Highlights
- Manga has gained immense popularity in the West since the ’90s, with many classic titles continuing to be praised.
- Some iconic 80s shonen manga, such as Mobile Police Patlabor and Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, have stood the test of time.
- Akira Toriyama’s works, including Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, are highly influential and beloved, with Dragon Ball being one of the most iconic manga series in history.
Manga has been a part of Japan’s creative world since the 19th century, though it has only been in recent years that the format has become incredibly popular. Starting with the ’90s, manga and anime have made a huge splash in the west and continue to enjoy a large following to this very day.
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While many great and incredibly influential manga have made their way over to the west, there are still lots of older, classic manga that continue to be praised to this very day. While some have yet to see an official localization, their influence is known by fans all over the world. Here are some 80s shonen manga that continue to stand the test of time.
10 Mobile Police Patlabor
An Unconventional Mecha Anime
- Written and Illustrated by Masami Yuki
- Published in Weekly Shonen Sunday
- 22 volumes
- Science Fiction, Mecha, Action, Drama
In a futuristic Japan, robots called Labors are now used in heavy construction work. These Labors are so useful that a number of them have been assigned to the Tokyo Police force to assist in combating terrorism and dealing with all kinds of incidents. Noa Izumi is a new police officer excited to put her Labor piloting skills to use.
Patlabor is an interesting mecha series as it has a much more grounded outlook on the use of giant robots, including insight into the maintenance needed. The manga debuted in 1988 and ran until 1994, spawning several TV anime series and movies.
9 Dragon Quest: The Adventure Of Dai
A Fantastic Rendition Of A Dragon Quest World
- Written by Riku Sanjo & Illustrated by Koji Inada
- Published in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 37 volumes
- Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Dai, a young boy living on an island populated only by friendly monsters, dreams of being a hero. His wish is granted when a man named Avan arrives and offers to teach him the skills necessary to be a hero. However, at the same time, a new Demon King rises and brings chaos to the world, triggering a great adventure that will see Dai becoming the hero he dreams of.
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai is a 1989 manga based on the popular Dragon Quest video game series, with its own original story. Though the series is not as famous as its peers, it still maintains popularity due to its connection to the video game series as well as its recent anime adaptation.
8 Dr. Slump
Akira Toriyama’s Kooky Legacy
- Written & Illustrated by Akira Toriyama
- Published in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 18 volumes
- Science Fiction, Comedy
In the strange and bizarre Penguin Village, the scientist Senbei Norimaki successfully manages to create a robot girl. Naming her Arale, Senbei is surprised to find that Arale is far from a normal girl, possessing absurd strength and little to no common sense.
Dr. Slump is Akira Toriyama’s first major work, running from 1980 to 1984. It launched his career and established him as a popular gag mangaka. The series has become a massive franchise, spawning books, games, and movies.
7 Touch
An Iconic Baseball Romance
- Written & Illustrated by Mitsuru Adachi
- Published in Weekly Shonen Sunday
- 26 volumes
- Sports, Romance, Drama
Tatsuya and Kazuya Uesugi are twin brothers and fans of baseball. Though Tatsuya is more naturally gifted than his brother Kazuya, he steps aside so that his harder-working brother can have the spotlight. When a tragedy occurs, however, it’s now up to Tatsuya to fulfill his brother’s promise to their childhood friend Minami Asakura and take her to Koshien.
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Touch is a hallmark baseball manga by Mitsuru Adachi that ran from 1981 to 1986. Its mixture of sports and romance is incredibly effective, and the manga is so iconic in Japan that it received a sequel series recently titled Mix: Meisei Story.
6 City Hunter
A Charming Mix Of Action, Comedy, And Crime
- Written & Illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo
- Published in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 35 volumes
- Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama
On the streets of Shinjuku, all kinds of criminals and thugs roam the streets. In order to protect the peace and protect the innocent from harm, Ryo Saeba works as City Hunter, with his assistant Kaori Makimura always at his side. While Saeba himself is a menace on par with many of the criminals he takes down, his noble heart is what sets him apart.
City Hunter is a classic shonen manga from 1985, and while it has yet to be fully localized in the west, it maintains a popular reputation due to its influence. It has spawned several anime adaptations and a film series with entries coming out as recently as this year.
5 Hajime No Ippo
The Premier Boxing Manga
- Written & Illustrated by George Morikawa
- Published in Weekly Shonen Magazine
- 139 volumes and counting
- Sports, Drama
Ippo Makunouchi is a young high school student who is constantly bullied and has no friends due to constantly having to help with the family business. One day, a chance meeting leads him into the world of boxing as Ippo discovers he his unique talents.
Hajime no Ippo has been running since 1989, and is one of the longest-running manga in the world. Though the manga has yet to be officially released in the west, its anime adaptations have made it a hallmark example of a classic sports manga.
4 Ranma 1/2
Gender-Bending Comedy Hijinks
- Written & Illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi
- Published in Weekly Shonen Sunday
- 38 volumes
- Supernatural, Comedy, Romance
Martial artists Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo find out that their fathers have arranged for them to be married against their wishes. Complicating matters is the curse Ranma gained while training in China, which turns him into a girl whenever he is splashed with cold water. Hijinks ensue as the two try to navigate life with both the curse and their engagement.
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Ranma 1/2 is one of Rumiko Takahashi’s most famous works, and ran from 1987 to 1996. It is a landmark series that combines romance, comedy, and the supernatural to create an all-time classic that is beloved to this day.
3 Fist Of The North Star
Pure Martial Arts Spectacle
- Written by Buronson & Illustrated by Tetsuo Hara
- Published in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 27 volumes
- Science Fiction, Supernatural, Action, Drama
In a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by nuclear war, bandits and thugs of all kinds run rampant across the land, terrorizing the innocent. The only one fighting against them is Kenshiro, the master of a mystical martial art known only as Hokuto Shinken.
Fist of the North Star is a highly influential action manga series that ran from 1983 to 1988. It has spawned a massive franchise running from manga spin-offs, anime, video games, and more, showing that its influence is undeniable.
2 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
A Generation-Spanning Thrill Ride
- Written & Illustrated by Hirohiko Araki
- Published in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 132 volumes and counting
- Supernatural, Adventure, Action
Jonathan Joestar’s normal life is interrupted by the appearance of Dio Brando, who sets out to make his life a living hell. Though Jonathan does his best to get along with his adoptive brother, he has no idea that Dio’s actions will spark a generations-long battle that will involve not only him, but over a century of his descendants.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a massive work that has been running since 1987, with nine parts covering the series’ many adventures involving the Joestar family. The recent anime adaptations have launched the series into the mainstream, and it remains popular to this day.
1 Dragon Ball
The Most Iconic Manga In History
- Written & Illustrated by Akira Toriyama
- Published in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 42 volumes
- Fantasy, Adventure, Action
The wild, monkey-tailed Son Goku encounters a young girl named Bulma, the first human he’s seen in a long time. When he learns that she is searching for the mystical Dragon Balls, Goku decides to go with her, setting out on an adventure for the very first time.
Dragon Ball isn’t just one of the most influential manga ever made, it’s one of the biggest anime and manga franchises in the world, having captivated audiences since its initial run from 1984 to 1995. Its influence and popularity continue to today, where it is still held up as one of the best manga ever.
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