Essential manga?

[Tek7]

Okay, recommendation farming time.

What manga series would the manga fans in the community consider "must-reads"? I usually watch anime, but the Naruto anime series started dragging so badly that I decided to start reading the manga. Since then, I've checked out a few other series and was wondering what to read next.

 

[Corpfox]

How about Street Fighter mangas?
Or how about Starcraft novels?

Blizzard does have Warcraft Mangas.

 

[blackgravity]

Death Note is a great manga, and with all the talk about the anime lately, I don't think it needs any introduction. From what I have heard, the end is different, but to me, it's paced far better in book form.

Bleach is infinitely better in manga form IMO, and the current arc is pretty awesome.

I really enjoy Gin Tama. It's a Shonen Jump title, but it really wouldn't be appropriate for someone under 16 I'd say.

FullMetal Alchemist is great in manga form, I think better than the anime.

Let me do some digging in my box o' manga to get more suggestions.

 

[tjguitarz]

What's the difference between Manga and Anime?

 

[Elader Arkon]

Manga = printed
Anime = TV

 

[blackgravity]

Yeah, manga is comics, graphic novels, whatever. Usually the successful ones get turned into anime series eventually, a la DB, Naruto, Bleach, FullMetal Alchemist, etc.

Also: Tek, if you haven't read the Welcome to the NHK manga, it's alright.

 

[Tek7]

Also: Tek, if you haven't read the Welcome to the NHK manga, it's alright.

I've already watched the anime, but I may still check out the manga some time.

 

[Elihu]

Currently reading:

Deathnote (love this series)
Hunter X Hunter (another great one IMO)
Bleach (a must have)
Prince of Tennis (absolutely love this one)
Hikaru No Go (for younger audiences but I enjoy it)
Naruto
OnePiece
Kekkaishi
Get Backers (not for younger audiences!)
Peacemaker
Yuyu Hakusho


To name a few.

If you'd like a more detailed approach to this or have a specific idea of what you're looking for I am sure that between myself and my wife we can find a series suitable to you.

 

[Tek7]

Peacemaker

Is the Peacemaker manga the basis for the series Peace Maker Kurogane?

I'd like to read a manga series that hasn't been made into an anime series, but it seems nearly all the best manga are followed by an anime series.

EDIT: I just realized that every manga recommended in this thread so far has been developed into an anime.

I'll probably see if I can find a used copy of the first volume or a sample scanlated issue of Death Note and start my manga reading there.

 

[blackgravity]

Is the Peacemaker manga the basis for the series Peace Maker Kurogane?

I'd like to read a manga series that hasn't been made into an anime series, but it seems nearly all the best manga are followed by an anime series.

EDIT: I just realized that every manga recommended in this thread so far has been developed into an anime.

I'll probably see if I can find a used copy of the first volume or a sample scanlated issue of Death Note and start my manga reading there.

Yes to the lime. Other than Shonen Jump, the biggest importer would be Tokyo Pop, but a lot of that is anime/manga to and fro and such. Uzumaki (nothing to do with Naruto) is a horror/suspense (I think) series, up to maybe volume 3 or 4 now, that my wife likes.

I actually got volume one of RalΩGrad, because I love the artist's work (Takeshi Obata, of Hikaru no Go and Death Note fame). The story is pretty cool, but it's kinda loaded with a bit too much fanservice (if you can apply that term to manga). It's based loosely along the same principle as the Blue Dragon game (and anime) but you'll find no character design by Akira Toriyama, as with the other two.