10 Manga With Amazing Artwork

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.