Best Adventure Manga of All Time
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 those with an adventure focus. From fun sci-fi worlds to tragic fantastical quests, 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!
Trigun — Yasuhiro Nightow
Trigun is loved for its blend of Western and sci-fi themes. It’s set on a desert planet and follows the story of a mysterious gunman named Vash the Stampede. He’s feared for being a fierce warrior, but Vash is actually a goofball and pacifist. Unfortunately, Vash gets roped into a plot involving legendary assassins. These assassins will influence Vash to become the killer he was rumored to be.
Trigun offers a slew of engaging and complex characters. Vash is a captivating protagonist, who is both a master marksman and a kind-hearted person. The others characters have delightful personalities and motivations that add depth and appeal to the story. As they traverse through this dangerous and unpredictable world, readers will become invested in their personal conflicts and alliances.
The action can be just as interesting with its electrifying gunfights and detailed explosions. Readers will enjoy seeing Vash utilize his sites and quick reflexes to outmaneuver his opponents. With its fast-paced action, high-stakes adventure, and fun cast, Trigun will satisfy those looking for a thrilling journey.
Fullmetal Alchemist — Hiromu Arakawa
Fullmetal Alchemist is a juggernaut in the anime and manga industry. Despite being an old work, many claim it to be one of the best adventure series to date. With its expansive world-building, intricate mythos, and fun cast, who can blame fans for rating this work so highly? It follows two brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric.
They’re on a quest for the Philosopher’s Stone, a relic that can return their bodies to normal. As children, Edward and Alphonse tampered with alchemy to bring their mother back to life. However, the experiment went haywire, costing Edward his limbs and Alphonse his entire body. Although their journey won’t be easy, Edward and Alphonse are determined to find this stone.
The manga’s exploration of the concept of equivalent exchange and its examination of the consequences of playing god makes for a thought-provoking and engaging read. The Elric brothers are flawed characters and must deal with many personal hardships. They’ll meet many other people like Roy, Winry, and others who’ll add more depth to the narrative. In addition to having well-drawn action sequences and mature scenarios, Fullmetal Alchemist is a must-read for anyone Shonen Jump enthusiast.
Made In Abyss — Akihito Tsukushi
Hunter X Hunter — Yoshihiro Togashi
Hunter X Hunter is a fantastic action-adventure series with creative world-building, compelling characters, and engaging story beats. The manga follows Gon, who leaves his home of Whale Island to become a professional hunter like his father Ging Freecss. As Gon navigates through the challenges of the Hunter Exam, he’ll meet a diverse pool of characters with different backgrounds and goals.
Some will join him on his journey while others simply want to make him and his new allies suffer. The manga’s complex mythos and fantastical creatures create an enthralling world that readers in and immerse them in its universe. This manga offers shonen themes like friendship, family, and human nature.
Characters are forced to make difficult decisions if they hope to reach and complete their wildest desires. Additionally, Yoshihiro Togashi inserts some delightful fights in the manga to give readers a break from its complex plot. The writing can become dialogue heavy at a given point, but Togashi knows how to make it all pay off in the end. If you’re looking for a shonen manga with an intricate story, a vast pool of well-written characters, and alluring battles, Hunter X Hunter is worth checking out.
Vinland Saga — Makoto Yukimura
Vinland Saga is a gripping adventure manga that delights readers with its immersive setting, epic storytelling, and well-written characters. It takes place during a war between England and the Danes. Many people perish from the war, causing citizens to grow tired of the town factions’ constant hatred toward each other. The Vikings disagree with the commoners except for Thorfinn.
Despite hating war, Thorfinn’s after the head of Askeladd, a man who took his father’s life. As Thorfinn traverses the land of medieval Europe, he is forced to confront the realities of war and the consequences of his actions. Vinland Saga’s historical accuracy and attention to detail create a rich, textured world that feels authentic.
The manga tackles themes like pacifism, ambition, and loyalty. The manga presents a nuanced and thought-provoking portrayal of the character’s motivations and desires, highlighting the ambiguity and contradictions that arise in the pursuit of power and vengeance. Its examination of the character’s psychological statuses adds depth to the story too.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure — Hirohiko Araki
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a fun adventure worth checking out. It consists of numerous parts that center around different members of the Joestar family lineage. The Joestars must combat countless foes who are often aligned with the Joestar family’s number one nemesis, Dio Brando. Each part takes place in different locales and features immaculate battles that will get readers excited.
