Okay, I didn’t mean to get so gloomy here… but still, there’s nothing better than magical fantasy to take your mind off things during a reading session. Fortunately, in the world of manga there’s a lot to go around.
15. Burn the Witch
Writer & Illustrator: Tite Kubo Hmm, why are we picking Burn the Witch, and not Bleach which is set in the same universe…? Well, you see, the former says “witch.” I rest my case. Jokes aside, Tite Kubo’s recent series revolves around Ninny and Noel, two young witches working for the Western Branch of Soul Society. Stationed in Reverse London, the girls do their best in order to protect humans from supernatural threats. Those threats are the dragons who, just like Bleach’s hollows, are invisible creatures who prey on unsuspecting civilians. Definitely a tough ask. But they’re gonna have to put their array of spells to good use in order to save all that they hold dear.
14. The Ancient Magus’ Bride
Writer & Illustrator: Kore Yamazaki This one’s a little calmer, but not any less intriguing. The Ancient Magus’ Bride is about, well, the bride of an ancient magus – who gets sold at an auction as a slave with an innate affinity for magic. This definitely piques the curiosity of Elias Ainsworth, a skull-headed sorcerer who decides to acquire her and take her under his wing as his to-be-wife. A little weird, right? What ensues is a touching and fascinating story about support and platonic love, in a world where magic is everything, with two protagonists who bring out the best in each other. Plus we get lots of help from a few fairies and dragons along the way.
13. The Rising of the Shield Hero
Writer & Illustrator: Aiya Kyu Based on the light novel of the same name, The Rising of the Shield Hero is currently one of the most popular isekai out there. And deservedly so! It stars Naofumi, a regular guy who gets sucked into a medieval world through a curious book. There, he discovers that he and 3 others he came with were summoned as the legendary heroes. Spear, sword, bow, and… shield. Wait what? Shield? Yeah, that’s the twist in this action-packed fantasy manga with video game-like concepts. What makes this series so fun is seeing how Naofumi manages to use the full potential of his unorthodox main weapon through creative spells and combos. A great read for fans of “zero-to-hero” stories.
12. Negima! Magister Negi Magi
Writer & Illustrator: Ken Akamatsu Negima is about the 10-year-old son of an all-powerful magician who went missing. Negi is finishing his seven-year magical training, and is sent to Japan to become a homeroom teacher (don’t ask how, or why) in some regular high school. There, he attempts to juggle between his responsibilities, the search for clues regarding his dad’s disappearance, and the antics of his class. Of course, the whole magician/teacher shtick doesn’t remain a secret for too long, as some of his acquaintances get increasingly involved in his affairs. This series is perfect for those who are looking for a simple yet fun read.
11. Shaman King
Writer & Illustrator: Hiroyuki Takei Magic’s kind of a given when we’re talking about shamans… and our main character is one of them. Being able to see and communicate with the dead, and call onto spirits to gain magical powers, Yoh is no ordinary kid. Aspiring to be the almighty shaman king, he’s also very ambitious. But in order to do that, he must first win the Shaman Fight, which only occurs every 500 years. And in the time period of this manga, that 500 year window happens to be now. So Yoh and his buddies embark on a training journey, encountering multiple magical foes along the way. Like all of Shonen Jump’s 2000s roster, Shaman King is a certified hit. Just don’t let the ghosts scare you.
10. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Writer: Fuse Illustrator: Taiki Kawakami Another isekai! This one’s also based on a light novel too. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a manga that’s just as strange as its title. It revolves around Satoru, a middle-aged white-collar guy who just can’t get a date. And as if things weren’t bad enough, the one time he leaves the house, he’s stabbed to death by some crazy person. That’s rough. Fortunately it doesn’t end there. Instead of dying, Satoru wakes up in a fantasy world as a blue blob with strange copying powers. And the funniest thing in all of this? He’s pretty strong for a blob! Combined with friends who have more typical magic, our MC is constantly able to surprise his foes. This is a stupid manga with a stupid premise that’ll keep you coming back for every chapter!
9. Magi: The Labyrinth
Writer & Illustrator: Shinobu Ohtaka Based on Middle Eastern myths and legends, Magi: The Labyrinth really doesn’t spend a moment without anything magical happening on the page. It stars a young Aladdin (yes, that one) roaming the land and going wherever he needs to. Only 11 years old, the boy might seem harmless at first glance, but he’s no joke when it comes to fighting. This is something his friends and foes learn very quickly. In this world, magic is used by harnessing the spiritual power of djinns through various objects. For Aladdin, it’s a flute, along with his iconic flying carpet. Give Magi a read if you’re looking for an action-packed fantasy series with beautiful set pieces.
