In the latest chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, creator Gege Akutami is pulling off a masterclass in visual irony. As the war between humanity and the alien invaders known as Simurians reaches its boiling point, fans have noticed a disturbing trend: the “monsters” are beginning to look like heroes, while the human sorcerers are transforming into grotesque nightmares.
This thematic shift is forcing readers to ask the ultimate question of the spin-off: Who are the real monsters now?
The Visual Identity Swap
Traditionally, shonen manga draws heroes with clear, expressive eyes and villains with monstrous, distorted features. However, Modulo has flipped this script.
The Simurian leaders, particularly Maru Val Vol Yelvori and the titan Dabura, are increasingly drawn with a noble, “knight-like” posture. Their expressions aren’t filled with mindless bloodlust, but with duty and sorrow. Meanwhile, the human protagonists—the grandchildren of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zen’in—are being forced to “fuse” with cursed spirits like Rika and Mahoraga to survive, resulting in physical designs that are jagged, dark, and utterly inhuman.
Tsurugi vs. Maru: A Clash of Form
The battle between Tsurugi and the Simurian leader Maru is the perfect example of this role reversal. To stand a chance against Maru’s superior combat skills, Tsurugi has fully surrendered his human form to Rika.
The result is a “grotesque fusion”—a desperate, clawed survivalist who looks more like a curse than a sorcerer. In contrast, Maru absorbs Tsurugi’s strikes with a quiet dignity. His motivation isn’t to destroy humanity for sport, but to protect the Simurians from returning to the “hellhole” they escaped from. Maru fights with the clarity and purpose of a classic protagonist.
Dabura and the Weight of Duty
Even Dabura, the undefeated Simurian titan, has shown a level of humanity that the sorcerers currently lack. When cornered by the adapted powers of Mahoraga, Dabura doesn’t descend into rage. Instead, his final evolution is fueled by a desperate promise to his friends and a fear for the future of his people (the Rumelians).
By giving the “invaders” such relatable human fears—loss, failure, and the burden of leadership—Akutami is making it impossible to root for their total destruction without feeling a sense of tragedy.
The “Gon vs. Meruem” Connection
Anime historians are drawing direct parallels between Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo and the legendary Chimera Ant Arc from Hunter x Hunter.
- In HxH, the monster King Meruem found compassion and humanity, while the human protagonist Gon lost his soul to vengeance and turned into a terrifying monster.
- Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo is playing in that same gray area. The sorcerers are winning the war, but they are losing their “self” in the process.
The Verdict: A War of Extinction, Not Ethics
At The Nexus New, we believe this visual storytelling is a hint toward the series’ endgame. If the sorcerers have to become monsters to save the world, is the world they are saving actually human anymore? As the lines between Simurian and Sorcerer continue to blur, the true horror of Modulo isn’t the invasion—it’s the cost of victory.
