Great Manga That Have Rough Starts

Key Takeaways

Great manga series like
Attack on Titan
and
Berserk
had shaky starts but improved over time for a better reading experience.
Dr. Stone, Yu Yu Hakusho,
and
Gintama
took time to find their footing before delivering top-notch storytelling and humor.
Monster
and
One Piece
had slow beginnings but eventually became thrilling narratives with captivating plots and characters.

As someone who has traversed the vast seas of manga fandom and survived to tell the tale, I can attest that every great journey has its humble beginnings. And while some series may start off like a gentle breeze, others can feel more like a stormy sea that tests even the most intrepid reader’s resolve.

It might come as a surprise to manga enthusiasts that some of the most acclaimed manga didn’t initially burst onto the scene with intense action. These series, now renowned and iconic, took time to establish their foundation before they gained momentum, which was a risky strategy on the creators’ part.

Creating manga is a tough and demanding profession, and a series may be abruptly terminated at any moment. Fortunately for enthusiasts, some exceptional manga were spared from being discontinued due to rocky starts; not only did these works recover, but they went on to become legendary stories in the world of manga.

8 Attack On Titan

The Art Style Was Hard To Get Used To But Improved Over Time

Mangaka: Hajime Isayama
Genres: Action, dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic
Turning Point: The Female Titan (Chapter 23)

Attack on Titan is renowned as one of the greatest manga in existence, boosting Isayama’s reputation as an exceptional mangaka. While the intriguing narrative of this series captivated audiences from the start, there’s one aspect where Attack on Titan often fell short for fans – its artistic style.

Initially, the art in this series was quite poor, but it wasn’t until an anime adaptation that things began to pick up. Fortunately, those who followed the anime and later moved to the manga were rewarded with significantly better artwork, which made the post-time skip storyline a pleasure to experience.

7 Dr. Stone

Senku Had To Head To A Different Village For The Manga To Feel Fresh

Mangaka: Riichiro Inagaki
Genres: Adventure, post-apocalyptic, science fiction
Turning Point: Nasty Looks (Chapter 17)

Dr. Stone tells an extraordinary story set in the world of shonen manga, where science plays a crucial role in helping Earth recover from being pushed back into a Stone Age. Central to this narrative is Senku, a character who defies petrification and utilizes his brilliant intellect to rejuvenate humanity.

Initially, the storyline of the manga was intriguing, but the initial episodes were tedious to get through. It wasn’t until Senku left his companions for a neighboring village that Dr. Stone captivated readers, and it has maintained that appeal ever since.

6 Berserk

The Black Swordsman Arc Is A Very Edgy Start That Makes Guts Seem Unlikable

Mangaka: Kentaro Miura
Genres: Dark fantasy, epic fantasy, sword and sorcery
Turning Point:The Golden Age (1) (Volume 3)

Kentaro Miura, who sadly passed away, created an extraordinary inheritance through the epic dark fantasy series, “Berserk”. Renowned for its colossal weaponry, grim visuals, and intricately crafted characters that bring delight in their exploration.

To put it simply, many fans find the initial Black Swordsman storyline excessively violent. This portrayal of Guts can seem unhinged, making it challenging for readers to connect with him as a character. It’s not until the highly praised Golden Age arc that Miura has the opportunity to showcase his artistic talent and develop a more complex protagonist for fans to appreciate.

5 Yu Yu Hakusho

It Took A Long Time For Yusuke To Get Reanimated

Mangaka: Yoshihiro Togashi
Genres: Adventure, martial arts, supernatural
Turning Point: The New Mission!! (Chapter 18)

Yu Yu Hakusho is one of two renowned shonen mangas penned by Yoshihiro Togashi. This manga gained legendary status in the shonen genre before ending on a somewhat dissatisfying note, which mirrored Togashi’s disheartened state during that period.

Originally, it seemed like “Yu Yu Hakusho” might have been cut short prematurely due to its slow-moving early chapters that didn’t seem to contribute much to the overall storyline. Remarkably, in a fortunate turn of events for the anime adaptation, certain story arcs were excised from the original manga, which ultimately enhanced the viewing experience. Instead of meandering aimlessly, Yusuke’s transformation into the Spirit Detective happened swiftly, making for a more engaging and satisfying series for fans like myself.

4 Gintama

Plays It Safe Early On Before Leaning Into Its Wacky Comedic Writing

Mangaka: Hideaki Sorachi
Genres: Adventure, samurai, science fiction, comedy
Turning Point: Lesson 89

Gintama” stands out as one of the funniest comedy mangas, overflowing with jokes and intricate background narratives that bring each character to vivid life without compromising their satirical tone. Initially though, these aspects may not be immediately noticeable when this manga was still finding its footing in the early stages of the series.

The humor wasn’t very abundant and the brief stories could become tiresome over time. However, it was only when Gintama shifted more towards satirical storytelling, combined with some strategically long arcs, that the show evolved into something extraordinary that fans became obsessed with.

3 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Phantom Blood Is A Rough Start, But Araki Finds His Groove Soon Enough

Mangaka: Hirohiko Araki
Genres: Adventure, supernatural
Turning Point: Joseph Joestar of New York, Part 1 (Chapter 45)

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, an eccentric and renowned comic book series, is now receiving the recognition in the Western world that it has long deserved. Much credit goes to the anime adaptation, particularly for its skillful handling of the series’ least compelling storyline.

Initially, “Phantom Blood” served as a solid foundation, but delving into Araki’s initial efforts in crafting a “JoJo” story reveals several flaws in his early artwork. Nevertheless, the mangaka swiftly honed his skills, rapidly rising to become one of the most acclaimed and gifted creators, thanks to his exceptional work on this grand opus.

2 Monster

A Thriller That Takes A While To Get Going

Mangaka: Naoki Urasawa
Genres: Crime, mystery, psychological thriller
Turning Point: Execution Night (Chapter 8)

“Monster” is an engaging and captivating mystery thriller, but readers need to know that while the plot becomes fantastic eventually, it requires substantial setup before reaching its climax.

Some readers might appreciate the gradual build-up, but others might find it too slow or lacking in action or plot progression. However, I must emphasize that this patience pays off significantly, and eventually, you’ll get to immerse yourself in an exhilarating manga featuring one of the most compelling antagonists in the genre.

1 One Piece

Can Be Rather Generic Until Readers Reach The Arabasta Arc

Mangaka: Eiichiro Oda
Genres: Adventure, fantasy, science fiction
Turning Point: Reverse Mountain (Chapter 101)

Oda has captivated the globe with “One Piece”, one of the three major manga series that continues to thrive. Jumping into this narrative as a novice might seem overwhelming, but those who give it a try won’t regret their decision. They may simply need to be patient and persist through the initial stages.

Initially, some of the early story arcs in “One Piece” might seem predictable, as they cover familiar shonen tropes. However, a hint of Oda’s genius emerges during the arc of Arabasta. From thereon, the series truly demonstrates its essence with the arcs of Skypiea, Thriller Bark, and Dressrosa.

2024-11-20 07:34