Manga

I feel it may not be necessary to introduce Neon Genesis Evangelion, as it is still today one of the most popular anime series ever produced. Nevertheless, if you only know the reputation, here is what you need to know.

This is a Japanese science fiction franchise that blends mecha action with psychological drama and philosophical inquiry. Created by Hideaki Anno as an anime series in 1995, it is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity faces existential threats from mysterious beings known as Angels. The story follows a group of teenagers recruited to pilot biomechanical weapons called Evangelions, with a particular focus on Shinji Ikari and his struggle with identity, trauma, and human connection.

The franchise is vast, but when it comes to manga, there is mainly the adaptation. Originally illustrated by the series’ character designer, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the primary manga offers a distinct take on the story. Beyond that, you also have spin-offs and alternate universe stories, and that’s when things get a bit confusing, and this Neon Genesis Evangelion Manga Guide is here to help.

Read More »Neon Genesis Evangelion Manga in Order

There is a manga for everyone, even those who want to learn how the human body works and have a lot of fun doing so! If you are one of those, just read Cells at Work!, the series written and illustrated by Akane Shimizu. His idea was to anthropomorphize the cells of the human body, depicting them as workers assigned specific roles within a vast, bustling metropolis that represents a healthy adult human.

The concept originated as a short story titled The Story of Cells. Shimizu later developed the idea into a manga series, which began serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Sirius with the March 2015 issue. The original series follows Red Blood Cell AE3803, an inexperienced courier responsible for oxygen delivery, and White Blood Cell U-1146, a stoic neutrophil tasked with eliminating pathogens. Through their encounters with bacteria, viruses, allergens, and physical trauma, the series dramatizes fundamental concepts of human biology while maintaining scientific accuracy overseen by medical supervision.

The original Cells at Work!’s popularity led to the creation of numerous spin-off manga series, each focusing on different cell types, bodily systems, or physiological conditions, and published across various Kodansha magazines between 2017 and the mid-2020s. The main series and the spin-offs were licensed for English-language publication by Kodansha USA Publishing.

In parallel with the manga expansions, the franchise was adapted into anime, beginning in 2018, with later seasons and adaptations drawing from both the original manga and selected spin-offs. A live-action adaptation was also produced in 2024.

Read More »Cells at Work! Manga Order

Part of the Japanese cyberpunk subgenre, Blame! was also Tsutomu Nihei’s first work. The mangaka left his work in construction to study at the Parsons School of Design in New York. The manga was first published in 1997 in the seinen magazine Monthly Afternoon, before being collected in ten tankōbon volumes.

Although the main manga ended in 2003, the Blame! Universe expanded with several one-shots and a six-part original net animation (ONA) also released in 2003. Most importantly, Blame! found a new audience with the anime film adaptation by Polygon Pictures, released on Netflix in May 2017.

Blame! is set in a future version of Earth where a city has grown so chaotically that its inhabitants no longer remember what ‘land’ is. Within this megastructure, the silent and stoic Kyrii is on a mission to find the Net Terminal Gene, a genetic mutation that once enabled humans to access the cybernetic NetSphere. Armed with a powerful gravitation beam emitter, Kyrii fends off attacks from humans, cyborgs, and silicon-based lifeforms. Along the way, he meets a highly skilled scientist whose body has deteriorated from lengthy imprisonment. She promises to help him find the Net Terminal Gene once she has settled a personal score.

Read More »BLAME! Reading order

Let’s start life in another world! That’s exactly what happens in Re:Zero — also known as Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World — one of the most popular stories in the isekai genre today, a subgenre of fiction where someone is transported to another world and must learn how to survive in this new world.

In Re:Zero, Subaru Natsuki is a young man who suddenly finds himself in a medieval fantasy-like world. He quickly discovers how dangerous this new place can be when he dies… only to revive a few hours in the past! He learns that he has the power to return to a specific point in time after each death (much like a checkpoint in a video game). These deaths are not without pain, and Subaru also has to deal with memories of what happened before his death, while everybody else has forgotten.

Created by Tappei Nagatsuki, Re:Zero began in 2012 as a web novel on the user-generated content site Shōsetsuka ni Narō (and is still ongoing). Media Factory later acquired the series for print publication, starting the light novels in 2014 with illustrations by Shin’ichirō Ōtsuka. As of now, forty volumes have been released, along with six side story novels and eleven short story collections.

Subaru Natsuki’s adventures don’t stop there. Re:Zero has naturally been adapted into an anime, as well as several manga series and spin-offs — the subject of our article today!

Read More »Re:ZERO Manga Order (Starting Life in Another World)

From Battle Angel Alita to Attack on Titan and other classics such as Akira and Fist of the North Star, the world of manga is filled with post-apocalyptic stories exploring the survival of humanity. Seraph of the End (Owari no Seraph) is one such manga.

Launched in 2012, Seraph of the End is a dark fantasy manga taking place in a world where an epidemic wiped out every adult on Earth, leaving only children under the age of thirteen alive. From the shadows arose vampires who took advantage of a devastated world to enslave the rest of the human population. In this dark world, Yūichirō Hyakuya wants to avenge his fallen friends, and joins a vampire extermination unit.

