Manga 102: 10 Great Manga Series to Get Started With

If you've read our Manga 101 post, you should be familiar with some of the basic components of this dynamic type of literature. Traditionally, manga is released chapter by chapter in magazines. The type of magazine it is originally published in typically dictates which category it falls into, but most of the stories can be read and enjoyed by anyone. In this post, we are focusing on manga series that have a limited number of volumes (thirteen or fewer) so you can dive into a series and find your new obsession!

1. Nichijou=My Ordinary Life by Keiichi Arawi

In this just-surreal-enough take on the "school genre" of manga, a group of friends grapple with all sorts of unexpected situations in their daily lives as high schoolers.

2. Uzumaki (3-In-1 Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito

You can get this grisly seinen horror series in an all-in-one volume. The story is set in Kurôzu-Cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan. BTW, it's cursed.

3. Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa

This harrowing historical story of Hiroshima is one of the original Japanese manga series. It serves as a reminder of the suffering that war brings to the innocent.

4. Revolutionary Girl Utena (Box Set) by Chiho Sait

This shojo manga is about a fierce orphan teenage girl warrior who longs to be a prince. Get all the volumes in this tidy box set!

5. Cells at Work! by Akane Shimizu

A highly inventive shonen manga featuring two main protagonists, a red blood cell and a white blood cell. They're working hard to keep their body healthy.

6. Kiss of the Rose Princess by Aya Shouoto

Anise is a young girl with a controlling father and four potential suitors. Will she be able to satisfy her own desires? This shojo series is a lot of romantic fun!

7. Death Note (Box Set) by Tsugumi Ohba

Another box set, this horror tale follows Light Yagami, an ace student who's totally bored. All that changes when he finds a notebook dropped by a rogue death god.

8. Nyankees by Atsushi Okada

There's plenty of action in this shonen manga about protecting your turf, keeping other guys from pawing at your girl, showing everyone who's boss.

9. Legend of Zelda by Akira Himekawa

A young boy embarks on a perilous quest to find a set of spiritual, magic stones, and deliver them to Princess Zelda in this video game-inspiring fantasy.

10. Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru by Masashi Kishimoto

Only the most powerful warriors are able to transcend their bodies and become something even greater—samurai. Another crackling shonen adventure series.

Pick up one of these series today and start your journey to becoming an otaku (an obsessive fan)! Let us know if you have any favorite manga series to add to the list.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon