I'm looking for a manga that has a large central plot and uses arcs to develop it.

one of the better examples I can think of is kekkaishi. The central plot deals with the sacred ground they're protecting, the mystery behind it, and how they'll handle it. The story uses arcs to further explain and reveal things about its nature and the nature of their world as well as further develop the characters and their abilities.

The same goes for claymore. The central plot deals with clare and her desires(revenge against pricilla) and how she'll go about accomplishing her goals. It uses arcs to introduce claymores, explain their powers and youma etc.

Basically I'm looking for manga that starts off with a simple central plot(ex: kekkaishi protecting their sacred ground) and uses arcs to bring about complexity and further the story.

What I don't want is manga with a cut and try "A to B" story, or manga where the arcs aren't inter-related and don't advance any kind of plot. Like Dragonball or bleach where after they defeat someone theres suddenly a new stronger bad guy they've gotta fight. Not so much bleach because theres the aizen thing, but its pretty much 2 "rescue the princess" arcs so far.

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Feed your head.

I think One Piece might be what you're looking for.

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If you haven't been reading it by now Berserk is something more like claymore but I think better for my taste. One piece is your basic A to B story especially if you trying to avoid your DBZ and Bleach shounen manga. Guyver not bad either, classic manga

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soji0083

i¨m not sure about large but you could try the world only god knows. its in arcs as you request and slowly develobes from here

No, One Piece is exactly the kind of story that the person was asking for. It has a large central plot that's simple (Finding One Piece), and the arcs give character development to many characters, and explores the world of One Piece with all of the different locations the Straw Hats and other pirate crews go to, and even gives information about their world and the main goal.

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I tried one piece and dropped it. Regardless of the plot, the art style is somewhat irksome to me. I have a pretty decent dislike for american made cartoons, so any manga with overly cartoony styles or proportions that make it cartoony really kill it for me. Like the guy in one piece with the big nose. I read a few chapters of soul eater and stopped for similar reasons. I finished eyeshield21 though.

I'm not that fond of gag manga period. Comedy is fine as long as theres a plot, but for me its like gag manga doesn't think it needs a story.

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Feed your head.

Shaman King
Fairy Tail
Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
Liar Game
D. Gray-man
Muhyo to Rouji

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Have you already tried Ares?

Last edited by reid1 at 2:49 pm, Oct 2 2009

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What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:

Ah, I see. Well, next time you need any more suggestions, try and be a little more specific.

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Übel Blatt is about revenge and killing various people to get it.
Fullmetal Alchemist is about two brothers trying to get their bodies back, though the main plot has gotten a little lost lately...
Liar Game is about people trying to beat the liar game corporation by participating in various rounds of the game.
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle is about retrieving 'memory feathers' from many worlds.
Lady Snowblood is another revenge story, also involves the killing of the traitors.
Penguin Revolution is a shoujo about a girl helping a guy become a well known actor.
Angel Sanctuary is about a guy who is the reincarnation of a female angel and he tries to rescue his sister by traveling through heaven and hell (literally).
Vinland Saga is yet another revenge story, about a boy trying to get revenge on his father's killer. Though the new chapters don't have a direction yet.

xxxHOLiC, I think.