I'm looking for some lost and forgotten gems that might seem underrated/unknown and difficult to stumble upon through tag/genre search (untagged or wrongly tagged or even completely non-existant on mangaupdates). I have read a lot of mangas/manhuas/manhwas and I now feel like it has become immensely harder to find good long captivating mangas (lets say 20+ volumes; nonetheless, down to 15 vol. would be still be okay).

Please feel free to recommend any wonderful stories that have kept you immersed and unable to escape its grasp until you've reached, still vividly awake, the last page of the last volume.

I am deliberately keeping myself from giving example of mangas that had riveted me as such. In hope of not framing your suggestion to a similar theme or style, I wish to discover and throw myself into uncharted realms.

The only other requirement is that it has to have been completed by the author, at least the main story (in contrast to sequels/prequels/side-stories/etc). It is okay if it still has not been fully scanlated or traduced.

Hm. The problem is that in order for it to be long running there had to have been in high demand/popular. It would be nice to know what stories you have read. You don't have to disclose how much they mean to you.

Um..I hope I'll be of some help nonetheless.

All are one sitters.

15<
Hana no Asukagumi! Sadly I haven't gotten a full grip on it due to so little chapters being available (only 2). But I've fallen in love and I know I'll forever be in love if I finish it. Cheesy, but...
Yu Yu Hakusho Both the anime and the manga. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's one of the few shounen that can invoke powerful emotions in me and be a tad smart in itself.
Hot Blooded Woman For all the hate Hwang Mi Ri gets, I think it's the only delinquent manhwa they've done right. I can't really find fault. It's funny and there are undertones and other subtle things that I loved to pick apart from the moment I read it. I analyzed this so much while I was reading. Like YYH it had my adrenaline pumping.
Let Dai It's probably the ONLY shounen ai to ever captivate me to such a degree...or any degree at all. Yeah it's pretty warped, but I'm the type that likes a little warped.

Just a bit<15
Mahoraba by 3 volumes

I think what's really underrated is Kisswood which is only 8 volumes. Also Apollo No Uta-3 volumes.

Whatever managed to grab my attention in one sitting and/or evoke emotion stimulus in me is in my favorites. Needlessly to say, I don't have many.




Last edited by CynicallyOp at 4:57 am, Aug 19 2013

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I like my men androgynous.
I like my women androgynous.

There are lots of underrated series that I've read, but lots of them don't even reach 15 volumes. Well, if you don't have any preference... then let me throw in some of my favourites:
Oyasumi Punpun >> psychological stuff, dark and sometimes depressing. Will be completed this autumn (12 volumes). I think it's not unknown, but the theme itself is not for everyone.
Devilman Lady >> 17 volumes, if you don't mind violence and monster... and the old drawings
Lone wolf and cub>> historical manga, great story and art, truly a classic. I actually read all 28 volumes in one sitting.
Harlem Beat >> this never got scanlated, I don't know why. If you want an entertaining and captivating sport manga, this should be it. It has balanced funny and serious moments IMO. 29 volumes.
Yugo >> fine example of underrated series. 22 Volumes, and there's sequel too, and no one knows this. The MC is a negotiator and goes around the world, negotiating kidnapping case, terrorism, etc.

Under 10 volumes:
Takemitsu Zamurai >> only 8 volumes, but it's really great. The plot cover for the art, if you can get past the art, of course.
Hanaotoko >> same author, only 3 volumes.


Last edited by p3pelepe at 5:03 am, Aug 19 2013

Ii Hito, Bakuon Rettou, Sidooh and Jiraishin.

And since I recommended 3 from Takahashi (Tsutomu) already, I might as well recommend his Skyhigh and all it's spin offs, I think they make a good amount of volumes. It's an episodic thing (something just a chapters sometimes full volume) but same universe/principle. Not really what you want, but for this series it wouldn't make much difference if it would have only one title or split up in parts like it is right now.

Gunslinger Girl (15 voll.) this is (and will be) simply my favorite manga ever. It's definitely not unknown, but also not enough popular as it should be (and never it will).
Spiral (15 voll.)
Urasawa Naoki's first works like Yawara! (29 voll.), which gave him popularity in Japan and Master Keaton (18 voll.).

