Recommendations for Manga

[01010111]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Japan yet. Some more Miura goodness, although it's just one graphic novel and not a series, plus it ends on an unexpected note. At first I wasn't too impressed with it, but by the end I was in love with it.
It's kind of like a social commentary on Japanese nationality mixed with some Magic School Bus with a tad of Mad Max.

 

[Rhombaad]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Japan yet. Some more Miura goodness, although it's just one graphic novel and not a series, plus it ends on an unexpected note. At first I wasn't too impressed with it, but by the end I was in love with it.
It's kind of like a social commentary on Japanese nationality mixed with some Magic School Bus with a tad of Mad Max.

I think he just did the art for that one, but I could be wrong. Nevertheless, I've been meaning to check it out.

 

[Aazealh]

I think he just did the art for that one, but I could be wrong. Nevertheless, I've been meaning to check it out.

No, you're right. Buronson wrote the story.

 

[01010111]

No, you're right. Buronson wrote the story.

Yep! What a tag team, too! I'd like to get my hands on some of Miura's earlier stuff as well, like King of Wolves or Miuranger, just to see the progress of his art.

 

[Aazealh]

Yep! What a tag team, too! I'd like to get my hands on some of Miura's earlier stuff as well, like King of Wolves or Miuranger, just to see the progress of his art.

Miuranger was never published, it's just something he did for fun when he was young.

 

[01010111]

Miuranger was never published, it's just something he did for fun when he was young.

All the more reason it would be golden to check out, plus I could look at my stuff and think to myself "Wow, I can draw better than Miura!"

...even though even then it would probably be a lie.

 

[D-Scape]

Throwing a few titles into the mix...

Battle Angel Alita (including Last Order) - My favorite series besides Berserk. Some will undoubtedly say it went downhill with Last Order. They can say whatever they want because I belong to the filthy few who like it even better than the original. The mangaka cleverly fuse intense and imaginative action with a more philosophical approach - questioning the concepts of identity along with the definitions of “human” and “free will”.

Battle Royale - This used to be my favorite series once. It’s not any longer, but I still enjoy it immensely. It’s certainly the pulpiest and most extreme version of the story, but that’s part of its charm in my eyes. The artwork can be difficult getting used to if you've read too much shounen, and the frequent use of sex and ultraviolence tend to polarize audiences.

The World is Mine - I can’t see anyone else have recommended this so I give it a shout here. Two sociopathic serial killers are slaughtering their way across Japan while, at the same time, a giant bear-like monster are marching towards Tokyo in a path of destruction. Is there a connection between the two? This is definitely not a manga everyone’s going to like. Some are turned off by the choice of psychotic protagonists, enigmatic storyline, intensive narrative and gruesome violence. It's nonetheless among the most creative and interesting series out there.

Bokurano - This was finished just a few months ago. Mohiro Kitoh might be more famous for Narutaru (or Shadow Star as it’s was called when it was released by Dark Horse ), but Bokurano is superior. One could see this as a grotesque parody of the giant mecha genre. It’s fascinating how it all starts out childish and cute before it gradually turns into a disturbing nightmare. I still found it to be a very touching series.

Vinland Saga - I see several of you have already recommended this one and I gladly join the bandwagon. It might be the best Viking-related story I have encountered in any media-form (not so tough competition here).

 

[Oblivious]

*Uriel's tiers*

God Tier
Vagabond, Monster, Sanctuary

Awesome Tier
Gantz (yeah, yeah), MPD Psycho, Ichi The Killer

Random manga I love but many here might not... tier
Cheap thrills; shonens, one shots, etc

Edit: I have a visual recommendation poster compiled of very respected mangas which I could upload to an image hosting site if anyone is interested? It has helped me many-a-time.

 

[Dar_Klink]

Aww Yeah! Sanctuary is so awesome, I'm sad that I somehow got distracted from it over time, I'll have to start reading it again.
For all of you who haven't read Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, I highly recommend it! It's the perfect blend of humor, fabulous, and action that makes it the best shonen series out there. Plus it's pretty long and still going, so it can make for a good fill-in between Berserk episodes.

 

[Henry Spencer]

I just read Akira for the first time the other day. Awesome, just plain awesome, well worth all of the praise it gets (so much better than the animé movie). I also read Otomo's lesser known works, like Domu which was similarly great. I've bought his short stories collection too (Memories). Shame he didn't do more. I much prefer his manga works.

And Sanctuary is brilliant.

 

[Th3Branded0ne]

I just read Akira for the first time the other day. Awesome, just plain awesome, well worth all of the praise it gets (so much better than the animé series).

Yes, the manga is very good. You must mean the anime movie, since I don't think there is a series. The movie on its own is good enough in my opinion.

