7 Incredible Drama Manga That Every Fan of the Genre Should Read part 1 2023 - retoreview
Introduction
Manga is a unique form of comics that originated in Japan and has since gained a massive following worldwide. With its distinctive style, engaging storylines, and diverse characters, manga has become a beloved art form for many. If you're new to manga or looking for your next read, you've come to the right place. In this post, I'll be sharing with you the top 7 manga series that you need to add to your reading list. From epic adventures to heartwarming romances, these manga are sure to captivate you from beginning to end. So, get ready to lose yourself in the pages of these incredible manga, and let's explore the fascinating world of Japanese comics together.
A mysterious immortal entity is sent to Earth devoid of emotions or identity. Yet, it possesses the ability to assume the form of individuals who exude a powerful drive. Initially appearing as a sphere, it then takes on the guise of a rock. As the temperature plummets and snow blankets the moss, it assimilates the plant. When a wounded, solitary wolf stumbles by and collapses to perish, it transforms into the animal. Eventually, it gains self-awareness and roams the vacant tundra until it encounters a boy. The boy resides alone in an abandoned settlement, deserted by adults who embarked on a fruitless quest for a promised land far beyond the seemingly endless white expanse. Presently, the boy's condition is critical. Assuming the form of the boy, the entity embarks on an unending voyage, seeking novel experiences, locales, and individuals.
In the distant past, Earth was hit by six meteorites, which gave rise to six moons and left a solitary island in their wake. Sadly, those who could not reach the island perished in the depths of the ocean, where they slowly transformed into crystals over time. After countless eons had elapsed, 28 of these crystalline beings, known as the Lustrous, emerged from the abyss and settled on the island. Under the guidance of the wise Kongou-sensei, they must defend themselves against the never-ending onslaught of the Lunarians, who dwell on the moons and covet the Lustrous' precious bodies for use in crafting weaponry and jewelry. Houseki no Kuni tells the tale of Phosphophyllite, a youthful gem on the brink of their three-hundredth birthday. Despite being fragile, awkward, and lacking any apparent abilities, they are one of the weakest gems in existence and unable to contribute meaningfully to the fight against the Lunarians. Nonetheless, as the battle against these otherworldly invaders intensifies, Phosphophyllite discovers that power comes at a price that no one should have to pay.
Susumu Nakoshi is a middle-aged man who spends his days between a lavish first-class hotel and a park full of homeless people. One day, an eccentric young man approaches Nakoshi in search of subjects willing to partake in trepanation—the procedure of drilling a hole in the skull. This mysterious person claims that Nakoshi is the perfect man for the experiment. Initially rejecting the offer, he doubles back on his decision after his car gets towed off. Nakoshi agrees to let Manabu Ito, a 22-year-old medical student, drill a hole in his skull in exchange for 700,000 yen. The procedure bears no results at first, with Nakoshi showing no abnormalities. This normalcy comes to an abrupt end, however, when Nakoshi begins seeing the homunculus in every person.
Juri Mutou's mother was a renowned pianist whose career was cut short after giving birth to her. Juri suffered a traumatic event as a teenager, which led her to attempt suicide three times and resent her mother. Her dark past still haunts her, but her aunt Monica, a member of the clergy, invites her to visit a death row inmate. Yuu is a convict sentenced to death for killing three people. He has attempted suicide multiple times in his cell, and although Monica sends him letters to offer support, he perceives it as mere pity. When Yuu finally agrees to meet Monica to ask her to stop writing, he unexpectedly meets Juri, and their encounter sets off a chain of events that alters their lives forever.
A struggling and penniless 20-year-old named Kusunoki is forced to sell off his possessions to buy food. One day, an old shopkeeper notices his destitution and directs him to a store that supposedly purchases lifespan, time, and health. Although Kusunoki is skeptical, his desperation and curiosity lead him to visit the store. To his dismay, Kusunoki learns that his lifespan is only worth a paltry sum of three hundred thousand yen. In a desperate attempt to earn more money, he decides to sell the next 30 years of his life for ten thousand yen per year, leaving him with a mere three months to live. Upon returning home with his newfound wealth, Kusunoki is surprised to be greeted by the store clerk, Miyagi. She informs him that she has been assigned to observe him until the last three days of his life. The rest of the story, titled "Jumyou wo Kaitotte Moratta. Ichinen ni Tsuki, Ichimanen de.," follows Kusunoki as he grapples with regrets from his past and learns the true meaning and value of life.
Takao Kasuga is a solitary student in middle school who has a deep affection for books, specifically for Charles Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs du Mal." He also harbors a crush on the popular Nanako Saeki, who is adored by everyone in his class. On the other hand, Sawa Nakamura, a disrespectful and unpleasant classmate, has no interest in school and is the complete opposite of Nanako. One day, Takao forgets his book at school and returns to retrieve it. However, he comes across Nanako's freshly used gym clothes on the ground, and an odd desire takes hold of him, prompting him to steal them like a depraved pervert. Takao struggles with the guilt of his actions and attempts to continue his life as normally as possible. Nevertheless, Sawa, who witnessed Takao's theft, has different plans in store for him.
Punpun Onodera is an 11-year-old boy living a typical life in Japan. However, Punpun is a dreamer and romantic at heart. When he meets Aiko Tanaka, a new girl in his class, he begins to see his life change in unexpected ways. But as he navigates the ups and downs of their relationship, Punpun realizes the harsh realities of adulthood and the difficulties of leaving behind his childhood innocence. One night, Punpun's world is shattered when his father violently attacks his mother. This traumatic event forces Punpun to see the people he once looked up to in a different light. With his problems mounting, Punpun withdraws from the world and becomes increasingly isolated. However, this only makes his problems and inner turmoil worse, leading him down a dark path towards maturity in a poignant coming-of-age tale.
