Every story has to end, though whether it burns out or fades away is another matter. Some media are kept going even when their tanks of inspiration have run dry. While others seemingly ended before they could really reach full speed. Some even get left unfinished. But most stories usually get to reach their natural conclusion, be they TV shows, movies, or manga.
For example, these seinen manga all reached their finish lines in 2023. They’re a mix of cult classics and big names, and they’re all worth reading. However, which ones are worth catching from the start and reading in full again?
8Yomotsuhegui: Scions of the Underworld
MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
Lasting just over two years,Yomotsuheguiis a cult classic that combinesHighlanderwithThe Punisher. It sees protagonist Nawa go from a humble police officer to a vengeful immortal trying to hold onto his humanity. After his wife and child were killed, he sought vengeance, and ended up in prison. After he’s released, he discovers he can’t be killed by mortal wounds. The god of death reveals this is because he ate the fruit of the Yomotsuhegui, a tree that grows in the realm of the dead.
This effectively made Nawa immortal, and gave him new powers. The god needs his help to take care of other immortals who use their powers to harm others or satisfy themselves. As tempting as it is to give into his brutal instincts, Nawa still finds himself driven to do the right thing.
7Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem
MyAnimeList Score: 7.12
Before Shinya Umemura caught fans’ attention withRecord of Ragnarök, he was writingChiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem(akaRequiem of the ShogunorThe Shinsengumi). The Bakumatsu-era samurai cops have been recurring characters in his work.Chiruransees the unit’s last surviving member, Nagakura Shinpachi, recount his memories of Hijikata Toshizō, the ‘Demon of the Shinsengumi.’
He narrates Toshizō’s story from his days as a wannabe swordsman peddling his family’s medical treatments, to proving his worth against the samurai who would become his colleagues in the Shinsengumi. But to get that far, he’d have to impress Isami, who happens to be much more skilled than he thinks. It’s quite close tothe real Hijikata’s life story, but readers will have to read the manga themselves to see if it sticks to it to the end.
6365 Days to the Wedding
MyAnimeList Score: 7.63
Seinen stories aren’t necessarily full of superpowers, swords, and blood.365 Days to the Weddingis much more grounded. It’s a slice-of-life rom-com about a relatable, everyday event: faking an engagement to avoid getting transferred to Siberia.
The JTC Travel Agency has opened a new branch in Irkutsk, and they need someone to manage it. However, employees Takuya and Riku would rather stay in Tokyo. So, when they notice JTC have bachelors in mind for the new position, the two decide to make themselves ineligible by getting married. Except they barely know each other, let alone love each other. But if they don’t want to learn Russian, they’ll have to convince everyone they’re a couple.
5Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak
MyAnimeList Score: 7.53
David Production has done a great job animatingJojo’s Bizarre Adventure, but as of this writing, they’ve only got two fully complete parts left to adapt:Part 7: Steel Ball RunandPart 8: Jojolion.Part 9:The Jojolands, currently in its early chapters, will likely be complete by the timeJojoliongets animated. Even so, the studio will have to pace themselves before they burn through their source material. Luckily, there areplenty of spin-offsto work with.
These include midquel stories likeJojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak. It’s essentially ‘Part 3.5.’ In itStardust Crusadersvillain Hol Horse joins forces withDiamond is Unbreakablehero Josuke to track down Pet Sounds, Dio’s old manga-only pet parrot. It was the first officialJojoproject to not be illustrated by creator Hirohiko Arak. Yet, it tells a compelling story that fits neatly into the series.
4Insomniacs After School
MyAnimeList Score: 8.46
Insomniacs After Schoolconcluded just one month afterthe end of its anime, two months after the release of its live-action movie adaptation, and five months after Viz Media started its official English translation of its volumes. So, even though the manga is complete, the series won’t be going to sleep just yet. As the title suggests, it follows two high school students who make the most of their insomnia after school.
While trying to nap in the school’s abandoned observatory, Ganta comes across Isaki, another insomniac who had the same idea. While he comes off as grumpy and irritable because of his lack of sleep, she remains cheerful. They use their common bond to revive the school’s Astronomy club, using the observatory to map the stars, make new friends, and eventually get some sleep.
3Delicious in Dungeon
MyAnimeList Score: 8.47
For a fantasy-based comedy,Delicious in Dungeon’s premise doesn’t sound particularly hilarious. When six adventurers try to fight a dragon in search of the Golden Kingdom, the beast defeats them and eats their spellcaster, Falin. But before she was swallowed up, she cast a spell to send her friends back to the outside world, saving them from becoming the firebreather’s next meal. But Falin’s brother, Laios, thinks she can be saved.
If they can get back to the dragon and defeat it before Falin gets digested, she’ll be fine and somewhat dandy. That will take a month, so the party must venture through the dungeon non-stop, and live off whatever grows and roams there. That’s where the laughs come in. From bugs and mollusks to kelpies and harpies, they have to hone their culinary skills as much as their combat skills to survive, even if the results aren’t always tasty.
2The Fable: The Second Contact
MyAnimeList Score: 8.02
The story’s original run ended in 2019, but it got a sequel in 2021:The Fable: The Second Contact. This time, Fable and his driver find themselves driven back to their old cover identities as siblings ‘Akira’ and ‘Yōko’ when the Covid-19 pandemic causes their work to dry up. Without any new contracts and a global lockdown in place, they have to get used to the quiet civilian life again, or die trying.
1Blood on the Tracks
MyAnimeList Score: 8.00
Blood on the Tracksmight sound familiar, because it was promoted by YouTube essayist SuperEyepatchWolf as ‘the manga that breaks people.’ The story’s protagonist, Seiichi, discovers a dark side to his mother, Seiko. After Seiichi’s cousin Shigeru almost knocks him off a small cliff by accident, Seiko deliberately throws Shigeru from it instead. He survives but is left in a coma, and Seiichi was the only witness.
This becomes the first sign of a controlling personality disorder that sees Seiko become Seiichi’s worst nightmare. He gets caught between covering for her crime and trying to escape her controlling influence, which both become increasingly difficult as the comatose Shigeru slowly comes to, and Seiko’s hold tightens.This psychological horror storyis as chilling and shocking as any monster story.
