Weekly Shonen Jump's Issue #33, which dropped on July 13, became an instant hot commodity thanks to a special Luffy limited-edition card celebrating ONE PIECE's 29th anniversary. Naturally, scalpers swooped in, leaving bookstores and convenience stores across Japan completely wiped out.
On July 17, Shueisha officially announced plans to release a special edition of Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33, sans the collectible card. This version will be available for pre-order production via the Jump Characters Store. The publisher also issued an apology for the widespread sell-out and confirmed the cancellation of the ONE PIECE card supplement originally slated for August's V Jump.
The Weekly Shonen Jump editorial department stated:
"We sincerely thank you for your continued support of Weekly Shonen Jump. Regarding Issue #33, released on July 13, many readers were unfortunately unable to purchase a copy. We extend our deepest apologies for the inconvenience caused to our readers and the disruption experienced at bookstores and convenience stores."
The official statement continued: "A special print edition of Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33, without the bonus card, will be made available for pre-order through the Jump Characters Store. Further details will be announced via Weekly Shonen Jump's official social media channels and other platforms once preparations are complete."
Furthermore, the "Charlotte Pudding" ONE PIECE CARD GAME supplement card, originally planned for the October issue of V Jump (releasing August 21), has also been canceled. The publisher explained that the September issue of V Jump, which went on sale July 21, already contained an advertisement for this supplement, but due to production timelines, it was too late to amend. Shueisha once again apologized to readers for this oversight.
Shueisha concluded with a renewed appeal:
"We urge readers not to hoard large quantities for resale purposes, as this impacts the opportunity for other readers to purchase fairly. The ONE PIECE CARD GAME bound-in supplement cards included with Weekly Shonen Jump, V Jump, and Saikyo Jump will be temporarily suspended. We will carefully review future supplement plans and sales methods for all publications to ensure more readers can successfully acquire them."
For fans, the availability of Issue #33, even without the card, does address the core problem of being completely shut out, especially for those following series like "Blue Box" and wanting to snag its final chapter.
However, following this announcement, some netizens are still pointing out that the official response doesn't really tackle the underlying issue of rampant ONE PIECE CARD GAME reselling. They argue that by halting future card supplements, the existing cards in circulation will only become rarer and more expensive, essentially fueling the secondary market even further.
Other commenters griped that the pre-order production method isn't exactly friendly for consumers outside major cities. They believe it would be far more impactful if the special edition was available through traditional channels like bookstores and convenience stores. Otherwise, those who missed out initially now have to shell out extra for shipping, making it feel like the very people impacted by the scalping frenzy are now being forced to pay more for the "card-free special edition."
It seems this current solution isn't exactly winning over everyone. While pre-order production should ensure everyone who wants a copy can get one, the added cost for those who were initially shut out is clearly a sore point, and it's easy to see why complaints are piling up.