As an increasingly popular industry, fantasy manga can offer some great stories. Some companies rise, while others fall. You need to be reading the best fantasy manga if you love dragons, magic, and all things fantastical.
There are so many great choices that they can be overwhelming, so use this list as a guide so you don’t get overwhelmed. In this article, we will see the 10 best new fantasy manga.
You have many options when it comes to fantasy manga, so if you’re looking to spice up your boring life, these are the right ones for you.
The majority of mainstream manga are from the fantasy genre, so you have probably read one already, no matter what kind of manga you enjoy.
A lot of the world’s most popular manga falls into the fantasy genre – Naruto, One Piece, or Fairy Tail all feature magical elements.
But fantasy manga goes beyond these familiar series. Let’s see some upcoming and some already published fantasy manga; you are definitely going like it.
10. Made in Abyss
The anime adaptation of Made in Abyss caught the attention of fans, but Akihito Tsukushi’s original fantasy manga is also well worth reading.
There are many adventurers in this town, including our young protagonist, Riko, who lost her mother to the abyss. Riko wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps by exploring these depths herself.
The design of the abyss itself is incredible, and the real star of this fantasy manga is the robot boy who must have come from the abyss itself. Reg’s unique abilities help Riko overcome the abyss at such an early age.
Made in Abyss
It’s a story that relishes in the unknown, a story that embodies Jules Verne’s work. It’s an excellent example of the mangaka carving out a lusciously realized world full of amazing creatures.
These young adventurers’ relationships, as well as the things they see, captivate you, keeping you glued to the page. The mysteries in the abyss and the things they see keep you captivated.
9. The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
On April 26, 2017, Kadokawa Shoten’s Comp Ace magazine began serializing a manga adaptation with art by Reki Kugayama. It has been collected into nine tankōbon volumes as of November 26, 2021.
This series plot follows the Four Cardinal Heroes, a group of common Japanese men who are the guardians of Melromarc.
Naofumi Iwatani is doomed to serve as the shield hero due to his lack of offensive skills and sluggish acting style. Naofumi’s fellow heroes and citizens mock him for his lack of offensive abilities.
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Even though Malty Melromarc is the only person capable of training Naofumi without resources or friends, she abandons him right away. Despite not exploiting her, he is still wrongfully accused of exploiting her.
Naofumi will need to buy a slave named Raphtalia to accompany him if Melromarc is to survive. If Melromarc is to survive, Naofumi must fight to preserve Melromarc and its people.
8. The Man Picked up by the Gods
Yet, his reserved nature caused him to stay secluded in the wilderness, using only a taming skill to amass a small army of slimes. Even though they were rather mundane and basic to him, the reactions of those who met him were the opposite.
The Man Picked up by the Gods
Using his slimes, he accomplishes incredible feats to the astonishment of all those who know him. Ask anyone else if they would consider his magic cool in the most serious of circumstances, and they’d agree that it’s not the flashiest of his abilities.
7. Aliens Area
The series was written and illustrated by Fusai Naba and began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on June 6, 2022.
So far, only four chapters have been released. This story is about Japanese high schooler Tatsumi Tatsunami lost both of his parents at an early age and now works multiple part-time jobs to support himself and his younger siblings.
Aliens Area
Tatsumi wakes up to discover his body is changing suddenly…And now mysterious beings are showing up at his house.
To safeguard those he loves and protect the Earth (or “area”), he has to awaken – because they’re already here! A new chapter of the story is published in English every day through Viz Media and Manga Plus simultaneously with the Japanese release.
6. A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
A party of six heroes tries and fails to save the world from apocalyptic Shadow World, but their magician gets a second chance. Desir Herman awakens thirteen years in the past and must rouse a new party to stop the greatest catastrophe ever to strike humanity.
A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
Desir’s return from the apocalypse hasn’t given him any special abilities besides the knowledge of the future, but that knowledge won’t matter when no one listens. Is it possible to stop what’s coming, or is humanity destined to be destroyed?
5. Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess
The manga and light novel releases of Jingai Hime-Sama, Hajimemashita – Free Life Fantasy Online (Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess) this year are in line with an emerging publishing trend.
Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess
This new light-hearted fantasy romp employs “Full Dive” virtual reality, popularized by series like Sword Art Online.
Tsukishiro Kotone, an inexperienced gamer, jumps into a fantasy world and elects to compete in the hardest race without knowing it…
Now she’s stuck as a Zombie race designed for hardcore gamers… Can she possibly enjoy her second life when she never really existed? Manga readers will need to wait until September for the light novel release of Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess.
4. This Is Screwed Up, but I Was Reincarnated as a GIRL in Another World!
All you need to know about Yoku Wakaranai Keredo Isekai ni Tensei Shiteita You Desu (This Is Screwed Up, but I Was Reincarnated as a Girl in Another World!) can be found in the title. After being enslaved as a girl, Ren realizes that she is a grown adult from Earth, gaining magical abilities in the process.
