As I immerse myself into more and more manga, originally entering the world of otaku through anime, I have begun to gravitate to the works of a few creators in particular. Instead of listing my favorite manga I thought it would be more beneficial to talk about my favorite authors and why. The amount of manga I have read and own pales in comparison to the amount of anime. While I love to read I have always preferred anime over manga over the past 25 years, but in the past 8 or so years that has begun to change. Even with the significant increase in manga consumption I still consume more anime so I will probably never have the extant knowledge of that medium like I do the other. A lot of the manga I have been consuming has been contemporary so don't shun me if I don't include classic authors in the list, I just haven't really tapped into their catalogs much if at all.
Asano Inio
First manga read: Nijigahara Hologhraph
Additional notable titles: Solanin, A Girl on the Shore, Hikari no Machi, Goodnight Pun Pun, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction
Genre(s): Horror, psychological, slice of life, seinen.
Number of years active: 2000-Current.
There is just something about Asano's detailed and realistic artwork, the way he frames his panels and the realistic way his characters interact with each other, themselves and the world. This is some of the best slice of life writing around. He explores different themes with every new work, never content to repeat the same story. Asano would probably be my pick for favorite manga author.
Azuma Kiyohiko
First manga read: Azumanga Daioh
Additional notable titles: Yotsuba?!
Genre(s): Comedy, slice of life, general audience.
Number of years active: 1997-Current.
While Azuma has the least amount of titles on the list he has a particular way of showing the mundane world that makes it a little off color and enjoyable. While Azumanga Daioh was one of the first comedy slice of life series that kicked off the trend that rolls hard today, his current and long running, if slowly paced, Yotsuba&!, is unique and incredible.
Matsumoto Taiyo
First manga read: Black & White (Tekkonkinkreet)
Additional notable titles: Sunny, Ping Pong, No. 5.
Genre(s): Slice of life, seinen, super natural, drama, psychological, social commentary.
Number of years active: 1989-Current.
Matsumoto has a very distinct and unusual art style, that at times is very rough and raw. The real strength of his stories are the ways his characters stare into the darkness surrounding them. What he does best is expose existences that we try to ignore or dismiss. Life isn't always easy and living in despair as a child is incredibly difficult. Sunny is partially autobiographical.
Otomo Katsuhiro
First manga read: Akira
Additional notable titles: Legend of Mother Sarah, Domu.
Genre(s): Seinen, super natural, action, social commentary.
Number of years active: 1973-2012 (hiatus?)
One of the legends of manga, a man who was able to make Osamu Tezuka nervous. He has been good at making dark visions of reality where powers beyond normal control can consume you with out a second thought. Highly detailed back grounds and a desire to portray all of his character realistically ugly.
Shimura Takako
First manga read: Wandering Son
Additional notable titles: Sweet Blue Flowers, Aldnoah Zero (character design), Even Though We're Adults
Genre(s): Slice of life, josei, romance, alternate life styles.
Number of years active: 1997-Current.
Shimura has very beautiful character designs and a calming, realistic approach to the struggles children deal with in learning how to grow up, especially in the case of non-binary lifestyles. Wandering Son is one of the best manga I have ever read, period.
Nihei Tsutomu
First manga read: Knights of Sidonia
Additional notable titles: Biomega, Blame!, Aposimz, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea
Genre(s): Sci-fi, horror, action, seinen.
Number of years active: 1998-Current.
Nihei has taken the ground work laid by the 70's and 80's sci-fi masters and pushed it into an even darker, more desperate place. This is how cyberpunk should be, even if his visions of the dystopian future are almost barren of life. An incredible eye for detail, excellent landscapes and unique realities that scare me.
Unita Yumi
First manga read: Bunny Drop
Additional notable titles: Yoningurashi, Toribako House, Sukimasuki.
Genre(s): Slice of life, shojo, josei, seinen, romance, drama.
Number of years active: 2000-Current.
She originally had gone to school for clothing design but instead pursued a career in manga. Good choice in my mind. Her character designs are unique and simplistic but have a warm and comforting feel about them. I just can't get away from the idea that all the men are made to be idiots in her stories. Her sense of realism and the way her character interact with each other is what makes her work's so good.
Urasawa Naoki
First manga read: 20th Century Boys
Additional notable titles: Detective Keaton, Monster, Pluto, Yawara.
Genre(s): Drama, psychological, seinen, mystery, social commentary, slice of life, sports, action, comedy.