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

Saver-17
Red River- 29(?)
Superior and superior Cross-14

under 10 volumes: Kemonotachi no Yoru ,Model.

Gokusen
Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
Love Mode
Ghost Hunt.

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If I growl, retreat to a safe distance and throw chocolate.

I'm not sure how popular these ones are...

Ongoing series, as it's easier to see how long they are using the 'Reading List'
Claymore - The anime ruined itself with the ending. Just makes me raeg considering how great of an ending it could have had if it followed the manga.
Recently it hasn't been as good, though.
Liar Game
Oresama Teacher
Q.E.D. - simply for its mysteries. You'll get pretty much ZERO character development (except a couple of times when his sister/Uni friends give insights about his past/personality) and romantic development (I can only think of one arc that kinda addressed it from his perspective). But the mysteries are great and aren't just murder after murder.
Uchuu Kyoudai - surely with the anime out this one is popular. But if you haven't read it, do so. It's almost definitely my favourite series, if not Tower of God.
Zetman - it's simply amazing that the mangaka went from I"s to THIS! Great action series with brilliant character development all leading up to that in media res scene you see in the prologue. It seems to slow down when it has 2-3 volumes about the deuteragonist but just keep going, that turns out to be a fairly great arc too and it's necessary for his development.

Complete series:
Beck - it's kind of amazing how fantastic this series about some people in a band is. I'm not even that into the music culture but damn this was good. Only downside is that you kinda have to imagine the songs I've listened to some of the OST from the anime and they did a fair good job.
Angel Densetsu - one of the most funny series you'll ever read.
Eyeshield 21 - after Slam Dunk I haven't read many sports manga because I find it hard to believe any of them could compete. This one is great for its strategies and comedy.
Rave - Far better than Fairy Tale. I had a couple of problems with it but it is a great series.
Haru yo, koi - NOT 15 volumes but I thought I should throw in a more romance centric manga. My favourite romance-centric manga, perhaps. It's simply realistic, following a guy through his relationships. Though Spice and Wolf probably has my favourite romance in a series.
Hikaru no Go - I read this almost 10 years ago but I really loved it back then. Maybe it's not so great now that I'm almost 20 but give it a shot. I like to think of Chihayafuru as a more mature version of this.
Holyland - this mangaka makes some great stuff about broken/damaged characters.
Houshin Engi - again, I was really young when I read this but I thought it was kinda brilliant, perhaps mostly due to the ending. Looking back at it, considering the revelations at the end, I'm not sure if it all made sense as I don't remember everything clearly
Kyou Kara Ore Wa!! - really, I suggest you check out EVERYTHING this guy has written. He's a comedic genius.
Slam Dunk - as i said above
Konjiki no Gash!! - hilarious and superb action series.
Akumetsu
Hayate no Gotoku! - I stopped reading it because though this is hilarious, you can't read a bunch of this in one sitting. You've gotta take it in little nibbles or you'll tire of it
Hajime no Ippo - This is probably a popular series...great boxing manga. The anime was superbly done too.
Iryuu - Team Medical Dragon - You might tire of the surgeries though as they're mostly the same operation
Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken Jojo's Bizarre Adventure - This probably gained some popularity with the latest adaptation to anime. It's kinda amazing how the mangaka makes this series consistently awesome despite how long it's been running.
Psyren - pretty good, though i have a couple of criticisms. Like how I'm not sure if the past events made much sense considering the secret of what the 'game' really is.
Rookies - great baseball manga, though perhaps a little too hot-blooded
Red Eyes - Ubel Blatt is similar to this. I stopped reading this as the characters got too superhuman >.>
Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou - like with Hayate, take this in a small doses.
GTO - you've probably read it
Cheeky Angel - same mangaka as Kyou Kare Ore Wa!! Also has an anime.


And a shout-out to Mx0 which was ended prematurely because little Japanese boys have no taste >
And to Onani Master Kurosawa which is famous slice-of-life but is a doujin so you may not have heard of it. It's the quintessential slice-of-life.

Capeta - I get bored very easily and there's not a lot that makes me want to read it in one go. This is one of the few.

