Hello and welcome to the Anime/Manga thread. This originally started off on a whim by Shyukimai who was looking for recommendations, and I decided that it'd be a fun idea if I posted my long extensive list of manga recommendations (I'm more experienced with that than anime). This list isn't perfect and is mostly shaped by my opinions, and hopefully I'll get to editing it and making it easier to read in the near future. Since this is more of an edit and me taking over some posts (due to a 30 image per post limit), I'll try to keep the integrity of the original posts.

This thread in general though is for talking about anime and manga alike, and if you want, other graphic novels. We really aren't too picky around here, so don't be shy and join in the conversation.

[spoiler=Action]

http://myanimelist.net/manga/2/Berserk
Berserk
Guts, known as the Black Swordsman, seeks sanctuary from the demonic forces that pursue him and his woman, and also vengeance against the man who branded him as an unholy sacrifice. Aided only by his titanic strength, skill, and sword, Guts must struggle against his bleak destiny, all the while fighting with a rage that might strip him of his humanity. Berserk is a dark and brooding story of outrageous swordplay and ominous fate, in the theme of Shakespeare's Macbeth. (source: MAL)

A tragic, fantasy story about a man named Guts traveling around the lands in search to slay demons. While this is generally considered to be one of, if not the best manga ever created, I’d generally stay away from this one if you’re new to this medium. Berserk is definitely not your conventional manga; it contains some very grotesque scenes and deals with some mature themes. Once you get a better feel of manga in general, I strongly suggest returning to Berserk. You’ll open up to it with a much fresher mind and I guarantee you’ll be immersed into its fantastical world. It has a wide variety of characters that each has their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. To a degree, almost every character has a level of depth. This mixed with its gritty art style and amazing world makes for one of the best adventure manga ever created.

I’d also recommend staying away from the anime. The anime isn’t bad at all, but the anime (and the movies) are essentially build ups to the manga, so you’ll end up reading the manga anyway if you get hooked onto the anime.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Extremely slow, every few months
Length: 337 chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga/25/Fullmetal_Alchemist
Full Metal Alchemist
The rules of alchemy state that to gain something, one must lose something of equal value. Alchemy is the process of taking apart and reconstructing an object into a different entity, with the rules of alchemy to govern this procedure. However, there exists an object that can bring any alchemist above these rules, the object known as the Philosopher's Stone. The young Edward Elric is a particularly talented alchemist who through an accident years back lost his younger brother Alphonse and one of his legs. Sacrificing one of his arms as well, he used alchemy to bind his brother's soul to a suit of armor. This lead to the beginning of their journey to restore their bodies, in search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone. (source: MAL)

Full Metal Alchemist, or otherwise known as Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood in its anime adapted form, is one of the best manga out there. In fact, if you call yourself a manga fanatic, you should be ashamed of yourself if you haven’t read this yet. The story is about the Elric Brothers, a pair of alchemists who seek the Philosopher’s Stone in order to repair their broken bodies. Though the premise may sound simple, the plot quickly spirals down a path that interacts with characters that live in this magical steampunk world. I guarantee you’ll be hooked on immediately.

Status: Completed
Length: 108 chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/13/One_Piece
One Piece
Enter Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy that defies your standard definition of a pirate. Rather than the popular persona of a wicked, hardened, toothless pirate who ransacks villages for fun, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is one of pure wonder; the thought of an exciting adventure and meeting new and intriguing people, along with finding One Piece, are his reasons of becoming a pirate. Following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Luffy and his crew travel across the Grand Line, experiencing crazy adventures, unveiling dark mysteries and battling strong enemies, all in order to reach One Piece. (source: MAL)

One Piece is an incredibly famous manga known as part of the big three, three manga that are considered the most popular actively updated manga at this time, the other two being Naruto and Bleach. In my opinion though? One Piece is vastly superior to both series. While all three have amazing action scenes, One Piece stands out by having a unique art style, wonderfully imaginative world, but more than anything else, a very creative and deep cast of characters. If you aren’t aware of the premise of One Piece, it’s about a pirate named Luffy who dreams of becoming the King of Pirates by finding the ultimate treasure, One Piece. Along the way, he gains friends and crew members who continue to join him and complete their own dreams that lay in wait in the expansive ocean. It’s a long story, but you’ll always love at least one character out of the whole bunch. One Piece truly is a rare gem.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 765 chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga/651/Kaze_no_Tani_no_Nausicaa
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
A millennium has passed since "Seven Days of Fire," an apocalyptic war that almost wiped out human civilization. Since then, the earth is covered with an ever-growing "Sea of Corruption," a vast forest of fungi that secretes poisonous miasma and invasive spores, along with large and deadly insects inhabit within.