Number of years active: 1983-Current.
An absolute master of the art form. No one weaves a story like Urasawa does, no one. The most prolific author on my list and among many others. His breath of work traverses many genres and story types but his eye for detail in both design and exposition is almost unmatched. I don't care what its about, if it has his name on it you must read it.
Asano Inio
First manga read: Nijigahara Hologhraph
Additional notable titles: Solanin, A Girl on the Shore, Hikari no Machi, Goodnight Pun Pun, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction
Genre(s): Horror, psychological, slice of life, seinen.
Number of years active: 2000-Current.
There is just something about Asano's detailed and realistic artwork, the way he frames his panels and the realistic way his characters interact with each other, themselves and the world. This is some of the best slice of life writing around. He explores different themes with every new work, never content to repeat the same story. Asano would probably be my pick for favorite manga author.
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First manga read: Azumanga Daioh
Additional notable titles: Yotsuba?!
Genre(s): Comedy, slice of life, general audience.
Number of years active: 1997-Current.
While Azuma has the least amount of titles on the list he has a particular way of showing the mundane world that makes it a little off color and enjoyable. While Azumanga Daioh was one of the first comedy slice of life series that kicked off the trend that rolls hard today, his current and long running, if slowly paced, Yotsuba&!, is unique and incredible.
Matsumoto Taiyo
First manga read: Black & White (Tekkonkinkreet)
Additional notable titles: Sunny, Ping Pong, No. 5.
Genre(s): Slice of life, seinen, super natural, drama, psychological, social commentary.
Number of years active: 1989-Current.
Matsumoto has a very distinct and unusual art style, that at times is very rough and raw. The real strength of his stories are the ways his characters stare into the darkness surrounding them. What he does best is expose existences that we try to ignore or dismiss. Life isn't always easy and living in despair as a child is incredibly difficult. Sunny is partially autobiographical.
Otomo Katsuhiro
First manga read: Akira
Additional notable titles: Legend of Mother Sarah, Domu.
Genre(s): Seinen, super natural, action, social commentary.
Number of years active: 1973-2012 (hiatus?)
One of the legends of manga, a man who was able to make Osamu Tezuka nervous. He has been good at making dark visions of reality where powers beyond normal control can consume you with out a second thought. Highly detailed back grounds and a desire to portray all of his character realistically ugly.
Shimura Takako
First manga read: Wandering Son
Additional notable titles: Sweet Blue Flowers, Aldnoah Zero (character design), Even Though We're Adults
Genre(s): Slice of life, josei, romance, alternate life styles.
Number of years active: 1997-Current.
Shimura has very beautiful character designs and a calming, realistic approach to the struggles children deal with in learning how to grow up, especially in the case of non-binary lifestyles. Wandering Son is one of the best manga I have ever read, period.
Nihei Tsutomu
First manga read: Knights of Sidonia
Additional notable titles: Biomega, Blame!, Aposimz, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea
Genre(s): Sci-fi, horror, action, seinen.
Number of years active: 1998-Current.
Nihei has taken the ground work laid by the 70's and 80's sci-fi masters and pushed it into an even darker, more desperate place. This is how cyberpunk should be, even if his visions of the dystopian future are almost barren of life. An incredible eye for detail, excellent landscapes and unique realities that scare me.
Unita Yumi
First manga read: Bunny Drop
Additional notable titles: Yoningurashi, Toribako House, Sukimasuki.
Genre(s): Slice of life, shojo, josei, seinen, romance, drama.
Number of years active: 2000-Current.
She originally had gone to school for clothing design but instead pursued a career in manga. Good choice in my mind. Her character designs are unique and simplistic but have a warm and comforting feel about them. I just can't get away from the idea that all the men are made to be idiots in her stories. Her sense of realism and the way her character interact with each other is what makes her work's so good.
Urasawa Naoki
First manga read: 20th Century Boys
Additional notable titles: Detective Keaton, Monster, Pluto, Yawara.
Genre(s): Drama, psychological, seinen, mystery, social commentary, slice of life, sports, action, comedy.
Number of years active: 1983-Current.
An absolute master of the art form. No one weaves a story like Urasawa does, no one. The most prolific author on my list and among many others. His breath of work traverses many genres and story types but his eye for detail in both design and exposition is almost unmatched. I don't care what its about, if it has his name on it you must read it.
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