Violence Jack

A manga series by Go Nagai beginning 1972. High school student Akira Fudo fuses with a demon to become Devilman and engages in human-demon warfare. Though criticized for violent and grotesque expression, its innovativeness and philosophical depth were highly valued. A pioneering fusion of dark fantasy and shonen manga with lasting influence on subsequent works.

A legendary martial arts manga by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland ravaged by nuclear war. It follows Kenshiro, the successor to the deadly Hokuto Shinken assassination art, as he wanders the wasteland protecting the innocent and battling tyrannical warlords. The iconic catchphrase 'You are already dead' (Omae wa mou shindeiru) became one of the most recognized memes in global internet culture. The series profoundly influenced the battle manga genre for decades to come, inspiring works from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure to Dragon Ball. Its combination of hyper-masculine action, tragic romance, and themes of brotherhood made it a defining work of 1980s manga culture.

An ultra-long-running manga by Takao Saito. This hard-boiled series follows top sniper 'Duke Togo' and holds records as one of the world's longest-running manga since its 1968 debut. It represents the mature manga culture of Japan.

The world's longest weekly serialized manga (200 volumes) by Osamu Akimoto. A comedy depicting the daily life of the eccentric police officer Ryo-san at a downtown police box. Serialized without a single break for 40 years from 1976 to 2016, it set a monumental record in Japanese manga history.

A historical manga by Yasuhisa Hara. Set in China's Warring States period, it follows the boy Shin aspiring to become a great general alongside the future First Emperor Ying Zheng. Its powerful battle scenes and passionate human drama made it a defining hit of seinen manga since the 2010s.

An ultra-long-running gekiga by Takao Saito holding a Guinness World Record for its 53-year run. Synonymous with adult manga, beloved by Japanese businessmen.

A historical manga by Yasuhisa Hara set in China's Warring States period. Over 100 million copies, with a blockbuster live-action film series.