20 Greatest New-Gen Manga To Read In 2026

2 weeks ago 35

Updated Aug 5, 2026, 10:40 PM EDT

Vanessa Piña has been a freelance writer for the ScreenRant anime section since 2024. As a senior writer, she focuses on timely coverage of the latest anime releases and updates on popular franchises.

Japan's manga scene, much like its anime counterpart, continues to rise and churn out new titles across a wide range of genres and demographics, such as shonen, shojo, and seinen. But although many of the big titles that resonated among Western fans have already completed their cycle, such as My Hero Academia or Jujutsu Kaisen, there are several new-gen manga series that promise to be the new flagships of the medium.

Many fans search for their next read among already released anime, but there are some titles that, although not yet animated, deserve to be discovered from the pages where they bring stories full of social commentary, entertaining characters, and exciting developments that manage to gain readers' passionate following before finishing their first arc. Many manga series come and go without making much of a splash, but the best new-gen manga are those that are far from predictable and worthy titles to dive into.

Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi

Unlike many manga featuring underdog characters, Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi begins with an overpowered protagonist who lacks the self-confidence to match his abilities. The manga is packed with comedy but is also full of action, featuring large-scale battles with high-ranking demons where the strength and coolness of the other exorcists sometimes shine even brighter than Kiyoshi’s own.

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Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama, is one of the most influential manga ever published in Weekly Shonen Jump. The series follows Goku on his journey from a child to the universe’s greatest fighter. What is Goku’s original Saiyan name?

AVegeta BKakarot CBardock DRaditz

✓ Correct! Goku’s birth name is Kakarot, given to him on Planet Vegeta before he was sent to Earth as a baby. His Saiyan rival Vegeta famously refuses to call him “Goku” and always refers to him by his true Saiyan name, Kakarot.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Kakarot. Vegeta is the Saiyan prince, Bardock is Goku’s father, and Raditz is Goku’s older brother. Kakarot is the Saiyan name given to Goku at birth before he was sent to Earth.

Naruto Uzumaki dreams of becoming the Hokage — the leader of his village. Throughout the series, Naruto carries a powerful entity sealed inside him since birth. What is sealed within Naruto?

AThe Ten-Tails BThe Curse Mark CKurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox DThe Rinnegan

✓ Correct! Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, was sealed inside Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, on the day of his birth. What began as a source of fear and isolation for Naruto eventually became his greatest ally and friend.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. The Ten-Tails is a different, more powerful beast. The Curse Mark is Orochimaru’s seal, and the Rinnegan is a legendary eye technique. Kurama was sealed in Naruto at birth by the Fourth Hokage.

In the manga Bleach by Tite Kubo, the main character Ichigo Kurosaki gains the powers of a Soul Reaper. Soul Reapers wield unique weapons that have names and special abilities. What are these signature weapons called?

ASacred Gears BZanpakuto CNen Weapons DBankai Blades

✓ Correct! Zanpakuto are the signature weapons of Soul Reapers in Bleach. Each Zanpakuto has its own spirit and name, and a Soul Reaper must learn that name to unlock its Shikai (initial release) and eventually its Bankai (final release) forms.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Zanpakuto. Sacred Gears are from High School DxD, Nen is the power system from Hunter x Hunter, and Bankai is actually a Zanpakuto’s final release form — not the weapon’s name itself. Zanpakuto literally means “soul-cutting sword.”

In Dragon Ball Z, Frieza is one of the most iconic villains in anime history. He is a tyrannical galactic emperor responsible for destroying the Saiyan homeworld. What is the name of the planet Frieza destroyed?

APlanet Namek BPlanet Vegeta CPlanet Sadala DEarth

✓ Correct! Planet Vegeta, named after King Vegeta, was the homeworld of the Saiyan race. Frieza destroyed it with a single energy blast because he feared the growing power of the Saiyans and the legend of the Super Saiyan. Only a handful of Saiyans survived, including Goku and Vegeta.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Planet Vegeta. Planet Namek is the home of the Namekians and the Dragon Balls, Planet Sadala is the Saiyan homeworld in Universe 6, and Earth is where Goku was raised. Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta out of fear of the Saiyan race’s potential.

