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Warning, this article contains spoilers for the following manga Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Hunter x Hunter, Vinland Saga, Bleach, Berserk, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, and JoJo's Bizarre AdventureThe manga medium has spawned some of the best fictional series ever and produced some moments and scenes that have a huge impact. From the payoff of amazing buildup, stunning artwork, and entertaining panels that spawned hilarious memes, there are many reasons manga panels have become iconic. However, while there are plenty of manga panels that standout for a variety of reasons, only a handful have gone on to become truly legendary.
In order for a manga panel to achieve this mythic status among fans, it isn't enough for the artwork to just be technically solid. Good linework is a must, but in addition to that, the atmosphere, tone, and storytelling all must be absolutely transcendent. The true masters of manga can, with one panel, charge enough of information and emotion into their art that fans just can't stop thinking about it even decades after the original piece of art was made.
10 The Supreme Devil Makes A Flashy Entrance
Chainsaw Man Chapter #64
Chainsaw Man
Created by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Upcoming Films Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (2025)
First Episode Air Date October 12, 2022
Cast Kikunosuke Toya , Tomori Kusunoki , Shôgo Sakata , Ai Fairouz , Mariya Ise , Kenjiro Tsuda , Shiori Izawa , Reina Ueda
Character(s) Denji , Pochita , Makima , Power , Aki Hayakawa , Kobeni Higashiyama , Himeno , Reze
Chainsaw Man is full of strange and captivating panels, but this one was extremely bizarre and made the appearance of the Darkness Devil that much more memorable. While the decimated praying space suits might look like they're there for shock factor, they are a great symbol of human fear and are one of Chainsaw Man's many elements likely inspired by a real-life tragedy.
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This amazing double spread, while more recent, is very popular and iconic, and perfectly represents the brilliance of Tatsuki Fujimoto. Part of what makes the panel work so well is the overwhelming sense of mystery that accompanies it. Fans of the manga will undoubtedly recognize the Darkness Devil at the center of the image, but even longtime fans still have no idea who those astronauts are or why they're basically acting as heralds for the darkness devil. Fujimoto is a master of tone, and the Darkness Devil's appearance is a perfect example of that.
9 Gojo And Sukuna Prepare To Take Each Other On
Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #223
Jujutsu Kaisen
Created by Gege Akutami
First Film Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Latest Film Jujutsu Kaisen 0
First Episode Air Date October 3, 2020
Cast Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Asami Seto , Yuichi Nakamura
Character(s) Yuji Itadori , Megumi Fushiguro , Nobara Kugisaki , Satoru Gojo , Sukuna , Maki Zenin , Toge Inumaki , Panda
While Jujutsu Kaisen was a very unpredictable series, one thing that was certain to happen from the first episode was the showdown between Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna. The stage was set, and the Shinjuku Showdown arc took the manga community by storm when the two strongest sorcerers finally took each other. The panel that declared them the most powerful before jumping into the fight was truly unforgettable, and it spawned many memes across many communities and fandoms.
Few conflicts in manga history had been built up quite the same way as the one between Gojo and Sukuna. Fans had been waiting to see Jujutsu Kaisen's strongest sorcerer face the series' strongest curse for some time, and with one panel, mangaka Gege Akutami sold just how epic their brawl would be.
8 Chrollo vs Hisoka
Hunter X Hunter Chapter #352
Hunter X Hunter
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi
First Film Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge
Latest Film Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission
First Episode Air Date October 16, 1999
Cast Megumi Han , Mariya Ise , Keiji Fujiwara , Daisuke Namikawa , Miyuki Sawashiro , Kazuhiro Yamaji , Ichirô Nagai , Hiroshi Kamiya , Hisao Egawa , Maaya Uchida
Character(s) Gon Freecss , Killua Zoldyck , Kurapika , Leorio Paradinight , Hisoka Morow , Biscuit Krueger , Chrollo Lucilfer , Kite , Ging Freecss , Meruem
Video Game(s) Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
After the series laid the groundwork for the Dark Continent expedition, the long-awaited fight between Chrollo and Hisoka started in Heaven's Arena. The buildup was there in both the Yorknew Arc and Greed Island arcs, and with Chrollo not only removing the seal on his Nen but becoming even more powerful after acquiring the Bookmark ability that let him wield more than one stolen ability at once. After explaining how incredibly powerful his abilities are, Chrollo was perplexed at Hisoka still wanting to fight despite his huge advantage, which led him to drop the iconic quote.
