10 Manga With Amazing Artwork
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The magnificent world of manga has provided tales of just about everything the world has to offer: Slice of life dramas, uplifting sports tales, fantasy epics, cyberpunk, gut churning horror and so many more. It is a safe and easy bet to say that there is something in manga for everyone.
Manga has been a beloved Eastern tradition since as far back as the 12th century via the creation of scroll art. Since then it has grown and grown until Michihiko Hasegawa's 1946 release, Sazae-San ushered in the age of serialised manga that took Japan in particular by storm.
It is truly incredible the painstaking level of hard work that goes into bringing these curious and diverse tales to the page. From setting the tone of the story to capturing the look and persona of each and every curious, colourful character and the in depth, well developed worlds they inhabit.
Reading the finest manga is to experience the dedication, imagination and copious amounts of time put into creating a world for us readers to immerse ourselves in. There's nothing quite like it.
10. Vagabond
One of the definitive and most essential samurai manga of this generation, Takehiko Inoue’s epic centres on the life of legendary Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. Inuoue’s art boasts some of the finest, smoothest action put to page.
Inoue introduces us to the vicious young outcast, Shinnen Takezō circa 1600. An erratic and troubled teen, Takezō leaves the village that held such disdain for him and embarks upon a grim journey into a world of battle and bloodshed he is ill-prepared for.
A dramatic and intense tale of age, warfare and the culture of the samurai, Vagabond began in 1998 and has wowed readers ever since. The artwork is exceptional throughout, capturing crisp and well realised character designs, great facial expressions and suspense in the fearsome scenarios depicted.
Having sold over 80 million copies, Vagabond is one of the most popular entries on this list and a must read for fans of seinen manga and martial arts centric tales. Unlike many other manga to’ve reached such a level of success, Vagabond does not have an anime adaptation. The staggering length of its story arcs and the gritty realism of its battle scenes make it a gem exclusive to the page.