CynicallyOp, I greatly appreciate your suggestion including the warm nostalgia of the great work that is Yu Yu Hakusho, whatever might have been lacking in art dwarfs how it turns us into captive of the story. The same happened again to me with the authors other masterpiece Hunter x Hunter. On the other hand, it is a shame that Hana no Asukagumi! has not yet been licensed for distribution in other countries. I will be eagerly waiting for a release in any language that could satiate this curiosity you have lured me into. Hot-Blooded Woman is amongst the first gems I will start reading, thank you very much. Let Dai strikes a note as I was never really able to finish any shounen ai, shoujo ai, yaoi or yuri manga, hopefully this one will prove me otherwise. I feel that I have read Mahoraba a long time ago, I'll have to see and maybe rekindle with some old memories.

Additionaly, I tend to shy away from webtoons for the simple reason that often I am either appalled by the minimalism and lack of progress or left hanging with an endless current of questions after the last chapter (most notably Paladin). Thus, overall, leaving me with an undescriptively potent amertume. Yet I lie; as I persist with the likes of Gepetto, City of Dead Sorcerer, Automata, Geukji High, Black Wind and many other... Kiss Wood will be a keeper as it vaguely reminds me of Mushishi, which was very serene and enjoyable.

Ouf, Apollo no Uta, I am somewhat hesitant as I reminisce [m]Alabaster[m] (not particularly bad and actually a poignant example of the human condition, but still left a bad aftertaste). Nonetheless, the author left quite a mark in our collective psyche with Metropolis, Black Jack and Astro Boy.

p3pelepe! I am very thankful for your suggestion of Oyasumi Punpun. I remember reading the first volume of it in another language which had a different title. Over there, it was the only volume available, thus I was left in a slowly fading intrigue with the naive little penguin barely hanging onto my conscience until today! Darker tones are welcome, the onus is on me on how much I may tolerate; in hindsight, I suspect Oyasumi Punpun may have some parallel to Boys on the Run.

In regard to Devilman Lady, I will have to see for myself, somewhat reminds me of 14-sai (not my preferred cup of tea) while Harlem Beat, sports manga often tend to sink or swim abruptly, I'll cross my finger and hope for a pleasant surprise. The rest has been duly noted, most particularly Takemitsu Zamurai, which I was unaware of other volumes and had never perceived it as a manga as the art seemed somewhat similar to Persepolis. Thank you p3pelepe!

Ah, Chibi-Chibi, how can I thank you enough; Ii Hito is a gem I would have never have found without your help, hopefully akin to Living Game, Love Hina, Pastel and many others I have enjoyed tremendously. Only that would had sufficed, but you had to drown me in my elation with Sidooh and Jiraishin. As for Bakuon Rettou, I have difficulty grasping its taste, maybe something between [m]GTO[m] (+ sequels), [m]Ares[m] and [m]Get Bakers[/m]. Actually, I have reading Skyhigh, it hits hard on many aspect of our psychology particularly around death.

reid1, it is indeed a wonderfull list. Unfortunately for me, I had already read and took the time to savor my awe as I was spellbound by all of them . On a side note, I actually forgot the title of Spiral, the cover picture refreshed everything. In regard to Naoki Urasawa, I particularly enjoyed Monster and Pluto.

Ariaofthesong, I have noted down [m]Red River[m] as it seems very promising. [m]Saver[m], I hazily remember reading the first volume of it, but forgot why I left it at that... I will tentatively try again as I don't have any justifiable reason not to. Finally, Superior was certainly an breathtaking read over a very short period where only the weight of my eyelids dictated what I could see.

hisui87, :3, I was confident that someone would have listed Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro. I read it a few years ago but a still remember everything intensely. The closest story I found to it is Hell's Kitchen, another beast altogether (theme), but with an awful lot of parallels with Nougami. Gokusen and Ghost Hunt looks very promising, hopefully they will exceed my expectation. Finally, Love Mode, I will keep it my A-bomb list, I go for this list only whenever I feel like my mind is too numb for anything.

Well, overall I am very glad that I have asked members of this forum to pointers. Eager and excited to read these new mangas.

Lastly, as I am too tired right now to take on the monster post by MatrixM. I will get back to you next time I log on. Though, at first glance, I can say that there's a lot of impressive titles I have already assimilated.

Again, thank you all for your excellent suggestions. I will be back in a few days.

15~20 volumes, you say, and it's underrated/unknown?

