Best 21+ Shounen Manga to READ! (Recommendations)

Updated October 20, 2022 by Ernie

Intense fights, never-ending action, emotional drama, and jaw-dropping moments! Shounen really is the most iconic genre out there. Some of y’all might hate shounen manga/anime and call it childish, but you can’t deny the fact that your first ever anime was a SHOUNEN, can you? 

Shounen basically translates to “Young Boys” in Japanese. This means that the primary target audience for this genre are boys between the ages of 14-18. But, who even believes this? Shounen is for every age and gender. You’ll enjoy shounen manga no matter how old you are. 

In this list, we’ll look over some of the best shounen manga of all time. With any further ado, let’s get started!!

You should also take a look at this….Best Shounen Anime

 

BEST SHOUNEN MANGA 

 

22. Noragami 

INFORMATION
Title	Noragami
Genre	Action, Shounen, Fantasy
Type	Manga
Author	Adachitoka
Published	2010
Number of Volumes	24-ongoing
Number of Chapters	101-ongoing

Noragami is the first manga to feature on this list. It is one of the most popular manga out there and is still ongoing with over 24 volumes. Fans just adore it. Its anime was adapted by the infamous Studio Bones, and they did an amazing job not gonna lie.

The plot of this gem revolves around Yato, a minor deity. Yato calls himself the “God of Delivery” and spends his day doing odd jobs for people. He has no shrine to his name and no known followers. 

Actually, he is the God of Calamity. He brings bad luck to wherever he goes. Now, this is where things get interesting. Yato was saved by a high school girl named Hiyori Iki. Both of them were safe. However, Hiyori notices that her soul is not stable, and she can somehow leave her body. 

Yato agreed to help her get back to normal. But, it won’t be that easy. He also needs a partner to do so. Hiyori agreed to become his partner. This event might be the turning point for Yato. What do you guys think? This manga has a MAL rating of 8.41. The art style is pretty neat as well. The main thing about this manga is the character development.

 

21. Demon Slayer

INFORMATION
Title	Kimetsu No Yaiba
Genre	Action, Fantasy, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Gotouge Koyoharu
Published	2016
Number of Volumes	23
Number of Chapters	207

 This manga needs no introduction. Demon Slayer is one of the most popular anime and manga out there. Being adapted by the infamous Ufotable, Demon Slayer has made its mark as one of the top anime in such a short time. Even though the manga is finished, it is still a top seller in Japan and all around the world. 

This manga follows the story of Tanjirou Kamado, whose family was brutally murdered by demons. What’s more? His sister was also turned into a demon. The story follows as Tanjirou ventures to look for a way to turn his sister back into a human. However, it won’t be that easy with demons roaming around everywhere.

In order for him to keep himself and his sister safe, he has to become a demon slayer and slay demons. During his journey, he meets some spectacular comrades as well. Will he be able to help his sister? 

The main theme of this manga is friendship. The art style of this manga is not that great. However, the story makes up for it. It has a MAL rating of 8.27. For some people, it is too generic. I guess it depends!!

 

20. Jujutsu Kaisen

INFORMATION
Title	Jujutsu Kaisen
Genre	Action, Fantasy, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Akutami Gege
Published	2018
Number of Volumes	20-ongoing
Number of Chapters	180-ongoing

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the recent manga on this list. Its manga is still ongoing and is one of the top sellers all around the world. It is one of the very few manga with little to no plot holes, which I believe is pretty amazing. 

Yuji Itadori is the protagonist of this gem. Yuji has always been above average in sports and athletics. Everything was going smoothly until a Curse Spirit showed up at his school. To save his friends, he had to swallow a cursed object known as Sukuna’s finger. 

With this, he became the vessel for the King of Curses, Ryumen Sukuna. His life turned upside down after this as he had to enroll at the Jujutsu High School to learn Jujutsu. However, things are just getting started.

Being adapted by the infamous Mappa, Jujutsu Kaisen’s anime adaptation also made huge progress. The plot might sound a bit cliche and generic. However, once you get into it, there is no turning back.