Seraph of the End is written by Takaya Kagami, author of The Legend of the Legendary Heroes, with storyboards by Daisuke Furuya, and illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto. From the start, it was more than the manga, as a prequel light novel series exploring this universe before the catastrophe was released at the same time. The franchise has expanded with other light novels, an Anime television series aired in 2015-2016, as well as two video games.

The fight continues as the main manga is still ongoing. We invite you to learn more about the dark fantasy world of Seraph of the End with our reading guide.

This manga reading order has been suggested by one of our readers.

Read More »Seraph of the End Manga Order

It’s often said that there’s a manga series for every subject or hobby imaginable. For a creator, this can make it challenging to explore a new theme. Mangaka Hiroyuki Takei took on this challenge with Shaman King, introducing shamanism as a theme largely unexplored in manga at the time. Its unique blend of witchcraft and religious motifs from various cultures set it apart from other shōnen manga of its era, as did its unusually “laid-back” protagonist.

But what is Shaman King about? The story follows Yoh Asakura, a shaman in training—a medium between the worlds of the living and the dead. Yoh has a dream: he wants to become the Shaman King, the one shaman who can channel the power of the Great Spirit to reshape the world. To obtain this spiritual power, Yoh must win the Shaman Fight, a tournament of mediums that takes place every 500 years. He must train and grow up quickly if he wants a chance to achieve his goal!

Shaman King was originally published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump between 1998 and 2004, ending abruptly with an improvised conclusion. In 2009, Takei returned to give the story the ending he had initially envisioned. Since then, the world of Shaman King has expanded with a prequel, several sequel series, and a few side stories. The manga was adapted into two anime series: the first in 2001, which deviated from the original storyline and had a completely different ending, and the second in 2021 (with a sequel now green-lit).

Here’s a reading guide to explore the spiritual world of Shaman King.

Read More »Shaman King Manga Order

Following the success of Akira, a wave of influential Japanese cyberpunk works emerged, such as Battle Angel Alita, Cowboy Bebop, and, as today’s subject, Ghost in the Shell. Created by Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell began publication in 1989 in Kodansha’s manga anthology Young Magazine. Consisting of only 11 chapters, the original manga concluded in November 1990.

However, it started a cyberpunk franchise that has since spawned spin-off manga and comics, animated and live-action films, several animated TV series, video games, tie-in novels, and art books. The franchise continues to expand, with a new manga in publication and an anime adaptation slated for release in 2026.

Set in the 2030s in the fictional Japanese city of Niihama, also known as New Port City, Ghost in the Shell follows the members of Public Security Section 9, a special operations task force composed of former military officers and police detectives, led by Major Motoko Kusanagi. Kusanagi is a strong-willed, intelligent cyborg who excels at deduction, hacking, and military tactics—though this doesn’t prevent her from occasionally acting immature.

Section 9 handles political intrigue, corruption, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism in a future where technology has advanced to the point that most people possess a “cyberbrain”—a device that integrates with the brain and connects individuals both physically and virtually to various platforms (a kind of brain-computer interface).

Discover the original world of Ghost in the Shell with this comprehensive reading guide, exploring the original manga and its many spin-offs in order!

Read More »Ghost in the Shell Manga Order

While Ken Kaneki is transformed into a half-ghoul in Tokyo Ghoul, teenager Ichigo Kurosaki obtained the powers of a Soul Reaper in Bleach. Ichigo Kurosaki wasn’t your ordinary student to begin with. He was born with the ability to see ghosts, though this particular gift didn’t affect his life the same way as his encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. 

When his family is attacked by a Hollow (a malevolent spirit), Rukia transfers her Soul Powers to the young man, who then becomes a Soul Reaper! Rukia transfers her soul powers to Ichigo, who then becomes a Soul Reaper! This wasn’t the plan, but now Ichigo must learn to navigate this new world, protect the innocent from Hollows and help spirits find peace.

Created by mangaka Tite Kube, Bleach debuted in 2001 in Weekly Shounen Jump alongside Naruto and One Piece. Together, those manga became known as the “Big Three” because of their massive success. Naturally, Bleach expanded and became a franchise with the first animated series, released between 2004 and 2012. Several animated films, video games, light novels, trading cards, musicals, and art books were released in the years that followed.

Read More »Bleach Manga in Order

While Eikichi Onizuka wants to become the world’s greatest teacher, Naruto Uzumaki aspires to become Hokage! Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the ninja adventures of Naruto started in 1999 in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. Naruto is then a turbulent but ambitious 12-year-old ninja in training whose determination and enthusiasm compensate for his shortcomings.

While Naruto presents himself as a carefree and optimist person capable of befriending anyone, his life is already marked by tragedy and secret: the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox–a malevolent creature that attacked Konohagakure, Naruto’s village– was sealed away in his body when he was just a baby, with his parents sacrificing themselves in the process. Naruto grew up an orphan, ignoring who his parents were, and openly ostracised and resented by many villagers for containing the beast that took many lives.

But nothing will stop Naruto on his track. The boy is determined to obtain respect from his peers and to become the greatest ninja with the help of his teammates, Sasuke and Sakura, facing many obstacles and Big Bads along the way. Naruto became one of the most popular manga, leading to a media franchise including the very successful anime television series, films, video games, toys, and several spin-offs!

Following is a guide to navigating the manga world of Naruto, with the spin-off Boruto, a few other manga spin-offs and many light novels!

Read More »Naruto Universe Manga Order (with Boruto and Light Novels)