….if someone would be so kind as to recommend some manga titles that are popular now.

I took a 4-year break from manga, anime, and video games. It wasn't intentional, it just kind of happened when I moved from one end of the world to the other. Due to feeling quite adjusted to my new life (yes, it took me years), I recently started watching anime, and playing video games again. Now I'm diving back to manga. I'm out of touch with what series are really good right now so I thought to ask around. I would appreciate some suggestions! 🙂 So, I guess what I'm looking for is: what ongoing series are, in your opinion, must reads right now? With regards to genres, I am always a bit partial to fantasy!

Thank you very much for reading and for any suggestions! 😁

“I thought also of another thing between us. Call it trust... That is one of its names. It is a very great thing. Though each of us alone is weak, having that we are strong, stronger than the powers of the dark.”

That was harder than I thought. Here's a mix of stuff I like and what's popular. Some Korean webtoons too, cause they've gotten pretty popular.

Action:
Solo Leveling (Webtoon, probably one of the most popular series right now)
Ragna Crimson

Romance/Comedy:
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (Has an anime)
Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu

Comedy:
Spy X Family
Gokushufudou: The Way of the House Husband
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute

Fantasy:
Saihate no Paladin

Others:
Mieruko-chan
Honzuki no Gekokujou (Has an anime)
The Reason Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion (Webtoon)

Quote from RoxFlowz

That was harder than I thought. Here's a mix of stuff I like and what's popular. Some Korean webtoons too, cause they've gotten pretty popular.

Action:
Solo Leveling (Webtoon, probably one of the most popular series right now)
Ragna Crimson

Romance/Comedy:
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (H ...

Hey RoxFlowz! This is a wonderful list, thanks for the suggestions! A couple here I've heard of before like Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai; I watched a few episodes of the anime though I didn't get too hooked on it. I also have tried Honzuki no Gekokujou that I absolutely loved.

All these look great. I'm particularly excited about Saihate no Paladin. Sounds really interesting.

Spy X Family looks promising. I don't remember having read a manga that really tackled this type of story before.

Ragna Crimson seems quite interesting so gonna try reading that.

Solo Leveling I am also gonna try since even I have heard of this when I heard about Tower of God getting an anime. People kept mentioning it but I never really paid attention to what it was. For some reason I just assumed Kirito still made his way into conversations or something. LOL.

Will definitely also try the others on the list. Gonna get started on them! Thank you, much appreciated! 😁

“I thought also of another thing between us. Call it trust... That is one of its names. It is a very great thing. Though each of us alone is weak, having that we are strong, stronger than the powers of the dark.”

Seconding RoxFlowz's recs for Kaguya, Mieruko-chan, Spy x Family, Gokushufudou, and Honzuki.

Here's some of my other ongoing favourites:

Jigokuraku (KAKU Yuuji) (action/supernatural)
Kimetsu no Yaiba (action/supernatural, has anime)
Koroshi Ai (action/romance)
Batuque (action/martial arts)
Heart Gear (action/sci-fi)
No Guns Life (action/sci-fi, has anime)
Munou na Nana (psychological/supernatural)
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (historical/mystery/romance)
Blue Lock (sports)
Tongari Boushi no Atelier (fantasy)
Okashiratsuki (romance/slice of life)
Shadow House (supernatural/slice of life)

Quote from Alimeru

Seconding RoxFlowz's recs for Kaguya, Mieruko-chan, Spy x Family, Gokushufudou, and Honzuki.

Here's some of my other ongoing favourites:

Jigokuraku (KAKU Yuuji) (action/supernatural)
Kimetsu no Yaiba (action/supernatural, has anime)
Koroshi Ai (action/romance)
Batuque (action/martial arts) ...

Hi Alimeru! Appreciate you taking the time to list your ongoing favorites. All of these I have actually never heard of except for Kimetsu no Yaiba which a friend of mine suggested. At first I was quite hesitant because it came from him (he usually only suggests ecchi and the like, not that there's anything wrong with that just that it's not what I'm looking for) but I actually really liked it.

Among your suggestions, I'm really interested in Tongari Boushi no Atelier as I absolutely LOVE anything in the fantasy genre.

