Here are some manga (yeah, yeah, and Manhwa too) I love, and wish others would try. Give them a try if you haven't already!

I've tried to avoid big name books that everyone's heard of for the most part.

Assassination Classroom - A fairly new manga about an alien who threatens to blow up the earth in a short amount of time unless someone can kill him. He then demands to...teach a class? And the class has to attempt to kill him before he destroys the world? Nice. The story seems silly, and the character design of Koro-sensei even more so, but you'll find yourself rooting for him nonetheless as the story gets deeper as it moves along.

Love So Life - This is a very cute Shoujo, a story about an orphaned girl (without any angst I should add) who takes care of twin toddlers, and who has a bit of a crush on the twin's guardian. She takes care of the toddlers by remembering things her mom did for her and how she felt before her mom died - this is sure to put you on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, though it's a very upbeat story for the background it has.

The Children's Teacher, Mr. Kwon - A man who is hinted at being a gangster teaches at a school smack dab in the middle of complete nowhere. You'll never really be able to predict the story or the characters actions; and although the characters start out without any real depth, they're quickly given a lot more detail and are enjoyable. Seems to be on hiatus, hope to see more soon though!

Change 123 - Probably most have already read this, or at the least heard about it, but if you haven't, it's a book of pure ecchi and romance goodness. A young girl who changes into three other personalities (who are all martial artists) meets a boy who is in love with all four of them.

Gamble Fish - a young man on a mission bursts into a very expensive, very exclusive school and challenges anyone to gambling matches. The catch is that every time he wins, the bet doubles. The bets get crazier as time goes on, and it's fun to watch each match get that much bigger.

Nowhere Boy Starting out very weakly and a bit too strangely, many might pass over this Naver masterpiece. Once time moves on, this Manhwa shows it's real energy and it develops the main characters and you see where all the pieces that were set up beforehand come together. Certainly a book worth trying out. It concerns the world's most unhappy boy and the woman in charge of making him happy again before he destroys the world (seriously).

Orange Marmalade - Another one that may get overlooked for being Shoujo. Or for being a vampire book. Take your pick. In any case, it's the one vampire book you definitely don't want to overlook. If you want teenage romance and angst, this is your book; a young vampire is in love with a boy with the perfect blood for vampires (common story, but keep reading anyway), and she can't reveal herself to him. You see, everyone already knows vampires exist in this world, and they're more hated because of it...so if she reveals her identity, her family would be forced to move, and they really can't afford it. Yeah, like I said, plenty of angst, but very well written.

*sigh* It's also on hiatus...but...but that means you can catch up quickly, right? Right??

Annarasumanara - And speaking of Naver, one of Naver's finest is the hardest to pronounce. It concerns a young girl divided between the world she dreams of and the cold hard reality of adulthood. Young Ah-ee accidentally runs into a magician in an abandoned old theme park who tries to convince her to embrace the passionate childhood she used to have. Her classmate Il-Deung however, is the epitome of success - he's rich, smart, powerful. The symbol for which all adults should strive to be. Which life will she choose?

One interesting thing to do as you read this book is to look at the art and how it tells the story: color used for the imaginative childlike world, and black/white/grey for the adult world, as well as many other artistic tricks and nearly abstract-like art concepts.

Aishiteruze Baby - I didn't think a manga could make me cry until I read this book. It's about a young girl who is practically thrown away by her mother, but is barely old enough to understand it. It's about a young man who is in High School, and barely able to care for himself, given the responsibility of taking care of her. This one is much more well known, I think, than the others, but I'll throw it in just in case some missed it. And because it's so good to read.

The Day the Magpie Cries - This one is very new, only a couple of chapters out, but I think once it gets going it's going to be a sleeper hit. I see great things for this book. A young girl who's a bit of an oddball as she tries to do things in traditional manner, such as wearing traditional clothing...which doesn't make her popular (at all), but it's fun to read anyway.

Assassination Classroom
Love So Life
The Children's Teacher, Mr. Kwon
Change 123
Gamble Fish
Nowhere Boy
Orange Marmalade
Annarasumanara
Aishiteruze Baby
The Day the Magpie Cries

So there you have my ten. I can't say they're perfect, but I enjoyed those above a lot and want more to read them, so..give them a shot!

