Hi, i'm hoping someone can recommend me a series like this:
a mystery type manga with a noir feel to it, kinda like Veronica Mars, and at the same time one that kinda has the same feel as Blame!, focusing on the environment.
I've been reading plenty of happy-go-lucky manga lately and want something darker, grittier and more edgy. Something with at least a good female character and developed characters overall.
Nothing supernatural or fantasy, as i prefer realistic manga.
Thanks in advance

Some of this may have futuristic/fantasy or supernatural stuff in them. But they are still dark/noir in their ways. Some are just realistic and dark/noir. Some i have not read yet but it seems they may fit and I just put them up case you find them interesting.

Gantz futuristic technology but not supernatural
Kyou kara Hitman
Yesterday o Utatte this is kind of darkish, has romance
Boys on the Run
[m]Metronome[/m] time travel involved
Shi ni Itaru Yamai
Mizu to Gin
Umibe no Onnanoko this is really noir i think.
Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners supernatural but very dark.
Sugar Dark: Umerareta Yami to Shoujo supernatural but dark. i like the ending
Usotsuki Mi-kun to Kowareta Ma-chan Totteoki no Uso
Honeymoon Salad strange and noir in a way
Melo Holic gets dark. has supernatural.
A Fairytale for the Demon Lord futuristic
Young Shima Kousaku
7 Seeds
Jiraishin this is realistic and noir
Red Eyes dark and noir, futuristic
Sanctuary realistic and noir
CAT havent read this
Gangsta. ---//---
I Am a Hero ----//---
Love Story, Killed ---//---
Verdant Lord ---//---
Vinland Saga ---//---

more stuff, but i have not read any of this. but they seem kind of dark/noir

Goth
GUNNM futuristic
Gunslinger Girl
Hikari no Machi (ASANO Inio)
Netsutai no Citron
Ohikkoshi
Planetes
Planetes
Rainbow
Shingeki no Kyojin
Superior Day
Tough


Last edited by kaidiego at 2:26 pm, Aug 5 2012

________________
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) - "Man is more ape than many of the apes."

Jean-Paul Sartre - "You are--your life, and nothing else."

Henrik Ibsen - "The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right."

...
sorry. kaidiego already covered most of stuff.

If you don't know what to start with, I'll second Sugar Dark

Freesia

Seconding Jiraishin, and I recommend pretty much anything by Takahashi Tsutomu as he has exactly the sort of style you're looking for. (Personally, I really like his Skyhigh series.)

Most of Toume Kei's art seems to have the kind of feeling you're looking for, but her stories are usually not all that dark. I would recommend The Hour of the Mice in this case, though.

I also really like Gunslinger Girl and Vinland Saga, but I don't think they're exactly the dark/edgy manga you're looking for. (They are dark at times, no doubt about it, but the atmosphere isn't exactly... edgy or noir-esque.)

First of all thanks for the suggestions so far.
@ kaidiego: i looked at every one of your sugestions. Some i have read already, some i have on wish list, some i don't think fit what i'm asking. I'll try a few of your suggestions such as Umibe no Onnanoko, Jiraishin and others. I just don't feel most are exactly what i'm looking for.

@jahu: i'll try it despite the fantasy tag.

@Ikari i've actually tried Freesia before but i simply dislike the mangaka and most of his works.

@Suxinn i completely agree with you, love the Skyhigh series and read plenty of the mangaka's works, if Skyhigh had a bit of a different setting it would be gold for what i'm requesting. Toume Kei is another favorite mangaka and i've read The hour of the mice, but i think still misses a bit the noir feel.

Please keep the suggestions coming.

Eden (SUGISAKI Yukiru) doesn't star female leads, but its theme should be spot on with the request. The only relatively realistic mystery manga revolving around a woman I'm aware of is Stone Cold, which is unfortunately extremely short and hardly shows any character development.

Jupp, I just threw some stuff out there hoping some would hit right I personally always prefer one recomendation to mutch than one to few. Umibe no Onnanoko is quite noir... And i think it will get darker and darker. Give it a chance and you will see. Reminds of Aku no Hana but better.

Of course you probably read Berserk. Supernatural/fantasy but hell that manga is dark at times.

Right now I am reading I am a Hero. Its dark in its ways. Or at least its packed with dark humor.Really good zombie manga. And apart from the zombies its realistic Reminds me of The Walking Dead comics, but I am liking this one more.

If you yourself have any good recomendations of the kind please share if you want

Cheers!

________________
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) - "Man is more ape than many of the apes."

Jean-Paul Sartre - "You are--your life, and nothing else."

Henrik Ibsen - "The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right."

@ Allez thank you for the suggestions, i'll try them.

@ Kaidiego: Aku no Hana is one deliciously evil manga, if Umibe no Onnanoko is better then i'm in for quite a ride i assume. I haven't read Berserk actually, heard lots of amazing things and know it's good, but i just cannot bring myself to read it as i hate medieval settings.
As of right now concerning this kind of manga with a bit of supernatural i would have to say i found the Skyhigh series quite enjoyable.

not sure if anyone's suggested it but liar game is particularly good

First off, I would like to second Gangsta., since it's currently among my favourites and the duskier atmosphere, just like the way of introducing the characters past, is definitively amazing.

Aside from this, I would have to think of ...

* Mugen no Juunin - A pretty dark storyline combined with a breathtaking style of art. Along the path of revenge the characters get to know, how cruel their world can be and how one tragic event can lead to another.

* Basilisk


* Blood+ - It's been a while, since I was reading this one, but as far as I remember, I liked the dark atmosphere and the storyline.

* Kiben Gakuha, Yotsuya Senpai no Kaidan and Ibitsu - If you don't mind the horror tag, I'm sure you will come to like the atmosphere and darkness within those stories... Maybe.

* Mouryou no Hako - So far, pretty dark, but I just started this one ... ^^"

________________
"It's like love is a bonus in your life. Even without it, I'm just fine. I don't feel like pointlessly searching for it. You don't have to make yourself unhappy." (Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji)

"Why does it rain?" - "To create drama." (Drops (Andou Yuki))

Yeah Mugen no Juunin, Blade of the Immortal is really good. And the atmosphere is usually heavy and dark. Art is the best. The action and combat is incredible. Also the characters are really cool. The main character is probably one of the most bad ass manga characters of all time.

________________
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) - "Man is more ape than many of the apes."

Jean-Paul Sartre - "You are--your life, and nothing else."

Henrik Ibsen - "The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right."

@ lalalarry Liar Game is already on my reading list, it is very good indeed.

@ Yankee-chan i like your suggestions. Kiben Gakuha, Yotsuya Senpai no Kaidan, Ibitsu and Basilisk i've already read. Basilisk was a very good, kind of frustrating read. I've had Mugen no Juunin in my wish list for a while but because i heard some less positive stuff i've been putting it on stand. Mouryou no Hako is also on my wish list i was just waiting for it to get more chapters in. I'll try these last two especially the last one since it looks something i'll like.

Thanks a bunch for the suggestions thus far.
If there are more please keep them coming.