10 Best Manga For Beginners
Although many people cherish watching anime, they often forget that most anime serve as adaptations of the original source material. While there are some instances where the anime is better than the manga, those instances are few and far between. With the amount of manga released on a daily basis, it can be hard to cut through all those books to find the “Best of” for any chosen topic.
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable manga through the years. For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best manga, our attention this time turns to the best manga for beginners. From comical romances to action-packed adventures, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Fruits Basket — Natsuki Takaya
Fruits Basket is a heartwarming manga that’s perfect for beginners who are looking to get into the world of manga. The story follows Tooru, a girl who becomes the Souma residence’s guest. She does want to live with her grandparents and finds Souma’s company more pleasant. Little does Tooru know the secrets this family holds close to their chest.
Fruits Basket’s story is simple and easy to follow. The plot and characters are introduced gradually, making it easy for readers to keep up and understand what is happening in the narrative. The story also has a clear beginning, middle, and end, which helps readers follow along and feel a sense of satisfaction with how it all closes.
It explores themes that are universal and relatable to all ages. The manga has beautiful and expressive artwork. The characters are adorably designed and they also receive well-drawn facial features, allowing them to convey a range of emotions. On top of giving characters compelling backgrounds and likable personalities, this is a perfect story to introduce to a manga novice.
Dragon Ball — Akira Toriyama
Dragon Ball is a fascinating action-adventure manga that inspired many Shonen Jump works from Naruto to Jujutsu Kaisen. The story follows a young martial artist named Goku. He travels with multiple companions to search for the wish-granting orange orbs called Dragon Balls. Of course, readers can expect Goku and his companions to encounter multiple foes who are after a similar prize.
At some point, the series will teeter toward an action focus. Nonetheless, the transition between these two branching storylines feels natural. As a whole, Dragon Ball delivers a rich world many will adore for centuries. Goku and his friends will battle numerous villains, each one feeling stronger and more sinister than the last.
The manga offers some fun humor segments that will make anyone laugh. There are some inappropriate jokes inserted into the story, but it won’t lessen your experience with Dragon Ball at all. If you’re looking for a fun action-adventure manga to read with a simple premise but impactful adventure, check Dragon Ball out.
Sailor Moon — Naoko Takeuchi
One Piece — Eiichiro Oda
One Piece is a heavy-hitting manga for Shonen Jump so far. It’s up there with Bleach and Naruto as being one of the best series to come from the company. While its Western following isn’t as massive as its Eastern one, the story has managed to resonate with everyone who’s given it a chance. While it’ll take people several weeks or months to catch up to it, the journey is worth it.
One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy, an aspiring pirate who assembles a crew of colorful people to sail across the Grand Line. He hopes to find the Pirate King Gol D. Roger’s prolific treasure called the One Piece. If Luffy and his crew find it, he’ll be declared the new Pirate King. As one can tell, Luffy and his friends must combat multiple pirates, marines, and enemies if they want to achieve that goal.
This story is known for having remarkable world-building, fun characters, and exhilarating fights. Every island Luffy and his friends visit has different ecosystems, cultures, and inhabitants. Some are ruled by tyrants, who’ll Luffy will have to overthrow. Others may contain clues about the universe our characters are in, which will entice many people to continue reading this tale. If you’re willing to sit through 1,000+ chapters of fun content, give One Piece a shot.
Yotsuba Ito! — Kiyohiko Azuma
Yotsuba to! is a heartwarming manga with compelling slice-of-life elements. Although it lacks the depth of any kind, it has enough stellar comedy and wholesome bits to keep readers invested in its tale. From dry humor to slapstick, you’ll have a tough time holding in your giggles. Our story follows 5-year-old Yotsuba, who moves to a new city with her father.
Her new neighbors don’t like Yotsuba at first, but she eventually grows on them due to her optimistic views on life. This manga will never cease to let readers down in the cheerful department. Although the artwork’s simplistic, Kiyohiko Azuma places Yotsuba in scenes that look cinematic and breathtaking. The manga also tackles lighthearted themes like friendship and family. For those looking to get lost in a world that’s simplistic, fun, and adorable, Yotsuba to is a series that’s captivating to read.