This Is Screwed Up, but I Was Reincarnated as a GIRL in Another World!
Ren, a former research scientist, uses the magic she learned during her previous life – along with her knowledge of chemistry and physics – to create tools and devices, free herself, and help people throughout the world!
3. Lazy Dungeon Master
Having already appeared in 15 light novels (and counting), Zettai ni Hatarakitakunai Dungeon Master ga Damin wo Musaboru made (Lazy Dungeon Master) will make its manga debut this year!
Lazy Dungeon Master
This series follows the story of a lazy boy, Masuda Keima tries to avoid doing any real work. After being summoned to a fantasy world by a sentient dungeon core, Keima takes over as a dungeon master to make the perfect self-sufficient dungeon.
In the process, Keima meets beautiful adventurer girls and discovers more dungeon cores, all in the pursuit of crafting the perfect dungeon and never working a day in his life!
2. Magical Explorer
In 2022, the most highly anticipated anime will premiere: Magical Explorer – Eroge no Yuujin Kyara ni Tensei Shita Kedo, Game Chishiki Tsukatte Jiyuu ni Ikiru (Magical Explorer) will be adapted into a manga.
As our main character, we find ourselves reincarnated into an erotic fantasy game called “Magical Explorer,” – but we find ourselves playing an unlucky side character to the lady-killer protagonist.
In the original game, the protagonist has access to a harem of 24 beautiful heroines with cheat powers that let him also solo the Demon King. But our main character? He’s not as lucky.
Magical Explorer
We meet our main character, who is dissatisfied with his lot in life, seeking to gain more power, level up, and get the girls.
After all, he’s surrounded by 24 of the hottest eroge girls in videogame history – and he’s also discovered magic. If he can use this newly discovered power, can he help him defeat the Demon King?
1. To Your Eternity
It has been said that mangaka Yoshitoki Oima is probably best known for her short series A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi), which was adapted into a beloved anime movie. However, she is also responsible for this completely original and unique fantasy manga.
As a fantasy manga, To Your Eternity is incredibly smart, heavy, and impactful. It explores key themes like mortality, change, and community through a story about an orb that is sent to the human world to learn and develop. The orb takes the shape of whatever it comes into contact with.
To Your Eternity
Initially, it appears as a rock; soon, an injured wolf dies beside it, and the orb transforms into a wolf, walking along with the snow until it encounters a boy (the “real” wolf’s former owner).
From here, we journey with the boy to reunite his community, which left him alone to seek a better life. From this point on, our journey really begins when he dies, and the orb takes his form.
His manga has been a tearjerker from the very beginning. It isn’t afraid of putting its characters through the ringer and even killing them if necessary to advance the plot. But to grow, one must be hurt and lose.
Honorable Mention
Hitozukiai ga Nigate na Miboujin no Yukionna-san to Noroi no Yubiwa
Breeding a Better Tomorrow by Freedom Prophet
With Bai Lu’s latest Chinese drama, ‘Ordinary Greatness,’ which received huge attention, and also her upcoming project ‘Till The End Of The Moon,’ which as well seems to be a quite promising show, the audience is feeling nostalgic about this amazing actresses’ endless accomplished dramas. And thus, to give you a ride through that beautiful memory lane, here we are, presenting you with a few of the best Bai Lu dramas.
Before we give you a glance at some bewitching dramas, for the audience who does not know who Bai Lu is or hasn’t seen any of her dramas yet, our precious readers, you’re missing some real fun in life. But worry not, since now you’re here, you’d definitely get to know her through her work and would probably end up loving her choices of dramas as well.
Bai Lu Dramas:
5. King Is Not Easy
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy Cast: Bai Lu, Zhang Yi Jie Total Episodes: 20
Our precious audience, what do you think you would do if you someday end up being stuck in someone else’s body? Would you freak out? Well, too naive of us to ask that. Of course, you’d freak out, but would you rather have fun for a while along with finding a solution for it? Or are you the type who’s going to get all chaotic about it? Well, while you think about it, let us introduce you to one such insanely hilarious Chinese drama, ‘King Is Not Easy,’ with a somewhat similar plot.
But in this case, the swap takes place between an emperor and a woman who was secretly acting as a maid. We believe you can already imagine the bizarre situation that was created in the show. Although despite having an intense situation of body swap, the way Bai Lu and Zhang Yi Jie pulled their characters off so remarkably left the audience completely hooked to the show.
Bai Lu and Zhang Yi Jie in ‘King is Not Easy’
Even though there were quite a few questions left unanswered by the writers while wrapping up the show yet, because of their little twists and a satisfying ending, the drama is worth a try. For the audience who wishes to binge-watch ‘King Is Not Easy’, it is available on Rakuten Viki.
