Top Manga Underdogs Who Rose to Power Against All Odds

Summary

Naruto went from village outcast to the Seventh Hokage, proving his leadership and heroism.
Sinbad endured loss and slavery to become king of Sindria, leading trading agreements and forming an alliance.
Rimuru Tempest, a lowly slime, rose to be the King of Monsters with magical talent and loyal followers.

Everyone appreciates a heartwarming tale about an underdog. These types of stories are not just packed with surprises and excitement, but when they’re well-crafted, they can serve as a powerful source of inspiration for viewers. It’s no secret that the world of anime is rich with such captivating narratives.

Instead of the usual internet lists showcasing rags-to-riches tales, this one will take a unique approach by highlighting stories about characters who gain remarkable physical abilities and ascend to influential roles within their fictional worlds. As our focus is on manga, series such as “Solo Leveling” – which would undeniably fit well – won’t be featured in this list.

This list contains some spoilers!

7. Naruto

From a Troublemaker to a Hokage

Japanese Title: Naruto
MyAnimeList Score: 8.07
First Published: Sep 21, 1999

In his youth, Naruto endures frequent bullying and isolation from his village due to the nine-tailed beast confined within him. Moreover, being an impish boy who enjoys playing pranks and causing chaos, it’s not long before he earns a reputation as Konoha’s mischievous troublemaker.

Over time, the lad initially struggling to execute even a fundamental technique such as the Shadow Clone Jutsu transformed into an eminent figure and undeniably worthy successor by the finale of the series. Defying expectations, this miscreant ascended to the position of the Seventh Hokage of Konoha.

6. Magi: The Adventures of Sinbad

From a Slave to a King

Japanese Title: Magi: Sinbad no Bouken
MyAnimeList Score: 8.10
First Published: May 8, 2013

In a small coastal town under the rule of Kingdom Partevia, lived Sinbad, an only child to a fisherman father and a mother who was often unwell. When he was still young, both his father and mother passed away – his father due to war, and his mother from illness. At some point in his life, Sinbad was forced into slavery. However, instead of being overwhelmed by despair, Sinbad transformed those difficult experiences into motivation for personal growth.

At a tender age, Sinbad embarked on a trading career and managed to establish trade ties with nations that had previously been isolated. Later, when mysterious dungeons emerged, Sinbad overcame seven of them, utilizing their magical artifacts and riches to expand his business into the largest global trading conglomerate. Towards the end of the series, he established a flourishing and technologically advanced nation, the Kingdom of Sindria, which became the most prosperous the world had ever known. Additionally, Sinbad rose to become the leader of the Seven Seas Alliance.

5. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

From Lowly Monster to King of Monsters

Japanese Title: Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
MyAnimeList Score: 8.37
First Published: Mar 26, 2015

In a fresh, thrilling, yet perilous realm of fantasy, Rimuru Tempest found himself transformed into the most insignificant life form – a slime. Initially, devoid of combat skills, he couldn’t even discern what lay ahead. However, it wasn’t until he mastered magic that things became clearer for him.

To Rimuru’s great fortune, he demonstrates an extraordinary aptitude for magic. As the plot unfolds, this simple slime manages to master various forms of magic, construct a humanoid form, ascend to the rank of demon lord, and accumulate numerous devoted followers. Now, Rimuru Tempest is renowned as the majestic King of the Jura-Tempest Federation, a realm inhabited by monsters.

4. Tokyo Ghoul

From Normal Boy to One-Eyed King

Japanese Title: Tokyo Ghoul
MyAnimeList Score: 8.53
First Published: Sep 8, 2011

Initially, Ken Kaneki leads an ordinary college life. However, his world takes a drastic turn when he encounters a grotesque creature, known as a Ghoul, which typically preys on humans. Instead of meeting the fate shared by many other human victims, he undergoes an extraordinary transformation, becoming a half-human, half-ghoul hybrid. The humanity shuns him, while the ghouls reject his presence. Thus, he finds himself in a state of isolation, belonging to neither the human nor the ghoul world.

Throughout the story, Kaneki undergoes numerous agonizing ordeals, ranging from torment to amnesia. However, he eventually comes to understand that his peculiar hybrid status grants him a rare perspective – he is the sole individual who can empathize with both humans and ghouls due to this condition. By the series’ conclusion, Ken Kaneki takes on an informal role as leader among the ghouls and serves as a liaison between them and humanity.

3. Attack on Titan

From Dreamer to Dissident Leader

Japanese Title: Shingeki no Kyojin
MyAnimeList Score: 8.55
First Published: Sep 9, 2009

As children, Eren Yeager, along with his closest companions Armin and Mikasa, harbored a shared ambition: to explore the world lying beyond the colossal barriers. They longed to witness the grandeur of mountains, the untamed wildlife, the vastness of oceans, and numerous other wonders they had only read about in books. Regrettably, the walls collapsed unexpectedly, turning their lives upside down.

Eren spends the majority of his teenage years as part of the Survey Corps. But then he fully unlocked the Attack Titan’s time-bending power and gradually transformed into a radical revolutionary leader. He wreaks havoc on one of the enemy’s biggest cities, forms a militia group that usurps the kingdom, and unleashes the rumbling that massacres over 80% of humanity. Some would say Eren is a revolutionary leader who freed his people, but most would say he is a heartless terrorist. One thing is for sure, he becomes the most powerful and influential figure by the end of the series.

2. Kingdom

From Poor Boy to Great General

Japanese Title: Kingdom
MyAnimeList Score: 9.01
First Published: Jan 26, 2006

In a humble, proud nation called Qin, there lived an orphan boy named Shin, who spent his days laboring as a slave in the countryside. His life was harsh, and the future looked bleak. Yet, alongside his loyal brother Hyou, they clung to dreams of becoming distinguished generals someday. Though Shin often dismissed this dream, the loss of Hyou ignited a fire within him, pushing him to break free from their oppressive circumstances and strive for greatness in honor of their shared vision.

Indeed, it’s come to light that Shin possesses exceptional skills as a soldier. Beyond his prowess in combat, he demonstrates the intellect of a strategist. He discerns when to employ raw strength and when to apply cunning tactics. His ability to skillfully deploy his troops ensures maximum damage to the enemy. With such prodigious talent, Shin steadily ascends through the military ranks, eventually earning recognition as one of the Qin army’s most distinguished generals.

1. One Piece

From Young Rebel to Emperor of the Sea

Japanese Title: One Piece
MyAnimeList Score: 9.22
First Published: Jul 22, 1997

Luffy embarks on a journey from his humble hometown, sailing in a compact vessel that just fits two people comfortably. With nothing but the ambition to be crowned as the Pirate King, he sets off. Many in his village dismiss this aspiration as a foolish whim of an inexperienced youth, but Luffy sees only the thrilling adventures that lie ahead on his path towards becoming the future Pirate King.

Years have passed, and now Luffy leads the notorious Straw Hat pirates. His crew, steadfast and formidable, possesses skills as great as his own and harbor dreams identical to his. They’ve traversed the legendary Sky Island and saved the mystical Fish-Man Island. Luffy engages in battles against ruthless pirates and topples corrupt Marine Admirals. With one more step, he stands on the brink of seizing the long-unoccupied throne of the Pirate King, having earned the revered title of one of the Four Sea Emperors.

2025-03-15 07:15