The Best Shojo Manga That Debuted In 2024

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Summary

  • Frieren and Delicious in Dungeon stood out among manga in 2024.
  • New shojo manga debuted, grabbing fans’ attention with unique premises.
  • Series like Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite and Magical Girl Dandelion added twists to genre norms.

As a seasoned manga enthusiast who has traversed through countless tales of love, loss, and camaraderie, I must say that the latest collection of shojo manga releases has truly been a delight to my eyes and heart. One title that stands out among the rest is “My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999.

2024 has been a fantastic year for manga and anime enthusiasts, especially those who love “Frieren” and “Delicious in Dungeon”. The sales of “Frieren” on the manga side were exceptionally high, landing it as the second best-selling title behind only the much-anticipated finale of “Jujutsu Kaisen”. Meanwhile, “Delicious in Dungeon” gained significant popularity with its anime adaptation, emerging as one of the standout anime series of the year.

2024 was an extraordinary year for me as a manga enthusiast, filled with the introduction of numerous captivating shojo mangas. Some of these titles quickly became the talk of the town, garnering attention from readers all over, while others were long-awaited Western arrivals, finally reaching us through official translations. Regardless of how I obtained them, whether through scanslations or purchasing them from stores, there’s no denying that these shojo mangas truly shone brightest in 2024!

10. Tomie: Control

MyAnimeList Score: 6.60

  • Creator: Junji Ito
  • 1 Chapter
  • Fan Translations only

It’s quite unexpected, but indeed, Junji Ito has delved into the realm of shojo manga! The roots of modern horror manga can be traced back to stories published in shojo magazines. To experience a glimpse of those early horror comics, readers can turn to Kazuo ‘Umezz’ Umezu’s “My Name is Shingo”, which received its official English translation this year, courtesy of Viz Media.

In case the fans are yearning for something contemporary, Ito has launched a fresh installment of his Tomie series this year titled “Tomie: Control”. This standalone story resurrects the nearly immortal succubus through a fungal form that causes one friend to turn against another. It’s a chilling read, brief in length yet packed with suspense, and it showcases one of Tomie’s novel abilities which could hint at Ito being inspired by “The Last of Us” due to its incorporation of the notorious cordyceps fungus.

9. The Twilight Princess And The Amorous Raven

MyAnimeList Score: 6.95

  • Creator: Akira Osora
  • 1 Chapter
  • Fan Translations only

Under its Japanese name, “Kurahime to Koikurasu“, or “The Twilight Princess and the Amorous Raven“, garnered attention from readers in 2024. This one-shot is particularly substantial for a standalone story, boasting a rich backstory that complements its concept. The narrative revolves around Asaki, who serves as the ‘twilight princess’ of the illustrious Hibana clan, a lineage renowned for their exorcism abilities.

In a twist of events, she possesses abilities beyond the norm, which isolates her from others and forces her into the role of an exorcist. To break free from this life, she must apprehend the Yatagarasu, her clan’s sworn enemy. It is then that one of her classmates, Amabara Ten, claims to be the Yatagarasu and offers aid in exchange for her unintentional rescue of his life. Despite seeking an adversary, she may have stumbled upon a friend instead.

8. Uesugi-Kun Wants To Quit Being A Girl

MyAnimeList Score: 7.00

  • Creator: Yuu Yabuchi
  • 1+ Volume, 12+ Chapters
  • Fan Translations only

Keisuke Uesugi finds himself in a challenging predicament as he yearns to spend more time with his childhood friend, Noel. However, things have evolved since their early days together. Now, Noel appears to be more comfortable around her female companions, whereas Uesugi is often overshadowed by his male friend, Eito, who excels in intelligence, good looks, and height, leaving Uesuigi looking like he’s still a youngster, or worse, a girl.

To improve things, he visits the local temple to express his wishes. He makes numerous wishes, one of them being a humorous one: “I’d prefer to be a woman just to have normal conversations with Noel.” Regrettably, the deity took it literally and made it happen. Now, he is forced to live as a woman until he can figure out how to reverse this transformation. In the meantime, he might discover more about himself and his friends as they adapt to his new gender identity.

7. Magical Girl Dandelion

MyAnimeList Score: 7.24

  • Creator: Kaeru Mizuho
  • 1+ Volume, 6+ Chapters
  • Available in English via Viz Media

As an avid manga enthusiast, I’ve come to realize that merely embodying a conventional tokusatsu hero or magical girl character isn’t enough to captivate readers today. There needs to be a unique, gripping twist to keep us hooked, much like the chilling horror strip Magical Girl Site and the humorous yuri comedy Gushing Over Magical Girls. Magical Girl Dandelion, however, strikes a balance between these two by employing the genre to weave a heartfelt domestic drama.

The story revolves around Tanpopo, a 16-year-old girl who’s been cared for by Shade, a spectral being, since childhood. Butterfly, an organization with magical abilities, asks her to join them, but this means she must eliminate Shade and similar spirits. With her powers now active, she faces the dilemma of either adhering to her destiny or finding a way for both parties to live harmoniously together.

6. Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite

MyAnimeList Score: 7.39

  • Creator: Julietta Suzuki
  • 6+ Volumes, 28+ Chapters
  • Available in English via Viz Media

Since its debut in 2022, Japanese readers, or those reading scanslations, have been drawn to the manga titled “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite”. But for fans who have developed a fondness for this series, there’s now an opportunity to financially support it, as Viz Media started publishing its official English translations in October 2024. The story revolves around Hina Alucard, a vampire recluse who prefers blood bags over human interaction.

Through a box set of the anime series ‘Vampire Cross,’ her father introduced her to the world of anime. Enthralled by it, she developed an ardor for the show and decided to journey to Japan. There, she persuaded a human named Kyuta to join her in living out her ‘otaku’ fantasy. It was advantageous that he bore a resemblance to Mao, the dashing protagonist of ‘VC,’ but he was far more grouchy, and not particularly keen on sampling food from the ‘VC’ brand for her. Over time, they managed to form a friendship.

5. Belladonna’s Lover

MyAnimeList Score: 7.47

  • Creator: Ruu1mm
  • 1 Chapter
  • Fan Translations only

Though the shojo genre may seem delicate and glittery, it has produced some intense and emotional narratives over time. One particularly impactful shojo one-shot from 2024 was “Belladonna’s Lover”, a heartfelt girls’ love story that goes beyond prejudice to portray romance as something fraught with danger. In this tale, Bella is cursed with a deadly poison that she unintentionally transfers to anyone she touches. The only way to lift this curse is for her to find true love.

In a twist of fate, my infamous curse had driven me into solitude within the haunting woods, earning me the title of ‘The Poisonous Witch.’ Yet, one fateful day, a painter named Anna, lost in these very woods, stumbled upon my humble abode. Instead of fearing me or my supposed potions, she showed no apprehension, even welcoming our unusual encounter. This unexpected meeting marked the blossoming of a unique friendship, and with time, something far more profound began to grow between us.

4. Koi no Iroha wo Oshiete

Anime-Planet Score: 3.77/5 Stars

  • Creator: Tsumugi Suou
  • 1 Volume, 4 Chapters
  • Fan Translations only

Romance is essentially what shojo specializes in, and “Teaching the Colors of Love” delivers it directly with a trainee relationship that seems to be stepping into reality. This story revolves around Rin, who finds herself heartbroken after her boyfriend breaks up with her just a week into their relationship. He claims she’s too rigid and reserved for him, leaving her in a difficult situation.

Instead, she unexpectedly opens up to Matsukaze, a well-liked senior at school. Upon sharing her struggles, he proposes acting as her ‘practice partner.’ This arrangement is meant to help her grasp the basics of love and break free from her timid nature. It’s a swift beginning for this novice, and she has much to discover.

3. The Young Lady Of House Finlanz

Anime-Planet Score: 3.85/5 Stars

  • Creators: Puni-chan (story), Aoi Peki (art)
  • 1+ Volume, 12+ Chapters
  • Fan Translations only

In the realm of literature, you’ll find almost as many tales of reincarnation as there are isekai and villainess narratives. While some of these stories existed before the surge in popularity for otherworldly battles and cunning female criminals, it certainly appears that these three genres have been walking hand-in-hand in published works for quite some time now. In the case of “The Young Lady of House Finlanz“, the protagonist, Lizbeth Finlanz, is solely focused on a reincarnation storyline.

Born into a distinguished family, she was wed to Crown Prince Reinhardt in a strategic union. Overwhelmed by loneliness, she penned letters to friends overseas that were later manipulated to pin a false crime on her. Tragically, she spent her final days in solitude behind bars. However, fate had other plans; she found herself reborn as a 7-year-old in her old home, now able to enjoy life’s comforts and utilize her past experiences to shape her future.

2. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You – Soulmate

MyAnimeList Score: 7.79

  • Creator: Karuho Shiina
  • 3 Volumes, 13 Chapters
  • Available in English via Viz Media

I’ve noticed that it often takes time for a series to receive an official Western release, such as the case with “My Name is Shingo” which ended in 1986 but didn’t get officially translated until 2024, despite being a niche horror strip. Interestingly, another series, “Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You – Soulmate”, based on the popular manga “Kimi ni Todoke”, wasn’t picked up by Viz Media until April 2024, two years after its Japanese finale.

Fortunately, the series ended relatively quickly, and it had been fully translated by October 2024. In this installment, Kurumi, who was once Sawako’s adversary but has since become a friend, seeks romance. She encounters a persistent admirer who bears an uncanny resemblance to the melancholic Sawako. As it turns out, he is her cousin, Eiji. When she decides to give him a chance, she finds herself increasingly attracted to him. By mere coincidence, it seems she may have found what she was searching for all along.

1. My Love Story With Yamada-kun At Lv999

MyAnimeList Score: 8.16

  • Creator: Mashiro
  • 10+ Volumes, 108+ Chapters
  • Available in English via Penguin Random House

People who have been yearning for the geeky charm of Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku might have come across My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 in their suggested reads. This series has been running since 2019 and can be read digitally on Mangamo, but it wasn’t until May 2024 that physical volumes started being published by Penguin Random House.

Akane, after learning her boyfriend was unfaithful with another player, channels her anger towards virtual enemies within the game. At the point where she considers discarding all gaming boys, she encounters Yamada – a gamer who has mastered the game but struggles with affection in reality. Fascinated by him, she aims to surpass him in the game while attempting to win his heart simultaneously.

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2024-12-15 11:04