Welcome back to the hallowed halls of the GC Library. Take a deep breath. Can you smell the well loved pages just waiting for you to read them? You walk through the stacks, inspecting the titles for your next storytelling adventure. As you round the corner and out of the Young Adult section, you see them: mangas. Whether they’re a new experience for you or well-loved treasures, the GateCrashers are here to recommend their favorites, especially those they find very accessible to newcomers.
Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama
The Enigma of Amigara Fault by Junji Ito
Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi
Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa
“There is beauty as well as horror, love and unity as well as grotesque transformation and vicious violence, in the spirals of Uzomaki.”
— Robert
Uzomaki by Junji Ito
Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer by Satoshi Mizukami
Outlanders by Johji Manabe
“Sailor Moon is a classic and for good reason, it’s one of the best magical girl stories anywhere and doubles as a great story about girls being friends. It’s super accessible to anyone and also is really easy to find basically anywhere.”
— Reagan
Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
Haiku!! by Haruichi Furudate
Nine Dragons Ball Parade written by Mikiyasu Kamada and illustrated by Ashibi Fukui
Mobile Fighter Gundam G by Kenichi Matsuzaki
“Paradise Kiss has lush and memorable visual style, a cast of likeable and charming characters make for delicious drama and lovely romances.”
— Bree
Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa
Death Note written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata
To Your Eternity by Yoshitoki Oima
One Piece by Eiichiro Oda
“A Man & His Cat is a comfort food manga for any cat lover, highlighting the evolution of a tear-jerking relationship between a widowed older man and his adorable outcast cat.”
— Katie
A Man & His Cat by Umi Sakurai
Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama
“Nausicäa of the Valley of the Wind gave me one of the most magical reading experiences that transported me to another place and time through beautiful illustrations and an epically eco-conscious adventure.”
— Thomas
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind by Hayao Miyazaki
Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi
Yoshi No Zuikara by Satsuki Yoshino
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki
“Fullmetal Alchemist‘s writing, from the characters to the world-building, is mature and well-realized.”
— Bec
Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
“Our Dream at Dusk is a beautiful story about coming to terms with your sexuality and developing bonds with people who exist outside of society’s forced binary outlook.”
— Matt
Our Dream at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani
Given by Natsuki Kizu
I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino
Witch Hat Altier by Kamome Shirahama