Although a large portion of comics in the West are rooted within the superhero genre, the medium of manga has been slow to tap into this domain, but the signs here are encouraging when looking at how many such franchises have been taking off in recent times. From the global success and popularity enjoyed by franchises such as My Hero Academia and One Punch Man, it is clear that superhero manga are here to stay, and for good reason.
Interestingly, the way this genre is portrayed in manga is quite varied, incorporating elements of parody and satire alongside more serious and grim takes. As a result, the appeal of this niche within the larger medium of manga is certain to rein in larger audiences over time, given that there is sure to be a series for virtually anyone, irrespective of their fondness for superheroes. With this in mind, here are some of the best superhero manga that have come out into the world so far.
5 Zetman
A Dark Science Fiction-Leaning Perspective On Superheroes
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Original Run |
October 31, 2002 to July 24, 2014 |
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No. Of Volumes |
20 |
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Published In |
Weekly Young Jump |
First published as a one-shot in 1994, Masakazu Katsura’s Zetmanbegan serialization in the seinen magazine Weekly Young Jump, and was even adapted into an anime series back in 2012. The story is centered on the journey of a young man named Jin Kanzaki, who possesses the power to transform into a creature known as “ZET.”
Armed with superhuman strength, speed, and regeneration, Jin is forced to learn to control his abilities while fighting off monstrous creatures known as Players. Simultaneously, the narrative also follows the perspective of Kouga Amagi, who uses an advanced combat suit to compete with Kanzaki and the Players, relying on technology instead of superhuman powers.
4 Kinnikuman
A Comical Take On The Superhero Genre That Became A Classic
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Original Run |
May 28, 1979 to May 4, 1987, Continued November 28, 2011 to present |
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No. Of Volumes |
85 |
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Published In |
Weekly Shonen Jump, Shu Play News |
One of the first big superhero manga to make waves in Japan, Kinnikuman was created by Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada, a manga artist duo who collaborate under the pen name of Yudetamago. Initially developed as a comedy series, with a protagonist whose personality completely subverts the archetype of a traditional superhero, Kinnikuman’s tone and themes changed considerably over the duration of its publication.
Following its titular protagonist, Kinnikuman (whose real name is Suguru Kinniku), the series starts off with his exploits as a superhero, before shifting into a more martial-arts and wrestling focused narrative featuring a more serious tone. The series has been cited as a source of inspiration by many revered manga artists, including Fullmetal Alchemist’s Hiromu Arakawa, Fairy Tail’s Hiro Mashima, and Assassination Classroom’s Yusei Matsui. After completing its initial run in 1987, the series resumed in 2011 and has remained in serialization ever since.
3 Go! Go! Loser Ranger!
Offers A Grim Vision Of The Super Sentai Genre
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Original Run |
February 3, 2021 to present |
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No. Of Volumes |
14 |
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Published In |
Weekly Shonen Magazine |
Negi Haruba’s dark take on the Super Sentai genre sees a disgruntled foot soldier strike back at a group of individuals who are regarded as the heroes who saved Earth. Set in a world where this Super Sentai-themed group of heroes re-enacts their defeat of a villainous invading army on a weekly basis, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! is a violent subversion of tokusatsu tropes that leans toward the growing subgenre of superhero satire.
Praised for its clever use of mystery elements, dark humor, as well as its innovative take on the character archetypes and conventional story beats of Super Sentai and tokusatsu, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! might be an ideal option for readers who want a more mature perspective on these two genres of fiction. The series has already been adapted to anime as of 2024, with a second season currently in production.
2 My Hero Academia
Brings A Battle Shonen Feel To A World Filled With Superheroes
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Original Run |
July 7, 2014 to present |
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No. Of Volumes |
40 |
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Published In |
Weekly Shonen Jump |
Kohei Horikoshi’s take on superheroes is much more rooted in the more optimistic coming-of-age territory that pervades most battle shonen series, and this has helped My Hero Academia grow into one of Weekly Shonen Jump’s most successful recent titles. Taking place in a world where most individuals manifest supernatural abilities known as “Quirks,” the series adopts a high-school setting in its main premise, although only a small portion of the series is actually spent in the classroom.
Tracing the journey of a young Quirkless boy named Izuku Midoriya, the series follows his attempts to surpass his idol, All Might, who is seen as the world’s greatest hero at the very start of the series. After All Might encounters Izuku and witnesses his strong desire to protect others no matter the cost, he chooses to bestow his own power on him, allowing Izuku to pursue his dream of becoming All Might’s true successor.
1 One Punch Man
Adopts An Absurd Yet Grounded Approach In Parodying Superhero Tropes
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Original Run |
June 14, 2012 to present |
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No. Of Volumes |
31 |
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Published In |
Weekly Shonen Jump |
Originally published as a webcomic by the author One, One Punch Man was subsequently remade as a digital manga by renowned artist Yusuke Murata and has since been adapted into an anime series that won heaps of praise for its first season. Another satirical retelling of superhero archetypes, One Punch Man boasts an incredibly clever premise centered on its protagonist, Saitama.
Having amassed near-immeasurable strength through unknown means, Saitama adopts the life of a hero as a hobby but is left unfulfilled due to how easily he is able to deal with any threat that presents itself. Although this plot thread is not constantly at the center of the manga’s storyline, the series paints a vibrant and borderline ridiculous picture of how bureaucracy, corruption, and human egos can warp the noble underpinnings of heroism.
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