25 best manga you need to read now

From adventure to historical fiction to autobiography to monsters, manga stories are suitable for readers of all ages and interests. Their episodic nature and fantastic artwork attract millions of passionate readers around the globe. The best manga stories often get an anime adaptation.

Manga is the term for comics and graphic novels from Japan. To help you navigate this new world of content, we’re sharing the best 25 manga series and books you should read now.

The 25 best manga

1. Akira

This near-future sci-fi manga takes place in Neo-Tokyo in 2019. The city is deserted following an explosion. Akira resembles a small child and has psychic powers. She must try and help Shotaro and Tetsuo dismantle a government conspiracy.

This story depicts many social problems and is among the most popular works for manga fans in Japan and beyond.

2. One Piece

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda is considered among the best anime and manga of all time. It’s been serialized on the legendary Weekly Shonen Jump for more than 25 years and has 96 published volumes. One Piece follows the life of Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate who sails the seas seeking the ultimate treasure called the “One Piece.”

3. Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama is a must-read for dark fantasy manga lovers. Titans who make humanity are almost extinct. Eren, Mikasa, and many more characters must fight the titans and find out more about their existence.

4. Death Note

Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba is thought by some to be among the best supernatural and psychological thriller stories ever written. When Light Yagami finds a notebook known as the Death Note and writes a person’s name in it, it means that that person will die.

Light then devises a plan to create a world without criminals with this new power—but it comes at a great cost to himself and those around him.

5. Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama is arguably the best manga of all time. The main character, Goku, hunts for seven Dragon Balls to make his wish come true.

This manga brought martial arts manga to another level, while the Dragon Ball collecting game became a favorite past-time activity for generations of children around the world.

6. Bleach

The protagonist of Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki, fights Hollows as a Soul Reaper or the Guardian of Souls. Numerous twists and turns make Ichigo’s efforts all the more exciting. This legendary manga has 74 volumes and its own anime adaptation.

7. Naruto

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto is a ninja-themed manga with 72 volumes and 700 chapters. The main character, Naruto, is a hopeless ninja who gradually fights back and develops strong skills using chakra energy.

8. Inuyasha

The protagonist of Inuyasha, a young girl named Kagome, fell down a well and travels back in time to feudal Japan. She finds out her destiny is connected to a half human, half dog demon named Inuyasha. She also finds a powerful jewel and embarks on an epic time-traveling adventure.

9. Hunter x Hunter

Hunters can find hidden things like rare animals, secret treasures, or criminals. The main character, Gon Freecss, finds out that his father is a famous Hunter and sets out to find him. The Hunter x Hunter manga is still going on today, and there have been two different anime adaptations of the series.

10. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Hirohiko Araki started this eccentric manga in 1987. The story follows the mysterious Joestar family on their adventures across many generations, and each of the eight stories follows a particular Joestar family member. It’s the largest manga series by publisher Shueisha, and the series has received a partial anime adaptation.

11. My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is about a young boy called Izuku Midoriya, who is one of the few people on Earth without superpowers. However, he somehow gets elected as a successor to Japan’s greatest hero. He starts training and embarks on a series of memorable adventures with his super-powered classmates.

12. Vagabond

Vagabond is about a legendary Japanese swordsman from the 1600s called Musashi. This martial arts manga has been on a hiatus since 2015 but has remained an all-time favorite for many fans.

13. Berserk

Berserk’s main character, Guts, is a fierce warrior who makes Griffith join his mercenary group. They go on adventures in a medieval-Europe-like setting filled with intrigue and mysterious pendants.

14. One-Punch Man

This manga tells how great power sometimes causes great boredom. No one is a threat to the One-Punch Man, whose real name is Saitama. However, one shocking life event is enough to change everything for him.

15. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

The story of Demon Slayer is set in Taisho-era Japan and follows Kamado Tanjiro, a young boy embarking on a dangerous journey. He needs to destroy a demon who made his life more challenging. This is one of the most popular modern series on this list.

16. Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk is a story about an unexpected discovery of love for basketball. If you’re into sports, you’re definitely going to enjoy this fan-favorite series.

17. Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul by Shui Ishida narrates the story of Ken, half-ghoul, half-human, who discovers that beautiful Rize wants to eat his body. This grotesque, violent, and action-packed manga is not for the faint of heart.

18. 21st Century Boys

21st Century Boys is the manga to read for anyone interested in what would happen if the make-believe stories we made up as children came back to haunt us.

19. Case Closed (Detective Conan)

High-school detective Shinichi Kudo turns into a kid after ingesting poison. He solves different cases while hiding from the shadowy Black Organization. This is a beloved children’s series that all ages can enjoy.

20. Sailor Moon

The Sailor Moon manga is one of the most iconic magical girl series, and it’s about schoolgirls who fight evil and enforce justice. The heroines are dynamic, have magical powers, and will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

21. Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga takes place in 11th-century England. Most of the country is conquered by Sweyn Forkeard, a Danish King. The King’s sons, Prince Canute and Harald, argue over the succession of the father as he nears death.

22. Uzumaki

The small coastal town of Kurouzu-cho in Japan is cursed. Shuichi Saito claims that a pattern named Uzumaki, a hypnotic secret shape of the world, is behind it. This manga tells the story of the town’s residents as they fight against the mysterious force. This story by horror manga creator Junji Ito is not for the faint of heart.

23. Fruits Basket

The Sohma family offers an orphan named Tohru Honda a home. Her life is turned upside down as the family introduces her to the magical world of curses and secrets. If you love romance and the supernatural, Fruits Basket is perfect for you.

24. Fairy Tail

The Fairy Tail manga is about Lucy, a young wizard who dreams of joining the Fairy Tail magical guild. When she meets the school’s top wizard, she realizes things are not the way she expected. Still, they embark on adventures together and complete exciting tasks.

25. Fullmetal Alchemist

Edward Elric loses his arm and leg while his younger brother Alphonse loses his entire body in a failed alchemical ritual in an attempt to bring their mother back to life. Using auto-mail limbs, Edward is determined to find the Philosohper’s Stone to restore his and his brother’s bodies.

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The popular manga and anime series reviewed above are a great introduction to the Japanese graphic novel world. Speechify Audiobooks is a fantastic platform to explore new content and make a shift from Amazon’s Audible and other platforms.

One of the fastest-growing audiobook platforms on the market, Speechify has more than 60,000 titles available in its database, with new content being added daily.

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FAQ

What is the best manga to read right now?

Jujutsu Kaisen, Rurouni Kenshin, Oyasumi Punpun, Cardcaptor Sakura, Shinobi, and One-Punch Man are some manga worth reading in 2023. Takehiko Inoue’s Real and Yoshihiro Togashi’s Yuyu Hakusho are also good options.

What is the best manga of 2022?

Jujutsu Kaisen was the best-selling new manga of 2022.

What is the #1 manga in the world?

In terms of copies sold, One Piece remains the world’s best-selling manga. The series started in 1997 and is likely to finish in 2025.

What is the top manga on Goodreads?

Some of the top manga available in English with the highest rankings include Death Note, Fruits Basket, Bleach, Vampire Knight, Ouran High School Host Club, and Spy x Family.