10 Best New-Gen Manga to Read in 2026

Anime and manga fandom changed forever after the significant lockdown period of the pandemic and post-pandemic era of the 2020s onward. Discourse increasingly involved chasing the new big thing to reach the same highs reached by the explosive popularity of Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer in the era. However, as tastes matured and diversified, the best new-gen manga soon emerged.

Manga, as a medium, has been monumentally successful worldwide due to its broad application of everything from glorious action, to emotionally-driven, personal storytelling, to even educational or insightful experiences. They spread far beyond Shueisha's flagship brands across a spectrum of impressive print and digital publishers.

However, the best new-gen manga to truly shine lately, especially in the months when the pandemic began to wane, showed impressive staying power of both returning mangaka talents, and bold new storytelling ideas. The result is a strong spread across shōnen, shōjo, seinen, and josei demographics, with a little something for plenty of readers in between.

Hirayasumi

The most recent seinen serialization from the brilliant Keigo Shinzou, Hirayasumi is significantly less weird than his previous hit, Tokyo Alien Bros., and may be his most resonant yet. Focusing on the familial bond of former actor and freelancer Hiroto Ikuta and art student Natsumi Kobayashi, Hirayasumi follows the trials and tribulations of adulthood in a healing slice-of-life format.

For those finding the premise familiar, especially of a wholesome lad chasing his dreams only to fall into a humbler lifestyle and inherit his grandmother's run-down home after she passes, it's vaguely similar to a slice-of-life J-drama. Each chapter is a heartwarming episodic rendition of the two as they attempt to find their balance in life, work, and potentially romance.

Otaku Vampire's Love Bite

Hakusensha as a publisher may be most famous among certain audiences for Young Animal's Berserk, but for a broad spectrum of readers, its Hana to Yume magazine is revered as a shōjo hitmaker. One particular creator known for Kamisama Kiss and a ton of other Hana to Yume stories, returned in 2022 with a new mix on her usual tricks.

Otaku Vampire's Love Bite focuses on Hina Arukado, a vampire living in Romania whose father, wishing to bring joy to her shut-in life, introduces her to anime. Through the discovery of "Vampire Cross", Hina becomes a devout otaku and stans its hit character Mao. This prompts her to move to Japan and carry out her weeb odyssey.

Soon, Arukado meets sophomore college student Kyuta Amanatsu, whose personality and looks strongly resemble Mao, yet he shows few of the interests she has. The usual Suzuki magic then shows itself through their bonding amid dangerous supernatural misadventures. With rival vampires, a protective father, and various charming male characters, it's a sweet romantic comedy that doesn't bite too hard.

Shinobi Undercover

While plenty has already been said comparing the new series from Candy Flurry creators Ippon Takegushi and Santa Mitarashi to Naruto, it stands on its own merits, too. Outliving its short-lived Shonen Jump predecessor, Shinobi Undercover is into its second year as its flexes with dynamic shading, stronger paneling, and breathtaking action like something out of late-stage My Hero Academia.

The series itself focuses on Yodaka, a ninja and member of Public Safety (not to be confused with Chainsaw Man's organization) charged with protecting Aoi Mukai at her high school. While the premise is familiar, its execution, blending their wholesome school slice-of-life dynamic with intense action against rivals, dangerous fugitives, or prominent clans, make this a consistent Shōnen Jump banger.

She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat

A stellar reminder of yuri's applications to all audiences, She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat from Kadokawa Shoten is a perfectly cozy josei read showcasing companionship and kinship over slow-burn sexual tension. It has struck a chord, too, with fans not just in the lesbian, asexual, and aromantic community, but across a broader readership for several reasons.

Initially focusing on Yuki Nomoto, a single woman in Tokyo with a love for cooking yet a small appetite, the story explores Nomoto's slow discovery of her sexuality as she shrugs off the notion that she must live to please the men in her life. When she meets Totoko Kasuga, a big eater who appreciates Nomoto's company, everything changes.

Each chapter is episodic in nature but features a spectrum of food porn based on home cooking, social media-inspired dishes, eating out, and convenience store treats, as Nomoto, Kasuga, and more discover themselves through cuisine. It's sweet, wholesome, and one of the most authentic, LGBT-focused stories, comforting general audiences while being enlightening for its target readership.

The Bugle Call: Song of War

Fantasy manga is gaining significant spotlight thanks to critical acclaim for hits like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Witch Hat Atelier, and Dungeon Meshi. While Shueisha is certainly mopping up the competition lately with its current biggest mainline Shonen Jump fantasy hit, its monthly magazine, Jump Square, has a killer manga of its own.

