Best Manga Artwork

Out of the countless comic books that are created every day across the globe, Japanese comic books, known as manga, are taking the world by storm. Besides anime (hand-drawn cartoon animation), manga is one of the most well-known Japanese pop culture phenomena.

‍

The creation of manga in the east dates back as early as the 12th century, originating in the form of scroll art and is thought to be the basis of the right-to-left reading style. The very first serialized manga that is often credited with the evolution of modern manga was called Sazae-San, created by Michiko Hasegawa. Released in 1946, it was the first post-war manga. Since then, this ancient art form has grown and developed extensively in Japan, having an influence on nearly every element of Japanese culture.

‍

Today, fans can find manga about almost anything. From superheroes, football, and aliens to basketball, mystical powers, and battlefields, this incredible art form has truly become wildly versatile. 

‍

The best manga artwork is widely distributed throughout different regions and countries, translated into various languages soon after they are published. Additionally, many of them are now available in digital forms like manga e-books, websites for reading manga, and even as manga art NFTs.

‍

Out of the thousands of manga on the shelves today, do you find yourself wondering which manga has the best artwork? Keep reading as we dive deep into the world of the best manga artwork, explore the elements that make them a hit, and admire the brilliant work of the manga artists behind them. Whether you're new to manga or an avid enthusiast, you're bound to find a personal favorite here!

Famous Manga That Have The Best Artwork

While there are lots of incredible manga works in existence, the best manga artwork stands out from the crowd for any number of reasons. The sheer amount of talent and effort that goes into creating these art stories with relatable, beloved characters as well as well-developed worlds is astounding. Some of the best manga artwork you can find includes:

• Beserk
• Vagabond
• Oyasumi Punpun
• Otoyomegatari
• One-Punch Man

Berserk: Beautifully Drawn

‍

With over 50 million copies going around, Berserk is a dark fantasy series that is nothing short of terrifying, violent, and gruesome, but with an insanely creative storyline and artwork that draws fans into a beautifully drawn world.

‍

Kentaro Miura, the incredibly talented creator of the series, made the sharpest, clearest, and most highly fluid fight scenes. He also used rich shading techniques to create surreal images for readers to see.

‍

This devastating manga story focuses on the journey of Guts, the main character and skilled swordsman (born from the corpse of his dead mother!), who is soon joined by Griffith and his mercenary group called The Hawks to take on a terrifying and carnage-filled fictional medieval European world.

‍

The adventures are enthralling, the monsters are palpable, and the violence is horrifying. It's no wonder this manga also has a game and anime adaptation! Sadly, Kentaro Miura passed in May of 2021 before the magnificent story of Berserk could be completed.

‍

This manga also inspired the now extremely popular video game series, Dark Souls.

Vagabond: Rich, Textured Detail

‍

The epic historical manga we know as Vagabond, by mangaka Takehiko Inoue, is arguably the best manga artwork ever made depicting martial arts. Inoue first began his work in 1998 and continued to create until 2015, with his remarkable art generating tons of hype among readers worldwide along the way.

‍

Each illustration offers textured detail, which sets the mood of Vagabond's prolific storyline. It's almost as if the pictures move on the pages of this beautiful manga series.

‍

Inoue tells the story of the life of a notable Japanese Samurai, Musashi Miyamoto, who was shunned by his village as a teenager due to his erratic and violent nature. Readers follow his journey as he develops into a highly-skilled swordsman, fighting his way through exhilarating battles. Multiple twists in this manga will have you sitting at the edge of your seat throughout.

‍

The rich, textured detail of the art in this series makes the drawings come to life and immerses the reader in a dreamlike environment. Alongside mesmerizing beauty, this example of some of the best manga art maintains a rough yet mysterious feel that can't be expressed through words.

Oyasumi Punpun: Realism Blended With Traditional Style

Oyasumi Punpun (also known as Goodnight Punpun) is a depiction of adolescence and the bleak reality of transitioning into adulthood. Inio Asano, seen by many as one of the voices of his generation, is the genius behind this slice-of-life drama manga. His art provokes a rollercoaster of emotions through a dense, realistic atmosphere blended with traditional elements and immaculate character designs.

‍

The avant-garde story features 13 volumes focusing mainly on the life of Punpun, depicted as a bird doodle, beginning as a young boy growing up in a broken home and following along with his journey into his early 20s.