In order to fight for more habitable lands unpolluted by the Sea of Corruption, the Kingdom of Torumekia has declared war against the Dorok Empire. Nausicaä, princess and heir of a small city-state named "Valley of the Wind" which pledged alliance with Torumekia, is now forced to join Torumekian to invade Dorok Empire. This war will change her life and the fate of human race forever. (Source: ANN)

If you actually have heard of Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, the chances are you’ve probably seen or at least heard of it as one of Hayao Miyazaki’s (creator of Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro) works. Even then, it’s not very well-known. Which is a shame, because this manga is definitely completely underrated, not to mention some people shave it off assuming that it’s basically the manga form of the movie.

It’s not.

It’s a story about a princess named Nausicaa who interacts with the world around her, a world affected by the torrents of war and the forces of nature. It’s very much a violent story that deals with mature themes between nature and at even some points about religion itself. It’s even strange at some parts and incredibly violent, but the story is unique and engaging. It’s easily one of those manga where, after reading it, you may have a different view of what the genre is capable of. If you’re familiar with one of Miyazaki’s more famous works, Princess Mononoke, you may see some recurring themes that were possibly inspired off of this story.

Status: Completed
Length: 57 chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=3285
Holyland
Holyland is a story about Yuu, a weak boy who feels alone and has no sense of beloning. His only solace he finds is wandering around the city streets of his town. Of course this means he’d attract some other unwanted attention. This is a story of a boy protecting the thing that means everything to him, the place where he finally feels that he belongs, his Holyland.

Now I don’t want to spoil anything, because not knowing too many details is the best way to approach this manga. I’ve read a lot of different manga before, but Holyland probably has one of the most intriguing chapters of opening up a manga that I’ve seen in a long time. This hard, gritty manga is great, and if you can get past the angst that the main character has, I believe you’ll definitely have a good time with this.


http://myanimelist.net/manga/33327/Tokyo_Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul
Ghouls roam around the cities of Tokyo. It’s said that they hunt around, looking for humans as their next meal. Kaneki and his buddy Hide has never seen one though, but that all might change…

So first things first: THE ANIME IS COMPLETE SHIT COMPARED TO THIS. The manga is pretty good, the anime butchers so many things from the manga it’s ridiculous. I should mention that Tokyo Ghoul isn’t the second coming of Berserk, that’s just saying how bad the anime is.

Now moving on, Tokyo Ghoul is a surprising manga. Why? Because at first glance, the plot may seem somewhat typical. A human turning into a monster that he’s afraid of? It’s a plotline that you see every now and then. What set Tokyo Ghoul apart are several things. First, it makes the integration of the human into this new world as realistically as it possibly can. The art is rough, hard, and dark and fits the mood excellently. The characters themselves are solid, but not flawed; each goes through their own development as they grow up. The action scenes are beautifully drawn, and the emotions that are shown through facials expressions are vividly made. It is a very, well-written, well-drawn manga, and many elements of this were lost in its transition to its anime form. I strongly suggest dropping the anime if you have not completed it and reading this instead, or, if you’ve already watched Tokyo Ghoul, re-read this manga. You may have a different outlook on the series.

If you want to look more into this series, check out its ongoing sequel, Tokyo Ghoul: re.

Status: Completed
Length: 144 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/642/Vinland_Saga
Vinland Saga
Taking place during the era of Vikings, Thorfinn is one of the youngest yet fiercest fighters around. However, after his father is killed by mercenary Askeladd, he swore revenge. However, while seeking vengeance, he is caught up in the Great War for the British crown.

One quarter coming of age and three quarters action, Vinland Saga has much to boast about in terms of dialogue, characters, and action. If you are a fan of titles like Berserk and Vagabond, you will feel very comfortable with Vinland Saga’s ballad.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Extremely slow. Maybe four times a year if you’re lucky?
Length: 108 Chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=44347
One Punch-Man
In the distant future, monsters roam around and threaten the peaceful lives of innocent human citizens. As a response, the government has created the Heroes Association, a system of heroes that serve to fight against such foreign invaders. Meanwhile, in the deep suburbs of Z-City, there lives a rumored man named Saitama who has strength so unimaginable he can end fights in one punch…

Originally based off the internet webtoon One Punch-Man (ONE), One Punch-Man is definitely a series not to be taken seriously. With its silly antics and characters and somewhat of a troll artist, you’ll notice immediately what kind of manga this is. That being said, the action, art, and characters are so over the top and exaggerated that it’s so lovable and awesome. It’s difficult to not keep up with such an addicting manga, and with its humor, gorgeous art, and action, you’ll want to read more.
However, it does update slowly and the pages are few in number. If you want to read the original story at the expense of much lower quality of art, read One Punch-Man (ONE).