 

19. Pandora Hearts

INFORMATION
Title	Pandora Hearts
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Mochizuki Jun
Published	2006
Number of Volumes	24
Number of Chapters	107

Pandora Hearts is the next manga to feature on this list. It is quite underrated in my opinion. Not many people know about it. The main reason is its below-par anime adaptation. People were expecting a lot from it, but it failed to deliver.

The main premise of this manga revolves around Oz. Oz got entrapped inside a mysterious realm known as the Mystical Abyss for a sin he didn’t even commit. The interesting thing here is that he didn’t even know what he did. 

In order to escape from the Abyss, he formulated a contract with Alice, a chain. Ohh! I forgot to tell you about Chains. Chains are mysterious creatures that live inside the abyss. With Alice’s help, Oz attempts to unravel the mystery behind his sin. 

This manga is just awesome. It is full of mysteries. You can’t guess what’ll happen next. You guess something, and most of the time you are 100 percent wrong. It has over 20 volumes with 107 chapters. It is a must-read in my opinion.

 

18. Bleach

INFORMATION
Title	Bleach
Genre	Shounen, Action, Fantasy
Type	Manga
Author	Kubo Tite
Published	2001
Number of Volumes	74
Number of Chapters	705

Another Award Winning manga on this list. Bleach is one of the most popular manga out there. It has inspired many ongoing series including Black Clover and Jujutsu Kaisen. 

Shinigami! Mysterious beings whose prime duty is to guide souls. Some souls, however, are incapable of being guided. These vengeful souls are referred to as Hollows. These voids must be exorcised. One of these hollows attacked Ichigo Kurosaki, a not-so-ordinary high school student with the ability to see ghosts.

Rukia Kuchiki, a shinigami, rescued him. She was gravely injured during the battle, and Ichigo was forced to take over her shinigami duties. This marked the beginning of Ichigo’s life as a Shinigami. 

Bleach has a MAL rating of 7.78, which is quite low IMO. 

 

17. Bakuman

INFORMATION
Title	Bakuman
Genre	Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Obata Takeshi and Ohba Tsugumi
Published	2008
Number of Volumes	20
Number of Chapters	176

Bakuman is the next manga to feature on this list. It is one of the most unique and popular manga out there. Have you guys wondered how a manga is made, and how it is published? All of it seems too simple to us readers. However, there is a lot of struggle and hardship behind each and every manga.

This manga follows the story of Moritaka Mashiro. Mashiro is a talented artist. Still, he is unsure of his future. He had given up hope. One day, after seeing his drawing, writer Akito Takagi asks him to work together to create a manga. Mashiro was hesitating in the beginning. 

What inspired him was his crush, Miho Azuki, who wanted to become a voice actress. This marks the beginning of their journey as they aspire to become famous manga authors.

This manga is a must-watch if you are a veteran manga reader. Well! Most veteran readers already know about it though. It has over 176 chapters and the serialization ended back in 2012.

 

16. Spy X Family

INFORMATION
Title	Spy X Family
Genre	Comedy, Drama, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Endou Tatsuya
Published	2019
Number of Volumes	10-ongoing
Number of Chapters	61-ongoing

Spy X Family is another popular manga that recently got adopted. It is one of the highest-selling manga this year. 

The plot of this manga revolves around Twilight, a genius spy. Twilight would do anything for world peace. He is willing to do any mission, even if it costs him his life. However, the one he is assigned is worse. He has to raise a family. 

For this purpose, he took in a little girl named Anya and got married to a young woman, Yor. On the surface, they seem like a normal family. The interesting thing here is that Anya is an esper, and Yor is secretly working as an Assassin. It is the most unusual family you’ll see. And they hide these secrets from each other.

They even adopt a dog who can see the future, lol! You should deffo give it a shot. You’ll absolutely love it.

