I second Gantz for a male adult who's never read manga.

*** error on my last post (didn't complete the sentence):
Both times I read through Love Hina, I ended up disliking the beginning despite liking it now. Other have made posts to a similar effect.

Last edited by proscientia at 9:02 am, Dec 27 2008

I'd like to help here, but you haven't given us any clue as to the kind of entertainment he enjoys.
So off the top of my head, I recommend the following easily-found Seinen manga;

Eden
Blade of the Immortal
Me & the Devil Blues
Oldboy

Never got those types to read manga. If you can, try something nasty and disturbing to throw his misconceptions to hell. Battle Royale would probably be the most accessible.

If gore doesn't work, perverted stuff like Rabuyan or My Balls should do nicely. Not licensed but seeing what's in them, I doubt it ever will be.

Last edited by drunkguy at 11:14 am, Dec 27 2008

Try The Town of Evening Calm; The Country of Cherry Blossoms, might not be for him, but at the very least he would probably respect it.

If you want something more normal Berserk, Sanctuary, Me and the Devil Blues or Monster.

If you want a comedy then probably go with Cromartie.

one piece

If he wants something a bit more mature he could try Vagabond. For comedy Yotsuba could fit. Ares if manwha is alright.

Lol, I started with Inu yasha. Now I dislike inu yasha. But as someone starting out, it was left to right, it had an exciting plot. I really don't know how old this boy is and what his current tv interests are to help out though.

Over 18, I guess I'd recommend giving him a seinen manga.
I also recommend
Gantz and
Blade of the Immortal

You may have more luck starting him with anime.

Of the manga you listed. They could work. But if he's close minded from the start he may just find them stupid. I dunno, I showed the Negima anime to a roomfull of guys. That went over well. My brother, who I thought wouldn't like a romance story at all. Really liked Ichigo 100%. So perhaps the suggestion of Battle Royale, to shock out the misconception would work. XD

Probobly Gantz, Vagabond or Bleach but whatever you do, dont take something like One piece or dragonball cuz are likely to make him(it was a guy right?) dislike manga instead of getting him hooked (that was how it was for me anyway)

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"Sanity is for the weak"

full metal alchemist is what got me in to manga and anime but i was only like 14 but hellsing should be just as good for older guys as a first manga

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well Angel Densetsu is one of the funniest mangas I've ever read if he likes comedy. Or maybe a general shounen manga like Eyeshield 21 or Full Metal Alchemist an Adachi sports manga is always good like H2. OR a good seinen like Ciguatera.

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Common sense just isn't that common

I would say to start off with a shounen, but not Bleach or Naruto (even thought there good), because many people who have never read manga are unable to apperciate it, also readers of manga have many different taste. So I would start him off with a sophitcated shounen with a somewhat complex story line that is somewhat simple to understand....like Fullmetal Alchemist or possible even Dragon Ball would be okay.....but you really should look from his interest. So if he is into sports start him off with a sport manga, if he is into school settings start him of with a school based manga, if he is into action start him off with action, mystery for mysterty, etc.

Probably One Piece or Naruto or Death Note. I know for a fact that most people usually get drawn to manga from those three, they all have interesting first arcs that capture their attention and make them wanting more. Bleach might also be good but the beginning might be a tad boring for a newbie, so he might give up before it gets more interesting.

I wouldn't recommend Gantz to a newbie because he might think all manga is just nudity/gore then. If he likes sports, then there's always Slam Dunk. I would just go for weekly shounen jump series[i.e. naruto,one piece,bleach,eyeshield 21,reborn, etc] because those tend to appeal more to the newbies.

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Well, the world of manga is one that is vast and complex, there is pretty much a little bit of everything for everyone. There is a lot of manga that can get you hooked instantly, and some that takes a while to like. For someone new I would recommend One Piece, cuz I feel that out of the three giants(Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece) it is easier to get attached to it, I also like the introduction better. Now, if you want to get a girl hooked, you have to go with a Shoujo manga, such as Vampire Night, Ouran High Host Club, or even a veteran like Hana Yori Dango. and if you want an older male to start reading(17+) I think it's better to introduce a Seinen Manga, such as Sekirei, AIKI, Umi no Misake, etc. Well, I hope that this is of some help.

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"I'm a man who seeks happiness with the simple things of life, such as manga and the like."

Try Dragonball its always a good one to start with

or or try hentai... the outcome could be good if you can play your cards wright who knows what could happen

just joking

I would recommend getting him to watch an anime first. If a manga got turned into an anime, chances are that a wider range of people liked, or will like in your case, the manga that it's based on. Toss him a couple series and then see how he reacts to it and toss him the manga it's based on (or vice versa). I think humor is the genre to go because everyone loves to laugh but that's just my own personal opinion.

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Trip Fall Die

GAH! My plot doesn't bend that way!