The Best Manga Of All Time

Summary

• Dive into phenomenal manga like Monster, Vagabond, and Hellsing for unforgettable storytelling and stunning artwork.
• From psychological horror to samurai battles to hilarious rom-coms, there’s a manga for every taste waiting to be explored.
• Whether it’s the emotional journey of Frieren or the dark coming-of-age tale of Goodnight Punpun, manga offers endless variety and depth.

While last year was an excellent year for manga, there is tons more phenomenal manga out there that is a must-read if you are just getting into this wonderful hobby. Whether they have solid anime adaptations or not, sitting down and reading through their manga counterpart will almost always improve the experience, even if you already love its adaptation.

There are thousands upon thousands of excellent manga that are worthy of your time, but we will only be highlighting a mere handful of them today. If an artist or author piques your interest in any of the entries below, you can likely find other works by them or something similar if you’re craving something in the same wheelhouse!

Updated on April 27, 2025, by Seth Parmer: It’s been quite a bit since we’ve last revisited this list, giving us the perfect excuse to touch it up and add five more must-read manga to the list, bringing our total to 20 manga that you should check out if you haven’t already!

20

Monster

Monster is our first entry on this list and is one of the most overlooked yet highly praised manga, making it a perfect way to kick things off.

If psychological horror is up your alley, then Monster will scratch that itch perfectly, making every page you turn suspenseful, culminating with one of the best endings you could ask for!

19

Slam Dunk

From one of the best psychological horror manga to arguably the best sports manga, we have Slam Dunk as our next entry, which is a must-read for anyone interested in a thrilling and adrenaline-inducing story.

Despite its simple plot, Slam Dunk delivers everything you want from it, offering stunning art, fascinating characters, and a constant rollercoaster ride of emotion from the first page to the last. Read Slam Dunk as soon as possible if you haven’t already!

18

Vagabond

Up next is arguably one of the best manga ever created in Vagabond. It follows the tale of Shinmen Takezou through 16th-century Japan, with many twists and turns throughout.

Takehiko Inoue’s stunning art is displayed beautifully through the manga’s many samurai battles and even in its many peaceful, intimate, and personal moments. If any of this interests you, and you have yet to read it, then tackle the masterpiece that is Vagabond as soon as possible!

17

Chainsaw Man

It’s no secret that Chainsaw Man offers blood-pumping action in a messed-up world filled with immensely fascinating characters, as the anime popped off, showcasing this series’ potential to millions. But what if we told you the manga also does that, and there’s more of it?

Chainsaw Man’s manga is still ongoing and has reached increasingly bizarre situations, which is precisely what we wanted to see. If you liked what you saw of the anime, we strongly urge you to pick up its manga; you won’t be disappointed!

16

Hellsing

Looking for another great manga with style? Well, you’re in for luck, as Hellsing delivers on that promise and then some with some of the best-illustrated combat encounters you could ask for.

Despite briefly stumbling at the finish line, Hellsing delivers a world with fascinating characters, a unique plot and world-building, and exhilarating encounters that showcase the brutality and viciousness of Alucard’s battles against monsters and vampires. It’s a must-read!

15

Haikyu!!

If Slam Dunk was up your alley, and you would like to see what a modern and top-tier sports manga looks like, then Haikyu!! will deliver precisely what you need. This series follows a young boy named Shoyo Hinata, who becomes obsessed with volleyball after catching it on television.

From there, he joins his school’s volleyball team and the rest is history, offering many clutch and heart-pounding moments, and an emotional rollercoaster you will be locked into, as you see one of the best sports manga unravel in front of you with each page you turn!

14

Naruto

Naruto is one of the most popular manga properties out there, and it’s largely thanks to its anime adaptation that realized its epic battles, heartfelt moments, and phenomenal characters.

While the anime adaptation is tremendous, if you avoid the filler, the pacing and stellar art by Kishimoto make the manga worth reading. Naruto is a series with a lot of heart, and reading about Naruto’s struggle to save his best friend is filled with lots of pain and sorrow. Read Naruto if you haven’t yet, even if you’ve already watched it!

13

Grand Blue Dreaming

Switching things up a bit drastically, we take a turn from psychological horror and non-stop action manga to a humorous and shockingly good one with Grand Blue Dreaming, which is a must-read for anyone looking for a more comedy-leaning manga.

Grand Blue Dreaming follows Iori Kitahara, who moves into his uncle’s diving shop named ‘Grand Blue.’ Here is where his journey begins as he runs into a group of unruly characters who are part of a Dive Club that likes to party and drink, leading to a series of hilarious events worthy of your time!

12

Spice & Wolf

Looking for a romance manga that will also offer a sense of adventure and fantasy? Well, fortunately for you, Spice & Wolf exists and is one of the best to do it. This series follows a traveling merchant named Kraft Lawrence who stumbles upon a wolf deity named Holo, who blessed the town of Pasloe’s harvest.

However, Holo was essentially kicked to the curb, leaving her in an isolated and devastated state, kickstarting the long emotional journey as she travels alongside Kraft. Spice & Wolf has it all and then some, and is worth your time if you’re into the genre!