 

15. Death Note

INFORMATION
Title	Death Note
Genre	Psychological, Shounen, Suspense
Type	Manga
Author	Obata Takeshi, Ohba Tsugumi
Published	2003
Number of Volumes	12
Number of Chapters	108

Death Note is perhaps one of the most popular manga out there. If you ask weebs about their first anime, most will probably say Death Note.

On the contrary, there shouldn’t be any need to explain the plot here. However, for the sake of it, I’ll explain a bit. This gem follows the story of a teenage boy named Light Yagami. Light is considered a prodigy as he is good at everything he does. One day, he found a mysterious notebook titled Death Note. He took it home with him. With his intellect, he was able to deduce its usage. He wanted to use it to change the world. He wanted to become a GOD.

However, there was just one person standing between him and compete dominance, and that was L Lawliet, a detective. L’s true identity and name was a mystery, so it was not possible to kill him using the death note. Light had to use some other tactics. From manipulating shinigami to using other death note users to his benefit, Light has done it all. You should give it a read yourself.

 

14. Black Butler

INFORMATION
Title	Kuroshitsuji
Genre	Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Toboso Yana
Published	2006
Number of Volumes	32-not finished
Number of Chapters	185-not finished

Black Butler is the next manga to feature on this list. Black Butler is pretty underrated in my opinion. It is popular in Japan but not in other countries. 

In the outskirts of London lives a family known as the Phantomhives. They are recognized as the Queen’s watchdogs and London’s criminal head. However, many people started to downgrade them after the Earl’s death. But, they were surprised when their son, Ciel, decided to take his father’s place. 

Many people underestimated him. But, he and his demonic butler Sebastian proved all of the wrong. Explaining the plot any further will ruin the experience for y’all.

It was adapted back in 2008 by the infamous A-1 pictures. The interesting thing here is that the manga is still ongoing. It has a rating of 8.42 on MAL.

 

13. D-Gray Man

INFORMATION
Title	D-Gray Man
Genre	Action, Adventure, Mythology, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Hoshino Katsura
Published	2004
Number of Volumes	27
Number of Chapters	236

D-Gray Man revolves around a young man named Allen Walker. No! Not the singer. 

Allen is an exorcist capable of utilizing innocence, a weapon capable of destroying Akuma. He is a member of the Black Order. What are Akuma? Akuma are evil beings that lurk in the darkness. To destroy them, gifted beings like Allen were born.

Their sole purpose is to defeat Earl, the leader of the Akuma. To defeat them, they use special weapons known as Innocence. They also have special eyes to see Akuma. The plot of this show might seem a bit generic. But, there is a lot of weird stuff going on in it. 

It is still ongoing and has a MAL rating of 8.29. 

 

12. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic

INFORMATION
Title	Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Genre	Adventure, Shounen, Fantasy
Type	Manga
Author	Ohtaka Shinobu
Published	2009
Number of Volumes	37
Number of Chapters	369

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is one of the most popular manga out there. It is one of the few manga with “Award-Winning” as a genre. 

The plot of this manga revolves around Dungeons and Djinns. Everything was going smoothly until mysterious dungeons started popping out all over the world. Djinns live inside these dungeons. 

If a human manages to clear it, he becomes the ruler of the dungeon and gains the power of the Djinn. However, clearing one is not that easy. You’ll need a Magi to accompany you. Magi are mysterious beings with magical abilities. They choose humans to be their king candidate. 

Aladdin is also one of these Magi. He was trapped inside a room for quite some time. He was released alongside his friend Ugo, who is also a djinn. Aladdin sets out on a journey to discover the world. He meets many amazing people during his journey including Alibaba, Sindbad, and Morgiana. 

Magi has a MAL rating of 8.28. As I’ve already mentioned, it is an award-winning manga. Its anime adaptation was never completed though. The art style is pretty decent as well.

 

11. Dragon Ball

INFORMATION
Title	Dragon Ball
Genre	Action, Comedy, Adventure, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Akira Toriyama
Published	1984
Number of Volumes	42
Number of Chapters	520

Dragon Ball is perhaps the most iconic shounen manga/anime out there. It even inspired greats like Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. 

