“That cat looks like it hates Gojo”: Gege Akutami’s Grand Return to Jujutsu Kaisen Comes with a New Avatar that has Fans Squirming Uncomfortably
Art tends to surpass its creators. It’s a rather general rule that covers a wide range of entertainment sectors, including manga. Most individuals who interact with the mangaka’s work may never know the person behind the stories, even though some of them have cult followings among their followers. That kind of privacy is ideal for Jujutsu Kaisen mangaka Gege Akutami.
Jujutsu Kaisen is at the heights of fame right now. But it is astonishing how little is known about Akutami, even for a well-known mangaka. To begin with, “Gege Akutami” is merely a pen name; it’s not even their true name. Jujutsu Kaisen is undoubtedly one of Akutami’s manga credits, but they have also produced other manga. The most well-known of these is undoubtedly Jujutsu Kaisen, yet even with the series’ popularity and praise, its creator is still one of the greatest mysteries in the manga world.
Gege Akutami’s New Avatar Shakes The Jujutsu Kaisen Fandom
Fans might be aware by now that Gege Akutami‘s avatar is a Cyclops kitten. When asked why they chose such an avatar, they replied that drawing one eye is easier and no one hates cats. Akutami is a very reserved individual and has only been in one TV interview. They concealed their face throughout the interview by donning a Mechamaru cosplay, so only their real voice could be heard.
However, on July 2, 2024, @Go_Jover posted Akutami Gege’s New Avatar from JJK Volume-27 on X and fans have never been more uncomfortable. An X user even compared the avatar to a one-eyed riceball with ears. Here are some of the reactions:
why is he slowly making it more detailed it’s making me uncomfortable pic.twitter.com/j0VxhHAolu
— 🕸️ (@60404) July 2, 2024
That cat looks like it hates Gojo Satoru.
— Entropy (@nicknameenru) July 2, 2024
Why this got more creepy
— Ramzero (@Ramzer00) July 2, 2024
gege drawing this one pic.twitter.com/Hwg3XPOvjr
— Raine (@rainexvi) July 2, 2024
I think I am hated by the JJK community
— X6 and 700 others (@x6blade) July 2, 2024
Needless to say, the fans are not happy with this development. The new avatar is threatening to look at, and much less said about the design, the better.
What Is The Identity Of Gege Akutami?
Although Gege Akutami goes by the pronouns they/them, their gender has never been confirmed. The author notes left at the end of every Jujutsu Kaisen chapters are usually signed off with a one-eyed cat avatar. In a 2015 profile for another of their one-shot manga, No. 9, Akutami drew a self-portrait without the cat, which has led many to believe that the Akutami might be a woman.
In contrast to other mangakas, who are open with their fans, such as Eiichiro Oda, Gege Akutami mostly keeps to themself. They hardly interact with fans except for sharing humorous anecdotes about their writing process. There’s never been any personal information about the mangaka which would give readers a hint about the enigmatic mangaka.
