Manga for grown-ups

upper intermediate
7 items
15
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Manga with a generally more involved setting and no fan-service. Those are obviously written with a mature audience in mind, rather than teenagers. I just appreciate recommendations for that kind of content, so I thought others might as well. (I'll probably add descriptions for each items later)

PLUTO 1
Manga
Level 33

A retelling of a classic action comedy story, written as a thriller. I read it knowing nothing about it and it took me way too long to realize what was the original. That's for the best, since it spoils the ending (the big reveal towards the end of this story was on page 2 in the original... again, it was not a thriller).

A retelling of a classic action comedy story, written as a thriller. I read it knowing nothing about it and it took me way too long to realize what was the original. That's for the best, since it spoils the ending (the big reveal towards the end of this story was on page 2 in the original... again, it was not a thriller).

ランド 1
Manga
Level 31

It's hard to describe Land, especially without spoilers. The story starts in a small village surrounded by 4 giant gods protecting it, but also making sure that the inhabitants follow their rules. Until the main characters find ways to go around those rules. Won the 25th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

It's hard to describe Land, especially without spoilers. The story starts in a small village surrounded by 4 giant gods protecting it, but also making sure that the inhabitants follow their rules. Until the main characters find ways to go around those rules. Won the 25th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

7SEEDS 1
Manga
Level 27
Considering that most characters are teenagers, I guess it somewhat breaks the premise of this list? But I still think it has a mature enough content to be here.
Considering that most characters are teenagers, I guess it somewhat breaks the premise of this list? But I still think it has a mature enough content to be here.
That series is pretty wild (I would even say outright bizarre) but extremely enjoyable at the same time.
That series is pretty wild (I would even say outright bizarre) but extremely enjoyable at the same time.
Set in Hokkaido in a time between the Russo-Japanese war and the First World War, Golden Kamuy provides at times beautiful scenery, brutal action (potential trigger warnings here), and particularly interesting tidbits about the life of the natives of that area. The plot itself isn't the most exiting (at its core, it is just a treasure hunt) but is used expertly, providing justifications for both traveling and complex character interactions.
Set in Hokkaido in a time between the Russo-Japanese war and the First World War, Golden Kamuy provides at times beautiful scenery, brutal action (potential trigger warnings here), and particularly interesting tidbits about the life of the natives of that area. The plot itself isn't the most exiting (at its core, it is just a treasure hunt) but is used expertly, providing justifications for both traveling and complex character interactions.

A step up in difficulty compared to the rest. The story is fairly different (and richer) than that of the anime, but having watched it will still help comprehension a lot.

A step up in difficulty compared to the rest. The story is fairly different (and richer) than that of the anime, but having watched it will still help comprehension a lot.

東京ヒゴロ 1
Manga
Level 28
Kind of an outsider in this list, since there's nothing stressful or oppressing in this manga. However, both the art style and topics (work related, although the focus is on the manga publishing industry) will probably resonate much more with a mature audience.
Kind of an outsider in this list, since there's nothing stressful or oppressing in this manga. However, both the art style and topics (work related, although the focus is on the manga publishing industry) will probably resonate much more with a mature audience.