Most Influential Seinen Manga

Key Takeaways

Seinen manga is for older audiences seeking mature, complex stories with varied genres and themes.
Iconic seinen titles like Lupin the 3rd, Golgo 13, and Lone Wolf and Cub have influenced diverse media.
Seinen series like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Berserk, Vagabond, and Kingdom are staples in dark fantasy and historical epics.

As a lifelong fan of manga, I can confidently say that these influential works have left an indelible mark on the world of Japanese comic books and beyond. From the epic samurai tales of Vagabond to the dark fantasy of Berserk, each series has captivated readers with its unique blend of action, drama, and philosophical depth.

If shōnen refers to anime and manga targeted towards young boys but also enjoyed by others who love its themes of combat, camaraderie, and excitement, then seinen caters to an older demographic. These stories tend to be more sophisticated, featuring intricate narratives or explicit content. For instance, “Holy Land” delves deep into the harsh realities of professional street fighting, in contrast to something like “Dragon Ball”.

Additionally, you’ll find numerous fantastic seinen comics that span a variety of genres. For instance, there are deep historical epics such as “Vinland Saga,” or lighthearted adventures centered around dining like “Delicious in Dungeon.” These comics have the potential to join the esteemed list of iconic and impactful seinen manga, as their popularity transcends the confines of the printed page.

1 Lupin The 3rd

Gentleman Thief Fights Off the Law And His Libido To Swipe Priceless Valuables

Creator: Kazuhiko ‘Monkey Punch’ Kato.
Original Run: July 1967-April 1972.
14 Volumes, 109 Chapters.
Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment.

In contrast to its reputation for grittier narratives and characters, Seinen isn’t solely limited to serious themes. For instance, while it’s renowned for family-friendly anime adaptations, Lupin the 3rd initially emerged as a Seinen series. The original manga portrayed the escapades of Lupin III’s grandson in a more mature, sensual, and self-aware manner, evoking the tone of pulp fiction novels rather than Saturday morning cartoons.

Despite its more playful nature compared to other seinen manga, it’s this light-heartedness that made it appealing to a wide audience. This could be the reason behind its influence, as seen in shōnen series like One Piece and mature series like Cowboy Bebop, with their intriguing character dynamics (the bond between Spike and Jet isn’t too dissimilar from Lupin and Jigen’s). Even the Metal Gear Solid games drew inspiration from it, as the characters of Solid Snake in MGS1 and EVA in MGS3 were modeled after Lupin and his ally-turned-rival Fujiko Mine.

2 Golgo 13

Hitman Keeps Things Strictly Professional For Over 60 Years

Creator: Takao Saito.
Original Run: November 1968-Present.
214+ Volumes, 613+ Chapters.
Available in English via Viz Media.

If the blend of James Bond-style charisma and Austin Powers-like humor in Lupin didn’t capture readers, they might have been drawn to the more serious stories found in Golgo 13 instead. Essentially, it’s a precursor to Hitman, a series that was popularized by video games decades later, as the identity of its main assassin remains unknown – his real name, age, origin, and other personal details are all shrouded in mystery. What is known is that he excels at completing assignments, regardless of their size.

This long-running manga, with the highest number of published volumes, continues to be released. Although not as well-known in Western regions, it was extremely successful in Japan, setting a trend for grim, tough storylines within gekiga (an older term referring to mature manga) rather than its lighter counterparts. It introduced the concept of stoic antiheroes, with characters like Kenshiro from “Fist of the North Star” and Jotaro Kujo from “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” being direct descendants of Golgo 13.

3 Lone Wolf And Cub

Ronin Tries To Bring Up His Child While Killing Rival Samurai

Creators: Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima.
Original Run: September 1970-April 1976.
28 Volumes, 142 Chapters.
Available in English via Dark Horse Comics.

