Clearly, there is no single answer to this question. It would be impossible to identify a single manga that could be ideal for starting your journey into the world of Japanese comics.
Just like with a great movie or a good book, the topic covered is the deciding factor where we cannot replace you in the choice. Everyone has their own tastes, so before anything else, one should understand what genre the person approaching the reading of their first manga loves. However, there are some blockbusters that, beyond the relative subjectivity of each of us, can be counted among the great films in history! A brief example? The Lord of the Rings or even Titanic. Sure, you’re not a fan of the romantic genre and you didn’t like Titanic? Okay. As mentioned, the genre is the deciding factor, box office earnings are the irrefutable fact.
Manga Classified by Genre and Type
The interesting thing is that in Japan, the main classification of manga is not done by "genres" but by age group and gender, so depending on the target audience, we have different classifications:
- The genre defined as "Kodomo": manga designed for children (for example, Doraemon)
- The genre defined as "Shonen": manga designed for boys (for example One Piece)
- The genre defined as "Shoujo": manga designed for girls (for example Sailor Moon)
- The genre defined as "Seinen": manga intended for men (for example, Monster)
- The genre defined as "Josei": manga intended for women (for example, Nana)
We, on the other hand, have decided to proceed with a more "Western" classification; in this way, we believe we can assist you in making the final choice.
Classifying (according to sales data) the best manga in history and currently by genre. Clearly, unlike movies, almost all manga have a "fantasy" connotation, but we will try to go into more detail by dividing them into main categories and excluding that connotation.
Adventure Genre Manga
Among the most popular manga genres is definitely the adventure genre. All with a fantasy connotation, the adventure genre represents a macrocosm of Japanese comics. The main manga of this genre are:
- One Piece
- Demon Slayer
- Dragon Ball
- Naruto
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Hunter X Hunter
Manga Comedy Genre
Comedy is an element often present within manga (including adventure manga), but there are titles that make this genre the foundation on which the entire narrative plot is built:
- The Way of the Apron
- Sakamoto Days
- One-Punch Man
- Mashle
Manga Mystery / Thriller Genre
Followed by a large niche of enthusiasts, mystery/thriller genre manga have also carved out an important and substantial segment of Japanese manga storytelling over time. Among the most famous, we have:
- Detective Conan
- Death Note
- Monster
- 20th Century Boys
Manga Dramatic Genre
The dramatic genre is a particular genre; it often merges with the adventure genre, but unlike a manga like One Piece, it appears much more raw, bloody, and cynical both in the duels and in the dynamics between characters. Among the best in the genre can be counted:
- Steins;Gate
- Attack on Titan
- Banana Fish
- Goodnight Punpun
Horror Genre Manga
A genre that cannot be forgotten in this special classification is definitely the Horror genre. Among the best manga of this genre we have:
- Tomie
- Gannibal
- Sweet Home
- Sensor
- The Killer Inside
- The Call of Cthulhu illustrated by Gou Tanabe