Goku is perhaps the most well-known anime character out there. There shouldn’t be any need to explain the plot here, is there? The story begins as a teenage girl, Bulma, is out searching for the Dragon Balls. These balls are known to summon a dragon who can fulfill your wishes.

During her journey, she meets Goku, a mysterious boy with a monkey-like tail. This marked the beginning of Goku and Bulma’s journey. 

The manga is still ongoing with the title of Dragon Ball Super. There are like 1000 reasons why you should read this manga. Now, I won’t go through all of them. You should give it a shot to find out for yourself.

In case you are worried about the watch order…..Dragon Ball Watch Order

 

10. Claymore

INFORMATION
Title	Claymore
Genre	Action, Adventure, Fantsay, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Yagi Norihiro
Published	2001
Number of Volumes	27
Number of Chapters	159

Claymore is the next manga on this list. Claymore is unlike your typical shounen manga. It is more of dark fantasy. 

The plot is set in the Middle Ages where blood–seeking monsters, Yoma, are found. Yoma are capable of transforming into humans as well, making them even more dangerous. People live in constant fear as they are not even safe from their own families.

Their only hope is an organization known as Claymore. Half human and half Yoma female warriors work for the extinction of Yoma from this world. Being half Yoma, they have to take care of their bodies so that they don’t lose humanity. 

The protagonist of this show is Clare, a claymore. Besides slaying yoma for the betterment of humanity, Clare has personal reasons as well. She is looking for a particular Yoma. Will she be able to find and slay it? 

With a MAL rating of 8.30, Claymore has a pretty decent art style. The characters are really engaging. You should deffo give it a shot.

 

09. Gintama

INFORMATION
Title	Gintama
Genre	Shounen, Comedy, Action, Sci-Fi
Type	Manga
Author	Sorachi Hideaki
Published	2003
Number of Volumes	77
Number of Chapters	709

How can we exclude Gintama from this list? I mean, it’s not possible. It has one of the best anime adaptation you’ll ever witness.

With aliens known as Amanto invading earth and humans surrendering, it was the end of samurais and swords. However, our MC Gintoki Sakata still wields a wooden sword. He believes that swords are a part of him, and it’s not possible to leave a part of you. He and his comrades do odd jobs for people and make a living. 

The main theme of this manga is comedy. Make sure to keep a box of tissues besides you, cuz it’ll deffo make you cry with laughter. Gintama’s anime adaptation is also considered a masterpiece. It features in the top 10 list of MAL. 

The manga is rated 8.62 on MAL, which is pretty decent. The art style is exquisite as well. It has over 77 volumes and 709 chapters. It’ll take some time giving it a read, lol!

 

08. Haikyuu!

INFORMATION
Title	Haikyuu!
Genre	Shounen, Sports, School
Type	Manga
Author	Furudate Haruichi
Published	2012
Number of Volumes	45
Number of Chapters	407

How can you not include Haikyuu! in the list of shounen manga? I mean, it’s just impossible. Haikyuu! is one of the most popular manga out there. It just revolutionized the sports genre.

After witnessing the Little Giant on television, Hinata Shoyo fell in love with volleyball. And he had just one thing in mind and that was to represent the Japanese volleyball team. Despite his short height, he did not lose hope. 

The middle school he went to didn’t have a volleyball club, so Hinata formulated a team by himself to participate in the inter-high volleyball tournament. Well! He was utterly defeated. However, he managed to find himself a rival, Kageyama Tobio AKA the King of the Court.

After a few years, both of them meet each other again at the Karasuno High School gymnasium wanting to join the volleyball club. This marks the beginning of Hinata’s amazing journey. Well! The manga is already finished, and we know what happens to Hinata and co. Make sure to avoid spoilers. They are literally EVERYWHERE!!

This manga has one of the finest art styles I’ve ever witnessed. It is just mesmerizing and feels soooo good!!

