Teen
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One Piece, Vol. 1
Eiichiro Oda
A straw-hatted boy sets out to become Pirate King.
Manga
Best manga of all time: ten to start with
No list can settle “best of all time”, but these ten are widely read, easy to start and worth a first volume. Age flags included.
We cannot prove one manga is the best ever, and we do not use sales figures. This is our editors’ list of ten series that are well known, easy to start from volume 1 and have different tastes covered: adventure, ninjas, alchemy, sport, thrillers and romance. The order is a suggested starting order for a new reader, not a ranking.
Six of the ten are in our teen band or younger. Death Note, Attack on Titan, Akira and Monster are in our adult band because of their themes, so read the description first. Manga is read right to left; our how-to-read-manga guide explains it in a minute.
Tip
Start with volume 1. If you want to go on after the first volume, buy the next two or three before you commit to a long run.
The ten
More in the FinderTeen picks first, then the adult-band titles.
Teen
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Dragon Ball, Vol. 1
Akira Toriyama
The original Dragon Ball adventure, with a monkey-tailed boy and a girl chasing wish-granting balls.
Teen
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Naruto, Vol. 1
Masashi Kishimoto
A shunned young ninja dreams of becoming the village leader.
Teen
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Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1
Hiromu Arakawa
Two brothers seek a way to restore their bodies.
Teen
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Slam Dunk, Vol. 1
Takehiko Inoue
A delinquent joins a basketball team.
Teen
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Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1
Natsuki Takaya
A girl moves in with a family cursed by animals.
Adult
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Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom
Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
A student finds a notebook that kills.
Adult
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Attack on Titan, Vol. 1
Hajime Isayama
Humanity lives behind walls from giant humanoids.
Adult
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Monster: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 1
Naoki Urasawa
A doctor pursues a patient who becomes a killer.
Adult
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Akira, Vol. 1
Katsuhiro Otomo
A landmark cyberpunk epic.
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Other manga to try
Open the full FinderFilter by age and genre to see more of the catalog.
Questions people ask
What is the best manga of all time?
There is no single answer, and we do not rank by sales. One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, Slam Dunk, Fruits Basket, Death Note, Attack on Titan, Monster and Akira are widely read and well regarded. We list them as a starting order for new readers, with age flags, not as a ranking.
Which manga should a beginner read first?
Pick a genre you already like. One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist and Naruto are popular adventure starts, Slam Dunk suits sports fans and Fruits Basket suits romance and drama readers. Begin with volume 1, check the age rating on the cover, and buy two or three more if you enjoy it.
Is manga OK for kids?
Some of it. Publishers print an age rating on each book. In our catalog most manga sits in the teen band, and four on this list, Death Note, Attack on Titan, Monster and Akira, are in the adult band. Read the description and look through a few pages before buying for a younger reader.
Are these manga finished?
We do not give completion status here because it changes. Check the publisher’s page or a bookseller’s series listing for the current number of volumes and whether a series is complete. A finished series is a good choice if you dislike waiting, and the first volume is a safe way to try one.
Are box sets cheaper than single volumes?
Sometimes, but it varies. A box set bundles consecutive volumes, often in a slipcase, and can cost less than buying each one. Prices change, and we do not show prices, so compare the box set with the individual volumes on Amazon on the day you buy. Our catalog lists a Naruto and a One Piece box set.