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Whenever the author feels like it, usually bi-weekly
Length: Roughly 51 chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga/23390/Shingeki_no_Kyojin
Shingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan
This is a world where Humans are no longer the dominant race. Instead, grotesque, gargantuan Titans roam around the world while the last remnants of humanity lie behind their last bastion in a tiny part of their world. Teenager Eren and his friends Mikasa and Armin grew behind these walls and have never seen the outside world. While they dream, they hope that their remaining days will go on peacefully. That all changes when they suddenly here a magnificent shadow bears down into the city…

If you haven’t been living under a rock, chances are you’ve at least heard of Shingeki no Kyojin, or otherwise known better in its English name, Attack on Titan. In my experience, Shingeki no Kyojin is one of the few very popular manga that I believe still holds great quality. It has a gripping plot and gritty art style that matches its mood. It’s not afraid to show blood when it needs to, and it’s a great deviation from the normal “zombie” type manga that you may see often. The enemies and the methodology in fighting such creatures is a breath a fresh air and creative. Probably one of Shingeki no Kyojin’s greatest strengths are making no character feel immortal. Every character is susceptible to die in this kind of world. It’s great that this manga gets attention though admittedly it does get a bit too much attention. Regardless, it’s a very solid piece

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 63 Chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga/25132/Akame_ga_Kill!
Akame ga Kill!
Tatsumi is a skilled swordsman, but he knows that his skill is useless in saving his poverty stricken village unless he goes out to make some money of his own. He seeks out the big city only to find that corruption runs among through the rankings of the empire. Overwhelmed by its sights and sounds, Tatsumi takes refuge in the night. Meanwhile, an assassination organization working for the rebels are looking for the next target, but it looks like they’re recruiting too.

At first glance, Akame ga Kill is nothing special. You have a somewhat decently skilled protagonist that is recruited by an organization that fights evil. While initially the story drags on for a bit, the world quickly expands into a world that isn’t so black and white as it seems. Akame ga Kill explores the sides of good and evil and isn’t afraid to shed some blood to show its point. However, one of Akame ga Kill’s strongest points is to make it feel that absolutely no character is free from danger at any moment. Be it good guy or bad, no character is safe from death. This theme ties in with the suspense. You’ll find yourself connecting to some characters and by that little thread of hope you might convince yourself maybe, just maybe, that character you love may live to see another day.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 52 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/26/Hunter_x_Hunter
Hunter x Hunter
What is a Hunter? Well, they’re a talented bunch. They seek the world’s most remote treasure

[spoiler=Thriller]

http://myanimelist.net/manga/3/20th_Century_Boys
20th Century Boys
It’s almost the 21st century now. It’s the start of new hopes, new dreams, and new lives. But no matter how far you run, the past will always come back to haunt you. This is the story of a group of boys who put their hopes, dreams, and lives at stake in order to save the world.

If you’ve ever heard of 20th Century Boys, chances are you heard of it because it’s considered a classic. And it is! It’s one of the most brilliantly told stories in its entire medium, and just one of the best stories ever told period. You may be overwhelmed at first since it jumps quite often from the past and the present, but if you can get past that you’re in for a mind-blowing experience. Once you finish 20th Century Boys, don’t forget to read it’s epilogue, 21st Century Boys.

Status: Completed
Length: 249 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/21/Death_Note
Death Note
Light Yagami is bored. Not only is he a great athlete, but he also has achieved perfect scores in all the national exams. One day, after walking out of school, he comes across a notebook labeled “Death Note.” On the jacket flap, it says the following: "The human whose name is written in the notebook shall die."

Let’s be honest here; you’ve probably already read this. And if you’ve read this, the chances are this is probably what got you into anime and manga in the first place. To those who haven’t read this, that should be enough of a hint to tell you this: go read it. Now.

