Crazy concept for you all: when you're dying to pick up a book but have lost the innate ability to focus for long enough periods that you fly through several hundred chapters you had as a child, there is still hope. That very hope comes in the form of manga. Simply put, mangas are Japanese graphic novels that are often adapted to animation and even sometimes live-action films or stage plays. The appeal lies in a tesselation of captivating storytelling, visually inviting illustrations and chapters fit for those on a time crunch or are in for a non-stop binge. 

A miniature, much blonder version of myself as a toddler had an insatiable, imaginative mind looking to feast upon every kind of artistic media I could get my tiny hands on. Yeah sure I started with watching Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura on TV, but eventually fell upon the Tokyo Ghoul volumes and Hello, I Love You by The Doors rang through the speakers in my head immediately. 

Here are my picks for those new to manga or those avid readers looking for something to add to their roster. Enjoy! x

NANA

Any opportunity to promote NANA I will gladly take! As mentioned in my anime and fashion in animation posts the story lies within the intersection of the lives of two young women both named Nana with polarizing personalities and interests. It's riddled with countless noteworthy fashion moments, angst galore, and even some more than subtle WLW action that adds another depth to the romance-fueled shoujo. Albeit unfinished, this 21-volume treasure is capable of rooting itself in your heart and clinging to your most vulnerable emotions at nearly every turn of a page. This forever changed me as a person, a fashion lover, and even as a fiction writer. Indulge yourselves. (FYI: It's Nana Osaki's birthday today!)

BUNGO STRAY DOGS

Fictional detectives, mafia, and villains with special abilities all inspired by real-life authors from Japan, Russia, and America are what makes up one of the most flawlessly intriguing and beautifully drawn mangas I've ever come across. The characterizations are so intricately crafted that even if you never liked the author in reality, you're bound to be a fan of their 2D persona. Even if you catch up seeing as it's still being updated, there's plenty more to dive into. There are an additional seven light novels, some of which predate the series's timeline, some that are simply derivatives of it, and others that are set in alternate universes. One of the light novels "BEAST" was even converted to manga style recently as well. Even a cutesy "Wan" segment exists along with a perfectly executed anime and feature film. It's a Michelin star multi-course meal over here.

HUNTER X HUNTER

Many friends of mine can attest to this being a god-tier shonen manga and it's hard to top in my eyes too. An exuberant boy sets off to participate in an annual exam to become a Hunter (you can hunt just about anything in this word from fugitives to rare relics to food) like his father who disappeared soon after he was born. Along the way, he makes friends at every corner who both teach him and are inspired by his courage and bright-eyed persistence (even his enemies are motivated by the kid). The Phantom Troupe introduced in the YorkNew City Arc are a personal favorite so keep an eye out.

NORAGAMI

You either love Noragami or you hate it or you are overwhelmed with both emotions at once. Divided into two parallel worlds are the Near Shore where living humans and the like reside adjacent to the Far Shore littered with gods, demons, and lost souls named shinki. The dynamics between the human protagonist and these otherworldly beings make for light entertainment amid some really badass fights and ornate that will charm your pants off. 

HAIKYUU!!

Cannot say I've ever been all that into athletics save for the World Cup and the occasional spurts of ice skating obsession, but after being pushed to give Haikyuu a try, I am now well-versed in both excessive volleyball knowledge and wholesome sports manga feels. Karasuno High School takes the main stage in the series but glimpses of other teams including their interactions on and off the court will have you collecting favorites like those shiny pressed coins at Disney World. It's filled to the brim with uplifting notions and themes of friendship and sharing ambitions as well as hardships as a team. It's also fun to keep an eye out for how the characters of each team resemble their respective mascots.

JUNJI ITO

Could not for the life of me choose just one to highlight here so I'm going forth in recommending Junji Ito's works as a whole. Fans of horror, if you're not already familiar with this man's glorious collection of tantalizingly gruesome tales and hypnotic artistry, now is the time to get acquainted. I'd suggest starting with Tomie, Uzumaki, and Smashed but he also has done an adaptation of Dazai Osamu's No Longer Human (who is, funnily enough, a main protagonist in Bungo Stray Dogs) that's worth checking out. 

JUJUTSU KAISEN

One of my more recent fixations and what I'd say is one of Weekly Shonen Jump's standouts is all about curses, but I'm talking manifested human-like embodiments of curses. They run around with powers that stem from what is essentially negativity of all degrees and can only be defeated by onmyoji which are shamen/sorcerers who each wield their own unique curse technique to counteract the curses themselves. Both curses and curse users are categorized by grade, first grade being the most powerful. Yuji Itadori finds himself in a wrong place, wrong time situation that leads him to be possessed by Sukuna aka the most sinister and notorious curse anyone knows of. Under the guidance of famed curse user Gojo Satoru, he's brought to a magic technical college to learn the trade. Every character is deeply fascinating and there are moments that will surprisingly take shots at your heart, but it's well worth it.

YONA OF THE DAWN

A princess who experiences an enormous amount of growth from spoiled rotten to full-time archer/warrior is enticing, especially when it includes her leading a band of really handsome "dragons" who would all throw themselves on the pyre for her. It's everything charming about historical dramas while being entirely made up and overflowing with honey-sweet and silly tidbits every chapter.  

BATTLE ANGEL ALITA

More strong female leads coming right up! Alita's a cyborg in a post-apocalyptic future who wakes up in an amnesiac haze but is repaired by a cybernetics doctor and soon regains her former fighting spirit that leads her to trials as a bounty hunter and star player in Motorball before tapping into earlier memories that further her journey for answers. The plot has heavy themes of classism and environmental turmoil that can hit very close to home even 30 years after its initial publication.

KAKEGURUI TWIN

My anime post featured a shout out for the Kakegurui anime and so I figured I'd push the narrative even further with the addition of its spin-off Kakegurui Twin that centers around Mary Saotome's time at Hyakkaou Private Academy before Yumeko Jabami transferred to the gambling hell hole. This cemented Mary a #1 spot on my character list for sure, she's wickedly sharp and strong-willed which is explored so much more here. The former student council president Sachiko is almost more fearsome and enrapturing than Momobami by the way.