It is truly amazing to think about how much effort goes into creating these interesting tales, with relatable, and lovable characters, as well as deep, well thought out worlds. You can just feel all the love, care and time that was put into each page, poured into each panel and carefully sketched into each tiny detail.
Manga tell stories like no other genre can. From the ingenious works of renowned horror mangaka, Junji Ito, to the beautiful and heartwarming stories such as Your Lie in April, there’s something in manga to suit everyone’s tastes.
Technical proficiency and art style are two amazing, important and fascinating things about manga. Some series certainly stand out more than others artistically. You will also find that the best manga is often much more detailed than anime. Reasons include time. There is more flexibility in finishing manga compared to the more stringent anime deadlines. Another factor is money. It costs more to create one anime episode than it does to create manga. Mangaka’s also have a bit more freedom to draw their desired characters and scenery.
Without further ado, here's our ranking of the manga with the best artwork ever.
14. Death Note
The artist for Death Note is one of the best. The genius of gorgeous character designs and settings create a realistic feeling. The contrast between the realistic human world, and supernatural Shinigami world mirrors the internal conflict of the main character and the external confusion of his mortal world. The story is partially told through the character’s facial expressions. Shading, dimensions, and angles play an important part in the art to convey deep conflict and the character’s gradual changes as he becomes more enmeshed in his struggle to use a supernatural power to control his environment. The last few frames of the series are definitely some of the most memorable in manga.
13. Blade of the Immortal
When it comes to Blade of the Immortal, the story and art weave together perfectly for a remarkable result. The style, flow of action and subtle, yet effective, balance of detail and simplicity complement the complex atmosphere.
12. Gon
The precise art of Gon fills the story with life and realism to create an illustrious manga that portrays anime and nature in a pleasingly realistic way. The art supports sparse dialogue for a powerful result.
11. Kokou no Hito (Climber)
Climber creates a feel of adventure through its art. With soft, wispy detail in its background, you can almost feel the white snow, crisp nights and beautiful, yet challenging mountains and rocks. The character designs are sharper, so that they pop, never fading into the background.
10. Akira
As an 80’s manga, the character designs in Akira might not be anything special, but the beautiful backgrounds and pretty panoramic views give the drawings a spot on this list.
9. Gantz
The art of Gantz’s controversial story quality stands apart for its excellence. With interesting scenes full of intriguing detail and dimension, Gantz is a treat to behold.
8 .Vinland Saga
Fitting the historical setting of Vinland Saga, each frame contributes to the captivating story. The gore of battles and their aftermath portray fierce brutality. With a high level of realism and accuracy, the art tells a poignant story. The chapters were switched from weekly, to monthly so that the mangaka could include as much detail as possible. The results are astonishing.
7 .Inuyashiki
This bizarre yet creative story offers some bizarre yet creative art! This one has a more modern feel compared to some other entries on this list, but look at those amazing dimensions, shading, and details. The artistic and technical qualities of these drawings are outstanding.
6. Uzumaki
Uzumaki , as well as the rest of Junji Ito’s work, is beautifully horrifying. Terrifying, yet fascinating, Junji’s art tells a tale of its own. You wouldn’t expect pictures to scare you. But Junji’s creativity with manga is unsettling. The ominous art complements the story to create a constant state of foreboding. The art leaves a haunting impression.
5. One Punch Man
One Punch Man, a comedic action manga blows us all away with its intricately detailed art. The story and premise sound absolutely ridiculous, but a solid combination of clever writing and sharp, cool drawings, make for a great series.
4. Otoyomegatari
Highly stylized, Otoyomegatari's art is very sharp, bold, and intricately detailed. Beautiful art complements a beautiful story.
3. Oyasumi Punpun
Oyasumi PunPun is a heart wrenching tale about adolescence and the grim realities of transitioning to adulthood. It addresses serious, taboo issues in a frank, bleak, matter-of-fact tone. It spares no one’s feelings, and is not for the faint of heart. The art is beautifully detailed, and sets a realistic, yet fitting atmosphere for the story. Both the series and the art are amazingly thought provoking.
2. Vagabond
Vagabond’s detailed art sets the ambiance for its rich storyline. The art has movement and immerses the reader in a gorgeous environment. In the midst of intense beauty, the art maintains a rough, yet aloof feel that words cannot express.
1. Berserk
Ah yes, what can be said about Berserk that's not already been said? It is truly, without a doubt, an amazing manga, through and through. Creative, fascinating, incredibly well executed, not to mention stunningly detailed, there is no other series that has quite the same feel as Berserk, and no other series that can top its ridiculously amazing art.