4. The Legends
Genre: Fantasy, Romance Cast: Xu Kai, Bai Lu, Xiao Yan, Dai Xu Total Episodes: 56
You know there are certain rules to life that we all apparently follow blindly. And honestly, it’s not because they aren’t right, but it’s more like it’s a belief, a perception that’s been passed down from generation to generation. But then again, how to question beliefs because obviously, they are ‘beliefs’ in the first place. Their existence is as we believe in them, right guys? But does that mean there can not exist a thin line stating that it might be untrue?
Well, this beautiful drama ‘The Legends’ gives the audience a fair chance to choose if simply being a demon means bad, and God means good, or sometimes it’s the words good and bad that we need to put our belief on rather than the spoon-fed virtuality.
Bai Lu and Xu Kai in ‘The Legends’
With an engaging storyline, absolutely stunning chemistry between the lead casts( Bai Lu and Xu Kai), and a remarkable portrayal of the actors bringing their characters to life, ‘The Legends’ is, in fact, one of the best Bai Lu dramas that you ought to watch.
For the audience who wishes to binge-watch “The Legends”, it is available on Rakuten Viki.
3. Love is Sweet
Genre: Comedy, Romance Cast: Bai Lu, Luo Yun Xi Total Episodes: 36
Well, we all know romantic dramas are at some point supposed to be cheesy and cliche, isn’t it, guys? Yet there are some writers who put them in such a beautiful way that despite being predictable, they come out as soothing as well as entertaining than annoying. One such beautiful drama is ‘Love Is Sweet’, just like its name suggests, it’s a well-written romance drama that’s actually a ride of rollercoaster emotions.
You know there are times when we feel like our life is completely under our control (let’s be honest, that happens for like milliseconds in real life, but well, it’s a drama, so a while should be considerable), but then obviously we won’t find too many quotes on life is too harsh if it didn’t conclude out to be full of ups and downs but then again the way you handle it is probably the key to life. This drama ‘Love is Sweet’ seems to be simply about a cliche love life but also gives you a glance on how to steadily get up when life throws you down a pit from a smooth road.
Love is Sweet
Despite its bitter-sweet plot, one of the main reasons why the audience finds this show addictive is because of the lead casts’ chemistry. It’s too good to take your eyes off, and thus, it comes out as one of the best Bai Lu dramas that one should watch. For the audience who wishes to binge-watch ‘Love Is sweet’, it is available on Rakuten Viki.
2. Arsenal Military Academy
Genre: Action, Historical, Romance Cast: Xu Kai, Bai Lu, Li Cheng Bin, Wu Jia Yi Total Episodes: 48
You know, usually, when a drama is based on its country’s history or happened wars, a lot of precautions are taken so as to not hurt the feelings of the citizens, but more than that, it’s like the writers usually show only the positive aspects of their own country and the negatives of others simply to avoid controversies. And obviously, at the end of the day, why would you want your career ruined just because you wanted an intense drama to work out, isn’t it? But the best part about ‘Arsenal Military Academy’ is the way, very subtly and honestly, the wrong-doings of both the countries are quite evidently shown.
It’s like they’ve literally left it to the audience to make a decision on what could have avoided the conflicts and to choose which party was right or wrong in the given situation.
Another aspect that is seen in the drama is the enlistment of a woman who wants justice, and in the blind of it cuts short her hair and transforms as if she is her brother to get into the military academy. Although because of her exceptional skills, she doesn’t get caught yet when love knocks at her door, things start to get quite unpredictable. Do her feelings get in the way of her justice?
Arsenal Military Academy Cr: Rakuten Viki
In addition to the plot, “ Xu Kai and Bai Lu’s” beautiful chemistry kept the show exciting and engaging. For the viewers who wish to watch this masterpiece, it is available on Rakuten Viki.
1. One and Only
Genre: Military, Romance, Political Cast: Ren Jia Lun, Bai Lu Total Episodes: 24
You know, when we care for someone deeply, myths don’t seem like much of an unbelievable thing. “One and Only” is a love story that perfectly fits that description but not one that could have been completed in one lifetime.
Yes, you read it right, this exquisite masterpiece, based on the novel “One Life, One Incarnation – Beautiful Bones,” is about a love story that, in cultural norms, is totally unacceptable, yet feelings eventually find their way to set their hearts on fire no matter how determined their mind stands. And so, to fulfill their unrequited love, they are born again (which apparently is shown in the sequel and not this drama), but do they win each other then? Well, it looks like you ought to watch this show to satisfy your curiosity.
One and Only
Although ‘One and Only’ is considered one of the best Bai Lu dramas but if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like watching tragic endings at all, it might not be a cup of tea for you. However, despite its tragic ending, for a lot of viewers, it was the most befitting and quite satisfying ending. Even then, if after watching it you still wish for closure or still crave for some more of it, worry not because Forever and Ever is the sequel of this beautiful Chinese drama. You can easily binge-watch One and Only at iQiyi and Forever and Ever at iQiyi as well.
Stay tuned to Otakukart for further updates!