11

Hunter x Hunter

Aside from its constant hiatus, Hunter x Hunter is still one of the best manga out there, and it is a must-read for anyone caught up in its anime adaptation. Especially since you can get a bit closer to its ending by reading slightly ahead of where the most recent anime ends.

Following Gon’s journey to reunite with his father as he overcomes various hardships and forges unbreakable bonds with his new friends will always be endearing and worthy of your time, even if you may never see it reach its conclusion!

10

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is hands down one of the funniest manga and anime you could experience, and it earns its place as one of the best rom-coms out there. Even if you experienced its perfectly adapted anime, we strongly urge you to read its manga in its entirety.

Whether you’ve seen the anime or not, falling in love with all the unique and wonderful characters present in Love is War is unavoidable when reading through the manga, and being able to go beyond where the anime stops is just an added bonus. If romcoms are your cup of tea, do not sleep on this one!

9

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Speaking of an anime adaptation that is perfect in every sense, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one of the best new anime, which isn’t all that surprising, considering the manga is all killer and no filler. The manga is worth picking up, whether you have yet to dive into the anime or have caught every episode.

Following Frieren’s highly emotional and often comical journey as she grapples with her many regrets is impactful from the first page and will make you catch up to its current volume in what feels like seconds. Frieren is a modern masterpiece and instant classic worthy of all its praise!

8

Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga offers another epic adventure, this time with a historical approach to its narrative, set in 1013 AD, England. If you’re looking for visceral action, somber and potent moments, and some of the best characters in the genre, this one is for you.

Large-scale wars, agricultural growth, and tremendous character development and messaging all come together and make Vinland Saga an absolute must-read if you’re looking for a grand adventure that tackles everything it sets out to do perfectly from start to finish!

7

Dungeon Meshi

Dungeon Meshi, or Delicious in Dungeon, is another up-and-comer that is taking the scene by storm, especially since its anime adaptation is firing on all cylinders with no sign of stopping. The fun fact here is that its manga run is already over, so you can see how it ends before the second season of the anime begins.

Everything from its world to monsters to incredible writing makes it a must-read. Dungeon Meshi toes the line between comedy, mystery, and solemnity perfectly. If the show has offered you any joy and you cannot wait for the second season, let the manga scratch the rest of that itch!

6

Goodnight Punpun

Taking another swift and drastic turn, our next entry is Goodnight Punpun, a wonderfully weird and unique tale of the struggles and awkwardness of moving into adulthood.

With many twists and turns and even dark topics, Goodnight Punpun is an unforgettable story worth reading if you’re a fan of coming-of-age tales, drama, and slice-of-life experiences. Don’t let its off-putting art deter you. This is one of the best manga out there!

One of the most critically acclaimed anime series of all time is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which follows the Elric brothers as they search for a way to restore their bodies after performing forbidden alchemy in an attempt to resurrect the dead, leading to numerous emotional twists and turns along the way.

Whether you’ve watched the fantastic anime adaptation or haven’t yet experienced this masterpiece in any form, we still strongly recommend picking up and reading the manga, as the art is stunning and the story still hits as hard as you’d expect. It’s been said to death by everyone at this point, but you must experience Fullmetal Alchemist!

4

Made In Abyss

Made in Abyss is a textbook example of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ as the cutesy and colorful cover of its first chapter hides a very dark and traumatizing journey within its pages. This is a tale of overcoming loss and trauma as you follow a young girl through the Abyss as she searches for her mother.

The art for Made in Abyss is gorgeous and haunting, which rings true in its anime adaptation as well. The manga is also still ongoing, so if you’re all caught up in the anime, we cannot recommend diving into the manga enough. It pulls no punches and offers just an equally haunting and daunting tale!

3

Attack On Titan

Attack on Titan is one of the most highly praised and universally beloved manga and anime series out there, and for good reason, as everything feels intentional and well thought out from the very jump, all the way through to its high-stakes and emotionally charged ending.

Every twist feels earned and powerful, punching you in the gut and taking all the wind out of you, while simultaneously dangling the next big plot point in front of you, making you crave each page turn in suspense. All the characters are tremendous, the messaging is potent, and the art is gorgeous. If post-apocalyptic dark fantasy action is your jam, give this a read if you haven’t already!

2

One Piece

It’s no secret that One Piece is one of the longest-running manga and anime ever created. It follows Monkey D. Luffy’s adventure to form a pirate crew and become the Pirate King. While its anime adaptation is also incredible, it falls into the same trappings as some of the other big shonen anime: filler and pacing issues.

So, if you love reading and want to experience this phenomenal story at a much better pace, picking up and reading through its 111 and counting volumes will be your best option. And we get that may seem daunting, but after you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down, and that’s a promise!

1

Berserk

Last and certainly not least is Berserk, an entry many of you likely saw coming, as it deserves every bit of praise it ever received. The legacy the late Kentaro Miura left behind is one of overcoming hardships, finding forgiveness within your heart, and persevering when everything seems bleak. Berkerk is more than a story of bloodshed and gore and is worthy of your time if you have yet to experience it.

Berserk’s artwork is jawdropping and beyond stunning, and the amount of love, attention, and detail that Miura poured into each panel is evident on each page, which goes hand-in-hand with its story and characters that make up Guts’ tale of despair, pain, grief, and how he rises above it all. Read Berserk!