My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) by Kohei Horikoshi is set in a world where most people have superpowers. What is the term used for these superpowers in My Hero Academia?

AStands BJutsu CQuirks DCursed Techniques

✓ Correct! In My Hero Academia, about 80% of the world’s population possesses a Quirk — a unique superpower that manifests in childhood. The protagonist Izuku Midoriya was born Quirkless but inherited the powerful Quirk “One For All” from the greatest hero, All Might.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Quirks. Stands are from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Jutsu are techniques from Naruto, and Cursed Techniques belong to Jujutsu Kaisen. In My Hero Academia, superpowers are called Quirks, and they vary wildly from person to person.

Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami features a power system based on negative human emotions that manifest as dangerous supernatural beings. What are these beings called?

AHollows BDemons CCursed Spirits DTitans

✓ Correct! Cursed Spirits in Jujutsu Kaisen are born from the accumulation of negative emotions like fear, hatred, and sadness leaked by humans. Jujutsu sorcerers like protagonist Yuji Itadori use cursed energy to exorcise these dangerous beings and protect humanity.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Cursed Spirits. Hollows are from Bleach, Demons are from Demon Slayer, and Titans are from Attack on Titan. In Jujutsu Kaisen, negative human emotions give rise to Cursed Spirits that jujutsu sorcerers must exorcise.

In Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) by Koyoharu Gotouge, protagonist Tanjiro Kamado uses specialized sword techniques called Breathing Styles. What is the first Breathing Style that Tanjiro learns?

ASun Breathing BWater Breathing CFire Breathing DThunder Breathing

✓ Correct! Tanjiro learns Water Breathing from the former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki. Water Breathing is known for its fluid, adaptable movements. While Tanjiro later discovers his connection to the legendary Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura), Water Breathing was his first and foundational combat style.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Water Breathing. Sun Breathing is the original style that Tanjiro discovers later through his family’s Hinokami Kagura dance. Fire Breathing and Thunder Breathing are used by other Demon Slayers. Tanjiro trained under Sakonji Urokodaki to master Water Breathing first.

Weekly Shonen Jump has been the home of many of the biggest manga series in history. Which of these series has sold the most copies worldwide as of 2024?

ANaruto BDragon Ball COne Piece DDemon Slayer

✓ Correct! One Piece by Eiichiro Oda holds the record as the best-selling manga series of all time, with over 500 million copies sold worldwide. Running since 1997, the series follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew on their quest to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece.

✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is One Piece. While Naruto (~250 million), Dragon Ball (~260 million), and Demon Slayer (~150 million) are all massive sellers, One Piece stands alone with over 500 million copies sold — making it the best-selling manga in history by a wide margin.

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Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi received a recommendation from the creator of One Piece, carrying a similar essence to battle manga from the 2000s, with the heart of the story lying in friendship and the bonds shared with comrades. Although Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi doesn't reinvent the shonen formula, which led to many readers doubting it would survive Shonen Jump's ruthless structure, Kiyoshi's story has gradually built a dedicated fanbase.

War of the Adults

War of the Adults is a dystopian manga that is truly chilling, given how plausible its scenario seems in today's society. The story begins with a former delinquent who resolves to turn his life around and mature into a responsible adult, only to end up in a coma for 15 years. However, the narrative evolves into a tale of social control that feels like something straight out of George Orwell's 1984.

This excruciating society, in which people constantly watch and evaluate one another, combined with a protagonist who feels like an outsider after his good intentions got twisted, makes the story intriguing from the very first chapter. Filled with satire, it also prompts reflection on what it means to be an adult, making War of the Adults a shonen series well worth following.

Phantom Busters

Although it seems like a typical shonen manga about supernatural phenomena and exorcisms in the style of Dandadan or Jujutsu Kaisen, Phantom Busters also blends in the relatively laid-back daily lives of a quirky group of friends. The story of Phantom Busters centers on an ordinary high school boy who becomes entangled with someone capable of purifying spirits by eating them, a situation that leads him from not believing in ghosts to forming a paranormal research society.

