In the last few years, the manga industry has released many successful series. With so many new manga coming out, it's difficult to pick the right manga for you, since not all are of similar, outstanding quality.
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Manga readers always run the risk of encountering some less than stellar titles. MyAnimeList is a great way to save the readers a lot of trouble. The site has a ranking system that allows for an easy way to find the highest-rated manga. This is what stands as the very best manga according to the site.
Kingdom (8.98)
Written by Yasuhisa Hara, Kingdom has become one of the most popular manga in recent memory. Kingdom's consistent quality is a key factor behind its popularity. The manga has also won several awards over the years. The manga follows Xin, a war orphan, as he sets out to become the greatest general in the world. Xin's journey is filled with numerous difficulties, which he must overcome to accomplish his goal. Kingdom offers a fictionalized account of the Warring States Period.
Slam Dunk (9.02)
This is one of the two Takehiko Inoue manga on the list. Slam Dunk is considered by many to be the best sports manga of all time. It has sold over 120 million copies, which makes it the thirteenth best-selling manga of all time. Slam Dunk also helped to popularize basketball in Japan. The manga follows the story of a young boy, Sakuragi, who studies at Shohoku High School. He ends up joining the school's basketball team in order to impress a girl.
Grand Blue (9.04)
Next up on the list is Grand Blue. The manga is written by Kenji Inoue. Grand Blue is a seinen title and it started serialization in 2014. The manga also received an anime adaptation in 2018, which boosted its popularity. RELATED: Best Anime You Can Only Stream On Hulu Grand Blue focuses on the life of Iori Kitahara as he moves to the Izu Peninsula to start college. Iori lives in a room above his uncle's diving shop, where he meets the local Diving Club members and starts to socialize with them.
Oyasumi Punpun (9.05)
Heralded as one of the best manga series, Oyasumi Punpun explores many difficult elements of human life and interactions. Because of this, the manga is very popular and considered nothing short of a masterpiece. Onodera Punpun's life is plagued with all sorts of troubles. The manga follows the different stages of Onodera's life and shows how he deals with depression, love, family, and several other issues.
Fullmetal Alchemist (9.08)
Fullmetal Alchemist is easily among the best manga series of all time. Written by Hiromu Arakawa, the series has won a variety of awards. It has sold over 80 million copies worldwide. The manga follows the Elric brothers who attempt to revive their mother using alchemy, but end up doing more harm than good. Edward ends up losing his leg and his arm, while Alphonse loses his entire body. The story follows their quest to regain what they lost, and the secrets they discover along the way.
Monster (9.10)
Naoki Urasawa has been responsible for some of the great manga series of all time. He helmed 20th Century Boys, Pluto, and Monster.Among all his works, Monster is the most popular one, and it has even received an anime adaptation.
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Kenzou Tenma's life takes a turn for the worse when he saves the life of a child named Johan Liebert. Unbeknownst to Tenma, Johan later turns into a serial killer. When the truth about Johan is revealed, Tenma decides to stop the monster himself.
Vagabond (9.13)
Vagabond is the second Takehiko Inoue manga on the list. It is one of the few unfinished manga masterpieces. Readers have patiently been waiting for the return of the series, but the chances of the manga resuming are slim. Vagabond is based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel, Musashi. The manga follows the life of Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary swordsman, as he travels throughout Japan. The manga went on hiatus in 2015, and it seems likely to remain unfinished.
One Piece (9.15)
One Piece is easily the most popular manga series in the world. The first chapter was released back in 1997 and since then over 1000 chapters have been released. One Piece's longevity is unmatched. One Piece is an adventure manga that follows a young boy, named, Monkey D. Luffy, who dreams of becoming the Pirate King. Luffy's path to his dream is filled with all sorts of obstacles, so he decides to gather a strong crew to help him through his journey.
Steel Ball Run (9.23)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run is the seventh installment in the series. Steel Ball Run is considered by many as Araki's magnum opus. Originally, it was not planned to be a part of the long running JoJo series, but Araki changed his mind later. Johnny Joestar, the main protagonist of the series lost his ability to walk due to an accident. However, after touching one of Gyro's steel balls, he momentarily regains the ability. This leaves Johnny shocked and confused and thus, he decided to participate in the Steel Ball Run race to learn more about the spin and Gyro Zeppeli.
Berserk (9.39)
The final entry on the list is Berserk. Berserk was created by the late Kentarou Miura, who sadly passed away earlier this year. The manga boasts a very high rating of 9.39 on MyAnimeList, which makes it the highest-rated manga on the site. Berserk has influenced many other series including Dark Souls and Bloodborne, among others. Berserk is a seinen manga and it follows a young mercenary, Guts. The story sees Guts start out as a loner with no interest in friendship, but as the story drags on, he ends up finding a great group of friends in the Band of Hawk. When tragedy strikes, Guts sets out for revenge and answers.