If someone isn’t acquainted with “Lone Wolf and Cub“, they might still recognize the works that it influenced. The tale of a samurai seeking vengeance for his family’s death while nurturing his sole surviving son has served as a foundation for numerous other stories, both directly and indirectly. The comic and film, “Road to Perdition“, is a direct example due to its narrative about American gangsters essentially retelling the same story. However, traces of its essence can be found in many more productions.

In games like Yakuza and The Last of Us, or shows such as The Mandalorian, we often see tough characters revealing their tender emotions which captivates audiences. Interestingly, this dynamic has seldom been adapted beyond live-action films, with one notable exception being “Shogun Assassin,” a movie that earned the title of an “video nasty” and was nominated for an Oscar. Remarkably, it also found itself alongside Cannibal Holocaust in causing censorship issues.

4 Violence Jack

Amnesiac Giant Murders Reprehensible Villains After The End Of The World

Creator: Go Nagai.
Original Run: July 1973-December 1978 (Part 1), August 1983-1990 (Part 2).
18 Volumes, 48 Chapters.
Fan Translations only.

This one might raise a few eyebrows, as Violence Jack technically started as a shōnen series. It wasn’t classified as seinen until it switched publishers in 1983 as Violence Jack: Part 2. Yet its content has always been extremely violent, being on par with its predecessor, Devilman, if not more so. Its OVA adaptation was infamous for depicting its graphic portrayals of murder, abuse, cannibalism, and other cheery topics.

Despite its graphic violence that might leave even hardcore fans feeling uneasy, it holds a significant spot in manga lore as the pioneer of post-apocalyptic action series. Its impact is evident in many popular titles such as Land of the Lustrous, Fire Force, and Dr. Stone. The strongest imprint can be found in Fist of the North Star, which softened its extreme elements to focus more on martial arts action, becoming a leading shōnen manga.

5 Maison Ikkoku

Student’s Love For Grieving Widow Sets New Bar For Romcoms

Creator: Rumiko Takahashi.
Original Run: October 1980-April 1987.
15 Volumes, 162 Chapters.
Available in English via Viz Media.

Seinen isn’t all about hitmen, murder, and pervy thieves. After having practically invented the harem manga with Urusei Yatsura, Rumiko Takahashi broke new ground with Maison Ikkoku, where hapless college student Yusaku puts up with his wacky neighbors in his apartment complex to woo Kyoko, its new manager. It showed Takahashi’s talent worked beyond Yatsura‘s sci-fi shenanigans, as Ikkoku’s mix of yuks and genuine tenderness made it a hit.

Yusaku didn’t just view Kyoko as another conquest, instead, he grew to genuinely care for her and take her feelings into account. His attempts to communicate with her were diverse. The series served as a model for romantic comedy manga, influencing later works like “Kimagure Orange Road” and “Stop! Hibari-kun” with its intricate character dynamics and humorous elements.

6 Akira

Biker Punks In Future Tokyo Revolutionize Sci-Fi Seinen Manga

Creator: Katsuhiro Otomo.
Original Run: December 1982-June 1990.
6 volumes, 120 Chapters.
Available in English via Kodansha Comics USA.

Is it necessary to provide an explanation for Akira? While some younger fans of manga and anime might not fully grasp the excitement surrounding it today, even some older fans might prefer other titles. However, even before the movie gained significant popularity in the Western world, the original manga was extremely successful. It can be argued that it pioneered Japanese cyberpunk with its grim setting and intricate plot filled with conspiracies.

It’s difficult to conceive of later works such as “Battle Angel Alita” and “Serial Experiments Lain” without the success of “Akira”. Characters from this movie have also served as significant inspirations for other genres, with Masashi Kishimoto and Toru Fujisawa acknowledging “Akira” as a major influence on their creations, “Naruto” and “Great Teacher Onizuka”, respectively. The main characters in these series carry the same rebellious charm and attitude as Kaneda, while any series that highlights his bike-riding skills seems to follow suit.

7 Ghost In The Shell

Cyborg Cops Contend With Cyber Crimes And Humanity

Creator: Shirow Masamune.
Original Run: March 1989-September 1991.
1 Volume, 11 Chapters.
Available in English via Dark Horse Comics and Kodansha Comics USA.

