalpers still swept them all up. Add to that the unfortunate timing with the "Blue Box" finale, and it's no wonder fans are absolutely fuming. Their complaints are totally justified!
Honestly, if you're going to include bonus cards, maybe pick a better time – and figure out how to deal with those pesky scalpers – next time, huh?