The Best Seinen 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 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, we’d like to highlight the best seinen manga of all time. From the thought-provoking Monster to the atmospheric The Climber, 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!
Monster – Naoki Urasawa
Monster is a masterful seinen series that stands out for its gripping storytelling and complex characters. Set in a dark intense world, the manga explores morality, identity, and the human psyche. It follows Kenzou, a brilliant surgeon who gets caught in a moral dilemma when he must decide whether to save a boy’s life or his town’s mayor.
Kenzou’s decisions set off a chain of events that unravels a chilling conspiracy, leading Kenzou down a dangerous path of self-reflection and moral ambiguity. Monster tackles complex moral dilemmas and explores the depths of the human condition. It raises questions about the nature of evil and the choices people make when put under difficult circumstances.
Furthermore, this story boasts phenomenal character development. Everyone from Kenzou to supporting cast members like Grimmer receives excellent development and chances to shine in the story.
On top of having fantastic cliffhangers and twists, you’ll love the world Naoki Urasawa crafted here.
Berserk – Kentarou Miura & Studio Gaga
By and large, Berserk is a profound seinen series. It’s known for its dark fantasy setting, epic storytelling, and rich cast. It follows Guts, a skilled warrior driven by revenge and fueled by an unyielding determination to survive in a brutal landscape. With its graphical violence, immersive scenery, and intricate themes, Berserk is definitely one of the best seinen manga today.
Berserk’s world-building is top-notch. The manga presents readers with a world filled with sprawling kingdoms and supernatural creatures. The attention to detail in depicting its gritty world, along with the use of powerful and dynamic paneling, will add to readers’ immersion in the tale.
Guts, Griffith, and other characters come off as multi-dimensional beings. They all have defining characteristics and leave a lasting impression on readers. Whether it’s through their actions or their looks. you’ll find it difficult to forget about them.
If you’re after a gritty work with a marvelous world, check this out.
Vagabond – Takehiko Inoue
Vinland Saga – Makoto Yukimura
The Climber – Shinichi Sakamoto, Jiro Nitta, Yoshi Nabeta
The Climber is a captivating seinen manga that takes readers on an atmospheric journey where rock climbing serves as a backdrop. While the story starts off like your typical sports series, it spirals into something more beautiful, deep, and therapeutic. Furthermore, the authors delve into the life of our protagonist, Mori Buntarou, thoroughly.
He carries heavy weight and readers will adore seeing him pondering life. He’s not the most communicative protagonist as the story opts to give readers a visual storytelling experience. Through this approach, our authors highlight the psychological turmoil these characters endure within the work.
If you adore tales with an introspective storytelling approach, this one’s definitely worth reading.
Goodnight Punpun – Inio Asano
Goodnight Punpun is a captivating seinen series that delves into the intricacies of human nature. The manga follows Punpun, a boy who is depicted as a stylized bird-like character. Through Punpun’s eyes, the manga explores themes of love, identity, family, and the struggles of adolescence and adulthood.
Inio Asano doesn’t hold back with the illustrations in this work as you can tell. He uses a mix of realistic backgrounds and combines them with Punpun’s strange bird-like design flawlessly. This creates a dream-like atmosphere that reflects Punpun’s perception of the world. Furthermore, this tale will likely anger or upset you. As Punpun navigates his way through life, the manga highlights mental health, abuse, and loneliness.
On top of giving his characters interesting flaws and conflicts, Inio Asano delivers a seinen tale that you don’t want to miss.
Lone Wolf and Cub – Kazuo Koike
Lone Wolf and Cub is an incredible seinen manga with a gripping premise, complex cast, and marvelous artwork. Set in feudal Japan, the manga follows Ogami, a ronin samurai who becomes an assassin for hire along with his infant son, Daigoro.
This tale of honor, revenge, and redemption will please you from beginning to end. The manga weaves together themes of loyalty, justice, and the pursuit of familial honor. Each arc presents a self-contained tale while also advancing the tale’s overarching plot. Additionally, it explores complex moral problems, offering readers amazing examinations of the nature of justice itself.
On top of having phenomenal action sequences and deep character examinations, Lone Wolf and Cub is a timeless classic that deserves to be among the seinen manga mentioned here.
Blade of the Immortal – Hiroaki Samura
Blade of the Immortal is a remarkable seinen series set in feudal Japan. It follows Manji, a skilled swordsman cursed with immortality, as he seeks redemption by taking on a quest to kill one thousand evildoers. This dark and thoughtful tale stands out due to its gripping plot, multi-dimensional characters, and evocative illustrations.
The manga tackles concepts like identity and the recurring essence of brutality. It presents a virtuously gray world where characters are forced to confront their own demons and question their life decisions. It constantly challenges notions of heroism and highlights the choices individuals make when striving toward their goals.
With its dynamic artwork, tortured and flawed protagonist, and mature themes, Blade of the Immortal is worth a read.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run – Hirohiko Araki
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run is a phenomenal part of the series’s storyline. It gave Hirohiko Araki a chance to experiment and reboot the franchise with a fresh coat of paint. While some aspects from previous parts remain, Steel Ball Run is often hailed as the best part of the franchise. This part weaves together multiple stories, political ideas, and conspiracies.
They all culminate to form a tale that’s immersive and suspenseful. Araki integrates supernatural elements to further enhance Steel Ball Run’s sense of wonder. Moreover, the story features a well-rounded cast. From the infamous Johnny Joestar to the compelling Diego Brando, you’ll love Araki’s new takes on pre-established characters.
On top of having the same style of humor, action, and artwork fans loved from previous parts, you’ll likely enjoy what Araki delivers with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run.
Akira – Katsuhiro Otomo
Akira was a groundbreaking film that set the stage for many anime productions to follow. While the anime is great, the manga is just as incredible as the film adaptation. For those who haven’t seen the anime, Akira is set in post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo and revolves around Kaneda. He’s a gang leader who gets involved in a government conspiracy involving his rival Tetsuo.
The Akira manga features solid world-building. Otomo constructs a detailed world of political unrest, social class disparities, and psychokinetic abilities. Neo-Tokyo is still as gritty, vibrant, and lively in the manga as it appears in the anime. Readers will adore seeing how well-detailed everything looks from its bustling streets to its tall structures.
Through Tetsuo and Kaneda’s characters, Otomo explores concepts like power and corruption. Tetsuo and Kaneda undergo great development in the manga. They’ll question their place in society while wrestling with their inner demons.
In addition to having wonderfully drawn and crafted action sequences, readers will cherish this beloved sci-fi work.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best seinen 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!