In the last two years of working at QBD Books I have seen a massive boom in manga sales. To selling a few copies a day to seeing our shelves empty out before lunchtime has been exciting to see! It is clear you have all fallen in love with these incredible stories, and the incredible artwork that lies inside each one. And what a good time this has become for me to recommend five of my favourite manga that you should check out!
Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP
Starting out with one of my all-time favourites! Cardcaptor Sakura is about a ten-year-old girl who accidently unleashes the Clow Cards – magical cards that, if not captured quickly, will cause destruction to the world. Cerberus (or Kero-chan), the guardian of the Clow Cards, recruits Sakura as a cardcaptor and gives her the task to capture every card before any trouble is caused.
As well as being accompanied by the gluttonous and bossy Cerberus, Sakura’s best friend Tomoyo also tags along, acting as Sakura’s personal costume seamstress and videographer (much to Sakura’s embarrassment). Rival, Syaoran, also shows up, wanting to be the master of the Clow Cards himself.
I originally watched the anime for this, but decided to read the manga to fill in the few things the anime left out – and so I could be ready for new arc, Clear Card, which is currently being released. The manga can be a bit hard to get into at first. It has a stereotypical beginning that can be a bit jarring, but the story is well worth it! It’s full of adorable artwork, heartfelt moments and magic.
Natsume’s Book of Friends by Yuki Midorikawa
Natsume’s Book of Friends is about an orphaned boy who was moved from home to home because his ability to see spirits unnerved those around him and would often land him in trouble. Now living with friendly distant relatives in a country town, Natsume accidently sets free the spirit, Madara (who is nicknamed Nyanko-sensei). Nyanko-sensei teaches Nastume about the Book of Friends – a book of spirits’ names that Natsume’s grandmother put together when she was alive. The book gives the possessor the ability to control those spirits named.
This is a wholesome, light-hearted manga that is perfect when you need a break from the intensity of other stories. The art is simple, and gets better in the later volumes. Although many of the chapters hold a singular story, when larger arcs take place readers are given more insight into the characters, Natusme’s grandmother’s past (which is always super interesting!) and the culture of spirits.
Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusanagi
Yona of the Dawn follows the story of Princess Yona, a naïve, cheerful girl who lives a sheltered and content life within the castle. However, when her father, the King, is assassinated, Yona’s life is thrown into danger. She is saved by her childhood friend, who helps her escape from the castle and her pursuers.
This. Manga. Is. Amazing.
There are twists you don’t see coming. Yona goes from naïve and helpless to an absolute badass. You start to wonder if the villain really is all that bad. This manga has a great balance between comedy and tragedy, and is full of several story arcs to keep you invested while the overarching plot teases in here and there. I highly recommended this to anyone who enjoys an adventure story with a large cast of lovable characters.
Mob Psycho 100 by ONE
Mob Psycho 100 follows a middle school student nicknamed Mob who has psychic powers. In this world where supernatural forces are common nuisances for people, it is individuals like Mob and his con-artist master who are called out to vanquish them.
Now, the art for this series may initially throw you off. ONE isn’t the best at drawing proportions, but his toning and shading is dynamic, and the way he lays out pages are great and often brilliantly inventive. He became well-known for his One Punch Man webcomic, which was serialised as a manga with the art done by Yusuke Murata. If you have read (or watched the anime), you will know ONE has great comedic timing and his strengths carry on in this shounen.
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Set in a world where citizens can practice alchemy – ‘the science of understanding, deconstructing, and reconstructing matter’ – two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, decide to try and bring their mother back to life with it. However, human transmutation is strictly prohibited, and it is made clear why when their alchemy fails, leaving Edward without a leg and Alphonse without his whole body. To save his brother, Edward binds his brother’s soul to a suit of armour, and loses his arm in the process.
Years later, the two brothers are on the hunt for the philosopher’s stone, hoping that they can use its power to bring their bodies back.
This is an incredible series and one of my favourite manga. Its story is gritty, with a bit of humour and light-hearted moments sprinkled throughout. Arakawa has an amazing imagination and you can tell just how much research she put in to making this manga as intricate and perfectly executed as she did.
I have to say, it was hard picking a top five when there are so many amazing stories out there! But I hope these have grabbed your interest and inspired you to pick them up. They are all great series’, and I look forward to chatting to you about them and your own favourites in store.
Alicia Randall
