Manga Starting Points

If you’re curious about where to start reading manga, here are links to some recommendations:

Tramps Like Us | My favorite manga, an excellent “chick lit”-style story about a woman struggling to balance work and home life who adopts a younger man as her “pet”.

Nana | An incredibly involving tale of two young women named Nana, one a naive girl looking for love in the big city, the other a singer working for her dream of musical success.

Yotsuba&! | A charming series of encounters by a young girl who enjoys everything. Heartwarming and funny.

Maison Ikkoku | This light romantic comedy, a modern classic, has wonderfully clear art and layouts.

Planetes | Character-based science fiction with a more realistic art style.

Hikaru no Go | A series about competitive gaming that appeals to almost everyone.

Paradise Kiss | A five-book romance aimed a little older with edgy attitude and a fashion industry setting.

The Kindaichi Case Files | Stand-alone mysteries.

The Walking Man | Astounding beautiful clear-line art illustrates short atmospheric pieces with a Japanese sensibility.

Fruits Basket | A blend of comedy, romance, fantasy, and drama with an attractively mainstream art style.

Dramacon | The best OEL (original English language) manga tells of a girl’s first anime convention and the romance she finds there.

For more ideas, browse my entire list of manga reviews.

Manga Worth Reading

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Manga Starting Points