The Best-Selling Manga Of All Time

Key Takeaways

• Many best-selling manga series have achieved success due to their impressive sales, reflecting their quality and popularity.
• Authors of new manga often look to emulate successful series, using similar blueprints for success.
• Best-selling manga such as “One Piece” and “Naruto” have amassed millions of copies, indicating their widespread appeal and lasting impact.

The manga industry is growing at an astounding pace. Every year, hundreds of different manga series come out, and avid readers are able to enjoy the various genres that are put out. Despite the high number of manga though, not all of them manage to solidify themselves as a must-read.

Due to this reason, readers find themselves going back to some of the older series that have the numbers to back up their quality. While some might prefer reading lesser-known manga, most readers tend to go for the best-selling manga series. To many, their impressive sales demonstrate their quality, making the best-selling manga of all time an easy choice for manga fans.

Updated October 4th, 2024, by Suzail Ahmad: With so many new manga being released on a monthly basis, it has become increasingly difficult to stand out. The authors of the new titles do their best to create unique plots and characters, as both are integral to a series’ success. One of the things that many new authors do is try to emulate the best-selling manga in one way or another.

This is clever thinking, as following the blueprints of popular series is almost a surefire formula for success. In fact, the best-selling manga series of all time have many similarities. Their success is reflected in the number of copies that they have sold in their entirety.

22 Baki The Grappler

100 Million Copies Sold

Baki the Grappler is a manga series that delves into the world of martial arts. Written by Keisuke Itagaki, the manga was serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999. Baki the Grappler is catered towards shonen fans, but it is one of the more violent titles that is readily available to read.

Baki the Grappler has had several sequels, and all of them have been popular. Their overall fame has enabled the series to sell over 100 million copies to date. The manga takes a gander into the life of Baki Hanma, who partakes in dangerous battles to test his combat skills. Each fight is unique, and it offers fans a chance to see different fighting styles.

21 Jujutsu Kaisen

100 Million Copies Sold

Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen has become a sensation in a very short time. A key reason why it became a super successful series is down to its brilliant anime adaptation by MAPPA. Upon the conclusion of the first season, more and more people started to read the manga, resulting in a massive increase in sales.

Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of Itadori Yuji, a young boy, whose life changes when he consumes a cursed object. This exposes him to a brand-new world of curses and sorcerers, each group trying to outdo the other. The manga came to an end in 2024, but the anime is still ongoing.

20 Astro Boy

100 Million Copies Sold

Astro Boy is written by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, a man who revolutionized the manga industry forever. In fact, his praises are sung to this day. He worked on Astro Boy from 1952 to 1968. The manga blends sci-fi and adventure together, resulting in a powerful concoction that is sure to keep fans hooked.

Astro Boy follows the story of an android boy with human emotions. After a series of unusual events, he ends up as the surrogate son to a professor, who then creates an entire family for Astro. The manga has 23 volumes in total, and overall it has sold more than 100 million copies.

19 The Kindaichi Case Files

100 Million Copies Sold

Originally, the Kendaichi Case Files started serializing in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 1992. It was later shifted to Evening and finally to Comic Days, where it has been part of the line-up since 2023. The series has also received an anime adaptation, which is not as mainstream as some of the other titles.

The Kendaichi Case Files follows the life of Hajime Kindaichi, the grandson of one of the greatest detectives in the world. Hajime Kindaichi takes on different criminal cases and uses his intelligence to solve them. The manga is perfect for readers who are fascinated by mysteries.

18 My Hero Academia

100 Million Copies Sold

My Hero Academia’s popularity took off when the series debuted the first season of the anime. Viewers found many resemblances with the other great shonen, which is why it proved to be a big success. As the word began to spread, more and more people began to pick up manga copies to find out what happened next.

My Hero Academia follows the story of Midoriya Izuku, a boy who dreams of becoming the number one hero. The story has many relatable characters, which boosted the overall popularity of the series. So far, My Hero Academia has released 40 volumes and sold over 100 million copies, which is extremely impressive. Since the story is still ongoing, the number will continue to increase.

17 Kingdom

100 Million Copies Sold

For years, Kingdom was the only manga title that constantly competed with One Piece in terms of sales. Yasuhisa Hara’s ingenuity made the manga extremely popular among manga enthusiasts. Kingdom started serializing on January 26, 2006, and it has constantly been on the best-selling lists.

The manga focuses on ancient China, allowing fans to relive the war-torn era. Kingdom has released 70 volumes so far, and there will definitely be more releases before the story comes to a close.

16 Hajime no Ippo

100 Million Copies Sold

Hajime no Ippo is considered one of the greatest sports manga of all time. It can be easily recommended to another person because of how good it is. The manga has good humor and great action, which is a great combination.

George Morikawa began working on the manga in October 1989. The manga is serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Hajime no Ippo has over 100 volumes to its name, which shows the dedication of George Morikawa and the appreciation of the audience. The manga has received several anime adaptations, and all of them have been showered with positive reviews.

15 Fist of the North Star

100 Million Copies Sold

First of the North Star has always been popular in Japan, but it took a while for western audiences to become familiar with the title. The popularity of the series increased by several folds when one of the clips from the anime went viral. The more it circulated, the more curious fans were about the series.

Fist of the North Star is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humankind is fighting for food. Amidst all the turmoil, a man named Kenshiro uses his strength to help the weak and needy. This particular manga has released just 27 volumes but sold 100 copies.

