A popular subject in manga is the apocalypse - because who doesn't enjoy exploring what will bring about the end of the world? Some of these titles look at this as a new beginning, and others see it as the inevitable end of humanity - but each one has a unique take on what happens when it all ends. Check out these and others at your local branch.
Regarded by many as the finest comic series ever produced, Akira is a bold and breathtaking epic of potent narrative strength and astonishing illustrative skill. Akira is set in the post-apocalypse Neo-Tokyo of 2019, a vast metropolis built on the ashes of a Tokyo annihilated by an apocalyptic blast of unknown power that triggered World War III. The lives of two streetwise teenage friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda, change forever when dormant paranormal abilities begin to waken in Tetsuo. Tetsuo becomes a target for a shadowy government operation, a group who will stop at nothing to prevent another catastrophe like that which leveled Tokyo. And at the core of their motivation is a raw, all-consuming fear: a fear of someone -- or something -- of unthinkably monstrous power known only as...Akira. And Akira is about to rise! Collected in six massive volumes, Akira has been reproduced in its original, black-and-white majesty as never-before-seen in an English-translated edition. If you love science fiction, manga, or comics, Akira is the one work that must be represented in your collection.
Assh’s Review: Reading Akira is almost like having an awakening if you’re a fan of dystopic science-fiction – all of the horrific things described in the manga have actually happened historically and will likely happen again. It’s especially ominous when you consider that the events that take place are meant to be in the present when we recently had an Olympics in Tokyo. The art is astoundingly detailed and the large volumes that they come in allow you to see all of the aspects of the art too, so I really loved them. If you come in as a fan of the anime, the twist this time is different – we lean more into the philosophical than the outright jaw-dropping, but it still packs quite the punch. It will stay with you long after you finish. Side note - the anime is iconic and you can see the repeated motif of Kaneda's motorcycle slide in a lot of media since.
20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa
For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock 'n' roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that's been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.
Assh’s Review: This is literally one of the greatest manga ever written and yeah, this is a hill I will die on. If you know anything about the Aum Shinrikyo cult that terrorized Japan from the '80s to '90s, you will absolutely see the parallels between that actual terror attack and the ones in the series. Urasawa is a master of storytelling and facial expressions on his characters, which helps keep you drawn in. You always end up with so many questions with this manga and it made me tear through them to find the answers. Who is Friend? Why do people want to help him? Does this go all the way to the top? It’s an absolute roller coaster of a ride, but the ending doesn’t have the same punch that the start of the story has sadly. Still, it’s about the journey for me.
Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Once Shinji didn’t care about anything; then he found people to fight for—only to learn that he couldn’t protect them or keep those he let into his heart from going away. As mankind tilts on the brink of the apocalyptic Third Impact, human feelings are fault lines leading to destruction and just maybe, redemption and rebirth.
Assh’s Review: This is an absolute banger of a manga series, based on the original anime series from the '90s. They expand upon many of the storylines in the original work and explore new things that hadn’t been considered, making it an interesting expansion of the Evangelion universe. I really liked that they explored and explained Misto and Ryoji’s backgrounds, which made their storylines horribly tragic but distinctly Japanese in terms of endings. If you want to explore the existential crisis of an angsty 15-year-old with Daddy issues who gets charged with the minor task of SAVING ALL OF HUMANITY with high-tech robots, this is the manga for you.
An unknown planet emerges from inside a wormhole, and its discoverer, Dr. Oguro, christens the body Remina after his daughter. His finding is met with great fanfare, and Remina herself rises to fame. However, the object picks up speed as it moves along in its curious course, eliminating planets and stars one after another until finally, Earth itself faces extinction… Is the girl Remina the true cause of the catastrophe? A masterwork of horror from Junji Ito, unfolding on a universal scale.
Assh’s Review: Our king of creep is at it again. Ito continues to terrify us with his exploration of the depths of human depravity with this newer (to America) release, watching the rise and downfall of humanity through the eyes of Remina, a teen girl whose only crime was to have a doting father while the world is ending. This is a great title for fans of The Drifting Classroom, as it also explores what happens when humanity loses its’ absolute mind in the face of uncertain doom.
Revolutionary Girl Utena by Be-Papas and Chiho Saito
As a little girl, Utena Tenjou was saved from a river’s raging torrent by a mysterious man, known from that fateful day forward as her prince.
Having licked away her tears, the prince empowers the young girl with the strength to lead a noble life. As a keepsake, he leaves her with a rose-engraved ring.
Now, seven years later, Utena and her prince are on a crash course with destiny.
But things are never as simple as they seem. Utena has enrolled at the exclusive Ohtori Academy and is being courted by a sundry of classmates claiming to be her prince. Who’s telling the truth and who isn’t? And, most importantly, is Utena so desperate to find her prince that she’ll believe the promises of the most rakish of all suitors?
Assh’s Review: I cannot stress enough how much I love this series. The plot? Immaculate. The art? Flowery. The romance? Gay. Gender roles? Who needs ‘em. This is more of a light-hearted take than some of the other manga on this list, but it still deals with some heavy issues, especially for teen girls. As Utena bucks convention and chooses to be her own prince, she begins to grow as a person. A lot of the subtext is metaphorical rather than literal, and meant to represent stages of girlhood, but it is still such a powerful and amazing series. It’s relatively quick too! It's also available as an anime.
Fist of the North Star by Buronson
One day, a wanderer appears out of the wasteland to bring justice to the guilty and hope to the people—a warrior named Ken, a man who bears seven scars upon his chest and holds the secret of a mysterious martial art known as Hokuto Shinken, the Divine Fist of the North Star!
Assh’s Review: I hate to assign a gender to manga, but frankly this is hyper-masculinity to its fullest. It's so gung-ho about the action it leans into absurdity that can only be described as muscle-bound idiocy. I think for you to like this title, you have to enjoy older manga and anime because it's a classic Shonen. It's fists, magic, anger, rage, fights, apocalypse, gangs, and people with varying amounts of clothes on them which is just... not for me. But it is absolutely a great pick for someone who enjoys settings like Mad Max because you will get that all right here. I will say that the main character is definitely a good guy without a grey compass. He's someone you can get behind, but I think I'd rather read Utena.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil.
Assh’s Review: Sailor Moon is about the apocalypse, you ask? Well yeah of course. Each of the different storylines in the series is fighting against the same thing – the end of the world. This one just happens to be saved by a cry baby teenager who wants to eat and not be bothered with the problems that her pet cat brings to her. This series is a beautiful and sweet bite of cake – flowery and powdery but there is substance to it. As she learns more about the different Sailor Scouts and the enemies she faces as the reincarnation of the Moon Princess, Usagi grows up, but there is always a new evil around the corner. Highly recommended, especially in all of its anime glory.
Descriptions adapted from publishers