The characters are wonderfully drawn and the story is filled with many twists, turns, and complexities. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure delivers impeccable world-building. From the gritty streets of New York City to the ancient ruins of Egypt, the series manages to create a sense of wonder and excitement with each new outing our characters lead.
The series delivers great characterization. The Joestar family members all have distinct personalities, motives, and powers. The villains carry similar vibes and have grandiose schemes. This is a must-read for anyone looking for an exhilarating and unique manga series.
Dragon Ball — Akira Torimiya
Dragon Ball is an iconic and popular action-adventure series. It’s goofy, intense, and charming in all the right ways. It follows Goku, a young martial artist who travels with friends to search for magical Dragon Balls. If you collect all seven of these mystic orbs, a dragon will appear and grant you a wish. Goku and his friends must defeat evildoers who want to use them for nefarious purposes.
Goku isn’t the brightest person in the manga, but he’ll learn to become an incredible fighter over time. From his constant training regimes and ‘never giving up’ attitude toward life, Goku may motivate you to pursue your goals. The Dragon Ball universe is vast, with a rich history, culture, and mythos. The various races and cultures that inhabit the world are unique and memorable.
Eventually, the series will lean harder into its action-packed roots. This is when it will start introducing otherworldly threats like Frieza and Majin Buu. Furthermore, the series will steer its focus toward other characters–not just Goku. If you’re looking for an exciting and unforgettable adventure manga with a strong grasp of martial arts, check out Dragon Ball.
Berserk — Kentarou Miura
Berserk is a complex, dramatic, and brutal manga. Many may not adore this one due to it having intense graphical content. However, if you’re willing to sit through its gruesome moments, you’ll walk away extremely impressed by the world Kentarou Miura delivers with Berserk. Berserk follows Guts, a wandering warrior who joins a powerful syndicate led by a man named Griffith.
After teaming up with Griffith for several years, Guts becomes the commander of Griffith’s army, earning respect from everyone. While life is going swimmingly for Guts, a dark, unexpecting presence looms over him. This series is renowned for its deep exploration of the human psyche, its themes of fate and free will, and its unforgettable action scenes.
Its story is carefully crafted, with each character having their own unique drive and motivation, and their relationships with one another evolving in fascinating ways. The story arcs are lengthy, with each chapter adding new lore and intrigue to entice readers to continue. Kentarou Miura’s illustrations are top-notch, giving readers a cinematic experience they don’t want to miss.
One Piece — Eichiro Oda
One Piece is a massively popular adventure manga. It has great world-building, characters, and fights to rile any action fan up. It revolves around Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who sets sail across the Grand Line with his pirate crewmates. His goal is to locate the mysterious treasure called the One Piece. This will help Luffy become the Pirate King.
As one can expect, other pirates are after a similar prize, so Luffy must withstand their might if he hopes to achieve his dream. Pirates aren’t the only enemies Luffy and his friends must combat. Many naval forces and royal figures will stand in his and his allies’ way. Sometimes, Luffy will need to team up with other pirate crews to tackle larger threats.
The interactions he and his crewmates have with these individuals are entertaining. While the series has compelling drama, it also benefits from having hysterical humor. Expect to see a great mix of slapstick, exaggerated facial humor, and witty jokes during your binge of One Piece. Although it’s over 1,000 chapters long, you’ll wish you’d checked out this marvelous series sooner.
Vagabond — Takehiko Inoue
Vagabond is argued as one of Takehiko Inoue’s best works and one that’s never have a solid anime adaptation. This is due to Vagabond having jaw-dropping realistic illustrations that help the world feel and look realistic. Vagabond is about Musashi, a swordsman who is on the run for being an alleged murderer. This tale is a classic retelling of the novel “Musashi” by Eiji Yoshikawa.
This is a powerful and moving tale that explores themes like the human condition, betrayal, and finding one’s place in the world. Like its marvelous, realistic backgrounds, Vagabond’s action sequences are masterfully depicted from the ways our characters swing their swords or move across each panel. The characters are complex and have different motivations and challenges to defeat.
The relationships between the characters are also deeply explored, adding emotional depth to the story. While the sword battles are engaging, this series also delves into the internal struggles our characters must overcome. Overall, Vagabond is an outstanding adventure manga that truly has something for everyone, whether they are a fan of action, drama, or great storytelling.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best adventure manga through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!