Definitely gonna give these others a go:
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
No Guns Life
Okashiratsuki (Seeing Sahara Mizu's art still always reminds of Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan after all these years, hopefully this one won't go anywhere near there)
Shadow House
Heart Gear

I have so much catching up to do!! 😁 Thank you!!

“I thought also of another thing between us. Call it trust... That is one of its names. It is a very great thing. Though each of us alone is weak, having that we are strong, stronger than the powers of the dark.”

An advice from an addict who also had a chance to quit for 4 years at college but then got back on the wagon. If your mind is free and you can still think straight and know you can survive without relying on escapism. Get out while you can and read nothing. Because you won't be able to do it for the second time. It'll drain your time, and make you feel bad afterwards and you'll gain nothing. RUN.

I normally don't get into debates on here but I'm genuinely confused by this post of yours and I feel like you're heavily projecting. What would you classify as an "addiction"? As long as your hobbies don't consume your every waking moment I don't think you could call it an addiction. OP just said they took a break for a while, not quit because it was detrimental to their health, and I don't understand why you felt the need to make this "warning".

Our lives are limited by the years left for us to live. Yes, reading "drains your time", but so does everything else. School, work, food, sleep, sports, video games, writing, socializing, you name it. Deciding what, to you, is considered a waste of your time is all a matter of opinion.

Again, unless you have an unhealthy obsession that becomes detrimental to your health, you don't need to feel guilty about doing whatever you want in your spare time over the course of your life. Moderate escapism is healthy, life throws curveballs at everyone without discrimination and sometimes we need an outlet for that. No such outlet is superior to another, that would be illogical.

Yes you are 100% right. I'm projecting. And I realise that not everyone is like me (unable to control themselves) . But I thought I'd give the advice anyway if it does fit.

You see I'm unable to control myself bec. I simply don't have to.
I work from home and I move when there are deadlines basically.

I'd imagine things would be different if I was integrated into society and had discipline etc.. But at the same time I believe that even if I did. That I'd be going to work and finishing then going back to escape with things that fulfil my desires for achievement and harmony etc....

I wouldn't bother to discover myself or anything else asides from work and then getting lost in reading fiction.

Many people have that problem with games. Doing other activities becomes a hellish chore for them bec. they just don't give the same level of satisfaction and you may stop seeing the point . Especially if you're doing something you don't wanna do .

So I'm just stating an opinion and something I've seen happen to others . If it doesn't suit people it's fine . Everyone is different .But think about this. If you took a hobby like fashion designing, drawing, playing an instrument, playing a sport... would you look back in regret. Or would you regret more if you've spent that time reading manga, but hey atleast you had fun.

Clearly I'm a hypocrite who is still here reading. So... no comment I'm jumbled up.

That I'd be going to work and finishing then going back to escape with things that fulfil my desires for achievement and harmony etc....

In general, there's really no problem with this. Many, many people work 9-5+ jobs and then go home and proceed to do nothing productive in order to relax. This isn't a bad habit unless the leisure activity starts eating into your work ethic.

Although as you've said you personally have the potential to become addicted to an unhealthy degree so I can understand where you're coming from with your first post now.

Everyone is different .But think about this. If you took a hobby like fashion designing, drawing, playing an instrument, playing a sport... would you look back in regret. Or would you regret more if you've spent that time reading manga, but hey atleast you had fun.

A counterpoint to this would be that any so-called "productive" hobby can be considered a waste of time unless you end up using it for something progressive in the future. Think about how many kids learn to play an instrument in grade school and then end up not doing anything with that skill later in life.

It's not the same for you or I, but most mangaka probably grew up reading manga themselves, which inspired them to start writing/drawing their own series. In their case, reading manga would not be considered a useless hobby.

I suppose it all comes back around to the point I made in my first post, the decision of what is considered a waste of your time is up to the individual.

Admittedly, I am also projecting a bit with my defenses since reading has always been a major pastime of mine, whether it's "real" novels or LNs/manga.

To lighten this up, I fear I'm addicted to Animal crossing right now. Send help. And some oranges.

Also, recommending Beastars to you. I second Solo leveling, and personally I adore who made me a princess. Also Fantasy.