Best Comedy 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 a comedy focus. From absurd samurai shenanigans to wacky school-themed activities, 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!
Gintama – Hideaki Sorachi
This manga is a comedic gold mine for everyone. It offers a narrative about a samurai named Gintoki who takes odd jobs to make a profit alongside his companions Shimura and Kagura. The trio gets into all types of mischief involving extraterrestrial life and bandits. While the story contains excessive humor, Sorachi knows when to tune it down to make room for more mature content.
The tonal shifts feel natural. You’ll be surprised by how dark this funny manga can get when it explores its characters’ backgrounds and places them in deadly situations. The characters have their own unique quirks and personalities. From the witty banter to the hilarious interactions between them, you’re in for an enjoyable time with Gintama.
My Roommate Is A Cat – Tunami Minatuki
This story follows a 23-year-old named Subaru. He’s a homebody author who meets a small cat named Haru while visiting his parents’ graves. Subaru takes the kitten in since he doesn’t want her to wander the night alone. The manga focuses on the unlikely friendship between Subaru and Haru. Unlike most animal companion pieces, readers get to peer into Haru’s mind.
Their bond grows gradually throughout the work, making for a compelling story in the long run. The characters receive individual growth too. Subaru starts off as an aloof caregiver but transforms into a respectable father figure by the series’ conclusion. Subaru will resonate with many people, especially pet owners.
This is a story that will leave you smiling during its wholesome and comedic moments. For those looking for something that’s humorous, comforting, and fun, check out My Roommate Is A Cat.
Sket Dance – Kenta Shinohara
Great Teacher Onizuka – Tohru Fujisawa
For a comedy that presents humor inside and outside a classroom setting, Great Teacher Onizuka is a must-read. In it, readers follow Eikichi, a 22-year-old pervert and gang leader who wants to score a date with an attractive woman. He becomes a teacher to locate a mistress but winds up achieving something more genuine in return.
This manga offers a clever use of satire and presents readers with great social commentary, Eikichi’s unorthodox teaching methods challenge the social norms and conventions of Japanese society. This commentary is delivered through Tohru Fujisawa’s use of witty jokes and humorous gags involving Eikichi, his students, and the people who inhabit their society.
Eikichi receive grand character development throughout the narrative. From a careless delinquent to a devoted teacher, you’ll be shocked by how much Eikichi changes by the story’s end. It incorporates several hurdles for Eikichi to battle from past to present. His development also contributes to the story’s humor in touching and relatable ways. Give this a read if you’re searching for a great school-themed comedy manga.
The Eminence in Shadow – Daisuke Aizawa
In The Eminence In Shadow, readers examine a strength-hungry protagonist named Minoru. He winds up in an unfamiliar world after getting hit by a truck. In this new universe, he’s deemed Cid, gets acquainted with his newfound abilities, and dons the moniker “Shadow.” Cid establishes the Shadow Garden group to combat a rival faction called the Cult of Diablos.
This manga offers a great parodic take on the hero’s journey trope and features a protagonist with unusual powers. The comedy feels dry and witty but offers compelling situational humor and visual gags. It exploits Cid’s imagination, which is vivid and leads to some hilarious antics throughout the series. The visual humor ties itself well with the story and characters.
Readers will enjoy the characters and the relationships they forge in this work. Everyone from Cid to his supporting cast has fun personalities and quirks, making them feel memorable. This is a great comedy manga that has a lot to offer readers with its clever humor and eccentric cast.
Grand Blue Dreaming – Kenji Inoue
Grand Blue is a hilarious manga that follows Iori, a college student who moves to a coastal town to attend university. He indulges himself in many activities and meets a group of eccentric characters who turns his life upside-down. This series has relatable humor from its witty one-liners to its clever parodies that will leave readers giggling hysterically.
The characters are entertaining and well-developed. Each has a distinct personality and quirk, and their interactions with each other are a major part of what makes Grand Blue Dreaming enjoyable. Iori’s awkward nature and tendency to get involved in ridiculous situations are amusing and genuine. The manga’s illustrations look stunning.