Status: Completed
Length: 108 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/1649/Liar_Game
Liar Game
Nao is probably the most honest person you can find in this world. She’s gullible, honest, and just about the most compassionate person you’ll ever know. One day, a package arrives at her home. The package contains a hundred million yen and a message that forces you to participate in a game: deceiving your opponent who also shares a hundred million yen means you’ll receive every coin. But losing the game means that you’ll be in debt by the same amount that you lost. Panicking, Nao seeks Akiyama, one of the most famous swindlers of Japan.

Liar Game is one of the staple titles when it comes to thrillers and mysteries in the manga medium. Chances are, if you’ve ever read manga like Gamble Fish, they were most likely inspired by Liar Game. It’s also spun a live-action drama which I heard isn’t actually half bad.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 191 Chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga/229/Dragon_Head
Dragon Head
It was supposed to a fun trip. Our class was supposed to go to the countryside and see Mt. Fuji. We were supposed to have fun…

Dragon Head is an absolutely criminally underrated manga. It’s not a classic by any means, but it’s a really solid work and introduces a very intriguing and interesting “if” setting. I’m wagering to believe that most of you have never heard of Dragon Head let alone have read it, but it’s something that gives you the chills when you read it.

Status: Completed
Length: 89 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/14440/I_Am_a_Hero
I am a Hero
Hideo Suzuki is a working mangaka, but he just can’t seem to get his big break. As the days go by as Suzuki spends time writing his works and hanging out with his girlfriend, his life moves into a lull. In a response to this, the world seemed to make its last cruel joke.

Among typical shounen manga like High School of the Dead where boobs defy physics and fan service has been redefined, I am a Hero rises up to be, in my opinion, the premiere zombie manga. Unlike Apocalypse no Toride, which, despite being a zombie manga, is placed in the action section, I am a Hero deals much more with human relationships in the face of a foreign threat. Of course, there’s a lot of action involved too, so if you’re into that kind of stuff I am a Hero is the right medicine.
Here’s what Hewitt has to say (he probably said it better than I did):

Quote from Hewitt

And about I Am A Hero, I think what's mostly appealing about it is that the story takes place in the eyes of the Everyman. He's not a kid who's destiny is shoved upon him or a self-righteous hero wannabe, but a guy who's trying to survive with as little shennanigans as possible. It's also pretty realistic (or one would say a deconstruction of the zombie genre), and shows how humans truly act when this thing happens, especially now in the age of Internet and globalization. The current Hot Spring Arc is actually a perfect example, if not taking it over-the-top at some points. It's also pretty damn funny (the protagonist aims to kill all the zombies for a promise of having a mixed bath with 2 girls).

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 167 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=39325
Boku dake ga Inai Machi
Fujinama is a struggling manga writer. He just seems to have a never-ending case of writers block. He does, however, have this strange ability to “notice things.” And this strange ability forces him to help people, whether he likes it or not.

Oh, so does this manga sound like a slice of life for you? It sure sounds like it, and after reading the first few chapters, I thought the same. Oh boy, was I wrong! And I was happy that I was wrong, because upon further reading this piece, it’s one of the most promising manga out there. It’s relatively new, but it has won the Manga Taishoo Award 2014, so that should be a good enough reason to read it.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Bi-weekly/Monthly
Length: 27 Chapters (11/11/14)


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=23271
Destroy and Revolution
Makoto is alone and friendless. He has always felt out of place and has never found himself to be anything special. For some reason, this exact quality brings the attention of the most popular guy in school, Yuki. But Yuki absolutely hates the world. If possible, he wants to bring everyone to their knees. What Makoto knows and what Yuki shortly finds out, Makoto may have the ability to make that dream come true.

I actually recently found this one, and while it’s nothing revolutionary, I thought it was a rather interesting premise. It’s one of those stories where the protagonists are the criminals, and I always find those a lot of fun. Destroy and Revolution is a solid and overall well-done example of this genre, and while it does lull around the middle, it is still a rather enjoyable manga.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 53 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/1/Monster
Monster
Monster weaves the riveting story of brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a famous surgeon with a promising career at a leading hospital. Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this child is destined for a terrible fate. A string of strange and mysterious murders begin to occur soon afterward, ones that professionally benefit Dr. Tenma, and he emerges as the primary suspect. Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling manga thriller. The series won an Excellence Prize at the 1997 Japan Media Arts Festival and the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2001. (source: kissmanga.com)

Confession: I’ll be the first to say that I’ve actually never read Monster before, not because I don’t want to, but because I want to watch the show which I’ve heard is equally amazing. Anyway, I’ve only heard phenomenal things about Monster, so you’d be as bad as me if you ignore this brilliant piece of fiction. It often competes with 20th Century Boys in that regard, and if your manga is competing with that, you know you wrote something amazing.

