It takes a lot of effort for a mangaka to impress both editors and readers with their product. This is the quest that so many aspiring artists embark on, with the vast majority of these people failing in their goal. However, there are some talented artists and storytellers who attain the renown they need to turn their long-form storytelling dreams into a reality, making the most of their premise and collaborating with editors to ensure that their product is as perfect as can be.
Some of these manga can become so popular that there’s seemingly no end in sight for these series. This isn’t a bad thing in the slightest, and many fans who are invested in these stories willlove reading chapters upon chaptersthat detail the struggles of their favorite characters. However, there’s no denying that some manga end up encompassing so many volumes that it can be genuinely ridiculous to see just how lengthy these tales have become.
5One Piece
Volumes: 109
Everyone expectedOne Pieceto be brought up in such a discussion, with Oda’s shonen masterpiece taking people on a wild ride courtesy of its amazing worldbuilding and a litany of beloved characters that have grown over the course of the series. Luffy’s journey to assemble a ragtag collection of pirates and attain the elusiveOne Pieceis something that has captivated fans to this day, with the show’s scope slowly expanding while building up a beautiful world fans can get invested in.
One Piecestarted around a time whenshonen series likeNarutoandBleachwere gaining steam, leading to this trio forming The Big Three of shonen anime. Now, after all the time that has passed,One Pieceis the only series standing tall to this day. It’s a testament to Oda’s roadmap and thought-out approach that nothing in this manga seems like a last-minute addition, and fans can’t wait to see what the final few arcs of this series have in store for them.
4Captain Tsubasa
Volumes: 110
Captain Tsubasais one of the most popular sports manga that many people have heard of. The fact that popular football players like Alessandro Del Piero, Fernando Torres, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez, and Andres Iniesta, among many others, were inspired by this series to get into soccer and turn it into a livelihood is a testament to how influential this series is.
There are bound to be some exaggerations in this manga to make the sport of soccer look more awe-inspiring than it is, but readers won’t mind once they get invested in the struggles of Tsubasa and his team as they strive to become some of the most competent players in Japan. It’s a legendary series thatended its run in 2024, making for one of the most riveting reads any soccer fan can enjoy.
3JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Volumes: 135
For the longest time,JoJo’s Bizarre Adventurestruggled to appeal to fans in the West. The lack of an anime adaptation is the biggest reason why the manga faltered in this department, and manyJoJofans still find it hard to believe that such an amazing manga took so long to finally be adapted. Thankfully, David Production did an excellent job adapting the manyJoJoparts, with each subsequent story arc escalating in quality and craziness as the show went on.
The manga itself is currently in the ninth part, showing the longevity of the series andhow Araki’s brilliance continues to helpJoJoevolveas a series. Fans can’t wait to see the storylines ofSteel Ball RunandJoJolionbe adapted, with the former being considered by many to be the greatest JoJo part Araki has penned. The potential forJoJoto go on for years makes it one of the best long-running manga fans can get invested in.
2Hajime No Ippo
Volumes: 141
One of the greatest boxing manga of all time that fans get a kick out of time and time again,Hajime no Ippois a long-running seriesthat is striding forward to this day. The series focuses on a timid high-school student who becomes the target of some heinous bullies. After a particularly vicious beatdown, he is encouraged to learn the art of boxing and defend himself, with his natural talent quickly turning him into a hot prospect who is bound to take the Japanese boxing circuit by storm.
This is precisely what happens, with Ippo’s empathetic nature making him an easy protagonist to root for. His rivalry with Miyata before he eventually challenges for the Japanese Featherweight Championship is a riveting journey with many highs that make it clear why so many people are huge fans ofHajime no Ippo.
1Baki The Grappler
Volumes: 150
One of the weirdest manga that fans can get their hands on,Baki the Grappleris a fighting manga that is as twisted as they come. The setup of the series itself is something that will shock fans, with Baki enhancing his strength to fight his legendary father, Yujiro Hanma, only to be taken out in no time as his mother is killed by Yujiro too. It’s a nightmarish scenario that compels Baki to become stronger and take revenge on his father for the many atrocities he has committed.
Theart style ofBaki the Grappleris one of its most striking aspects, and fans won’t mind too many manga with such stellar linework and detailed physiques. Given how Baki heads to the underworld to fight, it’s easy to see why some of the people he meets during his endeavors to get stronger can be pretty weird. However, this is all part of Baki’s charm, which relies on strong artwork and a fair bit of shock value to capture the attention of readers.
