
Manga is much more than just comic books and graphic novels. These Japanese animations are actually a cultural phenomenon that originated in Japan back in the Heian Period. Manga evolved in what we recognize today as manga in the 19th century.
Manga refers to cartooning and comics in Japan, where there are manga readers of all ages – from young children to adults and elderly males and females.
There are multiple genres in the manga medium, including adventure, action, comedy, historical, drama, romance, mystery, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, sports, erotica, and others.
At the beginning of the 20th century, serialized manga comics began appearing in various publications, such as Weekly Shonen Magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, and Weekly Shonen Sunday. These comics were later collected into volumes known as tankobon.
Many manga have been adapted into TV anime series and live-action films. As a result, the unique Japanese animated cartoons have gained popularity around the world.
Table of Contents
Best Manga
Here is a list of the top-ranked manga books you should read in 2022, no matter your level of familiarity with the genre. Whether you’re a manga freak, fan, or complete beginner, there’s something on this list for everyone.
- One Piece
- Attack on Titan
- Naruto
- Dragon Ball Z
- My Hero Academia
Fist of the North Star
The manga comics follow the story of Kenshiro, a deadly martial art master who battles gangs of villains in a post-nuclear war world in the 1990s.
The weekly manga comic includes 245 chapters in 27 tankobon volumes published by Shueisha.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is a dark manga comic that was published in the Weekly Young Jump magazine from 2011 to 2014. It was followed up with a sequel, Tokyo Ghoul: Re, which was published in 2018.
The story is set in Tokyo and follows young student Ken Kaneki as he turns into a hybrid between a human and a Ghoul. Ghouls eat human flesh, so Ken Kaneki needs to learn how to live with his new powers and needs. He takes part in the Ghoul wars and in their society.
Rave Master
Rave Master is a great manga for beginners who are new to the genre. It consists of 35 volumes written by Hiro Mashima, which were published in Weekly Shonen Magazine from 1995 to 2005.
The long-running manga is a fantasy adventure about Haru Glory, who is on a quest to find all five pieces of the Rave sacred stone.
Rave Master is a beautiful and captivating manga that even newbies will enjoy binge reading. It is definitely one of the greatest comic books on this list.
Uzumaki
Uzumaki, written by Junji Ito, is a horror manga that was published from 1998 to 1999. The manga has three volumes that explore the weird and supernatural experiences of Kirie Goshima and Shuichi Saito in a cursed town called Kurouzu-Cho.
The title of the manga, Uzumaki, means “spirals,” and you will soon find yourself spiraling into the terrifying world of the main characters. Uzumaki is a favorite manga of fans in Japan and around the world because it will keep readers on edge from page one to the last page.
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yoshihiro Togashi’s captivating adventure manga was one of the most popular comic books of the 1990s and still is today.
The story follows teenage boy Yusuke Urameshi who dies in an accident while saving a child. He’s given another chance at life by the afterlife and becomes a ghost on a mission to do good deeds.
Yusuke’s adventures in the middle ground between life and death are strange and full of surprises. Follow him on his journey in this classic comic book.