 

07. Chainsaw Man

INFORMATION
Title	Chainsaw Man
Genre	Action, Adventure, Shounen, Gore
Type	Manga
Author	Fujimoto Tatsuki
Published	2018
Number of Volumes	Ongoing
Number of Chapters	Ongoing

If I had to define this manga using just one word, I’d say “Chaos”. In my opinion, there is no better definition for it. 

Chainsaw man is one of the recent manga on this list and its popularity has just sky–rocketed these past two years. With Mappa adapting it, it’ll become one of the most influential anime franchises out there. 

Denji is the protagonist of this manga. He was living his life peacefully while killing alongside his devil pet Pochita. However, the Yakuza he was working with betrayed him and he was murdered. Now, this is where the fun begins. Pochita somehow merged with Denji’s body and he became the CHAINSAW MAN. 

This event caught the eye of the Public Safety Bureau responsible for exterminating devils. This marked the beginning of Denji’s crazy adventure as a Devil Hunter.

Some people call this manga overhyped. However, that’s not true. You should give it a shot before developing any opinion. It has a MAL rating of 8.74, which is pretty high IMO.

 

06. Naruto

INFORMATION
Title	Naruto
Genre	Shounen, Action, Adventure, Martial Arts
Type	Manga
Author	Kishimoto Masashi
Published	1999
Number of Volumes	72
Number of Chapters	700

Naruto is one of the most beloved manga/anime of all time. It might not have the highest rating on MAL, it is still considered one of the best anime of all time. The negative reviews are from the people who just can’t accept it, lol

Naruto Uzumaki is one of the most popular and beloved anime characters. He has just one goal in life, and that is to become the Hokage. With no special abilities, he was underestimated his entire life. He was even despised by the villagers. Why? Well! I won’t give anything away. I’m sure most of you already know what I’m talking about lol!

He is only good at one thing: “Not Giving Up.” Despite everything, he never gave up hope. He aspired to be the greatest Hokage ever, with Sasuke as his rival. Naruto’s plot may have plot holes, and some may even call it trash. However, in my opinion, it is one of the best manga.

 

05.Fullmetal Alchemist

INFORMATION
Title	Fullmetal Alchemist
Genre	Action, Fantasy, Drama, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Arakawa Hiromu
Published	2001
Number of Volumes	27
Number of Chapters	116

Excluding Fullmetal Alchemist from this list would be pure blasphemy. I mean, it’s just impossible. With a MAL rating of 9.04, it is one of the highest-rated manga out there. 

The plot of this manga revolves around Alchemy (You can see it from the title too lol!) Alchemists are able to modify and manipulate matter to theirs. It requires years of knowledge and studying to use alchemy properly. There are some restrictions as well. Alchemists cannot use forbidden arts including human transmutation. 

However, our protagonists, Edward and Alphonse, decided to revive their dead mother using alchemy. They failed miserably and not only that, Edward lost his arm and legs while Alphonse lost his whole body. 

After some years of intense training, they set out on a journey to find the philosopher’s stone. During this journey, they uncover some dark mysteries of the world they live in. This manga is truly a gem, there is no denying this fact. I won’t even call you a weeb unless you have read this manga or at least watched the anime.

 

04. Attack On Titan

INFORMATION
Title	Attack on Titan
Genre	Action, Drama, Shounen, Gore, Military
Type	Manga
Author	Isayama Hajima
Published	2009
Number of Volumes	34
Number of Chapters	141

Attack on Titan is perhaps the most popular anime/manga out there. Even non-anime people/ normies know about it. 

Titans!!! The word people living in the world of AOT fear the most. Titans are giant, mindless, humanoid creatures who eat humans. To tackle them, humanity had built humongous walls. With these

walls protecting them, humans were living in peace. 

One day, this peace was shattered as a 60-meter tall titan appeared out of nowhere and destroyed the gate. This marked the beginning of a massacre. The whole district of Shiganshina was destroyed. Our MCs, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin had to escape, leaving their dreams and families behind. 