Otoyomegatari: Rich Details

‍

Otoyomegatari, also called A Bride's Story, was written and illustrated by Kaoru Mori. It’s a noted Japanese historical romance manga series loved by fans around the world and should make any list of the best manga artwork.

‍

The story is set in the late 19th century in a rural town near the Caspian Sea during the Russian colonization of Central Asia. It beautifully presents the tribal lives of the locals living along the Silk Road, following various age-old traditions and customs.

‍

The main focus of this series is a young woman named Amir Halgal (who is skilled in hunting, archery, and horseback riding) who comes from a faraway village for an arranged marriage to a very young boy. Readers follow their relationship as it grows and progresses through the many challenges the couple faces.

‍

In terms of the artwork, this famous manga is a real visual treat. Its meticulously rich details beautifully portray the culture and traditions of the brides of that era.

One-Punch Man: Cleanest Art Style

‍

One of the most popular comedic action manga amongst anime fans worldwide is the famous One-Punch Man, written by ONE and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. Since 2012, One Punch Man has been serialized in the online manga magazine Tonari no Young Jump as well as being adapted into a very successful anime series back in 2015.

‍

This awesome superhero story features a main character, Saitama, who has the power of harnessing unbelievable strength. With a single punch, he can completely obliterate any enemy that gets in his way.

‍

The art in this manga is simply iconic and undoubtedly some of the best manga artwork in existence. Murata has a keen eye for detail and a talent for creating the sharpest, cleanest drawings through the clever use of colors, lines, and character design techniques. It comes as no surprise that this skillful artist has collaborated with big names such as Marvel, Pokémon, and Capcom, as well!

Which Manga Has the Best Story?

We’ve talked about some of the best manga artwork, but which manga has the best story? With huge fanbases, some of the most popular manga series include:

• Attack on Titan
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• Akira

Attack on Titan

‍

Attack on Titan, by Hajime Isayama, is a true classic and a favorite among manga enthusiasts both in Japan and internationally. Thanks to its massive popularity, this dark-fantasy manga was also adapted into a 4-season anime series and a live-action movie, both of which have been just as successful as the original manga version.

‍

The story is set in a world where humanity is facing the threat of extinction. They are forced to live in a city engulfed by three gigantic walls to protect them from the feared man-eating Titans. Readers follow the adventures of Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman as they battle against the Titans and solve a number of mysteries.

Fullmetal Alchemist

‍

Rated as one of the best modern manga around the world, Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa has been a catalyst for an extensive range of popular Fullmetal Alchemist anime series and films. It also sparked Arakawa's transition into the male-dominated shounen manga space.

‍

This award-winning manga can be categorized into a variety of different genres, including adventure, action, dark fantasy, science fiction, and comedy.

‍

Fullmetal Alchemist features themes of family and war. It's set in a parallel Europe during the industrial revolution and tells the tale of two brothers named Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric. The brothers use alchemy to create anything they wish for in exchange for things of equal value, which leads to disastrous consequences.

Akira

‍

Katsuhiro Otomo’s legendary manga masterpiece Akira has stood the test of time and is still ranked as one of the greatest works in manga history even though the final arc was completed back in 1990 and the anime adaptation released in 1988!

‍

Akira flawlessly represents the array of social problems of fictional Neo-Tokyo many years into the future (2019!) after having been destroyed by a mega explosion 37 years before. The two main characters, Shotaro Kaneda and Tetsuo Shima, find themselves mixed up in chaotic conspiracies. The namesake character, Akira, is a mysterious entity with devastating psychic power.

‍

In this manga, readers find brilliant, hauntingly beautiful scenes of mass destruction and carnage captured with intense detail. Interestingly, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were predicted in this manga when it was written way back in 1982! This quickly became a popular topic to debate among Akira's fans across the world.

‍

Manga tells stories like no other genre can. The best manda artwork stands the test of time and transports readers into detailed, beautiful worlds following the evolution of artistic styles dating back centuries. With its unique creation and history, it’s no surprise that manga has an international fanbase that continues to grow year after year. 

‍

As technology and art continue to intertwine, we expect to see many more incredible manga stories released in the future with audiences able to interact with their favorite stories via NFT platforms like UCOLLEX. 

‍