Last edited by AegaeonsWrath at 2:49 pm, Dec 28 2012

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In a world where troubled young hearts are besieged by evil spirits, only one can wield love as a weapon: the God of Conquests, Keima Katsuragi.

THANKX! i haven't checked all of them out yet. But i hope they're good, i was just looking for a post just like this! I've read a few you have on the list, and i hope their all wonderful.

No problem, I'm just glad it was useful. It took a bit to put together.

Feel free to share your own lists.

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In a world where troubled young hearts are besieged by evil spirits, only one can wield love as a weapon: the God of Conquests, Keima Katsuragi.

Yeah, actually put together a 100 Manga/Anime list for my friend a few days ago...just so he would quit asking me lol

As you read more you'll eventually realize that 10 just isn't enough. I tried this before so I know (lol).

Anyways, I have something similar to this in my public lists: my highly recommended and recommended lists. Of course our mileages may vary, but these are the series that I really enjoyed and wouldn't mind reading again and again. Just take note that they only contain completely scanlated/published works, so you won't find any ongoing stuff.

Hah hah, I've read hundreds of titles already. It was definitely difficult to narrow it down, but I think I managed it well for my own tastes.

Your lists for example don't include Change 123 at all, and that is a definite must for any list of mine.

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In a world where troubled young hearts are besieged by evil spirits, only one can wield love as a weapon: the God of Conquests, Keima Katsuragi.

yeah, 10 would never enough
btw, i read change123 and Aishiteruze Baby already and gamble fish is on my bookmark
i will check out the others. thanks

My list would be too long to put here, there are personal favorites in every category. It's hard for me to come up with a list because there are some that I really really like but it could be because I am coming across them for the first time. Molester Man is drawing me in currently (don't worry there are no actual molesters or anything sexual at all in it). But here's a few, some completed, some on-going.

Orange Marmalade is fantastic, I heard good things about it but thought "here we go, vampire setup = Twilight crap" but it was great. There are two specific parts that even though I know are coming I still tear up (manly tears, mind you) every time. I actually started re-reading it yesterday out of the blue and it was as good as I remember.

Nana to Kaoru - contrary to what 'ecchi' content you'll see, it's a very pure love story that uses BDSM to connect two people who have grown apart. It's very much about what is underneath and the feelings each has for the other.

Love Hina - just read it. The End.

Fullmetal Alchemist - ^ditto

Hotel - great oneshot.

.....this is actually harder than I thought initially because when considering manga, I couldn't easily push my personal preferences onto others. There are a number of others that I considered adding, but they aren't far enough along IMO to have the substance to add to the list.

Hotel was amazing. Funny thing is I have read everything you mentioned but my favorite has to be though the short in Hotel and a few side stories. I wound up buying the Japanese manga import.

Here are few I am currently reading which are quite good so far, a fav of mine is Cage of Eden (AKA Eden no Ori) these others

Noblesse

Happy Negative Marriage Same artist by Nana to Kaoru

Kimi no Iru Machi

Freezing

Mysterious Girlfriend X - Nazo no Kanojo

Even though I listed only 5, I would have to say there are to many to name and really good ones. I've been reading from about 2001-Present.

Last edited by HE911 at 8:50 pm, Dec 27 2012

Honestly, I've forgotten most already, but I'll put those off the top of my mind here just for the sake.

Tsugunai
Just found it off the new e-books store on cdjapan recently. Pretty good, though I wouldn't necessary go as far as buying it.

Gu Fang Bu Zi Shang
Dunno how the manga will turn out, but I loved the novel. Art's pretty nice.

9 Banme no Musashi
One of those rare ones I bought a hardcopy of, and rarer didn't regret it.

God Child

Petshop of Horrors

Diamond Head
Reading the reviews... there's quite a few that didn't like it, I loved it though. Different, but too much.

And eh... been looking for a post like this. But... it's just like my luck to find most of them ones I dropped.