14 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

120 Million Copies Sold

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an extremely unique manga series that is divided into different parts, with each one focusing on a different protagonist. Hirohiko Araki’s idea might have been considered bizarre back then, but he has the numbers that prove he made the right decision.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an epic action and adventure manga series that covers the various generations of the Joestar Family and their feud with DIO. So far, the manga has nine different parts, which between them have sold over 120 million copies.

13 Bleach

130 Million Copies Sold

Bleach was among the “Big Three” of the Shonen Jump. For years, Tite Kubo’s manga dominated Shonen Jump, along with One Piece and Naruto. At the time, all three manga series were involved in a struggle to become the biggest and most popular manga in the world.

Bleach started serializing in the Weekly Shonen Jump in August 2001 and ended in August 2016. The story has been collected into 76 volumes, and together they have sold an impressive 130 million copies. The series released its much-anticipated Thousand-Year Blood War arc in 2022, and it is among the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList.

12 Oishinbo

135 Million Copies Sold

Oishinbo is a popular manga series written by Tetsu Kariya. The manga has been a part of Shogakukan’s Big Comic Spirits since 1983. Since its release, the manga has sold 135 million copies. It was placed on an indefinite hiatus in 2014, and currently, there is no return date for the series.

Oishinbo offers readers a chance to experience the culinary world as they sit in the comfort of their homes. The story is elevated by the addition of several comical scenes. Oishinbo received an anime adaptation in 1988, which continued until 1992. The anime has 136 episodes in total and was produced by Studio Deen.

11 Attack on Titan

140 Million Copies Sold

Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan has one of the largest fanbases in the world. The manga is very popular, especially in the West, because of its intriguing yet grim story. Attack on Titan‘s anime adaptation has also played a key role in its success.

Hajime Isyama started working on the manga in September 2009. The manga continued to be serialized until April 2021. The manga’s ending may be controversial, but that hasn’t stopped the series from selling over 100 million copies.

10 Demon Slayer

150 Million Copies Sold

When the first season of Demon Slayer was released, it took the entire world by storm. Produced by Ufotable, the anime has very high-quality animation. So far, every season of Demon Slayer has had excellent pacing, which makes it very interesting to watch.

The success of the anime resulted in an increase in manga sales. After the first season, fans started buying all the volumes of the manga. Presently, the manga has sold 150 million copies, and with another season on the way, this number will only increase further.

9 KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops

156.5 Million Copies Sold

KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops is a comedy manga series that has been written by Osamu Akimoto. The manga started being serialized in 1976, and it came to an end in 2016. KochiKame has over 1,000 chapters, and they have been compiled into 201 volumes.

Considering the number of volumes, it is not surprising that the series has sold over 150 million units. The manga follows the adventures of a cop named Kankichi Ryotsu, who runs into new problems and uses the most outrageous methods to solve them.

8 Slam Dunk

170 Million Copies Sold

For many people, Slam Dunk is the quintessential sports manga. It has been written by Takehiko Inoue, who also created Vagabond and Real. When it came out, the manga inspired many readers to pick up basketball, resulting in an increase in the popularity of the sport in Japan.

The manga had just 31 volumes, but it has amassed 170 million in sales. With a Slam Dunk movie on the way, the manga will almost certainly see further growth in its sales.

7 Black Jack

176 Million Copies Sold

Black Jack might not be as well-known as some of the best-selling manga, but it is every bit as successful with over 170 million copies sold. The manga has been written by the legendary Osamu Tezuka.

The manga follows a kind doctor named Black Jack who tries to help needy people. Whenever he sees a person in trouble, he tries to make their lives better, but he rarely gets any recognition for his deeds.

6 Naruto

250 Million Copies Sold

Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is one of Shonen Jump’s “Big Three.” The manga is extremely popular, especially in the West, and many readers believe it to be among the best manga of all time. It has over 250 million copies in circulation.

The story focuses on a young boy named Naruto who wants to become the Hokage, the position of the highest authority in the village. In order to achieve his goal, Naruto has to overcome many obstacles.

5 Doraemon

250 Million Copies Sold

Doraemon is a manga series made specifically for kids. Written by Fujiko F. Fujio, it has over 1,000 chapters, which have been compiled into 45 volumes. Despite being catered toward a very specific demographic, Doraemon has sold over 300 million copies, mainly due to its funny yet interesting story.

At the center of the manga’s story is a robotic cat, named Doraemon, who travels into the past to help a lazy kid named Nobita. The manga has received countless anime and movie adaptations, which have helped boost its popularity even further.

4 Dragon Ball

260 Million Copies Sold

When Dragon Ball came out, it revolutionized the shonen genre. Akira Toriyama introduced many new concepts in Dragon Ball, which made it stand out from the other manga of its time. Even now, Toriyama’s ideas continue to inspire other mangaka.

Given the uniqueness of the series, it is no surprise that Dragon Ball has sold over 250 million copies despite having only 42 volumes. The manga dives into the world of Son Goku, a kid who explores the world while making many allies and foes.

3 Detective Conan

270 Million Copies Sold

Detective Conan also known as Case Closed, is a mystery manga series. It is the work of Gosho Aoyama, and it has been a part of Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine since 1994. So far, the manga has 102 volumes and has sold over 250 million copies.

Detective Conan covers the adventures of Shinichi Kudo, who is a high school detective. Over time, Shinichi’s reputation begins to grow, which causes a criminal organization to make him their target. They try to murder Shinichi with a drug, but instead of killing him, it turns him into a kid.