Top Manga of All Time & Best New Manga to Read in 2025

From legendary classics like Berserk to the new wave of hits like Kagurabachi. The ultimate manga guide.

Manga is the lifeblood of the anime industry. While anime adaptations are great, the original manga often offers a deeper, more detailed, and artistically superior experience. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a digital reader, here are the top manga of all time and the best new manga you should be reading in 2025.

Top Manga of All Time (The Legends)

1. Berserk (Kentaro Miura)

Status: Ongoing (Studio Gaga) The magnum opus of dark fantasy. Guts' journey of revenge and redemption is a masterpiece of art and storytelling. Miura's artwork is detailed to the point of obsession. It is brutal, tragic, and profoundly human.

2. One Piece (Eiichiro Oda)

Status: Ongoing The greatest adventure ever told. For over 25 years, Oda has built a world of unparalleled depth and creativity. The foreshadowing is legendary, and the emotional peaks are unmatched. We are currently in the Final Saga, making it the perfect time to catch up.

3. Vagabond (Takehiko Inoue)

Status: Hiatus A fictionalized retelling of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest swordsman. It is a philosophical journey about the meaning of strength and the value of life. The art is breathtaking, often resembling traditional ink paintings.

4. Monster (Naoki Urasawa)

Status: Completed A psychological thriller about a doctor who saves the life of a boy who grows up to be a monster. It is a chilling cat-and-mouse game that explores the nature of evil. Urasawa is a master of suspense.

5. Fullmetal Alchemist (Hiromu Arakawa)

Status: Completed A perfect story from start to finish. The manga delves even deeper into the lore and characters than the anime. It balances action, comedy, and philosophy perfectly.

Best New Manga / Ongoing Hits (The New Wave)

1. Kagurabachi (Takeru Hokazono)

Status: Ongoing (Weekly Shonen Jump) "Enough time has passed." What started as a meme has become the hottest new battle shonen. The cinematic paneling, the sleek art style, and the ruthless protagonist Chihiro have captivated fans. It feels like a mix of John Wick and Demon Slayer.

2. Sakamoto Days (Yuto Suzuki)

Status: Ongoing (Weekly Shonen Jump) An ex-hitman tries to live a peaceful life as a convenience store owner. It is an action-comedy with some of the most creative fight choreography in the medium. The anime adaptation is coming soon, so read it now to be ahead of the curve.

3. Dandadan (Yukinobu Tatsu)

Status: Ongoing (Shonen Jump+) Ghosts, aliens, and high school romance. It is pure chaos in the best way possible. The art is incredibly detailed, and the monster designs are terrifyingly unique.

4. Blue Box (Kouji Miura)

Status: Ongoing (Weekly Shonen Jump) A sports-romance hybrid that feels genuine and refreshing. The relationship between Taiki and Chinatsu is sweet and realistic, without the frustrating misunderstandings of typical rom-coms.

5. Witch Hat Atelier (Kamome Shirahama)

Status: Ongoing (Monthly Morning Two) A fantasy series about the wonder of magic. The art is reminiscent of classic woodblock prints and storybook illustrations. It explores the ethics of magic and the joy of learning.

Hidden Gems

1. Yomi no Tsugai (Hiromu Arakawa)

The new series from the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist. It involves supernatural guardians and a mystery involving twins separated at birth.

2. Gachiakuta (Kei Urana)

A boy is thrown into the abyss (a trash dump) and gains powers from his "jinki" (trash). The art style is gritty and graffiti-inspired, oozing with style.

Conclusion

Reading manga allows you to experience stories in their purest form, at your own pace. Whether you pick up a volume of Berserk or catch the latest chapter of Kagurabachi on the Shonen Jump app, there is a world of ink and paper waiting for you.