Phantom Busters doesn't aim for glamour. While it has serious moments, it's packed with gags and zany situations, also offering solid character development that keeps the reader engaged, in addition to featuring incredible artwork that complements everything perfectly. This balance of lightheartedness and pure action makes it easy to see why Phantom Busters has been one of the most highly requested titles in Japan for an anime adaptation.

Centuria

Similar to Dandadan, Centuria is a manga by a former assistant of Chainsaw Man's creator. However, while it is also a dark fantasy, it is defined by a grim atmosphere and horror elements, making it more reminiscent of Berserk. The story begins with a young boy sold by his mother who finds a ray of hope amidst misery and abandonment in a pregnant fellow slave. Yet, a single event instantly alters his destiny.

With its sinister, god-like beings; Lovecraftian-style monsters; mysterious prophecies; and supernatural powers, Centuria conveys a sense of epic adventure. While not devoid of tragedy, Centuria stands out by showing how to move forward despite humanity's cruelty, presenting all kinds of adversities and trials but also how he forges alliances, safeguards the future entrusted to him, and wages desperate battles, which makes it easy to binge-read.

Fool Night

Fool Night by Kasumi Yasuda is one of the most thought-provoking seinen manga of the 2020s, bringing the same sense of existential dread found in works like Tokyo Ghoul. Set on a dystopian, oxygen-deprived Earth, the story presents a chilling and rationalized system of institutionalized death, where technology transforms people into plants to sustain society, offering the volunteers enough money for comfortable final days in exchange for the gradual loss of their humanity.

In Fool Night, the absence of sunlight (which causes this oxygen shortage) imbues the manga with an unsettling atmosphere heavy with body horror, starting with streets overrun by grotesque plants that were once human beings. The manga is also layered on social critique, exploring inequality and the depths of the human condition and sacrifice while incorporating mystery elements that give Fool Night the feel of a police thriller.

Hirayasumi

The most recent seinen serialization by 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 of 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.

Parashoppers

Shonen manga readers will never not crave a truly fascinating battle system, and Parashoppers ups the ante by also being incredibly fun. The crazy bit is, it does all this despite thoroughly being a death game, contriving a battle royale where players can buy and resell abilities, with them having to battle others to grow their points balance to advance to each round, with a murky potential for fatal consequences around the corner. Each fight in Parashoppers is a battle of wits, with even the most mundane-sounding ability, from protagonist Amaragi Mitsusada's bizarre ability to control one piece of straw, to Rio Onizuka's ability to rapidly expand the size of packaged bread.

Parashoppers turns its abilities into an economy of sorts, with each power having a fluctuating value based on how effectively each user can deploy them in battle. It often makes for hilarious turns of events, including trapping an opponent in a mascot costume while Onizuka's expanding bread roll nearly suffocates them, sealed by Mitsuada's straw holding the zipper closed, with a rigid logic keeping the chaotic premise in check. The powers make sense, the humor is on point, and each fight feels engaging and rewarding to follow, making this Weekly Shōnen Sunday hit one to follow.

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 the wholesome school slice-of-life dynamic with intense action against rivals, dangerous fugitives, or prominent clans, make this a consistent Shonen Jump banger.

Choujin X

For readers craving body horror and something new from Sui Ishida, the creator of Tokyo Ghoul, Choujin X is exactly what the doctor ordered. While playing second fiddle to the heroic Azuma Higashi, Tokio Kurohara soon finds a path to empowerment and character development when a Choujin suddenly threatens their lives. Choujins, essentially superpowered humans with enigmatic, unique abilities explained as the series progresses, were an object of Tokio's fears, while Azuma, presented with a strange injection that'd give them Choujin powers of their own, advocated its use for their mutual survival.

Choujin X is obviously fascinating for its unusually bold character designs, particularly Tokio's beastification with his vulture-like features. But the series is also deeply compelling in the contrasting characterization of its two leads, especially as time passes, with their respective neuroses coloring the reader's experience as time goes by. With nefarious players angling to capture Tokio for his potential links to a particular prophecy, Choujin X is a worthy experience for any discerning reader, and hopefully one that won't be ruined by a poor anime adaptation like its predecessor was.

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