Status: Completed
Length: 162 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/22031/Enigma
Enigma
Haiba Sumio is a regular guy. Well, at least regular in the sense that whenever he sleeps, he unconsciously writes about future premonitions. But other than that, Sumio is just your regular, overly positive guy who loves helping others out. But good things don’t always happen to good people…

Hewitt was actually the first one to introduce Enigma to me, and I actually enjoyed it despite having an unusual mixture of thriller and shounen-esque atmospheres. It’s confusing at first, but it’s one of those manga that you grow to appreciate over time. I’d definitely recommend it, especially since it’s not that long of a read.

Status: Completed
Length: 56 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/745/Pluto
Pluto
Europol detective Gesicht tries to uncover the mysteries behind the recent human and robot murders. What becomes even stranger is that if everything is as it seems, a robot may have actually killed a human, connecting to a case that occurred over eight years ago…

This piece of fiction is from the same guy who wrote 20th Century Boys. That should be enough to tell you that this bad boy is really good. What’s interesting about Pluto though is that it’s actually not a completely original story. It’s in fact a dark retelling of a specific story arc of the famous Astro Boy franchise (if you don’t know Astro Boy, go dig yourself a hole and think about what you’ve done with your life). Astro Boy is normally a very positive and uplifting franchise, but Pluto brings to the universe a darker and more realistic feel, mixing in themes of noire and detective stories. This combination actually works out surprisingly well, and it makes for an incredibly engaging story. You don’t need any former knowledge of Astro Boy to read this; it’s more or less a fun fact. This story can stand on its own pretty damn well.

Status: Completed
Length: 65 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=219
Alive – The Final Evolution
Taisuke Kanou leads a normal life as a high school student. Sure he ends up getting beaten up a lot while trying to defend his best friend Hirose from bullies and his other friend Megumi often scolds them for getting in trouble, but other than that Kanou has been happily content with his normal life. The world, however, began to change for the worse as a disease spreads across the world. Some as a result commit suicide, but others who resist the symptoms of the disease develop mysterious powers

that this genre is more or less a branch off of the ‘ol slice of life genre. However, slice of life manga tend to emphasize a plot that has no real direction and only creates short stories for the sake of giving either an enjoyable story or to send out a message (and there’s nothing wrong with those kind of manga). But the manga listed below are generally different. Most of these do happen to fall under slice of life, but the stories and development that happen in each of them are substantial enough where they focus on an entirely different subject matter entirely in my opinion. And that itself is the development of the main character. As a result, Coming of Age stories tend to tackle much more mature and serious themes, often even dark and depressing ones, so be prepared if this is outside of your comfort zone. Without further ado, here is the Coming of Age section!


http://myanimelist.net/manga/4632/Oyasumi_Punpun
Oyasumi Punpun
Punpun is an ordinary boy growing up in the roaring country of Japan. Through his experience growing up, Punpun faces various trials and turbulences that shape and teach him about what exactly it means to be an adult.

As usual, I need a preface for this one. First, Oyasumi Punpun is about as abstract as you can get for a manga. The art style and direction is insanely different from what you’ve generally seen before in manga. All characters and backgrounds are drawn with impeccable detail and thoroughness. However, Punpun, the main character, is purposely drawn roughly and in an incredibly simply way. In addition, Oyasumi Punpun likes to add in art that seems completely out of place to the point where you feel like you’re on drugs. In short: this manga is very trippy.
Two, Oyasumi Punpun is, as kindly demonstrated by our favorite local user Youwishjellyfish, very hit and miss. It is very much a slice of life manga. It follows Punpun’s life from a child all the way to a teenager in great detail, and to some this may be endearing and boring. Oyasumi Punpun doesn’t always focus on Punpun either, and some may feel more attached to these side stories rather than the main story itself. It’s very easy to not like Oyasumi Punpun simply because it has such a weird style.
Third, Oyasumi Punpun, despite looking childish in its cover, deals with very, very mature content. It is very dark, depressing, and disturbing. If you can get past that, you may find yourself facing one of the most deep stories out there that you can find about how much a child can change based on the environment he was raised in. It’s a very detailed write up of what the mind of child must be like, and the main character as a result goes through incredible development. Oyasumi Punpun has been stated many times in the past to be a work of art. Be warned though, you may feel differently.

