So, for those of you that don’t follow me on twitter (where I talk about them a fair bit) because there seems to be a fair bit of interest in the subject, here is a more or less complete list of the manga I’m currently following. Please note that “following” should be taken loosely, as the translations for some of these are well behind their current publication timeline or stalled altogether.
This is not meant to be an in-depth review post in any sense – if you want to discuss any of these titles in more detail, just tag me in the comments.
So, in no particular but sort of loose order of priority and/or free association:
- Otoyomegatari (blogging)
- Hunter X Hunter (hiatus)
- Akatsuki no Yona (better than ever)
- Akagami no Shirayukihime
- Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
- Kono Oto Tomare
- Mix
- Major 2nd (on hold since announcement of S2)
- Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san
- Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru (slow)
- Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!
- Miira no Kaikata (stalled)
- Shoukoku no Altair (very slow)
- Dungeon Meshi (ibid. Anime when?)
- Watashi no Shounen (stalled – but fantastic, And don’t skip the author comments.)
- Nana Maru San Batsu (ibid)
- Kemono Jihen (very good – anime announced)
- Boku no Kokoro no Yabai yatsu (same mangaka as Mitsudomoe; Manga Taisho nominee, having a boom. Only 2 volumes but anime will come eventually.)
- Rurouni Kenshin – Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan Hokkaidou-hen
- UQ Holder
- Yakusoku no Neverland (I think it lost the plot a long time ago, but I may as well see how it ends)
- Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia ILLEGALS (may be more interesting than the parent manga over the last 18 months)
- Atom – The Beginning (somewhere between slow and stalled)
- Saeki-san wa Nemuterru (part of the middle school romance boom BokuYaba is leading)
- Sukinako ga Megane wo Wasureta (ibid)
- Misoshiru de Kanpai (ibid – stalled)
- Himeno-chan ni Koi wa mada Hayai (cute grade-school romcom, emphasis on the “com”)
- Jijyou wo Shiranai Tenkousei ga Guigui Kuru (ibid)
- Yakumo-san wa Ezuke ga Shitai (stalled)
- Shounen Chotto Sabotekko (so sue me, it makes me laugh)
- Adou (new seinen with a somewhat Akira vibe – arresting start, but only 3 chapters)
- Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid (kawaii!)
Also – I can’t write a manga post without directing you towards the sublime Hitoribocchi no Chikyuu Shinryaku, which is finished and completely translated. It’s a sweet and wonderful sci-fi that I love as a generalist sort of title, but I think it would appeal especially to fans of Mizukami Satoshi. Ogawa Maiko seems to share something of the same sensibility as the Water God, and has the talent to back it up. Hitoribocchi is, for me, the very definition of criminally under-appreciated.
Dauntingoverlord
February 12, 2020 at 8:30 pmHohoho, very nice! That reminds me that I need more Yona anime in my life… Some of these I haven’t heard of like Dungeon Meshi, going to have to find them, hehehe.
Dauntingoverlord
February 12, 2020 at 8:32 pmMy Internet was being weird, so I wasn’t sure, if the first comment was posted… ugh. Kill me now. Mistakes were made.
Guardian Enzo
February 12, 2020 at 8:58 pmIt’s all fine now.
KY_79
February 13, 2020 at 12:03 amI’ve never told you this Enzo but I have read Hitoribocchi after seeing you recommend it once on twitter and I really enjoyed it! I do think that it had that common drop in quality that usually happens once a series goes past the point that it was building to from the start. But I still thought it was . I also dont know why every unique and special manga seems to have a weird and somewhat creepy age gap romance.
KY_79
February 13, 2020 at 12:30 am*thought it was really good.
Guardian Enzo
February 13, 2020 at 7:40 amAge gap? Did it play that way for you?
I confess there was no dip in quality for me. I thought it had a nice linear path from start to finish, in part because it was as long as it needed to be and no longer. Something else it has in common with Mizukami, who doesn’t milk a series past its best by date.
In any case, always glad to hear someone checked that gem out on my recommendation, and thanks for letting me know!
royman545
February 13, 2020 at 3:49 amIt’s awesome how manga is getting more licensed now then ever before. Viz and Kodansha are even simulpubing some manga. And yeah, I’m consistently surprised by how good Akatsuki no Yona still is after over 10 years.
Guardian Enzo
February 13, 2020 at 7:41 amPhenomenally good.
Kim
February 13, 2020 at 8:05 amYona is one of my favorite manga series too
I’d love if we got more of it animated but I doubt that will ever happen. The manga does sell well in the States though for a Shoujo manga so that’s something at least
And I live in hope that the Kono Oto Tomare manga will be licensed here.
Guardian Enzo
February 13, 2020 at 8:39 amI’ve given up on more Yonanime but hey, I suppose anything is possible. I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see it get a live-action movie or dorama.
KoT licensing would make too much sense.
leongsh
February 13, 2020 at 8:21 amPlease do check out Ao No Flag (Blue Flag). It will be ending soon. 52 chapters so far. Started off on a fortnightly release to a monthly release. All 52 chapters so far are translated and available to read on Manga PLUS app.
Guardian Enzo
February 13, 2020 at 8:38 amEnding soon? That surprises me.
