Must-Read Manga Of 2023

Summary

• Maria no Danzai delves deep into the psychology of revenge, offering a gritty and mature read for fans of the genre.
• Mr. Villain's Day Off is a cute and wholesome take on slice-of-life, perfect for those looking for something light and funny.
• Dark Gathering, with its stunning art and chilling horror elements, is a must-read manga that deserves all the attention it can get.

With 2023 being an incredibly solid year for anime, we've decided to take a look at its offerings on the manga side of things and highlight some of the year's best new manga that are a must-read for fans of the media or want to get ahead of the curb for what will likely become an anime at some point in the future.

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From web-manga to tankōbon, last year had some of the best offerings of slice-of-life, shonen, horror, and everything in between, offering almost something for fans of all genres. While many excellent ongoing manga were released last year, this list focuses on entirely new series that deserve your attention!

10 Maria no Danzai

Author

Kazuki

Artist

Junto Kamejima

Genre

Drama

Kicking things off is Maria no Danzai, a psychological drama that dives deep into the philosophy of revenge and what obsessing over it can entail. While the overarching theme is what you might expect, the general plot and characters make it worthwhile.

The pure spiral of revenge Maria, the protagonist, goes down is harrowing. Setting up traps reminiscent of the Saw films, forcing her prey to solve puzzles or pay the price with their lives. It's a gritty and mature manga that fans of the genre will enjoy!

9 Mr. Villain's Day Off

Author

Yuu Morikawa

Artist

Yuu Morikawa

Genre

Comedy

If the previous entry was a bit too dark for you, fear not; Mr. Villain's Day Off is here to save the day, offering a brilliant take on the slice-of-life sub-genre by following an alien on their off day from plotting to invade and destroy the earth with them exploring and discovering the mundane aspects of day-to-day life.

It's cute, wholesome, and hilarious. Even if the pacing can be a tad slow at times, the overall charm and creativity of the plot and characters will carry you through, making it a must-read for anyone who loves the slice-of-life genre!

8 Kagurabachi

Author

Takeru Hokazono

Artist

Takeru Hokazono

Genre

Action

Kagurabachi is a web-manga that blew up toward the back half of last year and follows a young man named Chihiro who wanted to become a famous swordsmith like his father until things take a dark and devastating twist, sending him down the path of revenge.

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While the plot is a bit basic, the moment-to-moment action is peak, ensuring you will never be bored. The pacing is fantastic, and so are the characters within the story. While the overarching narrative could be better, we highly suggest not sleeping on Kagurabachi, one of 2023's best manga!

7 One More Step, Come Stand By My Side

Author

Takeda Toryumon

Artist

Takeda Toryumon

Genre

Drama, Romance

Up next is One More Step, Come Stand by My Side, a collection of short stories that will leave you in awe at the end of each one. These stories are deep, raw, and emotional, making them a must-read for fans of drama and romance.

Included within this collection of stories is the heartwrenching 'My Wife Whom I Dearly Love,' which follows a man and his wife who just learned she has cancer and the final six months that follow. A true tearjerker that will have you glued to the page and turning the pages!

6 Since I Could Die Tomorrow

Author

Sumako Kari

Artist

Sumako Kari

Genre

Drama

Continuing on the trend of existential dread, but to a slightly lesser degree, we have Since I Could Die Tomorrow, a story that follows 42-year-old Sawako Honna, who suddenly has a heart palpitation during work, leading to the subsequent events of the story.

If you want a story that dives deep into commentary surrounding obstacles and woes you face within your 40s, then this is a must-read for you. While some aspects can drag on a bit too long, the overall cohesion and narrative are solid and worthy of your attention!

5 The Yakuza's Bias

Author

Teki Yatsuda

Artist

Teki Yatsuda

Genre

Comedy

Moving onto something more heartwarming, next in line is The Yakuza's Bias (hold on, let us cook). This manga follows the boss of the feared Washio Clan, Ken Kanashiro, who gets dragged to his first K-pop concert by his daughter, where he instantly becomes a superfan after laying eyes on Jun, his bias.

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The Yakuza's Bias is weird, wholesome, and unbelievably funny. If any part of this sounds up your alley, we cannot recommend it enough, as it is an absolute blast to read!

4 Mimi's Tales Of Terror

Author

Hirokatsu Kihara, Ichiro Nakayama

Artist

Juni Ito

Genre

Horror

Fun time is over, as short-lived as it was, as it is now time to dive into the wonderfully terrifying mind of Junji Ito, with whom manga horror fans are likely more than familiar. Mimi's Tales of Terror is our next entry, covering a collection of short stories that will send shivers down your spine.

Each entry in Mimi's Tales of Terror is the perfect length with just the right amount of creepiness and mystery, keeping you locked into each story, scarily turning each page, where the next horrific panel awaits you. Pick this up if you're a horror fan!

3 The Summer Hikaru Died

Author

Mokumokuren

Artist

Mokumokuren

Genre

Horror, Slice of Life

Remaining on the topic of horror, The Summer Hikaru Died may be one of the best manga of not only last year but of all time. The atmosphere is eerie and wistful but also has undertones of pure horror and even light romance, making the genre hard to pinpoint but not hard to recommend.

The Summer Hikaru Died is disturbing, unsettling, and oddly beautiful as it follows a young boy named Yoshiki, who runs into his best friend, Hikaru... six months after they passed away. The premise alone is fantastic and should be explored further if it interests you!

2 Dark Gathering

Author

Kenichi Kondo

Artist

Kenichi Kondo

Genre

Horror, Adventure

This one is a bit of a cheat, as Dark Gathering was initially published in 2019 but didn't receive its official translation until last year, which was enough for us to toss it onto the list as it deserves all the attention it can get.

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Dark Gathering has some of the best art out there; it's downright gorgeous and has horror elements that will make your skin crawl while simultaneously keeping you locked in and turning the page. The unique universe and rules within it also make for some remarkable story beats and twists that will constantly keep you looking for the next chapter!

1 The Horizon

Author

JH

Artist

JH

Genre

Dystopian Drama

Last but certainly not least, we have The Horizon, one of the saddest and rawest stories on war, following two kids looking to survive amongst a sea of broken adults in a dystopia. Each page has tremendous art and panels that will keep you engaged while simultaneously gritting your teeth and choking back tears.

The Horizon's artwork and messaging are powerful and impactful, making the struggles and chaos of this dark and hopeless world that much more painful. Still, despite that, once you begin reading, you will not be able to stop, making this a must-read for those interested in this type of story!

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