Just to give a sense of how different opinions can be on this piece, here’s Youwishjellyfish’s satirical editing of my post in quote form.

Quote from Youwishjellyfish

As usual, I need a preface for this one. First, Oyasumi Punpun is about as pretentious as you can get for a manga.

Two, Oyasumi Punpun is, as kindly demonstrated by our favorite local user Youwishjellyfish, a masturbatory work in which the artist wants the audience to suck his dick for this bloated plot-hole ridden piece of shit.

Status: Completed
Length: 147 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/401/Kiseijuu
Parasyte
The parasites that invaded the human bodies are not of this earth. They can turn into weapons of mass destruction. They feed on human flesh. Worst of all, they can look just like us. However, only high school student Shinichi knows due to a failed attempt of a parasite trying to take over his body and only took possession of his right hand. In his right hand now lives a parasitic life form, and it is then Shinichi realizes how much trouble his life is in.

Parasyte often comes up in two groups: people who absolutely adore this manga, or people who have never heard of it at all. Parasyte is a classic when it comes to thriller/horror manga. However, what makes it stands out is that its best quality is not being a thriller/horror manga, but rather being a well-developed coming of age story about Shinichi. While Parayste is full of action, it’s more accurate to say that Parasyte deals with real issues that the main character has trying to coexist and/or deal with the aliens. In that sense, it makes it a unique piece of work that allows for a different approach to a common genre.

Status: Completed
Length: 64 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/7482/Rainbow:_Nisha_Rokubou_no_Shichinin
Rainbow
Rainbow follows the story of six boys sent to a reformatory in the grueling days of World War II Japan and how they develop and rely on each other to achieve their hopes and dreams.

Rainbow might have a different style than what most people are typically used to. For a manga, there is a surprising amount of narration and long text boxes, not to mention the art is rough but also very detailed. Regardless, Rainbow is a touching manga about friendship and shows the horror of what it is like to live in a prison in early 20th century Japan. It has however been criticized for being a tad bit unrealistic.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 117 Chapters (11/11/14)


http://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/manga/2/56431.jpg
Hoshi no Samidare
The world is on the verge of destruction. Sensing the dangers, animal knights are spread across the world in order to gather warriors to destroy the impending “biscuit hammer” and seek out the princess that will help the warriors fight. Sir Noi, the Lizard Knight, finds Yuuhi and hopes he’ll make a suitable candidate. However, Yuuhi wants no part of this battle. To make matters worse, it turns out the princess isn’t so much of a role model either!

Despite being somewhat of a shounen title, it is of my opinion that Hoshi no Samidare is criminally underrated. And while I could have placed this title in the action section, I thought it fit better in here. While Hoshi no Samidare has its fair share of fight scenes, it focuses much more on character interactions and how they grow in each other’s company and how the end of the world shapes the personalities around. Many people might turn their heads on the first few chapters, but afterwards it’s just a burst of quality. I highly recommend this one, and I feel that readers new and old to manga can still enjoy this one greatly.

This manga is also referred to as Wakusei no Samidare for those who are having trouble searching for this piece online.

Status: Completed
Length: 65 chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/30079/Annarasumanara
Annarasumanara
Note: This type of graphic novel is referred to as a webtoon, which itself is a type of manhwa, Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s manga. Unlike manga and typical manhwa, webtoons are not hand drawn; they are instead drawn using computer programs. As a result, the art styles may look more digitized and they will almost always appear in color.

Rumor has it that there’s a magician that lives in the abandoned amusement park on top of the hill. Yoon Ahee becomes naturally attracted to this enigma as she searches for a change in her life.

(I’ll abbreviate Annarasumanara to just Anna for the sake of simplicity) Anna at first seems like a generic romance manhwa that focuses on sort of common angst-ish themes. However, the manhwa proves to be much more than just that. For a piece of work that contains dusk and dark colors, the story of Anna is surprisingly colorful and a delightful ride for anyone who wants to enjoy a good coming of age story. This is definitely one of if not the best manhwa that exists as of now.

Status: Completed
Length: 27 chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=9711
Bakuman
A boy named Mashiro once had the dream to be a great mangaka, but he soon abandoned it after the death of his uncle, his inspiration. One day, fellow classmate and writer Takagi intercepts him in at school after glancing at Mashiro’s drawing of his crush, Azuki. This meeting would soon change their lives and start a grand adventure in the world of manga filled with sweat, love, betrayal, and loyalty.

