Manga

It’s often said that there’s a manga series for every subject or hobby imaginable. For a creator, this can make it challenging to explore a new theme. Mangaka Hiroyuki Takei took on this challenge with Shaman King, introducing shamanism as a theme largely unexplored in manga at the time. Its unique blend of witchcraft and religious motifs from various cultures set it apart from other shōnen manga of its era, as did its unusually “laid-back” protagonist.

But what is Shaman King about? The story follows Yoh Asakura, a shaman in training—a medium between the worlds of the living and the dead. Yoh has a dream: he wants to become the Shaman King, the one shaman who can channel the power of the Great Spirit to reshape the world. To obtain this spiritual power, Yoh must win the Shaman Fight, a tournament of mediums that takes place every 500 years. He must train and grow up quickly if he wants a chance to achieve his goal!

Shaman King was originally published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump between 1998 and 2004, ending abruptly with an improvised conclusion. In 2009, Takei returned to give the story the ending he had initially envisioned. Since then, the world of Shaman King has expanded with a prequel, several sequel series, and a few side stories. The manga was adapted into two anime series: the first in 2001, which deviated from the original storyline and had a completely different ending, and the second in 2021 (with a sequel now green-lit).

Here’s a reading guide to explore the spiritual world of Shaman King.

Read More »Shaman King Manga Order

Following the success of Akira, a wave of influential Japanese cyberpunk works emerged, such as Battle Angel Alita, Cowboy Bebop, and, as today’s subject, Ghost in the Shell. Created by Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell began publication in 1989 in Kodansha’s manga anthology Young Magazine. Consisting of only 11 chapters, the original manga concluded in November 1990.

However, it started a cyberpunk franchise that has since spawned spin-off manga and comics, animated and live-action films, several animated TV series, video games, tie-in novels, and art books. The franchise continues to expand, with a new manga in publication and an anime adaptation slated for release in 2026.

Set in the 2030s in the fictional Japanese city of Niihama, also known as New Port City, Ghost in the Shell follows the members of Public Security Section 9, a special operations task force composed of former military officers and police detectives, led by Major Motoko Kusanagi. Kusanagi is a strong-willed, intelligent cyborg who excels at deduction, hacking, and military tactics—though this doesn’t prevent her from occasionally acting immature.

Section 9 handles political intrigue, corruption, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism in a future where technology has advanced to the point that most people possess a “cyberbrain”—a device that integrates with the brain and connects individuals both physically and virtually to various platforms (a kind of brain-computer interface).

Discover the original world of Ghost in the Shell with this comprehensive reading guide, exploring the original manga and its many spin-offs in order!

Read More »Ghost in the Shell Manga Order

While Ken Kaneki is transformed into a half-ghoul in Tokyo Ghoul, teenager Ichigo Kurosaki obtained the powers of a Soul Reaper in Bleach. Ichigo Kurosaki wasn’t your ordinary student to begin with. He was born with the ability to see ghosts, though this particular gift didn’t affect his life the same way as his encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. 

When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent spirit—Rukia transfers her Soul Powers to the young man who then becomes a Soul Reaper! That wasn’t the goal, but now, Ichigo must learn to navigate this new world, protect the innocent from Hollows, and help the spirits themselves find peace.

Created by mangaka Tite Kube, Bleach debuted in 2001 in Weekly Shounen Jump alongside Naruto and One Piece. Together, those manga became known as the “Big Three” because of their massive success. Naturally, Bleach expanded and became a franchise with the first animated series, released between 2004 and 2012. Several animated films, video games, light novels, trading cards, musicals and several artbooks were released during the following years.

Read More »Bleach Manga in Order

While Eikichi Onizuka wants to become the world’s greatest teacher, Naruto Uzumaki aspires to become Hokage! Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the ninja adventures of Naruto started in 1999 in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. Naruto is then a turbulent but ambitious 12-year-old ninja in training whose determination and enthusiasm compensate for his shortcomings.

While Naruto presents himself as a carefree and optimist person capable of befriending anyone, his life is already marked by tragedy and secret: the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox–a malevolent creature that attacked Konohagakure, Naruto’s village– was sealed away in his body when he was just a baby, with his parents sacrificing themselves in the process. Naruto grew up an orphan, ignoring who his parents were, and openly ostracised and resented by many villagers for containing the beast that took many lives.