After this horrific event, Eren vowed to himself that he’ll kill every titan in existence. Now,  I won’t spoil everything.

Attack on Titan is one of those mangas about which you cannot predict what’ll happen next. There are multiple plot twists and you’ll be on the edge of your seats most of the time. 

Don’t let yourself get attached to a particular character!!!!

 

03. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

INFORMATION
Title	Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Genre	Action, Adventure, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Araki Hirohiko
Published	1986
Number of Volumes	Ongoing
Number of Chapters	Ongoing

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is perhaps the most bizarre manga you’ll ever read. With over 8 parts, 8 different protagonists, and 8 unique antagonists, it sure is a masterpiece. 

The Jojo family is central to the plot of this manga. The Jojo’s are essentially cursed. There is trouble wherever they go. The Jojos have always been at the center of controversy whether it be Jonathan Joestar or Jolyne Cujoh.

Now, I can’t start explaining all of the parts. My best advice is to give it a read yourself. The first part might seem a bit boring. After that, it is a smooth ride. Jojo’s Part 7: Steel Ball Run is the 2nd highest manga on MAL with a rating of 9.28.  Its art style is unique in its own way. In short, it is a GOATED series.

 

02. Hunter X Hunter

INFORMATION
Title	Hunter X Hunter
Genre	Action , Adventure, Fantasy, Shounen
Type	Manga
Author	Togashi Yoshihiro
Published	1998
Number of Volumes	36-ongoing
Number of Chapters	390-ongoing

Hunter X Hunter is perhaps the most beloved manga of all times. It was on a hiatus for quite some time. People even started calling it Hiatus x Hiatus, lol!

However, the author Togashi has recently announced that he is working on some new chapters, and fans are getting crazyyyyy over this news!!

Hunters are individuals with unique abilities. They are able to freely manipulate their Nen energy and use it to fight mysterious monsters. Gon is the protagonist of this manga. To find his father, who abandoned him when he was young, he plans to become a Hunter. However, becoming a hunter is not that easy.

You have to pass an exam, known as the Hunter Exam. People even die during this exam. Despite all this, he is determined. During his journey, he manages to befriend some amazing people including Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio. All of them have their personal ambitions and goals.

Will Gon be able to clear this test and find his dad? Hunter x Hunter has one of the cleanest art styles I’ve ever seen. Its world-building is spectacular as well. With a MAL rating of 8.71, it is pretty high up on the list.

 

01. One Piece

INFORMATION
Title	One Piece
Genre	Action, Adventure, Shounen, Fantasy
Type	Manga
Author	Oda Eiichiro
Published	1997
Number of Volumes	Ongoing
Number of Chapters	Ongoing

There is no need to introduce this gem, right? One Piece!!!! It is one of the oldest and highest-grossing manga of all time. People even call it the best ever manga to ever exist. With over 1000 chapters and 1000+ anime episodes, it is a masterpiece.

Pirate King! The word you’ll hear countless times in this show. Gol D Roger was the pirate who was reckoned as the Pirate King. He managed to unravel a treasure no one had ever set eyes on. Yess! The

ONE PIECE. He publicly announced the presence of One Piece during his execution. This marked the beginning of the Pirate Era.

The story follows Monkey D Luffy, an ordinary boy who ate the Gomu Gomu Devil Fruit, searches for one piece alongside his crew. He manages to meet some amazing people during his journey. 

It might be a bit difficult to get into this manga, however, once you start it, there is no turning back. It is so addicting not gonna lie!

Eiichiro Oda is the GOAT!!!

 

Conclusion

It was really difficult to formulate a list of the best shounen manga as there are sooooo many options. I didn’t include Black Clover even though it is my favorite manga because I know there are better manga.

Most of these manga are pretty old and y’all probably already knew about them. In case you are a new anime fan, this list will help you out a lot. PEACE!!

Here are some more recomms for you…..Best Shounen Manhwa