Brought to you by the same man who made Hikaru no Go and Death Note, Bakuman is what some would say to be one of the most important manga out there. They’re not completely wrong either. While I can’t judge how much of Bakuman is accurate, it does demonstrate a great deal of the normal life of a mangaka. With this scope, it may change the way you think about future manga and how they’re made, what the authors are like, and how they move from piece to piece. Generally, if you want to fundamentally understand how the manga business works in Japan, Bakuman is a great place to start. Aside from the details, Bakuman, for manga that contains no action, is incredibly intense. Through simple character interactions and the pursuit of a dream, Bakuman was able to craft an excellent story with many tense moments. Definitely would recommend, especially for new readers.

Status: Completed
Length: 176 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/28393/Sakamichi_no_Apollon
Sakamichi no Apollon
In the mid-20th century, there is a town, a peaceful town filled with your normal spring bliss and sound. In this town, Tokyo native Nishimi Kaoru watches his world change when he meets local delinquent Kawabuchi Sentaro who was playing Jazz in the local record store.

Some manga choose to write about action. Others tend to focus on romance. Sakamichi no Apollon tackles another topic that’s surprisingly underexposed: friendship. Now you may think, “Well that’s not true, manga like One Piece focus on friendship all the time.” However, Sakamichi no Apollon chooses it as its central focus and develops its story around that, and it’s done in a masterful way. Rather than being a story about two lovers developing their relationship with each other, Sakamichi no Apollon is a story about two friends from two different backgrounds who meet and develop a bond. It’s a truly touching story that shows what exactly it means to be a friend.

Status: Completed
Length: 45 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/8967/Onanie_Master_Kurosawa
Onanie Master Kurosawa
Kakeru is an antisocial high school student. He thinks that everyone in his school is pathetic, and he constantly looks down on all of them. However, he also has a peculiar behavior: he goes into the rarely used girl’s washroom on the third floor and masturbates in the stall, often engaging in fantasies of his classmates. However, he’s caught by fellow classmate Aya one day, a girl who’s constantly bullied. And thus the ultimate story of blackmail, love, heartbreak, and revenge begins.

I need to preface this recommendation with a few things. First, don’t be turned off by the description! Yes it sounds really weird, but the story is well-developed and has an excellently designed cast of characters. Two, Onanie Master Kurosawa is actually a doujinshi, not an official manga. Doujinshi are self-published manga. You can see them as “indie” manga so to speak. As a result, doujinshi tend to be of varying qualities, for example ranging from excellently drawn art to completely poorly written. In Onanie Master Kurosawa’s case, the art isn’t very clean and isn’t exactly “professional.” However, this gritty style actually fits in really well with the type of story that Onanie Master Kurosawa is, which brings me to my third and final point: Onanie Master Kurosawa is not a comedy; it is dark and is clearly meant for more mature audiences and not geared at all to those who are used to the shounen genre.

With all that being said, this doujinshi came up as a surprise for me. It was very highly rated on MAL for whatever reason, so I decided to give it a try. This story absolutely blew me away, and to this day I still think it’s one of the best romance/coming of age stories that I have ever read. I don’t have a concise explanation that I can give aside from what I’ve already said if you haven’t read it yet, but I assure that you will enjoy this one.

Status: Completed
Length: 31 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga/657/Real
Real
Real follows the story of three social outcasts all affected by tragic accidents that changed their lives forever. Despite their setbacks, they all are unable to let go of their one desire: Basketball.

There’s this type of sub-category of the sports genre that I’ve heard about, but I’ve never actually read any manga that fit under this sub-category until I came across Real. That sub-category is this: it’s a sports manga that’s not actually about sports. That’s right, Real is a basketball manga that’s not actually about basketball. Real instead focuses on the characters around the sport and what brought and ripped them from the sport itself. However, what also sets Real apart is that it centralizes its plot on a theme that many pieces of realistic fiction don’t really mention, and that’s the issue of disabilities. This theme sets both the tone and the message for Real, crafting not only an amazing emotional ballad but also a reveal about the life of a person who lost the ability to walk. You may be surprised to hear that the author of Real is the very same author who wrote the famous shounen sports manga Slam Dunk. However, Real is by far his most mature and accomplished manga, despite flying under the shadow of Slam Dunk and being much shorter as a whole.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Painfully Long
Length: 80 Chapters (11/11/14)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Sports]

Hikaru no Go
By chance, Hikaru stumbles across a haunted Go board that in reality contains the spirit of a Ghost named Sai who takes refuge in Hikaru’s consciousness. Hikaru, who previously had no interest in board games, finds himself creating and chasing a dream to become the greatest Go player in Japan.

