Manga: What to Read, Who Creates It and How to Start a Story

Discover Manga Series and Find Your Next Read

Death Note offers suspense and questions about power. Naruto is a long, completed adventure. One Piece offers an expanding pirate world. Try chapter one before buying a collection.

Counts refer to original volumes: an omnibus can collect them in fewer books. Length and format references: Norma Editorial · Death Note, Planeta · Naruto 1/72, Planeta · One Piece 3 in 1.

Twelve Ways into the Catalogue

One Piece

Follow Luffy’s pirate adventure from chapter 1. Learn how to start One Piece, compare editions and decide whether its long-form journey suits you.

Adventure Action +2

Read One Piece Series Guide

Naruto

Read Naruto’s original ninja story from the beginning. Understand the 72-volume order and how it relates to Shippuden, Boruto and collected editions.

Action Adventure +2

Read Naruto Series Guide

Death Note

Start Death Note’s psychological conflict without ending spoilers. Follow the 12-volume main story and distinguish it from guides and other editions.

Psychological Thriller Supernatural +2

Read Death Note Series Guide

Dragon Ball

Follow Goku's incredible journey from a martial arts novice to Earth's mightiest defender in this action-packed adventure series.

Shonen Action +2

Read Dragon Ball Series Guide

Fullmetal Alchemist

Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt human transmutation to resurrect their dead mother, paying a devastating price. Their quest for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies unravels a vast conspiracy at the heart of the Amestrian state.

Action Adventure +2

Read Fullmetal Alchemist Series Guide

Berserk

A dark and brutal medieval fantasy following Guts on his journey of revenge, featuring complex characters and stunning artwork.

Seinen Dark Fantasy +6

Read Berserk Series Guide

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

A revolutionary magical girl manga where a girl discovers she is part of an elite warrior group protecting Earth from dark forces.

Shojo Magical Girl +1

Read Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Series Guide

Spy × Family

A masterful blend of comedy, action, and slice-of-life storytelling following a spy, assassin, and psychic girl who form a fake family while concealing their true identities from each other.

Action Comedy +2

Read Spy × Family Series Guide

Haikyu!!

A completed shonen sports manga following Karasuno High School's journey to become a volleyball powerhouse through teamwork, determination, and rivalry

Shonen Sports +2

Read Haikyu!! Series Guide

Monster

Dr. Kenzo Tenma pursues the boy he saved who has become a serial killer in this intense psychological thriller.

Psychological Thriller Mystery +2

Read Monster Series Guide

Nana

A josei/shojo romance drama manga following two girls named Nana whose contrasting personalities and dreams intersect in Tokyo, exploring friendship, love, ambition, and personal tragedy

Josei Shojo +2

Read Nana Series Guide

Dandadan

A contemporary shonen manga blending action, comedy, and supernatural mystery as two unlikely partners investigate paranormal phenomena.

Shonen Action +2

Read Dandadan Series Guide

How to Start Without Buying the Whole Collection

1. 01

   Choose the feeling you want

   Look for suspense, adventure or humour before popularity. An official first-chapter sample lets you check whether the conflict and characters interest you.

2. 02

   Check the format

   A chapter is one instalment of the story; a volume collects several chapters. An omnibus or a 3-in-1 edition can combine original volumes, so compare the contents rather than just the number on the spine.

3. 03

   Try reading, then decide

   Follow the edition’s instructions: many retain a right-to-left reading order. After chapter one, ask whether you understand what the protagonist wants and whether you want to discover what stands in their way.

Each series guide links publishers and official platforms. Sample, chapter and language availability depends on your country; check the catalogue available to you.

Mangaka: Biographies, Careers and Works

A mangaka may write and draw or collaborate with other people. Explore these eight profiles or search every creator in the catalogue by name or work. What a mangaka does →

Eiichiro Oda

Meet Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece. Follow verified career milestones and learn what to look for when reading his work.

Notable Works:

• • One Piece
• • Wanted!

View Eiichiro Oda's Biography

Akira Toriyama

Explore Akira Toriyama’s manga and character design. Distinguish Dragon Ball from its adaptations and find a starting point for his work.

Notable Works:

• • Dragon Ball
• • Dr. Slump
• + 2 more

View Akira Toriyama's Biography

Masashi Kishimoto

Explore Masashi Kishimoto's extraordinary career as creator of Naruto, one of the most influential shōnen manga series. Learn about his artistic evolution and lasting legacy.

