A character would be ten times more enticing to read when he or she is overpowering the enemies with his or her wit and strategies. Here are [Top 15] mangas with smart main characters that had you feeling dumb yet amazed at their brain’s capacity to think beyond the box, and apply such tactics to defeat the final boss.
1. The Promised Neverland
Emma, Norman, and Ray were orphans that lived their whole lives in Grace Field House. Despite having no family to be with, the children considered life in the orphanage a blessing, and it was thanks to being well taken-cared off by a woman whom they referred to as “Mama.” Everything was going well until things did a terrifying turn when Norman and Emma accidentally discovered they were being raised there as food for monsters.
We’d rather be dumb in this world, am I right? Because the more you exhibit these genius traits, the more delicious your brain is! The ultimate trio are among the top three smartest children in Grace Field House, making use of such ability to plan their escape from the monsters that deemed their brains the most high-quality meat that can satisfy their cravings.
2. Death Note
Light Yagami came into possession a deadly notebook that could kill a person when you wrote their names down in one of its pages. After acquiring this deadly ability, he began to play the role of a God in deciding whether a person deserves to live or die.
In truth, we had written most names down at the back of our notebooks when we’re bored in class—of course minus the ill-intent to kill them! Light was both the villain and the main character, which makes this extremely interesting as he uses witty measures and strategies to escape L, an elite investigator that plans on taking him down as he continues his false sense of judgment toward criminals and innocent people alike. I mean, no one—not even a god, could tell us whether we should die or live.
3. Kaguya-sama Love is War
Kaguya-sama Love is War art cover and story by Aka Akasaka, volume 10
The President (Miyuki Shirogane) and Vice-President (Kaguya Shinomiya) had led the Shuchiin Academy’s student council and has liked each other ever since. Having too much pride on the line, the two of them engage in a war on getting the other person to confess—because whoever confesses first, loses the game of love!
Shirogane and Kaguya is definitely couple goals with their brains and humor. With a mix of comedy and wit, this series had been popular with its clear depiction of main characters’ Shirogane and Kaguya’s thoughts toward each other, and their witty, humorous plans on how to get the other one to confess—all in the namesake of not losing the game of love they set among themselves.
4. Monster
Japanese surgeon, Tenma Kenzo’s life was never the same when he gets involved with a serial killer, who also happened to be one of his former patients.
Monster is one of the best mangas out there that will have you wrapped in the realities of life. Both the main character and main villain are clever and brilliant in their own ways, with one of them using it all for the wrong reasons. But as you read it through its intelligent plots and driven characters, you’d come by to understand why the main villain and the main character had done things seemingly in the right path, but had them thinking: does choosing the right path meant you’re on the good side?
5. One Outs
Desperate to find the reason why his team couldn’t reach the championships, Hiromichi Kojima plays a game called One Outs, and meets a prodigy that had a booming record of 499 consecutive wins in the said game. Upon assessing the man’s skills, Kojima’s convinced that this games’ ace player is the key to bringing them to the championships. And so, he laid out a bet, and played a gambling game with Tokichi Toua, with his career on the line.
The story is a mix of both gambling and baseball, and how the ever-cool Tokichi Toua, tries to outwit them all whether in a game of gambling or in baseball.
6. Tomodachi Game
After Katagiri Yuichi’s friends are accused of stealing the class’s money for their highschool trip, Yuichi and four more of his friends are kidnapped and forced to play a game that would ultimately destroy their friendship and trust toward one another: the Tomodachi Game.
Tomodachi Game started with a generic plot but eventually surprised the readers with the main character’s cleverness and twists no one had expected. If you’d want to know more about how Yuichi played the game, grab the volumes fast!
7. Bokura no Kiseki
Minami Harasumi is considered an odd ball in class as he retells the life of a princess whose kingdom was on the brink of ruin. The story of this distressed princess proved true when Harasumi rediscovered how to summon the magic he possess in his past life—as Princess Veronica herself.
If you think Harasumi discovering that he was Princess Veronica’s reincarnation was the end of it, then you’re most definitely into a ride! The entire story was driven into knowing how Princess Veronica’s kingdom were brought to ruin—and more importantly, who had killed who. The main character was smart in the past and was still even if he was no longer the same person (physically) as he was before. Harasumi and his classmates and friends unravel the mystery of their past, and the perpetrator that pushed them toward their death. And—major spoilers—Harasumi wasn’t the only one in class who had a pass life.
We’ll have to end it here and have you guys read the rest once you get those volumes in the palm of your hands!