8. Black Clover
Writer & Illustrator: Yuki Tabata Black Clover is an adventure and fantasy manga starring Asta, a feisty orphan living in a world where everyone is able to create magic using mana. Well, everyone except him. That doesn’t discourage him one bit, though, as his one aspiration is still to become the all-powerful Wizard King. But how is he gonna do that with no magic? Well, the thing is that Asta can’t manipulate mana – but he can utilize tools, namely a mystical grimoire containing tons of weapons and summons. And he’s gonna use that baby to its full potential. The only question is how far it’ll take him in a world where everyone seems to start off one step ahead.
7. Fairy Tail
Writer & Illustrator: Hiro Mashima Who doesn’t know Fairy Tail at this point? As one of the most well-known manga of all time, Hiro Mashima’s creation is all about magic, spells, and everything in between. No complicated explanation or origins this time. You just have to accept magic for how it is in all its forms! Because it takes many shapes here, indeed. From Natsu’s fire breath and Grey’s ice to Lucy’s healing, everything you can think of is someone’s power in this series. It may not have the great soundtrack of the anime, but the Fairy Tail manga is definitely one you don’t wanna miss out on.
6. Seven Deadly Sins
Writer & Illustrator: Nakaba Suzuki This series is pretty similar to Fairy Tail when it comes to all the spells and types of magic it offers. It tells the story of princess Elizabeth Liones as she leaves on a quest to reunite the famed order of the Seven Deadly Sins. Once extremely influential, this order of knights and powerful magic users were ostracized after being framed for a political coup. Their former leader? Melodias, the Sin of Wrath, a 3000-year-old fighter with the capacity to reflect and enhance attacks. Together they’ll strive to defeat the dangerous Holy Knights, who are being manipulated by a vicious demon. Every character’s ability is different and unique in this fantasy manga – and it’s this sheer variety of sorcery that lands it such a high spot in our ranking.
5. Overlord
Writer: Satoshi Oshio Illustrator: Hugin Miyama Adapted from the light novel of the same name, Overlord is a series you’ve definitely seen or heard of in the past few years. It revolves around an avid player of an MMORPG who gets stuck in his overpowered avatar after the server is shut down. But he doesn’t seem too bothered by it. Having nothing to live for outside of Yggdrasil, Momonga gladly opts to keep his appearance of an over-levelled necromancer with incredibly powerful underlings. If you love fantasy manga AND fantasy video games, you’ll enjoy Overlord.
4. Mashle: Magic and Muscles
Writer & Illustrator: Hajime Komoto No, the title is not a joke. This series really is about magic and muscles. Mashle follows the story of Mash, a strange boy with no propensity for spells (in a world of magic…) who instead devotes his time to working out. No big deal, until he gets into trouble and has to con his way into an academy for sorcerers. The homage to (or parody of) the famous Harry Potter is very clear, which adds to the hilarity of it all. It’s an incredibly funny and witty manga about magic – definitely check it out!
3. Yu Yu Hakusho
Writer & Illustrator: Yoshihiro Togashi This one’s as much about brawn as it is about brains. Yu Yu Hakusho tells the story of Yusuke, a troublemaker who “dies” saving a little boy from a road accident. Thankfully the world isn’t done with him, as he’s brought back to a state between life and death – specifically to be an errand boy for the Underworld. In this predicament, the teenager is able to harness the spiritual energies and use them to his advantage. Things like firing beams from his finger, for example. Utilizing his strength and newly acquired abilities, Yusuke will do whatever he can to make the world a better place. If you’ve seen this anime (and enjoyed it) then do check out the manga too.
2. Naruto
Writer & Illustrator: Masashi Kishimoto Who doesn’t think of Naruto when it comes to spitting fireballs or making blades out of lightning? With “magic” called ninjutsu, all spells and incantations in this fascinating world created by Masashi Kishimoto are produced through an intricate series of hand gestures. It’s really cool. It’s super iconic. And by taking root in the 5 basic elements, ninjutsu is an art that keeps on expanding with every arc. From summoning to shapeshifting, nothing is off-limits in Naruto – which is perfect for unleashing the full potential of its incredibly witty and creative characters.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist
Writer & Illustrator: Hiromu Arakawa Okay, okay, I get it. It’s alchemy, not magic (wink wink). But in all seriousness, Fullmetal Alchemist is quite definitely the most creative manga you’ll find when it comes to its use of magic and spells in the storyline. After drawing transmutation circles, the sorcerers of Amestris, called alchemists, are able to harness the powers of the elements through the law of equivalent exchange. With this process it’s possible to create fire by snapping your fingers, summon weapons from the earth, or even transfer souls to inanimate objects. Alchemy is the driving force behind everything in the universe – and that’s what makes this series so intriguing. It’s easily one of the best magical concepts for one of the greatest manga of all time.