But nothing will stop Naruto on his track. The boy is determined to obtain respect from his peers and to become the greatest ninja with the help of his teammates, Sasuke and Sakura, facing many obstacles and Big Bads along the way. Naruto became one of the most popular manga, leading to a media franchise including the very successful anime television series, films, video games, toys, and several spin-offs!

Following is a guide to navigating the manga world of Naruto, with the spin-off Boruto, a few other manga spin-offs and many light novels!

Read More »Naruto Universe Manga Order (with Boruto and Light Novels)

One of the longest manga series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will ensure long reading sessions with more than 134 volumes released (and more coming). Created by Hirohiko Araki more than 35 years ago – it started in 1987 to be precise -, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure tells the story of the Joestar family and their endless conflict with the supernatural.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure became one of the most famous manga for its art style, flamboyant characters, wild humor and bloody battles. Split into nine parts (at this date), each one explores different characters and themes, thriving to deliver something different at every opportunity.

The manga became very popular in 1989 with its most iconic arc Stardust Crusaders, and grew into a media franchise including spin-off manga, light novels, video games, TV anime, and live-action films.

Read More »JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Manga in Order

Berserk is undoubtedly one of the most popular manga series in the United States. When the manga returned in 2023 with a new volume, it topped the charts, outselling One Piece and Demon Slayer in the process. It is also an influential work that affected not just many mangakas but also the worlds of games, film, animation, and literature. 

Written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura (1966-2021), Berserk is a Dark Fantasy manga set in a medieval-Europe-inspired world. The story follows Guts, a lone swordsman, on his quest for vengeance against Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band that betrayed him. Starting in 1989, Berserk was published in the manga magazine Monthly Animal House, which was replaced in 1992 by the semimonthly magazine Young Animal.

Berserk was a life’s work for Miura, who died from acute aortic dissection in May 2021. Manga artist Kouji Mori, the only person who knows how Miura intended to finish Berserk, has agreed to continue the manga and see it through to the end using plans and thoughts relayed to Mori by Miura himself, as well as memorandums and character designs that Miura left behind.

Read More »Berserk Manga Order

Not all manga are about facing demons, battling villains, or surviving the Apocalypse. For Eikichi Onizuka, it’s about becoming the world’s greatest teacher. Eikichi Onizuka is the main protagonist of Great Teacher Onizuka, sometimes simply referenced as GTO, a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Tooru Fujisawa. While GTO is certainly the most famous manga featuring Onizuka, it is not the only one and it’s also part of a bigger media franchise.

Tooru Fujisawa started writing Eikichi’s story in the nineties, from his delinquent days as a middle schooler in Shonan to his work as a teacher at a private middle school, Holy Forest Academy and beyond. Many spin-off series were created, featuring supporting characters and other stories set in the same universe. The popularity of Great Teacher Onizuka led to several adaptations in anime and live-action.

So let’s go to class with Eikichi! As it is said, “his curriculum may not rely on the reading, writing and arithmetic but he has more than a few good lessons in personal development, fisticuffs and fun to teach a new generation of troubled teens.”

Read More »GTO Reading Order (Great Teacher Onizuka Manga Universe)

When it comes to manga, Dragon Ball is a classic. Written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama (1955-2024), Dragon Ball was first serialized in Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995. A long run due to the fact that it quickly became one of the most successful manga series of all time. A status cemented by the multiple adaptations into various anime series, movies, video games, and other media.

At first, the story of Dragon Ball tells the adventures of Goku, a pure-hearted, naive, and incredibly strong monkey-tailed boy martial artist, as he embarks on a quest for the mystical seven Dragon Balls, powerful artifacts that can summon Shenlong, a wish-granting dragon, when gathered together. Everything begins with Goku’s encounter with Bulma, a brilliant inventor who is searching for the Dragon Balls to fulfill her wish of obtaining a boyfriend. Together, they embark on a journey filled with battles against powerful foes, including the likes of Emperor Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, and the evil King Piccolo. Along the way, Goku trains under various martial arts masters, forms lifelong friendships, and faces increasingly formidable adversaries.

As the series progresses, Goku’s quest expands to include participation in various martial arts tournaments where he faces off against other skilled fighters from around the world. He also learns about his Saiyan heritage, a warrior race to which he belongs, and confronts powerful enemies like Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, who threaten not only Earth but the entire universe.

Beyond the first long-running series, Dragon Ball continued with other series like Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball SD, Dragon Ball Super, and more! Hundreds and hundreds of chapters of the manga were collected in a fairly notable amount of volumes published in America by Viz Media.

Read More »Dragon Ball Reading Order, Akira Toriyama’s Classic Series