7 Seeds, definitely. It starts slow, but it really ramps up when it switches to the other teams, and eventually this series displays some of THE best character development I've ever read in manga. The first team actually gets the best development later on. Also check out Basara from the same author.

Glass Mask is a classic, and despite its old drawing style, the expressiveness of the characters is astounding, and the rivalry is brilliantly executed (the rival helps the protagonist to nurture the rivalry, instead of trying to undercut her with underhanded methods).

Subaru. If you add its sequel Subaru Moon, it's 20 volumes. The art takes some getting used to, but once you do it is a powerful, expressive style.

Aqua and Aria are 14 volumes if you add them together. Aria is SO relaxing, reading it makes you actually feel like you're relaxing in a gondolier, enjoying the wind and water, on a sunny terraformed Mars.

Bambino! is a pretty awesome cooking manga (15 volumes, has a sequel). For cooking, you could also check out Nobunaga no Chef (though, it's just 7 volumes out so far).

Oooku. It's only 9 volumes right now, but it's still ongoing. It is about an ancient Japan where most of the men have died off, and so women have taken over. The way it describes the gradual changes in society are absolutely Brilliant, so I'll recommend this despite the low volume count.

Anyway, if you're interested in Shoujo manhwa, there are a bunch of nice fantasy ones (some are lower volume count, though):
Bride of the Water God, Ciel, Absolute Witch, Masca, The Tarot Cafe

Also, among Japanese shoujo/josei series, other ones I like are:
Nana, Nodame Cantabile, Kimi wa Pet and Kuragehime. These are actually pretty well-known in Japan, but I'm not sure how well-known they are outside of it.

I find it funny, by the way, that I read tons of webtoons, but none of the ones on your list are the same as mine (I loved Kiss Wood, though you haven't read it yet. I actually stopped City of Dead Sorcerer because I didn't like it as much as the same author's previous works: Hanged Doll and Melo Holic...) Maybe we have very different tastes? xD

I had assumed that you had already read 20th Century Boys. You should get on that. I have one major and one (that i can remember) minor criticism with that series, but the suspense is great.

One I forgot to mention:
Sanctuary
Trigun - don't remember if this fits the at least 15 vol criteria. I think it does >.>

Talking webtoons:
You should check out the manhwagas of City of Dead Sorcerer's other works. Those two are notorious trolls for how their stories develop. Especially [m]Melo-Holic[/m]. It was like 'WTF!?'. And one part kinda makes me raeg.
Tower of God is my favourite. It's still ongoing and it will be for many years, so you may not want to get into it, judging from what you said above. The worldbuilding is simply too excellent and extensive for it to not run for another decade. This one and Noblesse (which has a very slow beginning before becoming pretty amazing and at one time my favourite series) are the only two that would meet your length requirement.

Here are my favourite shoujo (I find most shoujo to be...sub-par) but only one meets your length requirement yet it's uber popular:
Kimi ni Todoke (this one, but the last couple of volumes have not been...great /understatement)
Cat Street - amazing series.
Reimei no Arcana - it pains me to find that it is ending as it had the tools to continue with many more arcs, exploring the world/setting.
Tokyo no Casanova - a nice one from the '80s
Orange - just came out last year and is on hiatus >.>
Taiyou no Ie
I think I'm missing one but meh..

While I'm tossing out random stuff, one came to mind:
Vampire Juuji Kai

Oh, and Bloody Monday. But be warned The majority of the first series is really shitty. You'll be facepalming wondering why the main characters are so freaking stupid when they're dealing with terrorists and moles and spies and murderous zealots. The last couple of volumes are better, the second series is fair great (though still has crappy moments, like the rushed romance) and the last series looks like it'll be very nice.

If you lower your 15 vol limit I can probabaly give some more suggestions but I'm sure these replies will keep you entertained for a couple of months

Princess - politics and kingdoms
Itsuwaribito Utsuho - pretty standard shounen stuff
Liar Game - really interesting, along the line of mind tricks and the sort
Life - depressing, emotional, definitely worth the read

Hana kimi and WATASHI GA MOTENAI NO WA DOU KANGAETE MO OMAERA GA WARUI ,

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Recommend me horror , yaoi and shoujo manga please

It's not entirely unknown but it's not a classic either so perhaps you'll like Goong if you haven't read it yet

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“The longer we live, the more weight we carry in our hearts.”