Yep. I agree that a series should stop before it loses meaning, plot, and whatever good points it had. I really don't like it when mangaka needlessly keep a series going on and on for profit. It undermines art (and often bores/puts off the readers). Some mangaka/authors even forget elements of their own story! A good example of a book series like this (since I have no idea about profits/greater effects of over-long manga series) is the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris (aka True Blood book series). Good poll this week!

I want it to continue as long as the quality remains top notch. I think few would disagree that One Piece is the ultimate example, the Marineford Arc, which was 500 chapters in has been my favorite arc so far. And while I wouldn't list any of the New World arcs amongst my favorite arcs (Marineford, Alabasta, Enies Lobby), they have still been more than great.

But there have been series that would've done themselves a service by ending already. Bleach, Naruto, Ippo come to mind then. Series were the writer just repeats the plot or loses himself in the plot, or just drags out everything, ridiculous power ups/fights.

@ Berserk running 26 year. It isn't that hard when your author takes all those breaks. Rather than the time it's running, look at the volumes, 37 volumes in 26 years is just plain ridiculous when it ain't due to health issues. The man has no respect for his readers, and should've been forced to end it already. Power to him that he can enjoy doing what he does, and play Idolmaster and other games as much as he wants, but when you pick up that pen, you have an obligation towards your fans.

So yeah, my vote is to end series before they drop in quality. But who can blame them for dragging out series when they are selling millions of copies? Who'd say no to guaranteed hundred thousands, or millions of dollars when you're next story ain't a gauranteed success.

Last edited by trunks84 at 3:58 am, Jul 28 2014

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Good example about it is "Yakitate!! Japan" because it was good but later it turns bad and people are already wishing that it should end sooner than 26 volumes. One of the best examples is "Cowboy Bebop" in manga or anime where it ended what the mangaka believes it should end and it's still one of the most popular/legendary series in Japanese animation/manga to the present day.

This is an easy one. End before it gets worse of course. Milking it for all it's worth until it's dry is just too sad of a fate....

However I hate it when mangas end too soon for their own good....Maki Youko, why did you do this for one of my favorite mangas Yamamoto Zenjirou to Moushimasu?! I love rereading it but there was just so much potential for it to be longer and you left it with so many questions

Last edited by mysstris at 12:07 am, Jul 30 2014

It's why it became a gag manga. Even the mangaka made a joke of it continuing way too long in a 4-koma extra. A boy subscribes to the manga and the manga keeps evolving (changes to the title) as the boy ages until eventually he becomes an old man with the manga ending and Azuma saying "this is my JaPan!" (pixelized bread). The old man is like "I don't give a damn anymore" xD Becoming a gag manga, I just skipped to the last chapter when it came out, not even bothering to read chapters after the Monaco Cup (that arc was the last I could tolerate and even then, that was pushing it).

Naruto is a prime example of something potentially lasting forever. I'm not up-to-date with it (so I can't vouch for the storyline anymore), but when a world and its rules are as fleshed out as Naruto's, the story always has the potential to continue until the end of days.

But it all depends on what the storyteller are able to do with it. I'd rather see something go past its prime, than get chopped down before it even reaches maturity (a la countless series - Mx0 is a personal favourite/stab in the heart).

Leaving things on cliffhangers is an effin cardinal sin, though. If it's run for a while (in whatever medium), then the creator(s) should be allowed a hail mary and get that last touchdown, even if it wasn't how they imagined the game to play out.

But if that cliffhanger comes from the author himself, I'd never be able to have anything but contempt for him - if he fails to take "shit happens" into account and leaves people stranded, whether that's newfound apathy for his work, or a carcrash, or whatever. A story is bigger than any one man, even if that man is its creator.

(Yeah, I basically said "if the guy dies and he didn't make backup plans, he's a tool". I stand by that wholeheartedly and wish nothing but the worst for story-creators that can't follow the first law.)

It depends on the manga. I usually prefer manga with a structured plot. On the other hand, Gokusen is one of my favorites and I would've been happy if it continued - I'm sure there are some others too.

Ultimately I think it's best when the mangaka gets to fulfill their vision of the story, whether I'm happy with their vision or not. It's a shame when series are axed/dragged on by the publishers.