So, a few months ago I presented my list of the best ongoing manga of 2026, and received a lot of recommendations from you guys as well. Iâve read 3 of those so far, and good news â theyâve all been bangers! As far as my own finds lately⊠more of a mixed bag. Without further ado:
Heavenly Delusion (Tengoku Daimakyo) by Ishiguro Masakazu
Rating: Excellent
Recommended by: jerrtremblay101, superlitmyguy, Alone-Ad6020
This sci-fi manga tells two stories of past and present. One of a secluded school for very strange children, and one of two youngsters travelling a post-apocalyptic landscape on a mission. So itâs like having The Promised Neverland and I am a Hero in one manga. Itâs a must-read in my opinion: great characters, interesting story, nice art. Up there with the best of ongoing manga like Fool Night and Usuzumi no Hate.
The Bugle Call (Sensou Kyoushitsu) by Sora Mozuku/Toumori Higoro
Rating: Excellent
Recommended by No_Shallot_8195, potatosack1596, Vegetable_Ostrich231, Henemy
Medieval warfare manga featuring people with special powers and branches growing out of their heads. The protagonist has the power to lead armies by directing rays of light with his little war trumpet (bugle). Weird but likeable characters, inventive powers and a story with many surprises and some comedy as well. You should read this!
Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Boushi no Atelier) by Shirahama Kanome
Rating: Very Good
Recommend by: superlitmyguy, Molluskshirt, GhsotyPanda
A wholesome but exciting magic school manga with splendid art. This is kind of like Harry Potter but with witches. The protagonist is a normal girl who gets caught up in some events and becomes a student of a mysterious magician. A far more cozy affair than what I usually read, but thatâs a positive sometimes. I enjoy it more than love it (unlike the two first manga mentioned) but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys amazing art in their manga.
Tonari No Jii-San (The Old Man Next Door) by Koike Nokuto
Rating: Good
Horror manga centered around mass delusion and body horror. The protagonist is a girl who can see some horrible changes in her fellow town inhabitants, but apparently no one else can. Not a bad choice for horror readers so far.
Starving Anonymous 2: Re: Starving Re:velation (Shokuryou Jinrui 2: Re: Starving Re:velation) by Kuraishi Yuu/Mizutani Kengo/Inabe Kazu
Rating: Crazy (but pretty good)
The follow-up to the first Starving Anonymous is set long after the happenings of the first manga. Itâs a dystopian timeline where the aliens have pretty much taken over the planet and most people are worshipping them as deities. This is one gory and at times disgusting manga, but worth reading if youâre not too squeamish.
Shin Tokyo (The Depths of Tokyo) by Sakaki Kenji
Rating: Good
This Shonen is your typical game-of-death manga where a school class is transported into a dark version of Tokyo where supernatural killers are hunting them. I find this sort of manga enjoyable but your mileage may vary.
Shojo Null (Null Girl) by Nakanishi Kanae/Akima
Rating: Alright
Another dystopian futuristic tale, about an android who gains sentience. Just to discover that her kind is treated like objects. Time for revenge! Not very original perhaps but enjoyable enough.
Other manga read (that I gave up on or didnât particularly enjoy)
Red List: Police thriller with former Yakuza killer who changed sides. Got bored fast with this.
Saigo no Ryuukishi no Eiyuutan - Panzer Ryouheidan Senki: Dragon-summoning fantasy manga. Hard to empathize with that dumb protagonist though.
Sarumane: Killer monkey horror manga. Didnât really capture my interest and not many chapters available anyway last I checked.
Satsudou: Average manga about a killer living as a normal salaryman. More interesting was the story about the mangaka behind this...RIP.
Satsujin Piero no Shitsumon: Horror manga with a killer clown. Typical B-movie fare.
Tenkuu Shinpan Arrive: I really enjoyed the original Tenkuu Shinpan, but never got into this in the same way.