7-Fumetsu no Anata e
A mysterious immortal entity is sent to Earth devoid of emotions or identity. Yet, it possesses the ability to assume the form of individuals who exude a powerful drive. Initially appearing as a sphere, it then takes on the guise of a rock. As the temperature plummets and snow blankets the moss, it assimilates the plant. When a wounded, solitary wolf stumbles by and collapses to perish, it transforms into the animal. Eventually, it gains self-awareness and roams the vacant tundra until it encounters a boy. The boy resides alone in an abandoned settlement, deserted by adults who embarked on a fruitless quest for a promised land far beyond the seemingly endless white expanse. Presently, the boy's condition is critical. Assuming the form of the boy, the entity embarks on an unending voyage, seeking novel experiences, locales, and individuals.
6-Houseki no Kuni
In the distant past, Earth was hit by six meteorites, which gave rise to six moons and left a solitary island in their wake. Sadly, those who could not reach the island perished in the depths of the ocean, where they slowly transformed into crystals over time. After countless eons had elapsed, 28 of these crystalline beings, known as the Lustrous, emerged from the abyss and settled on the island. Under the guidance of the wise Kongou-sensei, they must defend themselves against the never-ending onslaught of the Lunarians, who dwell on the moons and covet the Lustrous' precious bodies for use in crafting weaponry and jewelry. Houseki no Kuni tells the tale of Phosphophyllite, a youthful gem on the brink of their three-hundredth birthday. Despite being fragile, awkward, and lacking any apparent abilities, they are one of the weakest gems in existence and unable to contribute meaningfully to the fight against the Lunarians. Nonetheless, as the battle against these otherworldly invaders intensifies, Phosphophyllite discovers that power comes at a price that no one should have to pay.
5-Homunculus
Susumu Nakoshi is a middle-aged man who spends his days between a lavish first-class hotel and a park full of homeless people. One day, an eccentric young man approaches Nakoshi in search of subjects willing to partake in trepanation—the procedure of drilling a hole in the skull. This mysterious person claims that Nakoshi is the perfect man for the experiment. Initially rejecting the offer, he doubles back on his decision after his car gets towed off. Nakoshi agrees to let Manabu Ito, a 22-year-old medical student, drill a hole in his skull in exchange for 700,000 yen. The procedure bears no results at first, with Nakoshi showing no abnormalities. This normalcy comes to an abrupt end, however, when Nakoshi begins seeing the homunculus in every person.
4-Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan
Juri Mutou's mother was a renowned pianist whose career was cut short after giving birth to her. Juri suffered a traumatic event as a teenager, which led her to attempt suicide three times and resent her mother. Her dark past still haunts her, but her aunt Monica, a member of the clergy, invites her to visit a death row inmate. Yuu is a convict sentenced to death for killing three people. He has attempted suicide multiple times in his cell, and although Monica sends him letters to offer support, he perceives it as mere pity. When Yuu finally agrees to meet Monica to ask her to stop writing, he unexpectedly meets Juri, and their encounter sets off a chain of events that alters their lives forever.
3-Jumyou wo Kaitotte Moratta. Ichinen ni Tsuki, Ichimanen de
A struggling and penniless 20-year-old named Kusunoki is forced to sell off his possessions to buy food. One day, an old shopkeeper notices his destitution and directs him to a store that supposedly purchases lifespan, time, and health. Although Kusunoki is skeptical, his desperation and curiosity lead him to visit the store. To his dismay, Kusunoki learns that his lifespan is only worth a paltry sum of three hundred thousand yen. In a desperate attempt to earn more money, he decides to sell the next 30 years of his life for ten thousand yen per year, leaving him with a mere three months to live. Upon returning home with his newfound wealth, Kusunoki is surprised to be greeted by the store clerk, Miyagi. She informs him that she has been assigned to observe him until the last three days of his life. The rest of the story, titled "Jumyou wo Kaitotte Moratta. Ichinen ni Tsuki, Ichimanen de.," follows Kusunoki as he grapples with regrets from his past and learns the true meaning and value of life.
2-Aku no Hana
Takao Kasuga is a solitary student in middle school who has a deep affection for books, specifically for Charles Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs du Mal." He also harbors a crush on the popular Nanako Saeki, who is adored by everyone in his class. On the other hand, Sawa Nakamura, a disrespectful and unpleasant classmate, has no interest in school and is the complete opposite of Nanako. One day, Takao forgets his book at school and returns to retrieve it. However, he comes across Nanako's freshly used gym clothes on the ground, and an odd desire takes hold of him, prompting him to steal them like a depraved pervert. Takao struggles with the guilt of his actions and attempts to continue his life as normally as possible. Nevertheless, Sawa, who witnessed Takao's theft, has different plans in store for him.
1-Oyasumi Punpun
Punpun Onodera is an 11-year-old boy living a typical life in Japan. However, Punpun is a dreamer and romantic at heart. When he meets Aiko Tanaka, a new girl in his class, he begins to see his life change in unexpected ways. But as he navigates the ups and downs of their relationship, Punpun realizes the harsh realities of adulthood and the difficulties of leaving behind his childhood innocence. One night, Punpun's world is shattered when his father violently attacks his mother. This traumatic event forces Punpun to see the people he once looked up to in a different light. With his problems mounting, Punpun withdraws from the world and becomes increasingly isolated. However, this only makes his problems and inner turmoil worse, leading him down a dark path towards maturity in a poignant coming-of-age tale.
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