Best Manga About Dragons
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 could 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 strong focus on dragons. From action-packed tales to cozy slice-of-life scenarios, 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!
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling – Nekoko & RIO
For those who adore simple and fun fantasy series, Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling should entertain you. In it, our protagonist, Irushia finds himself reborn in a fantasy world as an egg. Despite the dangers that await him in this world, Irushia is determined to become the most powerful creature in this world.
This manga is known for having countless fights that are thrilling and appealing to the eye. Its pacing gets a bit rocky at the start, though. It doesn’t give readers enough time to soak in the beauty of its world nor does it allow folks to spend important time with the cast. Fortunately, the story picks up in future chapters.
Irushia comes off as a bit naive, but he’s a kind-hearted fellow who establishes great connections over time. If you’re okay with a dragon-themed tale that takes a while to get moving, then give Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling a shot.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid – Coolkyousinnjya
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is an enjoyable manga that centers around the concept of dragons coexisting with humans in modern society. The story revolves around Kobayashi, an office worker, who encounters a dragon named Thru and invites her to live with her. As the narrative unfolds, the manga skillfully explores the interactions between dragons and humans.
It shows the intricacies behind their relationships through the story’s underlying themes of friendship and acceptance. Coolkyosinnjya does an excellent job of portraying dragons in an endearing fashion and integrating them into modern society. Through characters like Tohru and her fellow dragons, the manga explores the diverse range of dragon abilities, personalities, and quirks.
From Kanna’s innocent demeanor to Fafnir’s grouchy but lovable nature, the story features a wide array of colorful personalities fans will cherish. In addition to having stellar humor and heartwarming segments, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid will leave fans satisfied.
Dragon Ball – Akira Toriyama
Dragon Drive – Kenichi Sakura
Ruri Dragon – Shindo Masaoki
Ruri Dragon is a new and interesting series from Shonen Jump’s catalog. In it, we follow Ruri, an average student who wakes up with dragon horns one morning. Her mother reveals that Ruri is a half-dragon and human hybrid. Despite her weird status and concerns about making friends, Ruri embarks on a journey of self-discovery and growth as she strives to live a pleasant life.
While the story’s currently on hiatus, many folks fell in love with this manga’s world. It contains charming and relatable characters, humor, and segments that’ll keep readers invested in Ruri’s developments.
Furthermore, Ruri’s relationship with her mother makes it a must-read work for those who adore narratives with compelling family angels. The way they interact with each other mirrors most healthy connections you’d find between real-world mother-daughter pairings, providing audiences with charming scenarios to latch on to.
With only five chapters to read, you’re bound to fall in love with the universe Masaoki Shindou’s created thus far.
Saint Dragon Girl – Natsumi Matsumoto
Saint Dragon Girl is a manga that offers audiences an enchanting world of dragons to explore. It follows a dragon-harboring girl named Momoka and a Chinese Magic Master named Ryuga as they combat menacing demonic entities. The story’s plot takes a while to get going, but those who stick with the ride will end up enjoying the world Natsumi Matsumoto developed here.
This manga contains wonderful illustrations that heighten the tension of its battles and the characters’ emotions. This tale features a joyous tone and captures what one would expect from an adventurous tale. Our protagonists get into amusing mischief and awkward situations that’ll make readers chuckle a few times.
If you’re looking for a simple, feel-good action series with dragon elements, check this out.
Ragna Crimson – Daiki Kobayashi
Ragna Crimson is an action-adventure series with captivating dragon elements. In it, we follow Ragna, a boy who merges with his future/past self to protect his friend from danger. After joining forces with a mysterious entity known as Crimson, Ragna and Crimson plan to rid their universe of the dragon monarchs that plague their world.
This series is known for having delightful imagery, engaging story arcs, and captivating battles that’ll get anyone’s pulse-pounding. Ragna’s a favorable protagonist with compelling qualities that’ll grasp readers’ attention. Although fans will have their issues without how he achieves his fierce powers, Ragna’s unwavering spirit should win you over.
On top of having fine dragon lore and a world brimming with extravagant locales and civilizations, Ragna Crimson is a fantasy tale worth checking out.
Dragonar Academy – Shiki Mizuchi
Shiki Mizuchi’s Dragonar Academy is a fun manga with a unique dragon world to explore. In it, we follow Ash Blake, a student attending a prestigious academy where students are paired with dragon partners. Filled with action and romance, this manga provides readers with a thrilling and immersive experience that will intrigue them.
For instance, Dragonar Academy contains intricate lore about its universe’s dragon species. The world-building in this series is well-detailed, offering readers a deep understanding of the different dragon species, their abilities, and their special connection with their riders. Moreover, the story contains many action-packed sequences that’ll get your heart pumping.
The series brings its dragon species to life with its action scenes and intense training scenarios, allowing readers to feel immersed in its content. On top of having an enjoyable romantic subplot, Dragonar Academy contains enough ingredients to win dragon fans’ over.
Juana & The Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms – Kiyohisa Tanaka
Juana & The Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms is a short yet enjoyable dragon tale about our duo’s strive for acceptance. Set in a world where reptilian organisms dominate it, we follow a Dragonewt archaeologist and his female human companion Fauna as they explore various kingdoms and encounter mystical civilizations.
Despite being a short tale, Kiyohisa Tanaka crafts a compelling journey for readers to experience. You’ll adore seeing our Dragonewt protagonist interact with Fauna during their travels. The story’s littered with many beautiful structures, shops, and homes for readers to immerse themselves in.
With its fascinating art style and compelling duo, you’ll appreciate reading through this quick tale.
Dragonaut – The Resonance – Satoshi Kinoshita
Dragonaut – The Resonance, by Satoshi Kinoshita, is a thrilling, action-centric manga with enough delightful content to please dragon fanatics. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows Jin, a man who becomes a pilot for a special agency tasked with harnessing the power of dragons to defend Earth.
Many readers enjoy this story for its rich take on dragon lore. The manga delves into the origins, abilities, and mysteries surrounding dragons. Its distinct take on dragons forming connections with human pilots creates a mesmerizing dynamic, allowing for invigorating fights and powerful alliances to take place. Kinoshita’s detailed artwork brings Dragonaut’s world to life through their depictions of the story’s fast-paced and high-energy action.
If you happen to like dragon stories that present you with new takes on the fictitious species, check this out.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best manga about dragons 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!