The art in these manga are a feast for the eyes.
Really, the mangaka of these manga absolutely outdid themselves with their drawings. From elaborate scenery to flawless shading, each page is a treat that you can revist over and over again. If you want a story that has good art to back a good plot, these are the ones for you.
15. xxxHOLIC
Watanuki learns that there's a price for everything as he works at Yuuko's magical shop.
Kimihiro Watanuki is a highschooler who can see spirits. His ability leads to him meeting the mysterious space time witch Yuuko, who runs a wish granting shop. Yuuko promises to grant Watanuki’s wish to leave the spirit world behind if he can pay for it, which he agrees to do by working for her. As they tajobs, Watanuki learns more and more about the world of the supernatural as well as himself.
You'll like xxxHOLIC if...
- You like episodic stories
- You like magic and myths
- You like mysteries
14. Grand Blue
Iori Kitahara is about to start life as a college freshman in a beautiful town beside the beach. Unfortunately for him, he is roped into his college’s diving club and also it’s drinking culture almost as soon as he arrives. Somehow Iori will have to find a way to live his ideal college life in a world of drinking, diving, and wacky classmates.
You’ll like Grand Blue if…
- You like slapstick humor
- You like diving
- You like college life
13. Made in Abyss
Riko is an orphan whose mother is a Cave Raider, an adventurer who braves going into the mysterious Abyss that holds strange artifacts but also curses those who enter it. One day, Riko discovers a robot that looks like a human boy, and dubs him Reg. Sometime later, Riko receives a message from her mother that she is waiting for her at the bottom of the Abyss. Riko is determined to find her mother and heads toward the dangerous Abyss with Reg, prepared to risk whatever she must.
You will like Made in Abyss if…
- You like adventures
- You like unpredictable plotlines
- You like mysteries
12. Uzumaki
Kirie Goshima and Shuuichi Saito live in the town of Kurouzu-cho where strange, spiral-related events have begun to occur. Many of the town’s citizens are cursed with an obsession with spirals that is all consuming and destructive, and what’s worse is that it seems like they’re unaware of it. Shuuichi wants to leave the town with Kirie, but the spiral doesn’t want to let them go.
You’ll like Uzumaki if…
- You like horror
- You like curses
- You like episodic plots
11. Vinland Saga
Thorfinn’s father, one of the Vikings’ greatest warriors, was killed by a man named Askeladd, and Thorfinn's goal is to kill Askeladd in a fair duel. In order to hone his skills, Thorfinn joins the very band of mercenaries led by the very man whose head he wants. In his quest for vengeance, Thorfinn finds himself tangled in a plot that will decide the next King of England in a world rife with danger.
You’ll like Vinland Saga if…
- You like historical fiction
- You like intense plotlines
- You like Vikings
10. A Bride’s Story
20 year old Amir Halgal is sent to her neighboring town to marry 12 year old Karluk Eihon. Though their relationship was a bit awkward at first, it doesn’t take long for them to develop feelings of love and respect. The story explores the many cultures and traditions of Central Asia through the story of Amir and Karluk as well as other couples.
You’ll like A Bride’s Story if…
- You like historical romances
- You like stories that explore different cultures
- You like romance stories with multiple couples
9. Blame!
Killy possesses a powerful weapon known as a Graviton Beam Emitter, which he carries as he wanders the labyrinth called The City in hopes of finding Net Terminal Genes. Net Terminal Genes are a genetic marker that allow humans to access the “Netsphere,” the computerized network that controls The City. In his mission to find the key to restoring the world to what it once was, Killy meets friends and enemies in the form of humans, robots, and sometimes a mix of the two..
You’ll like Blame! if…
- You like robots
- You like cyberpunk
- You like minimal dialogue
8. The Climber
On his first day of high school, Mori Buntarou was pressured by his classmates to scale the school building. Despite knowing the risks, Mori began the climb, and when he miraculously reached the top, he discovered another peak waiting to be climbed. The adrenaline he felt that day awakened Mori’s passion for rock climbing, which becomes his newfound purpose in life.
You’ll like The Climber if…
- You like characterization through art
- You like coming of age stories
- You like rock climbing
7. One Punch Man
Saitama has gained unprecedented strength after intense training and has become so powerful that he can annihilate all sorts of enemies with simply a punch. Now all he’s left with is a feeling of emptiness as he searches for an opponent who he can have a true fight with. With the introduction of Genos, a cyborg who seeks to become Saitama’s apprentice, Saitama decides to register as an official hero in the hopes of making some cash and finding an opponent who’ll give him a run for his money.
You’ll like One Punch Man if…
- You like superheroes
- You like comedy
- You like battles that’ll have you on the edge of your seat
6. Blade of the Immortal
Rin Asano seeks revenge on the murderer of her parents so she turns to Manji, an immortal swordsman, for help. Though he was reluctant in the beginning, he agrees to help her for he has resolved to kill 1000 evil men so that he may be freed from his curse of eternal life. And so, they begin their bloody journey for revenge and redemption.
You’ll like Blade of the Immortal if…
- You like samurai stories
- You like gore
- You like well developed characters
5. Vagabond
After suffering a crushing defeat at the Battle of Sekigahara, friends Shinmen Takezou and Matahachi Honiden escape, but barely. Shinmen returns home to tell the Honiden family about their son’s survival, only to find himself accused of murdering his friend just because of his violent past. He is captured, but a distinguished monk, Takuan Soho, rescues him and dubs him Musashi Miyamoto so that he can avoid being tracked by authorities. From here Musashi embarks on a journey to ascend from being a swordmaster to an enlightened warrior by defeating enemies and learning the value of life.
You’ll like Vagabond if…
- You like retellings of famous historical figures
- You like sword fights
- You like gore
4. Kingdom
Li Xian and Piao are two close friends working as servants in a poor village during the Warring States period in China. They do not let their poor circumstances limit their dreams, and they hope to become Great Generals of the Heavens. One day Piao is given an opportunity by a nobleman, but that opportunity results in his death. Before passing, Piao directs Xin to another village where he meets soon-to-be king Ying Zheng. Xin decides to help Zheng with his ascent to the throne, and so begins Xin’s journey to become the greatest general in the world.
You’ll like Kingdom if…
- You like military themes
- You like battles and war strategies
- You like historical fiction based on real events
3. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
After a devastating war brought mankind to the brink of extinction, humanity has been reduced to scattered kingdoms constantly on the run from an ever growing forest that is home to mutant insects and fungi that produce poisonous spores. Nausicaä is the heir to the kingdom Valley of the Wind, and is forced to enter a war when an ally kingdom invades an empire. As the threat of humanity’s extinction draws ever closer, Nausicaä may be the last hope for a world lost to the horrors of war and the might of nature.
You’ll like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind if…
- You like war stories
- You like nature
- You like fantasy
2. Goodnight PunPun
Punpun Onodera is just like any other 11 year old, idealistic and under the impression that the world is a place where any dream can come true. However, as he ages, his dreams and expectations are slowly shattered and ruined, and he finds himself becoming more and more reclusive. The older he grows the more problems he finds himself facing, and the further PunPun finds himself spiraling into darkness.
You’ll like Goodnight PunPun if…
- You like dark, realistic manga
- You like black humor
- You like psychological manga
1. Berserk
Before he became a renowned mercenary, Guts survived a childhood that was nothing short of traumatic. However, just when he has found a leader he can trust, that very person betrays him and his comrades. Now Guts is now fleeing for his life from demonic beings, and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to destroy the one who brought him and so many others misery and misfortune.
You’ll like Berserk if…
- You like military themes
- You like gore and destruction
- You like detailed battle scenes