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My picks in no particular order:

Threads of Time - It was one of the very first manga/manhwa I've ever read. It had great artwork, and a storyline which ties to the idea of reincarnation and karma. The story was gripping, and there were parts where I really felt for the characters especially one of the slave girls who fell in love with the protagonist (not gonna spoil it any further than that).

Shin Angyo Onshi - I just outright loved this series. I was, and still am, a big fan of Cowboy Bebop. The protagonist is Spike in almost every way, minus the sense of humor. Despite being somewhat of a a clone, Munsu was still a great MC. The story though a tad bit cliche (ie: bad guy posing as a nice guy but wants to destroy the world type of thing) it was still a great read.

Hotman - I am a sucker for down-to-earth and daily life type stories. Despite its provocative title, it is actually a very sweet story (so sweet you might get cavities from reading it!). It may be because I was a big fan of GTO, but the story revolves a high school art teacher who was a former delinquent. What sparked his transformation was the sudden appearance of a baby who was left on his doorstep whom is supposedly his daughter. That and also he has to struggle to keep his family of numerous brothers and sisters together. It's really sappy, but I thoroughly enjoy what it offered.

Otoyomegatari - Just to reinforce what I said earlier. I am a SUCKER for down-to-earth / daily life series, lol. This manga is just great. I love the art. I love the feel good atmosphere it gives. The release has been slow, but it's very well worth looking into.

The Breaker - Weakling kid who gets bullied and turned into a badass, works for me. Probably already well known, but for those who hasn't checked it out, definitely give it a try.

Unbalance x 2 - Onegai Teacher! situation, but more serious atmosphere. For those who don't know the reference, it's a male student x female teacher relationship. Really liked the art. The story ended kinda abrupt and not too great in my opinion, but still a good read.

Vagabond - Two Words: Miyamoto Mushashi. Who doesn't like a badass with swords?!

Immortal Regis - The art was great. I really liked the story. It ended weirdly, but it's being continued in the second season with Cavalier of the Abyss.

Toshiue no Hito - The story is more geared toward a mature audience. It has nudity and sex. However, I really like the story. The female protagonist with an interesting condition which stuns her growth, and a younger male college student and their relationship.

Feng Shen Ji - A new series I picked up recently. Humans and demigods going against arrogant gods. Really great artwork and in FULL COLOR.

Sort of in order:

I second Love Hina it was one of the first manga I have ever LOVED.

Great Teacher Onizuka: I cannot recommend this one enough

Mx0: guys gets in enrolled into a secret school for magicians, but he doesn't have magical powers. However he's a really strong fighter and he gets by by using his head and pretends he has magical powers. Sadly it ended abruptly

Angel Densetsu: main character really turned me off and away from it at first, but you really start to love him.

DearS: Cute alien girls. Read it.

BECK: about a kid who joins a band and how it changed his life.

Holyland: bullied kid turns to boxing and starts becoming engrossed in the street life.

Actually looked through my completed list. These are probably my most favorite of all time.

Last edited by kamithewolf at 12:27 am, Dec 28 2012

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its called my life was wrecked and rebuilt by anime and manga

Like I said, our mileages may vary. None of the titles in my two lists made yours, either, and I respect that.

Btw, Change 123 is in my complete list (which is also public). I enjoyed it, but I don't think it's in the same level as the other titles in my highly recommended list. But that's me.

No worries, that was my point by saying it, that it's a matter of taste. I don't mind if people don't love what I do, though I at least attempt to share it with them.

And to everyone, good lists. I see Love Hina popping up, great book...if you liked that and didn't try Love Collage and/or Suzuka, they are similar in some ways.

Love Collage is about a man who is in love (lust, i.e. fetish) with certain body parts of women - so what happens when he's in a female college dorm filled with women who have the parts he cherishes? And what happens when he actually falls in love for the first time? Featuring the best kiss scene imho ever written in manga, it's a very wacky, fun read.

I'm sure most have heard about the classic manga Suzuka, so I don't go into too much detail. And really all you have to know is Ecchi + Romance + Tsundere. If you like those tags and want to see them together, check it out.

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In a world where troubled young hearts are besieged by evil spirits, only one can wield love as a weapon: the God of Conquests, Keima Katsuragi.