8. Detective Conan
After the genius highschool student detective, Shinichi Kudo, unintentionally drinks a drug that made him turn back into a kid, he decides to continue life as his childhood friend Ran keeps him to her own home, unaware that it was Shinichi whom she had brought back. Shinichi then decides to use a new name—Conan. Not wanting to stop his passion for solving crimes, Conan decides to discretely help Ran’s dad in his investigations, letting the old guy take credit for what he has solved as he finds the culprit to help him go back to his usual form.
Detective Conan is a classic when it came to solving crimes and mysteries. If there’s a golden age for crime mysteries, then Detective Conan is the right manga for that! Join Conan as he unravel the mysteries of the crimes Ran’s father handles, and at the same time, delve into where he should find the antidote for his body that reverted back to that of a child’s.
9. Usogoi
Bak Madarame, a genius gambler better known as “Usogui” The Lie Eater, places his life on the line to gamble against the neutralizers called Kakerou, a powerful organization that referees these gambling games.
Was there ever more important than gambling your way for money? Genius gambler Bak Madarame says otherwise as he challenges the gamblers that reek of lies and gain control over the Kakerou Organization.
10. Special A
Hikari Hanazono had always known she was the best in everything. But that everything she ever thought of had come crumbling down when she met Kei Takishima, who beat her in a match whom she challenged him into doing. Declaring that Kei was her rival, Hikari enrolls in the same school as him, and both of them got in a class which the school categorized as “Special A,” a group of students with exemplary skills and abilities. Hikari tries to defeat Kei in every way possible, without knowing that Kei thinks of her as the exact opposite of what he is to her—he’s completely in love with Hikari.
Special A is one of the earlier mangas that delve into themes of rivalry in school. And the driven factor of it all? The other one was way smarter and unbeatable in the first place. The story depicts the struggles and growing relationships among the students that belong to Special A, and how they manage their lives as geniuses. Of course, with Kei’s growing feelings for Hikari being the main focus of it all.
11. Sket Dance
Sket Dance consist of three hilarious friends: Himeko, Switch, and Bossun. All of them have unique abilities which help fulfill the purpose of their club: to help out people in need.
The misadventures of these genius trio is as clever as the series gets! Not only is it intelligently humorous, but the story delves into the lives of these extraordinary highschoolers that only wanted nothing but to help the people around them.
12. Dr. Stone
After Taiju awakens from his slumber, he realizes the civilization he grew-up in was no longer around, and everyone he’d ever known had turned into stone. He then meets Senku, a friend who’s definitely fond of science. With the combination of Taiju’s strength and Senku’s brains, the two of them work together to revive those who’re prettified.
Indeed, two is definitely better than one! Dr. Stone is one of those stories who’re between funny and realistic… or perhaps both. Its version of science fiction is what would have you drawn into the story, sucked into the realities of the world that would have you thinking until you fall asleep.
13. Gunka no Baltazar
Major Bernd Baltazar was a clever soldier. His quick-wittiness had him advance in ranks in no time. Then, his life takes a sudden shift as he was reassigned in a neighboring allied nation’s military school filled with untrained students and resisting civilians—the exact opposite of what he was used to. Would he be able to gain their trust along the process?
Major Baltazar wouldn’t so much as skip ranks if he’s not that smart to begin with. Furthermore, he wouldn’t be chosen to be reassigned if he didn’t have the skills for it!
14. Banana Fish
When Ash Lynx, a notorious gang leader, murderer with an unforgettable face and clever mind, and Eiji Okumura, a Japanese photographer traveling to New York, meet, they become allies that try to uncover the mysteries that surrounds a series of murders by someone called “Banana Fish.”
Placed in the shoujo category on its earlier publications (to which raised a few questions in Japan), Banana Fish isn’t your average crime, wit, and mystery storyline. Every chapter goes deeper with each character, especially toward main characters’ Ash and Eiji. If you’re looking for a mix of street-smart and looks, then Ash is just the right person for you! This story is worth ten shots for me.
15. Ajin
Kei Nagai knows little to none about the immortal creatures called “Ajin” that first appeared in Africa, 17 years ago. His life made a drastic turn when he was involved in an accident, and suddenly became an Ajin himself.
Well, in this story, the main character is only second to the villain’s wit and intelligence. But what made Kei Nagai on the list was the fact that he didn’t have this sense of “false heroism” in him. He was, in fact, one of the most relatable character whose decisions, plans, and tactics made sense. On the other hand, the main villain, Satou, had a motive uncommon to any villain out there: he didn’t give a frig about anything else but living the best out of his immortality.
