Comic Book Herald

A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans

Manga

Best Manga of the Decade

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Grading Criteria

This will work a lot like our “Best Comics of the Decade” list, but with a few notable tweaks.

  • IPs must be brand new to the Japanese and/or American manga markets between the years of 2010-19. This means even though One Piece, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Ultraman all have great new books out, they’re disqualified for being continuing series.
  • The list will be split into two categories: Blockbusters, each of which is so successful as to be a nearly mandatory pick, and Personal Selections, which are smaller books that may have slipped under the radar. This way, everyone gets represented.
  • I’m not going to ask Dave to proof against Japanese titles, so we’ll all just have to accept the anglicized versions.

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Katsuhiro Otomo — Building a Destroyed Future

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In March of 1933, poet Paul Valéry came to the defense of his own work by saying “Aux yeux de ces amateurs d’inquiétude et de perfection, un ouvrage n’est jamais achevé — mot qui pour eux n’a aucun sens — mais abandonné.”

Meaning “In the eyes of those who anxiously seek perfection, a work is never truly completed—a word that for them has no sense—but abandoned.”  The phrase was repeated only months later by a different French publication who distilled it down to only the parts in bold. [Read more…] about Katsuhiro Otomo — Building a Destroyed Future

What the Hell is Anime? Part 3: The Seven Deadly Sins, Death Note, and Product Placement.

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(What the Hell is Anime? Is a recurring series which no one has yet put a stop to. It takes a look at the beautiful weirdness of manga, anime, and the surrounding culture and packages it up in what we’re calling “satir-ucation.” Which is all to say that this is both well-meaning and entirely John’s fault.)

Hello students, please come in and take a seat anywhere.

As you can see on the chalkboard this is WtHiA-103 and as ever I, your substitute teacher and literary rapscallion John Galati, will be attempting to learn you about Anime. What it is. Where it comes from. How we can stop it. Open up your books to Chapter 30, “Folklore – All of It, All at Once.” Read aloud at your own pace. [Read more…] about What the Hell is Anime? Part 3: The Seven Deadly Sins, Death Note, and Product Placement.

What the Hell is Anime? Part 2: One Punch Man, Fist of the North Star, and The Touch of Death

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(What the Hell is Anime? Is a hopefully recurring series where we take a look at the beautiful weirdness of manga, anime, and the surrounding culture and package it up in what we’re calling “satir-ucation.” Which is all to say that this is both well-meaning and entirely John’s fault.)

Hello and welcome back to the show which asks the only question that matters: How many pushups can  you do before you destroy the Earth? [Read more…] about What the Hell is Anime? Part 2: One Punch Man, Fist of the North Star, and The Touch of Death

What the Hell is Anime? Part 1: Dragon Ball, One Piece, & Gluttony

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(What the Hell is Anime? Is a hopefully recurring series where we take a look at the beautiful weirdness of manga, anime, and the surrounding culture and package it up in what we’re calling “satir-ucation.” Which is all to say that this is both well-meaning and entirely John’s fault.)

Your mother and I have decided that you’re old enough to learn about anime. And as your loving parent it’s my responsibility to take you to this casual, sit down restaurant and answer all of your embarrassing question about Goku. I know that you’re going through a lot of changes right now — your eyes are getting bigger, you’re getting glowing hair in places you used to have non-glowing hair — but it’s natural. And having questions about it is natural, too. And maybe your friends have even filled you in a little about the birds and the beedrills, but I want to make sure you get the right information so you can stay safe out there. So now, before your feisty fajita bites get here and we have the most awkward meal of our life, let me tell you about the birds and the bees and the artistic merits of manga and anime. [Read more…] about What the Hell is Anime? Part 1: Dragon Ball, One Piece, & Gluttony