I've been wanting to read some good manga/manwha/webtoons. Specifically, one with a competent lead. I'd like either a romance, fantasy action/adventure, or a strategy-based manga. Please prepare yourself for a wall of text.

A. Romance
I'm pretty picky with romance. I like historical romance, fantasy/historical romance, slice of life, josei, and shoujo.
I do not want harem, reverse harem, yuri, yaoi, incest, and most stories where the heroine is significantly older than the hero.

Must have:
1. Independent and likable female lead:
If she relies on the hero for everything, she is not independent. If I want to bash the heroine's head in, then she is not likable. If she is RESCUED every chapter and if she BAWLS her eyes out every second, and is neither independent nor likable. Crying and being rescued is fine in moderation! Confidence is a plus. The hero should not define her.
2. Smart and reasonable female lead:
I don't want really dumb or dense heroines. Please. Don't do dumb stuff.
3. Likable Hero:
Again, if I want to bash the hero's head in, he is not likable. Intelligence is a given. No dumb heroes, please.

Examples in no particular order:
1. Cheese in the Trap: This is my FAVORITE romance. Has one of the best heroines I've ever seen.
2. Koi dano ai dano
3. Beauty Pop
4. Ouran Koukou Host Bu: AKA Ouran High Host Club
5. Real Clothes: The heroine really matures and becomes independent, in my opinion.
6. Otoyomegatari: Pretty much the only exception to age difference.
7. Chang Ge Xing: Not really a romance, but epic.
8. Yume no Shizuku, Ougon no Torikago: Love the setting, even if the love triangle is a little annoying.
All I can think of right now...

Manga frequently recommended that I did not like or finish:
Kaichou wa maid sama, Special a, Akuma to love song, Steel rose, She's scary, Dengeki daisy, Keishichou Tokuhanka 007, Atashi no banbi, Kamisama hajimemashita


B. Fantasy Action/Adventure
Some classic fantasy with a SMART and/or STRONG main character. It's cool if they hide their powers, but it's by no means a must. A historical setting is nice. I'm fine with serious or humor, but I'm in the mood for something with a nice plot.
Examples:
1. Black Haze: Absolutely epic. Has humor, plot, and action.
2. Fantasy World Survival: A really nice spin on the typical medieval fantasy. Somewhat gray morality. Something like this would be great.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: One of my favorites.
4. Noblesse
5. The Gamer: New, but interesting.
6. Black Cat
7. Gintama: GINTAMAAAA
8. Onepunch-man: Funny, but I'd prefer something more fantasy.
9. Legend of the Legendary Heroes
10. Legend of the Sun Knight: One the best main characters EVER.

Badass characters are awesome! Romance is not necessary.
My reading list is by no means up-to-date, but if it's popular, I've probably read it.


C. Strategy Manga

One of my FAVORITE types of manga, but so hard to find. I LOVE manga with a smart and competent lead that usually concerns with war. I also love it if its historical, fantasy, or sci-fi. The lead must be smart and competent.
Examples:
1. Chang Ge Xing: Honestly, this is just a great manga.
2. Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Working my way through the anime, excellent so far.
3. Legend of the Legendary Heroes: Haven't finished yet, but pretty good. Has a good amount of strategy.
4. Gunka no Balzer: I love the setting.
5. Historie: Sadly, it updates slowly.
6. Code Geass: Been a long time since I've watched the anime, but I remember liking it.
Vinland Saga is nice, but it's not exactly strategy based. Great read, nonetheless. I plan to read Kingdom, The Ravages of Time, and Shoukoku no Altair.


Wow... this looks like a recommendation list. Sorry guys.

TLDR; I want a romance with a "strong" female lead, a fantasy/action/adventure with a kick-ass main character, or a strategy-based manga.

*Edited for grammar

Last edited by Mot Juste at 5:42 pm, Jan 2 2014

wow, I'm so glad I came to this thread, I found Real Clothes which I somehow forgotten about.
Thanks for that?

Have you tried Basara, Kanata Kara and Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori?
They are all Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Manga.
Then again, they are all pretty Popular..but I couldn't see your Reading/Completed List. (Probably not made public.)






________________
🙂

just one recommendation for B. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
seriously, i always recommend this manga. and btw, the anime is listed to release in 2014

________________
Julius Visconti is still the best captain.

You didn't mention Magician (KIM Sarae).

You may really find it interesting as an action manga, the romance is a bit slow but the plot and the characters are really interesting.

You may want to try Gu Fang Bu Zi Shang there is also the novel, but damn releases are superr slow!