The battle was a bloodbath that involved the manipulation of many spectators, and in the end, Chrollo defeated and killed Hisoka. Fortunately, Hisoka prepared a contingency to revive himself in the worst possible scenario. Furthermore, he kills Shalnark and Kortopi later and says he plans on finishing the rest of the Phantom Troupe. The conflict between Hisoka and the Spiders is one of the important plot points in the Succession War arc.
7 Thorfinn Finally Became A Warrior
Vinland Saga Chapter #96
Cast Yûto Uemura , Mike Haimoto , Shinya Takahashi , Alejandro Saab , Hiroki Gotô , Aleks Le , Kaiji Tang , Michael C. Pizzuto
Release Date July 6, 2019
Seasons 2
Network Netflix
After going on a quest for vengeance, killing many, losing his purpose, and finally discovering a new one, Thorfinn finally understood what his father meant when he said he had no enemies. This moment solidified Thorfinn's conviction, and the iconic line came after he took 100 punches from a hulk of a man. Not only did he meet Canute without restoring to violence but he also managed to talk him out of leaving the farm peacefully.
Vinland Saga is largely a series about the mental cost of living a life filled with violence, and here is finally the moment where Thorfinn rejects his past violent ways. In a way, everything in Vinland Saga up until that point was leading up to this exact moment where Thorfinn declares that he has no enemies. The image of a ragged and tired Thorfinn declaring he has no enemies is still one of the most powerful images in manga, making it instantly iconic.
6 Ichigo Enters The Millenium-Old Conflict
Bleach Chapter #512
Bleach
Created by Tite Kubo
First Film Bleach: Memories of Nobody
Cast Johnny Yong Bosch , Michelle Ruff , Stephanie Sheh , Jamieson Price , Derek Stephen Prince , Wally Wingert
Character(s) Ichigo Kurosaki , Rukia Kuchiki , Orihime Inoue , Yasutora 'Chad' Sado , Uryu Ishida , Renji Abarai
Ichigo makes a dramatic entrance after being absent from much of the early chaos of the Quincy invasion led by Yhwach. The Soul Society is in complete disarray, with numerous Shinigami injured or dead, and morale at an all-time low. With Byakuya bloody and defeated, he pleads with his former enemy to help his home.
What really makes this panel amazing is the harsh shading on Ichigo's body and face, and the rain helps highlight the severity of the situation and the anger of Ichigo. An intense beginning to Ichigo's entry into the war, this panel kicked off the conflict between Ichigo and Yhwach, which was a highlight of the arc.
5 Guts And Griffith's Emotional Farewell
Berserk Chapter #35
Berserk
Created by Kentaro Miura , Kouji Mori
First Film Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King
Latest Film Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 3: The Advent
First Episode Air Date October 7, 1997
Cast Nobutoshi Canna , Toshiyuki Morikawa , Yûko Miyamura , Hiroaki Iwanaga , Takahiro Sakurai , Kazuki Yao , Unshô Ishizuka , Kenta Miyake
Character(s) Guts , Griffith , Casca , Judeau , Pippin , Corkus , Rickert , Gaston (Berserk) , Puck (Berserk) , Farnese de Vandimion , Serpico , Isidro , Schierke
Video Game(s) Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage , Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Sho , Berserk and the Band of the Hawk
Summary
Berserk is a dark fantasy manga series by Kentaro Miura, first published in 1989. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired world, it follows Guts, a lone mercenary, and his struggle against demonic forces after his betrayal by Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk. The franchise has expanded into multiple anime series, films, video games, and merchandise.
After going through life and death together, Guts decided his time with the Hawks was up, and he set out on a journey to find his own dreams and goals after watching Griffith fight so hard for his. While everyone else said goodbye to him and wished him the best, Griffith refused to let him go and challenged him to a fight to decide whether he gets to stay with him, just like the first time Guts joined the band.
The two unsheathed their swords and prepared to take each other on in a stunning panel that showed the landscape and sunrise in the background. In the end, Guts defeated Griffith, and he went on his way, leading to a heartbreaking farewell. This moment is truly the turning point of Berserk, the moment solidified the fates of Guts, Griffith, and the world, and Miura absolutely sells the moment's weight.