Fullmetal Alchemist — Hiromu Arakawa
Fullmetal Alchemist is an incredible Shonen Jump manga. It follows two brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric who embark on a quest for the magical Philosopher’s Stone. They had tampered with alchemy at a young age because they wanted to bring their mother back to life. Edward lost his limbs while Alphonse’s soul now resides in a giant suit of armor.
Many harsh scenarios await these brothers on their journey. From child experimentation to human death, these brothers must endure these circumstances if they hope to rewrite the wrongs. The characters in this tale receive excellent development and depth. The action is on par with other classic shonen works and will get your adrenaline pumping.
The story features satisfying twists and turns that will keep you hooked. For those looking for an unforgettable shonen adventure series that will hold your interest until the very end, check out Fullmetal Alchemist.
Death Note — Tsugumi Ohba
Death Note is a unique manga from Shonen Jump’s catalog. While it offers supernatural elements, it’s not an action-packed work like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, and others. Instead, readers should go into this expecting engaging and thrilling psychological warfare between its protagonist Light Yagami and his rival L.
After finding a mysterious book that lets him murder people, Light goes on a rampage as his alias Kira. He becomes a hero in the eyes of some folks and a villain to the police. They hire L to assist them in catching Light. An endless and exhilarating mind battle ensues between the two geniuses that will keep readers intrigued and invested until the story’s conclusion.
That said, many people may not like how things end with this tale. However, if you can overlook the story’s second half, you’ll enjoy the thrill ride Tsugumi Ohba delivers with Death Note. Give it a read if you’re after a Shonen Jump manga that’s somewhat grounded and more thought-provoking.
Attack On Titan —Hajime Isayama
Attack On Titan is a fabulous tale about survival. It pits humans against giant monsters deemed Titans. After experiencing the horrors the Titans can bring, our protagonist, Eren Jaeger vows to slay every Titan in his universe. Attack On Titan’s narrative is well-written and engaging with plenty of action and intrigue to keep readers invested.
The story is filled with twists and turns, as the characters uncover the secrets of the Titans and their origins while struggling to survive in an unforgiving world. The art style is easy on the eyes, with well-drawn characters and clear action sequences that are easy to follow. Additionally, the pacing is well-controlled, making it simple for newcomers to keep up with the narrative without feeling overwhelmed.
This tale tackles themes like bravery, sacrifice, and survival. This makes it an excellent entry point for those who are looking for a gritty manga to read.
Akira — Katsuhiro Otomo
Akira is a classic manga and still manages to resonate with most audiences. It’s also an excellent manga for beginners to pick up since it sets a standard for storytelling. The manga is set in post-apocalyptic Neo Tokyo and centers around a gang leader named Kaneda. He becomes involved in a government conspiracy involving his rival Tetsuo.
This tale presents readers with complex themes regarding power dynamics and manipulation. Katsuhiro Otomo presents these ideas in ways that it’s simple for beginners to understand. Additionally, Akira’s art style is detailed. Its bold and cinematic action scenes are incredibly dynamic. There is some nightmarish imagery that might send shivers down your spine.
The manga also touches upon content that wasn’t found in the theatrical film. It sheds more light on our cast’s backgrounds and gives extra context regarding their relationships. Give this a read after or before you watch the film it’s based on.
Monster — Naoki Urasawa
Monster is an incredible psychological thriller that will keep you entertained. It’s a slow-burner but if you stick with it, you’ll wind up enjoying Naoki Urasawa’s craftsmanship with this one. It follows a surgeon named Dr. Kenzou Tenma. He’s proficient at his job but gets thrown into a challenging situation. He must choose to save his mayor’s life over a child’s.
Kenzou saves the child and gets belittled for his actions. On top of that, the child grows up to become a skilled serial killer and Tenma’s blamed for most of the murders this child committed. To make amends for his mistake, Kenzou flees his surgical life to pursue the child and bring him to justice. This story’s known for its incredible plot twists and turns.
Each chapter ends with a thrilling cliffhanger that will entice you to continue reading. Every character in this story receives a fine personality, background, and motive. The art style is gritty and realistic. It captures the dark tone Urasawa aimed for with this tale. If you’re looking for a story that will keep you invested from beginning to end, check out Monster.
So, there we have it, our picks for the 10 best manga for beginners!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!