Your taste is good. I can't stand it when I ask for recommendation for strong females and I get stuff like Kaichou :\

Anyways, my personal recommendations:

Romance:
Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (and everything else by this author)
Futago
Real Clothes
Bitou Lollipop (perhaps not exactly the "strong" character you're looking for, but she has balls)
Memories of Emanon
Sakamichi no Apollon (female lead isn't strong, but very likeable, and I suggest watching the anime if you want to hear the music)
Udon no Onna
Undercurrent
Gisele Alain
Akagami no Shirayuki
Crimson Hero
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
Skip beat
Annarasumanara
In Full Bloom

Fantasy/Adventure/Action:
Ichi
Gangsta. (female lead is likeable)
Suiiki
Mushishi
Bartender (doesn't really belong in these categories but whatever xD)
Lady Detective
Superior (falls a bit apart at the end, but the art is so so so lovely)

Stragetic:
Durarara
Death Note
Liar Game
Zetsuen no Tempest (anime)
Psycho Pass (anime)


I can probably find more series on my list, but these should keep you busy for a while





Last edited by chickybun at 6:48 pm, Jan 2 2014

@blursotongkia
Yeah, Real Clothes is great. The characters are really well done. I'm glad to help!
Wait... you have to make lists public? Oh. Thanks!

I've heard of Basara many times, but I've never read it. I should probably look into it. I'm pretty sure I've read Kanata Kara, and I remember liking it. I started reading Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori, but I stopped after I think thirty or so chapters. I don't know... the heroine didn't seem that strong to me, and it seemed terribly unrealistic. I really love "person dropped into new world" stories, but they're rarely ever done right.


@meridianna
I've read Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, and the magic system is fantastic. I'm staying with it just for that. Honestly, I find the main character's sister annoying, and the incest-y subtone irritating as well. But the world building and lead are just so good! Thanks for the recommendation, though!


@nikitach
Magician (KIM Sarae) is awesome! I've been following it for a while now. I think it was one of the first webtoons I've read. Ah, I remember the days before OMAS... Iremi was incredibly cool initially, and I still love her, even if she is a little annoying now. Enzu, Matthew, and Edermask are boss, of course. I actually had it on my reading list, but I didn't know you had to make it public, lol.


@TrueBlood
OH MY GOSH, I forgot about Gu Fang Bu Zi Shang! Thanks for reminding me! I love that series! Wait... there's a novel? YES.

A. Romance
Blood Alone, supernatural/slice-of-life

B. Fantasy action/adventure
+C: Sword and Cornett
Hoshi no Samidare, modern setting and not much of the "adventure" element
Kekkaishi, modern setting
Kieli
The Law of Ueki, modern setting
Shin Angyo Onshi, historical setting
Shut Hell, more supernatural than fantasy but if you liked all the other historical mangas, you'll like this

C. Strategy
Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio, sci-fi
Cesare, historical (mainly politics)
Kurosagi
seconding Liar Game
Master Keaton
Spiral

I would recommend 7 Seeds
Like Basara it's set in an after-apocalyptic future, the author concentrates on different persons each so even if you don't like a protagonist, maybe you'll like another one?
(The first one, Natsu, is pretty annoying, though)

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sorry for the bad english...^^;

@chickybun
I also get really annoyed when people recommended heroines that are supposed to be strong, but really aren't! Even worse is when the heroine looks strong, but ends up becoming too dependent on the lead. It really breaks my heart.

Wow, we really do have similar taste!
Real Clothes and Annarasumanara have great heroines and plots.
I read Skip Beat! up to 130-something, but I haven't caught up to the updates.
In Full Bloom, Ichi, Gangsta have epic fight scenes and amazing heroines.
Lol, Bartender doesn't fit anywhere, but it's still really great.
WOW. I forgot Death Note and Zetsuen no Tempest? I should just crawl into a hole.

I haven't read any of the others, and they sound great! Thanks so much!


@Suxinn
I completely forgot about Kekkaishi, Cesare, Kurosagi, and Master Keaton. I loved all of them. Kekkaishi was an excellent action-adventure, and all the others had wonderful main leads and strategic elements. I look forward to reading all the others you recommended! I really appreciate it!


@howling moon
I've heard of 7 Seeds but I haven't read it. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks!

Personnaly i second Hoshi no Samidare it's really a great action manga one of my favorite like all of MIZUKAMI Satoshi mangas:
i also recommend you to read Sengoku Youko which is great.

It seems like you like webtoons so you may like Trace it was the first webtton i read and it was really great it's also an action webtoon.

For romance you may like:
-Bonnouji it's a slice of life, nothing great happens in this one but you just follow the protagonist and it's really refreshing

-Can't See Can't Hear But Love is really great in this one both characters are dependent of the other but the story is really beautiful and heartbreaking , sadly the translation is not completed and the last chapters are laking

You and I have very similar tastes, so I hope you like these recommendations (I love Cheese in the Trap!!!)

ROMANCE
Dear, Only You Don’t Know
Library Wars
The Story of Someone We Know
Annasumarana
Pinocchio
Cheongsaeng Yeonbun (you may or may not like this... the female lead IS strong though)
Chihayafuru

FAIRYTALE/ADVENTURE
Sugar Apple Fairytale

STRATEGY
Liar Game
Dr. Frost (not strategy, but it has a very intelligent main character)



Last edited by may2fritz at 12:04 pm, Jan 4 2014

wat ^

I fixed it. I was trying to bold and underline things but it obviously didn't work.

Strong female lead: Kimi wa Pet- her character and behaviour are so strong that she scary the men around.
Strategic: second Liar Game and Death Note

EDIT:
Argh, I forgot Gokusen for strong female lead.

Last edited by annebel at 12:49 am, Jan 4 2014