4 Father And Son Kamehameha
Dragon Ball Z Chapter #221
Dragon Ball
Created by Akira Toriyama
First Film Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Latest TV Show Super Dragon Ball Heroes
First Episode Air Date April 26, 1989
Latest Episode 2019-10-05
Cast Sean Schemmel , Laura Bailey , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil
The arc where Gohan took over and became the main character, the young Saiyan exceeded his limits and became the first Super Saiyan 2. Finally, on par with Perfect Cell, he takes this amalgamation of everyone powerful on, but his strength alone isn't enough. While Goku was not there and had already been killed, the panel showed him and his son performing a final attack to take down Cell, the perfect symbolism to show how Gohan found strength within his dad and how important he was to him.
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The Cell Saga is often considered the pinnacle of Dragon Ball, as it felt like the culmination of everything that came before it. Gohan's character arc from a timid child to the savior of Earth is finally complete, making the image of him channeling his father's spirit to finally eradicate Cell all the more satisfying.
3 The One Piece Made Roger Burst Into Laughter
One Piece Chapter #967
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda
First Film One Piece: The Movie
Cast Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi , Hiroaki Hirata , Ikue Ôtani , Yuriko Yamaguchi
The adventures of the legendary Pirare King, Roger, were finally shown for the first time in the Wano arc, and it did not disappoint. The backstory has multiple callbacks to islands and adventures that Luffy undertook, drawing even more parallels between the two. And finally, he acquired immense wealth, the truth about the world, and more, and his reaction? He laughed hysterically, as well as all his crewmates.
This incredible moment intensified the allure and charm of the One Piece and reminded fans of the destination of the series. One Piece fans still have no idea why exactly Roger laughed, making this moment enhance the mystery surrounding the series' central treasure.
2 Pain Hovers Over The Sky And Launches A Devastating Attack
Naruto Chapter #429
Naruto
First Episode Air Date October 3, 2002
Cast Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Nana Mizuki , Hideo Ishikawa , Yûko Sanpei
Character(s) Naruto Uzumaki , Sasuke Uchiha , Sakura Haruno , Kakashi Hatake , Itachi Uchiha , Hinata Hyuga , Gaara , Jiraiya , Tsunade , Orochimaru
After taking down many of the Konoha residents, like Konohamaru and Kakashi, Pain flew into the air and declared he was about to exact the same pain onto the village that they did upon him and his village. Towering high in the sky, Pain unleashed his ultimate move and destroyed everything in sight. What made this panel legendary was the sheer amount of details in the background, and no matter how much readers zoomed in, the buildings were still clear.
Kishimoto admitted it took him 3 days just to draw this panel, and the efforts did not go to waste at all, as it remains one of the most iconic manga panels ever. As the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain had been hinted to be the series' biggest antagonist for quite some time. Showing him towering over all of Konoha truly sells his power, making him seem like a god and the village below him like his plaything. Never has a phrase been more apt than, "Konoha will know Pain."
1 Jojo's Birthed An Iconic Meme
Jojo's Bizarre Adventures Chapter #256
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Created by Hirohiko Araki
TV Show(s) JoJo Bizarre Adventure
Character(s) Will A. Zeppeli , Jonathan Joestar , Giorno Giovanna , Jotaro Kujo , Joseph Joestar , Jolyne Cujoh , Johnny Joestar , Josuke Higashikata , Gyro Zeppeli
Video Game(s) JoJo's Bizarre Adventure , JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R
Besides the intense build-up of their rivalry throughout the series, the manga panel of Jotaro and Dio walking up to each other created one of the most iconic memes ever, transcending mediums and becoming a viral sensation. Jojo's Bizarre Adventures has very unique poses, which is one of the reasons the series has a certain charm no other series can replicate.
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Artistically, the panel is framed to showcase both characters as equals, each striding confidently toward their inevitable battle. The panel blowing up is fitting as it captures the essence of JoJo's dramatic, larger-than-life, and full of tension. It is undoubtedly a moment that perfectly encapsulates the series' distinctive style and storytelling. JoJo is a manga that is all about aesthetic and look, which is why it's so fitting that this hyper stylized panel of two men walking toward each other has become nothing short of the most iconic manga panel of all time.
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