 

[Henry Spencer]

Yes, the manga is very good. You must mean the anime movie, since I don't think there is a series. The movie on its own is good enough in my opinion.

Yeah, I meant movie. You read Domu by the same author/artist? That's very good too.

I've also been reading MPD Psycho, not a fan at all. Just seemed like pointless violence with very little plot.

 

[Oburi]

Yeah, I meant movie. You read Domu by the same author/artist? That's very good too.

I've also been reading MPD Psycho, not a fan at all. Just seemed like pointless violence with very little plot.

Thats how I feel about MPD.

 

[D-Scape]

I have trouble getting into MPD Psycho too. Not because of the violence, but because I find it difficult to see what direction the mangaka want to take with it. I've heard it even touches upon sci-fi in later volumes.

 

[NightCrawler]

I have trouble getting into MPD Psycho too. Not because of the violence, but because I find it difficult to see what direction the mangaka want to take with it. I've heard it even touches upon sci-fi in later volumes.

Yep. I think MPD is too complex for it's own good. Sometimes i feel it's just complexity for the sake of it. But it's so beautifully drawn and compelling that i forgive Otsuka.

Yeah, I meant movie. You read Domu by the same author/artist? That's very good too.

I've also been reading MPD Psycho, not a fan at all. Just seemed like pointless violence with very little plot.

Pointless? It may be explicit, but never pointless.

 

[Aazealh]

Sometimes i feel it's just complexity for the sake of it.

I'm pretty sure it's actually the case.

 

[Oblivious]

I see there's a mixed reaction. Well I bought a few novels around 06 and liked it, but not to the point of fanboyism.

 

[NightCrawler]

Yep! What a tag team, too! I'd like to get my hands on some of Miura's earlier stuff as well, like King of Wolves or Miuranger, just to see the progress of his art.

Is King of Wolves any good?

 

[Azriel]

Have anyone read a manga call worst? i read a couple of chapters it seems pretty good.

 

[Henry Spencer]

Yep. I think MPD is too complex for it's own good. Sometimes i feel it's just complexity for the sake of it. But it's so beautifully drawn and compelling that i forgive Otsuka.

Pointless? It may be explicit, but never pointless.

What I meant was it seems really too much like pornographic violence. And it is, don't lie, you get a kick out of the inventive gore scenes, right? I don't. Just from reading the first volume I can deduct I will not like it, since I found the characters annoying and one dimensional, and the plot paper thin. No depth.

 

[NightCrawler]

What I meant was it seems really too much like pornographic violence. And it is, don't lie, you get a kick out of the inventive gore scenes, right? I don't. Just from reading the first volume I can deduct I will not like it, since I found the characters annoying and one dimensional, and the plot paper thin. No depth.

I'm not a gore fan. But i like it when it's realistic enough to make me feel uneasy. Even if the manga had none of that, i would read it anyway.

 

[Oburi]

I like gore but your right nightcrawler some of the scenes in MPD Psycho do make me feel uneasy, but I wouldn't call them realistic. They seem excessive almost to the point of exploitative and though I usually like things that make me feel uneasy, the scene itself isn't enough, it's the context of the scene that add the real brutality. As I flip through the first book I see some graphic (and I mean Hannibal lector at his worst graphic) images but it's surrounded by such a weak plot that it takes away from how sick and twisted the characters (and the author) really are. I don't mean to knock this series too much, I only read the first book and it was so long ago that I actually forgot a lot of it. I wouldn't mind trying to read it again, but my last impression wasn't all that good.

Even if the manga had none of that, i would read it anyway

I seriously doubt that, I know because I wouldnt

 

[SaiyajinNoOuji]

Have anyone read a manga call worst? i read a couple of chapters it seems pretty good.

I have, it's interesting to say the least...

 

[NightCrawler]

I like gore but your right nightcrawler some of the scenes in MPD Psycho do make me feel uneasy, but I wouldn't call them realistic. They seem excessive almost to the point of exploitative and though I usually like things that make me feel uneasy, the scene itself isn't enough, it's the context of the scene that add the real brutality. As I flip through the first book I see some graphic (and I mean Hannibal lector at his worst graphic) images but it's surrounded by such a weak plot that it takes away from how sick and twisted the characters (and the author) really are. I don't mean to knock this series too much, I only read the first book and it was so long ago that I actually forgot a lot of it. I wouldn't mind trying to read it again, but my last impression wasn't all that good.


I seriously doubt that, I know because I wouldnt

I wouldn't judge a manga based on it's first volume, unless you really don't like it's themes.

 

[Oblivious]

Is Vinland Saga worth reading?