Notable Works:

• • Naruto
• • Samurai 8
• + 1 more

View Masashi Kishimoto's Biography

Naoko Takeuchi

Naoko Takeuchi, creator of the revolutionary Sailor Moon manga, transformed the magical girl genre and created a global cultural phenomenon. Explore her groundbreaking artistic legacy and influence on anime and manga.

Notable Works:

• • Sailor Moon
• • Codename: Sailor V
• + 2 more

View Naoko Takeuchi's Biography

Rumiko Takahashi

Explore Rumiko Takahashi's extraordinary 40+ year career. From Urusei Yatsura to Inuyasha, discover this legend's influential works and lasting manga industry impact.

Notable Works:

• • Inuyasha
• • Ranma 1/2
• + 4 more

View Rumiko Takahashi's Biography

Hiromu Arakawa

Discover Hiromu Arakawa's remarkable career from her farm background to creating Fullmetal Alchemist. Explore her unique artistic vision and lasting industry impact.

Notable Works:

• • Fullmetal Alchemist
• • Silver Spoon
• + 2 more

View Hiromu Arakawa's Biography

Junji Ito

Junji Ito is Japan's premier horror manga artist, born in 1963, renowned for creating psychologically disturbing and visually innovative series like Uzumaki and Tomie.

Notable Works:

• • Uzumaki
• • Tomie
• + 2 more

View Junji Ito's Biography

Osamu Tezuka

Discover Osamu Tezuka's revolutionary contributions to manga and anime. From Astro Boy to Black Jack, explore the legacy of manga's most influential creator.

Notable Works:

• • Astro Boy
• • Kimba the White Lion
• + 3 more

View Osamu Tezuka's Biography

Browse Manga by Genre and Story Type

Choose a label to explore associated series. A work can combine several: action with comedy, romance with sport or fantasy with mystery. Audience labels such as shōnen describe another dimension and are not age ratings.

• Action (35)
• Adventure (22)
• Boxing (1)
• Comedy (20)
• Crime (1)
• Dark Fantasy (7)
• Delinquent (1)
• Detective (1)
• Drama (12)
• Fantasy (13)
• Gore (1)
• Historical (5)
• Horror (4)
• Isekai (2)
• Josei (1)
• Kodomomuke (1)
• Magic (1)
• Magical Girl (1)
• Manhwa (2)
• Martial Arts (5)
• Mecha (1)
• Medieval Fantasy (1)
• Music (2)
• Mystery (6)
• Mythology (1)
• Political (3)
• Post-Apocalyptic (1)
• Psychological (4)
• Psychological Thriller (2)
• Romance (9)
• School (2)
• Science Fiction (5)
• Seinen (16)
• Shojo (2)
• Shonen (31)
• Slice of Life (6)
• Sports (6)
• Superhero (2)
• Supernatural (14)
• Thriller (1)
• Time Travel (1)
• Volleyball (1)
• War (1)

Explore a Series’ World

If you already know the title, continue with its characters, arcs or adaptations. For a first read without spoilers, start with the series overview.

Manga Guides and Practical Exercises

Definitions, history, figures in context and a writing exercise. Each guide identifies its sources and review date.

guides

What Is Manga? Reading Order and Choosing a First Series

Understand manga, practise reading order with a diagram and choose a first series based on your interests and its edition.

Jun 9, 2026 • 5 min read

Read Article

guides

What Is a Mangaka? Meaning, Roles and a First Practice

Learn what a mangaka does, how writers and artists can share the work, and how to turn a short idea into your first comic.

Jun 16, 2026 • 4 min read

Read Article

guides

History of Manga: A Timeline from Hokusai to Digital Publishing

Follow manga history through dated examples. Distinguish Hokusai’s sketchbooks, Tezuka’s postwar works and today’s digital publishing.

Mar 6, 2026 • 4 min read

Read Article

industry

Manga Industry Statistics 2026: Sources, Forecasts and What the Numbers Mean

Compare three named manga market forecasts, distinguish circulation from sales, and interpret publisher pay figures without mixing incompatible measures.

Mar 15, 2026 • 5 min read

Read Article

tutorials

How to Write a Manga Story: A Four-Page Exercise with a Panel Script

Build a short manga from a premise to a five-panel page. Follow an original worked example, compare dialogue revisions and use a self-review checklist.

Mar 6, 2026 • 6 min read

Read Article

Resources for Choosing, Gifting and Drawing Manga

Continue with the decision you want to make: understand a term, compare reads, choose a gift or explore materials. Before buying, check the edition, language, availability and price with the seller.