The Bugle Call: Song of War isn't just an idle recommendation from critics; Vinland Saga creator Makoto Yukimura has even sung its praises. Focusing on Luca in a Europe-inspired dark fantasy realm, cursed by his knack for communicating orders in endless battles via bugle despite dreams of becoming a musician, the story takes a turn after his strange secret emerges.

Marked by a strange branch growing out of his head, Luca soon demonstrates the gift of creating visuals with his bugle, able to precisely guide troops to victory thanks to tactical training by his mentor. For this, Luca and other "Branch-hexed" individuals are taken in by the mysterious Pontiff as they take down his rivals for him.

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All

An emerging hit that seems to draw a much broader readership, this series, affectionately titled the "Green Yuri" is exactly as it's described. With backdrops rendered in a bright lime green hue, the series stood out from its competitors in its humble origins as a short Twitter story.

Yet, the series became a slice of life yuri phenomenon in just under four years, with an anime on the way. The series predominantly focuses on the point of view of Mitsuki Koga, an employee at the record store run by her uncle, as she is mistakenly seen by gyaru Aya Oosawa as a cool, stylish boy upon whom she immediately develops a crush.

This initial understanding becomes a beautiful romance told across mostly 4-page anecdotes with odd exceptions, like chapter #37. Brimming with style and especially great for fans of the '80s and '90s with grunge and funk rock like the RHCP on display, it's got great characters, a slow-burn romance at its core, with Mitsuki's absurd occasional "rizz" a particular highlight.

Kagurabachi

Debuting in the fall of 2023 as Shōnen Jump's "next big thing" matching the hype and energy of other contemporary hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Kagurabachi was a fascinating hit in the West. In fact, fans genuinely wondered beyond the initial salvo of endless Peter Griffin edits and AI-generated memes whether Kagurabachi deserved the "is good, actually" treatment.

But Kagurabachi is good, actually. In fact, it's great. Blending revenge thriller pastiche of Tarantino, John Wick, and Matt Reeves-era Batman movies, Kagurabachi is perfectly fitting as a series to latch onto even for newcomers to manga. Kagurabachi gets readers hooked with its first two arcs, but the Sword Bearer Assassination Arc, its longest by far, is genuinely incredible.

Dogsred

While certainly a manga that dropped in the newer generation for seinen readers on Weekly Young Jump, Dogsred is Golden Kamuy creator Satoru Noda's passion project rising from the ashes of his failed first hit, Supinamarada! In Dogsred, rebellious former figure skater Rou Shirakawa falls in with the hockey fanatics of Tamakomai in Hokkaido, where personal discovery and growth await.

Dogsred is clear proof of Noda's adoration of ice hockey both in the NHL and worldwide, and retains all his usual quirks. Balancing technical knowledge, beautifully-drawn games each containing their own story, and gut-busting laughs, Dogsred is perhaps not the hockey series folks may crave in the absence of Heated Rivalry, yet it's equally valid as a new breakout manga.

The Summer Hikaru Died

While this piece largely focuses on manga that haven't yet debuted an anime adaptation, The Summer Hikaru Died is too brilliant to overlook. Draped over with an overarching cosmic/uncanny dread, The Summer Hikaru Died explores the haunting ramifications of letting an impostor live in the body of a dead innocent teen, while harboring dangerous powers misunderstood by society for centuries.

The Summer Hikaru Died ups the tension further by complicating its protagonist, Yoshiki Tsujinaka's reasons for keeping the secret of the strange eldritch creature masquerading as his missing friend, Hikaru Indo: he loves him. The manga explores philosophical quandaries as its remote village setting grapples with cosmic and spiritual horrors, and it's as provocative to read as it is beautiful to behold.

The unease of whether this "Hikaru" is trustworthy enough to keep around, and the silent yet understanding judgment of Yoshiki's selfish desire to keep him around, make this a compelling read. Its confident use of stunning shadows evoking an uncomfortable otherness, alongside some truly uncomfortable character designs and J-horror vibes, make this a solid read while waiting for season 2.

Ichi the Witch

Releasing just a week ahead of Shinobi Undercover in 2024, Ichi the Witch helps shoulder the future of Shōnen Jump in case One Piece ever truly ends. For those who adored Osamu Nishi's work on Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, this same magical quirkiness comes alive in Shōnen Jump's biggest new hit, magically illustrated by Shiro Usazaki.

With an inventive twist on high fantasy using the world of witches in which a boy stumbles upon its secrets otherwise totally reserved for women, Ichi the Witch feels like the classic Shōnen Jump premise, yet simultaneously, wonderfully fresh.

Upon killing a Majik while on the hunt, Ichi quickly takes on its powers (and inherits a Kurama-like companion) becoming the world's first male witch. This causes an uproar in the overarching witch society, with prominent member Desscaras taking him under her wing. The story has a quirky premise, but its engrossing worldbuilding is what sucks fans in for good.