Manga has become one of the most popular forms of physical media in the entire world. This genre of literature has spread from Japan to a global audience. As such, there are many manga series that have been published over the years. Read on to find out our thoughts on the 10 best manga series ever.
10. Ping Pong
Ping Pong is a lesser-known manga, but it deserves its spot on this list. This sports manga focuses on Japanese high school table tennis players who seek to become the best in the nation. Peco, Smile, and Dragon are three of the main characters in this series.
Ping Pong boasts a unique art style, fantastic writing, realistic characters, and exciting table tennis action. It is one of the best sports manga of all time.
9. Vagabond
Takehiko Inoue created this samurai epic that adapts the life of Musashi Miyamoto. Samurai epics have been around for quite some time, but Vagabond is the first truly great manga to go this direction. Vagabond’s artwork is stunning and it provides plenty of phenomenal fight scenes, as one would expect.
Additionally, Vagabond poses a number of philosophical questions to its readers. As a result, it elevates itself above many other samurai epics that do not do the same. Vagabond deserves its spot on this list.
8. Dragon Ball
Unlike Ping Pong, Dragon Ball is an extremely well-known and popular manga. Akira Toriyama created Dragon Ball and it has spawned decades of further manga series, anime series, video games, and more. Dragon Ball focuses on an alien warrior named Goku and his friends as they grow and battle threats to Earth.
Additionally, Dragon Ball is one of the manga that defined the shonen manga genre. It is the quintessential battle manga. Dragon Ball is incredibly consequential in that it made manga mainstream globally.
7. Death Note
Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata are the creators of the manga series Death Note. Death Note takes place in a world much like our own, aside from the existence of a magical notebook that can take peoples’ lives and the various phenomenon associated with that. The main character, Light Yagami, finds the notebook one day and this starts an incredible story.
Death Note stands out because it provides a realistic view into how a person could change if they acquired such power. The intellectual battles between Light and the various people trying to catch him are engrossing, as well. Additionally, Death Note is easy to read thanks to its relatively short length. It stands the test of time as a top-notch manga series.
6. Naruto
Like Dragon Ball, Naruto is one of the defining manga series of shonen manga. Author Masashi Kishimoto crafted an incredible world filled with iconic characters, excellent action scenes, and the compelling journey of the titular character. Naruto Uzumaki experiences some of the best character development in shonen manga.
Naruto develops from a wild child to a global hero respected by all. In the meantime, readers see Naruto struggle and grow, establishing many unique bonds in the process. Naruto’s journey is inspiring and it holds up well years after its initial release.
5. Monster
Monster is quite a departure from the typically fun shonen action of series like Dragon Ball and Naruto. Naoki Urasawa created the Monster manga series and it takes place in a realistic world. The series concentrates on a doctor and how his decision to save a patient affects many others.
This psychological thriller provides an insight into a deeply evil man named Johann and how his survival leads to much suffering. Monster is also a masterclass in how to write suspense. The storytelling is mature and realistic, as previously mentioned. Monster is a phenomenal manga series.
4. Fullmetal Alchemist
The list returns to the shonen genre with Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist. This manga series concentrates on two brothers, Alphonse and Edward Elric, as they seek to correct a mistake they made by finding the Philosopher’s Stone. Alchemy is commonplace in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist.
As they go on this journey, they discover a dark truth and change as people throughout the series. The plot is tight, the story is morally complex, and it has universal themes that speak to many people. Both critics and fans appreciate this masterpiece.
3. Akira
Akira is a much older manga series than many others on this list. However, it deserves its status as a cultural landmark. Katsuhiro Otomo is the creator of Akira and crafted a cyberpunk classic that stands the test of time.
Akira helped create the cyberpunk genre in manga and significantly contributed to manga’s rise in popularity outside of Japan. As a result, it belongs in the top three in this list and some might even place it higher. Regardless, Akira is an outstanding manga series.
2. Berserk
Berserk takes the number-two spot on this list. The late Kentaro Miura is the man who created the Berserk manga series and he deserves plenty of praise for doing so. Berserk is a dark fantasy seinen manga that includes groundbreaking art and a variety of complex themes.
Guts is a compelling, complicated main character whose journey is fascinating to follow. Additionally, Berserk has influenced a variety of other media, including the Dark Souls video game series. Berserk is one of only two manga series on this list that is still ongoing, despite Miura’s sad passing.
1. One Piece
One Piece tops the list as the greatest manga series of all time. Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his friends as they seek to become the greatest pirate crew in the world. They seek to do this by finding the great treasure known as the One Piece and making Luffy the King of the Pirates.
The writing, dialogue, character development, world-building, and story arcs of One Piece are all phenomenal, amongst other things. One Piece has remained extremely popular for decades since its initial release in 1997 and is the best-selling manga series of all time. As such, it deserves its spot at the top of the list.
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