From the gorgeous underwater scenes to the events that transpire in this coastal town, everything feels lively and immersive. This is a must-read for everyone who enjoys comical stories that take place in realistic environments. With each chapter, you’ll find yourself laughing, smiling, and genuinely enjoying the ride Kenji Inoue presents you.
Hinamatsuri – Masao Ohtake
Hinamatsuri is a delightful supernatural comedy about a high-powered yakuza named Nitta and his psychic female companion Hina. It offers a unique blend of slice-of-life, humor, and supernatural elements. It’s known for having sharp comedic timing that will keep readers entertained. The humor is a mix of slapstick, absurdity, and irony, and the overall tone is lighthearted and heartwarming.
Masao Ohtake knows how to balance his story’s comedy and drama well, creating a well-rounded tale that can be funny and touching. This story has a cast of colorful and interesting characters who’ll keep readers engaged with their distinct peculiarities and personalities. Hina might be the most interesting one to follow because of her psychic powers.
Nonetheless, there are some characters inserted in the tale who’ll interest folks due to their distinct voice, backstory, and charm. The artwork compliments Hinamatsuri’s humor and supernatural elements well. With its sharp-tongued wit, quirky cast, and astonishing artwork, you’ll enjoy this one.
Beelzebub – Ryuuhei Tamura
For those looking for a funny manga with a decent plot and a fun cast, Beelzebub should entertain you. It follows Oga, a delinquent who likes causing issues with people. One day, he meets Baby Beel, a toddler who happens to be the Demon King’s son. Oga must act as the child’s new foster father and protect him from challengers to Beel’s father’s throne.
Many folks value this story for its unique blend of comedy, action, and supernatural components. The humor is top-notch and varied. It offers absurd and over-the-top jokes, nice slapstick, witty one-liners, and hilarious situations. The characters’ reactions to each other’s tricks themselves are humorous. The author’s clever use of wordplay and puns adds a layer of humor that’ll keep many entertained.
While the side characters don’t receive as much attention as Beel and Oga, they serve their roles well and have interesting backgrounds. Give this a read if you’re craving a comedy that knows how to balance its humor with its action.
Daily Lives of Highschool Boys – Yasunabu Yamauchi
Daily Lives of Highschool Boys is a comedy manga that follows the lives of Tadakuni, Hidenori, and Yoshitake. They’re three high schoolers who navigate the ups and downs of life. This series offers a nice blend of humor and slice-of-life elements many find relatable and comical. The jokes are based on the mundanity of daily life.
From awkward high school romances to the peculiarities of teenage friendships, you’ll find a lot to relate to with this tale. The series employs a slew of creative techniques like slapstick, wordplay, and observational humor. The comedy is universal and appeals to readers of all ages, making it one of the best comedy series to read.
The characters are diverse, well-developed, and likable. The social dynamics between the cast are well-drawn, and Yasunabu Yamauchi does an excellent job of capturing the subtleties of teenage relationships. With its accurate depictions of high school life, there’s a lot of content here to satisfy many audiences.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. – Shuuichi Asou
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. presents audiences with a question. What would you do if you were given incredible powers? Would you show them off to your friends or would you be ashamed of feeling different? Our protagonist Saiki falls within the latter category, despite being loved by his peers for his powers. This is a simplistic and entertaining lighthearted comedy.
The manga features different types of humor to entertain audiences. It has slapstick, witty jokes, comical situations, and deadpan facial expressions. Saiki’s psychic powers help Shuuichi Asou conjure new and humorous situations for our cast to indulge themselves in per chapter. Although Saiki’s firm about his feelings about his powers, he’ll meet people who’ll attempt to change his perception of them.
The series features slight action, but it’s best to go into this one for its comedy. If you’re looking for a fun and wacky school-themed comedy to read when you’re bored, this one’s worth picking up.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best comedy manga of all time!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!