It’s one of those series that’s been on my “to do” list for a while.
leongsh
February 13, 2020 at 2:19 pmShould be ending soon because it is reaching its conclusion rather than it being cancelled. Estimate of a few more chapters.
blargnobia
February 13, 2020 at 3:01 pmDo you follow Made in Abyss, Enzo? Apparently they’re turning the next arc into a multi-part movie (which doesn’t thrill me, but at least it’s getting something.)
Guardian Enzo
February 13, 2020 at 3:23 pmI stopped reading because I wanted to be surprised by the movie, and then they announced another movie at the end so… For now it’s on-hold.
blargnobia
February 15, 2020 at 6:41 amProbably a good call. I marathon-ed the manga because I didn’t know about the movie, and now I kind of regret it.
And I agree Yona is getting really good, even if I’m frustrated with a few things.
sanzal
February 13, 2020 at 4:04 pmI’ve been meaning to check out the BNHA Vigilantes manga, but I just never got around to it. Is it really more interesting than the main series? I really like where the main story’s going so far, so is it that Vigilantes is that good, or is the main series starting to lose you?
Guardian Enzo
February 13, 2020 at 4:41 pm“Lose me” is too strongly put. I do feel as if the last few arcs have been measurably lower in overall quality both in terms of writing and art, though still very good. And for whatever reason, the world Vigilantes is exploring just intrigues me a bit more at the moment.
smoso
February 14, 2020 at 2:06 amI liked Watashi no Shounen way more than I thought I would. I wish it would update faster! And you’re right, the author comments (especially that long interview) definitely made me less apprehensive about the future direction of the series.
Have you ever tried Bokura no Kiseki? Seems like it would be something you’d like.
I mostly read shoujo, so I hadn’t heard of some of these. I’ll check them out!
Guardian Enzo
February 14, 2020 at 6:53 amNope. It looks interesting though.
Watashi no Shounen is definitely a book not to be judged by its cover (though the mangaka is indeed a great artist). Much subtler and deeper than you think it’s going to be. As to the other comments… The part where she talks to her editor about “shota-esque” is one of the funniest conversations I’ve seen in a manga.
Nadavu
February 15, 2020 at 12:56 amIs there any character development in WataMote, or does Tomoko remains about the same throughout?
niwa
February 15, 2020 at 1:58 amThere is quite a bit of development. It’s almost a different story at this point (but with the same style of humour).
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2020 at 11:53 amHuge character development.
Rasu
February 15, 2020 at 4:57 amOh, my! I also likes many of your list’s titles!!! Specially the last one; sadly I can’t read it anymore despite is my favourite genre type (yeah, I’ve got a sweet tooth, I love fluff, pure and cute things), is been a while, but now I can’t read the things loved, they’re like poison, and it mames me too sad to be unncapable of enjoying it anymore and know the beautiful ending Alice and the Count may have.
Yet, as with Hoozuki’s case, I’m glad yo know that there’s someone who enjoys those pieces of art
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2020 at 11:49 amYes, definitely one of the fluffiest manga out there…
Rasu
February 15, 2020 at 4:59 amMy apologies for the typo mistakes, I’m currently un a cellphone, but since English isn’t My native language it keeps on changing it
Panino Manino
February 15, 2020 at 9:33 amMaybe I’ll follow you.
Did you heard about “Asuperu Kanojo”?
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2020 at 11:48 amHad never heard of it till you mentioned it. Good?
Panino Manino
February 16, 2020 at 6:26 amI say that “it’s good”, and this is relevant because it’s about mental illness.
A story with that premise (and that starts that way) can very easily take a bad turn. Still didn’t, and it’s not looking like it’ll ever take that bad turn.
It’s something rare.
Marty
February 15, 2020 at 9:46 pmIf I may humbly suggest the historical Seinen “Arte,”
It’s a very excellent work focusing on Renaissance Italy.
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2020 at 9:48 pmYeah, but the anime is starting in six weeks. At this point I’d rather just go in fresh.
Bnk
February 16, 2020 at 7:31 pmEnzo, just want to give you an update, saeki san wa nemutteru just ended this week. Its a pretty sweet, “life goes on” kind of ending.
Guardian Enzo
February 17, 2020 at 7:48 amOh, it ended? That’s too bad, it was pretty short.
Bnk
February 17, 2020 at 11:54 amOnly 5 volume. To be honest, this is the case with most mangas in palcy, the app where saeki san was serialized. Even their most famous mangas are rather short.
Proto
February 17, 2020 at 1:14 amWell, now that we have a recommendations corner in here: In a similar vein to Made in Abyss and Mahou Tsukai no Yome, give Witch Hat Atelier a read. It also reminds me of books written by Brandon Sanderson in that it takes special care in constructing a magical system and developing on the implications such a magical system has in the society around it. It is pretty interesting, high quality art and likeable characters.
Guardian Enzo
February 17, 2020 at 7:54 amThe art is lovely, don’t know much about the rest of it. I’ll add it to the list, thanks.
Manga is like YouTube videos, once you start that free association thing you lose track of reality and all of a sudden it’s 5 AM and you haven’t gone to bed.
Melvin
July 21, 2021 at 6:58 pmSome great ones here. I always wanted to know – have you read Yugami-kun ni wa Tomodachi ga Inai? If you liked Bokuyaba, I think you’ll probably love it. It’s completed at 81 chapters and I think it’s one of the best SOL manga ever in terms of relationships and character interactions.
Guardian Enzo
July 21, 2021 at 7:09 pmNo, I haven’t. It looks interesting, thanks – I’ll check it out when I have a bit of time.