Akira wasn’t the sole cyberpunk character to captivate creators for decades; Ghost in the Shell extended the ideas of identity and transhumanism, as seen in films like Blade Runner, even further. Initially, it seemed like a future adventure starring cyborg police officers and artificial intelligence tanks, particularly in the lighter and more playful manga versions. However, it didn’t take long before its deeper themes emerged.

The fascinating exploration of the gap between mind and body, the question of whether advanced AI can be considered conscious, the vulnerability of memories, among other themes, captivated readers. Notably, these ideas resonated with renowned sci-fi creators such as the Wachowskis and James Cameron, who acknowledged the series as a significant inspiration for their works, specifically The Matrix and Avatar.

8 Berserk

Guts’ Quest Of Revenge And Regret Becomes The Bedrock Of Modern Dark Fantasy

Creator: Kentaro Miura.
Original Run: August 1989-Present.
42+ Volumes, 391+ Chapters.
Available in English via Dark Horse Comics.

Similar to Akira, Berserk stands tall without requiring an introduction. It combined the brutal violence of Devilman, the vengeful spirit of Fist of the North Star, and the engaging storytelling of Rose of Versailles (surprisingly), and emerged as the leading dark fantasy series in manga and anime. While it may not appeal to all (even Miura admitted the excessive violence was regrettable), its impact is indisputable.

In various works such as “Attack on Titan,” “Vinland Saga,” and the “Castlevania” series, creators like Hajime Isayama, Makoto Yukimura, and their teams have acknowledged that “Berserk” served as a significant influence. This impact can be seen in titles like “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Demon Slayer,” the “Dark Souls” games, and the “Final Fantasy” series. If a character wields an enormous sword, it’s likely that traces of “Berserk” can be found within these stories.

9 Vagabond

Musashi Miyamoto Fights Battles Externally And Internally

Creator: Takehiko Inoue.
Original Run: September 1998-May 2015 (on hiatus).
37 Volumes, 327 Chapters.
Available in English via Viz Media.

As a die-hard gamer, I can’t help but notice the striking resemblance between the characters in Lupin the 3rd and One Piece, even though their stories are poles apart. However, it’s not so apparent how Vagabond has impacted One Piece, especially considering their stark differences – one being a gritty, realistic seinen series, and the other an outrageously fun cartoon adventure. But upon closer inspection, I believe that the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, must have been inspired by Vagabond in ways we might not immediately see.

The narrative traces the life of renowned samurai Musashi Miyamoto, starting from his first appearance at the Battle of Sekigahara and beyond. It delves into traditional bushido themes such as honor and responsibility, while also exploring Musashi’s personal conflicts and driving forces. Similar to Oda, those entering it with expectations of just thrilling sword fights discover a more thought-provoking and philosophical experience. By broadening his artistic and storytelling abilities, this work has the potential to motivate other aspiring authors and artists to do likewise.

10 Kingdom

War Orphans’ Quest To Unite China Inspires Thousands To Draw One Of Its Volumes

Creator: Yasuhisa Hara.
Original Run: January 2006-Present.
73+ Volumes, 816+ Chapters.
Fan Translations only.

Few mangas have such a strong impact on fans that they feel compelled to re-create them, and this is exactly what artists worldwide did with the Akira manga, transforming its characters into “Bartkira,” which are The Simpsons characters. On the other hand, the Kingdom series took it a step further by encouraging everyone to re-draw an entire volume for the “Social Kingdom” campaign.

Exploring Li Xin’s ambition to be China’s foremost military leader and unify its feuding states, Kingdom is an epic historical tale that has left a mark on influential industry figures. Notable artists like Inoue of Vagabond, Oda of One Piece, and Hirohiko Araki of Jojo were among those who contributed to the “Social Kingdom” project, a feat that earned it a Guinness World Record for the most manga authors.

2024-11-12 13:34