The Japanese manga industry is now larger than ever. Just recently, the popular Shonen Jump series, One Piece, managed to outsell Detective Comics #1, which features the first appearance of the Caped Crusader himself, Batman. On top of that, series like Attack on Titan, Naruto, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia are making the rounds and drawing quite a lot of attention.
The one thing that all of these series share is that they are “shonen.” For the unaware, shonen is comparable to a PG-13 rating in the USA. And while people of all ages can undoubtedly enjoy shonen, there are a lot of manga whose goal is to appeal to adults. In this article, we review some “mature” manga for those who want to go beyond shonen.
Gambling Apocalypse: Kaiji by Nobuyuki Fukumoto
Gambling is one of the oldest pass times. Since the earliest civilizations, men and women have been wagering on games of skill or chance. And that tradition continues strong in the 21st century. Thanks to the rise of online roulette and casino websites, we can now place bets using our phones or any other electronic device. So, whether you are a bettor, a gambler, or both, you will find something to enjoy.
Roulette is especially popular when it comes to online casinos. Next to slots, it may just be the most popular gambling game. The popularity, of course, comes from the fact that it is simple to understand and wager on. And of course, it is not surprising that roulette’s popularity has inspired some incredible works of fiction.
An example of this would be Nobuyiki Fukumoto’s excellent gambling manga, Gambling Apocalypse: Kaiji. The story follows Kaiji, a down-on-his-luck college dropout, who is given the opportunity to go in depth in exchange for an incredible amount of cash. Desperate, he takes the deal. From then, follows an adrenaline-pumping series with a great cast of characters and a deeper, poignant message about human nature.
Holyland by Kouji Mori
“Between the world of adults and kids, there is a Holyland.” Thus begins the story of Yuu, a loser who gets bullied by his peers, and has no future prospects, so much so, that even his family has given up on him. After the darkest moment in his life, Yuu decides to teach himself boxing and finds he has an immense talent for the sport. He then dwells in the streets of the city, pummeling gangbangers and even forming his own band of misfits.
What’s great about Holyland is that it covers the same themes as most Shonen manga. However, it does so with the maturity of an adult. It is a fantastic coming-of-age story, about a young man who needs to find his own place in the world.
Dorohedoro by Q. Hayashida
There is no other mangaka like Q. Hayashida. Her art is unique, her storytelling bizarre, and her characters incredibly lovable. And nowhere is this more pronounced than in her most popular series, Dorohedoro.
Magicians rule the world, and oppress the magicless people of “Hole.” However, when two citizens of Hole, a ramen-shop owner with a mysterious past called Nikaido, and a Gator-faced knife-fighter, Caiman, decide to strike back, they completely shake up the magical world.