Whether or not you think Go shouldn’t be considered a sport, the author does a damn good job making it feel just as intense as one. Hikaru no Go is interesting for this very reason; not many people actually know the fundamentals of Go itself, and Hikaru no Go dives into that topic while also revealing other aspects of its play, including the intense concentration and stress necessary for playing this game. You may be surprised that the author of this manga is the very same person who wrote Death Note, but you really can see that the thrills that you get from both are strangely similar at times.

Status: Completed
Length: 197 Chapters


http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=43
Eyeshield 21
Sena has always been running away from bullies for all of his life. But local football captain Hiruma sees different potential in him. Forcibly recruited as the teams running back and star player, Sena becomes one step closer in becoming sucked into the magical world of high school football.

The sports genre is often known for being overly dramatic, awfully repetitive, and overall badly written. As a result, manga of this genre are often not really seen as any

top coolest animes:
mlp:fim
Avitar the last airbender
My Life Me
kappa mikey
nuruto
bleach
the boondocks
Totally Spies
Teen Titans
Infinite Stratos

Quote from Index

top coolest animes:
mlp:fim
Avitar the last airbender
My Life Me
kappa mikey
nuruto
bleach
the boondocks
Totally Spies
Teen Titans
Infinite Stratos

If this was 4chin, there'd be rage over that, hahahahaha.

Quote from Jutsu

If this was 4chin, there'd be rage over that, hahahahaha.

maybe if it wasnt so painfully obvious from the getgo

anyways, dont take any of index's anime recommendations, judging by every avatar and signature hes had since he joined, his taste in japanese animes is pure shit filth

Quote from 2-D

judging by every avatar and signature hes had since he joined, his taste in media is pure shit filth

Oh snap, sucka just got called out!

Quote from 2-D

maybe if it wasnt so painfully obvious from the getgo

anyways, dont take any of index's anime recommendations, judging by every avatar and signature hes had since he joined, his taste in japanese animes is pure shit filth

I actually have excellent, refined tastes; you're probably a pleb who circlejerks over Cowboy Bebop and other Adult Swim entry-level shit over and over. I choose moe material for my avatars and whatnot, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I fail to recognize the series in correspondence with each girl as shit. The MAL analyzer thing says my most hated genres are harem and ecchi, despite the fact that I was a lot of it. I'm just able to recognize that it's nearly all mediocre, proving my connoisseur-level tastes. It says my favorite genres are sci-fi, mystery, and drama. To appreciate truly good anime over moe, you have to watch it and experience the writing, development, characterization and whatnot— something impossible from just seeing a picture of a character. However, with moe, you can just look at a picture of the moe character and get a good portion of the moe feeling the series was created to give. So, avatars are much more successful and pleasurable when they depict something cute rather than something from a "good" series.

Quote from Jutsu

If this was 4chin, there'd be rage over that, hahahahaha.

yeah, no. Anyone would know I'm joking immediately.

Quote from Index

So, avatars are much more successful and pleasurable when they depict something cute rather than something from a "good" series.

Moe vs arucard.
I vote arucard.

Quote from Index

yeah, no. Anyone would know I'm joking immediately.

Really? You tripped shit that one time I pretended boondocks qualifies as real anime. Haha.

Quote from Jutsu

Really? You tripped shit that one time I pretended boondocks qualifies as real anime. Haha.

That's because you seriously thought it's not a cartoon and actually defended that position rigidly

"pretended"

Quote from Jutsu

Moe vs arucard.
I vote arucard.

aRucard? The fuck? You know it's supposed to be Dracula backwards, right? do you say "dracura" too?

yo

Quote from Zoinks

yo

that contributed nothing...
and yeah Jutsu, its aLucard, not aRucard

Quote from Drone

that contributed nothing...

Neither did that. Use the report button next time.

look, now you've got me making a post that contributes nothing too, FUCK

Quote from Index

Neither did that. Use the report button next time.

edited my post. contributed a little

That's how alucard is pronounced with a wapanese accent.
Goddamn you're dense sometimes.

He's a weaboo but doesn't even speak it....