The world of anime probably wouldn’t exist without the creation of manga. Even if you’re not familiar with the genre, the comics and graphic novels let you dive that much deeper into the story arcs that inspired anime favorites such as “Dragon Ball Z,” “Tokyo Ghoul,” “Naruto,” “Attack on Titan,” and “Fullmetal Alchemist.” And if you’ve been spending a lot of time at home, or simply crave some new reading material, manga offers a perfect hybrid of adventure-packed stories and incredible illustrations.
Below, find our lineup of seven of the best manga box sets that are perfect for devoted anime fans and those new to the anime sphere.
“Naruto Premium Box Set 2: Volumes 28-48 ” by Masashi Kishimoto
Even if you don’t watch anime you may have already heard of “Naruto.” The anime series is pretty popular with younger kids, but adults can enjoy it too, which makes it a nice bridge between generations. Written and illustrated by Kishimoto, “Naruto” is about an orphaned ninja warrior in training who’s hoping to become the best ninja in his village. The above set contains volumes 28-48 from the manga series, which picks up more than two years after Naruto left to train with Jiraiya.
“Tokyo Ghoul: Complete Box Set” by Sui Ishida
The “Tokyo Ghoul” box set has all fourteen volumes of the original series about Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student who gets transformed into a one-eyed, ghoul-human hybrid. As the story goes, Kaneki finds himself trapped between two worlds, unsure of who to trust as he attempts to survive Ghoul turf wars and learn more about Ghoul society, all while trying to master his new powers.
“Monogatari Series Box Sets” by Nisio Ison
Kodansha Box has released over two dozen volumes of “Montogatari,” but this particular set gives you the first seven volumes from Ison’s collection. The supernatural story follows a high school student who survives an attack from a vampire that leads him to help deities, ghosts, beasts, and other metaphysical beings.
“Attack on Titan Season 1 Manga Box Set”
Circle back to the beginning of the Eren Yeager story arc with this first installment of the “Attack on Titan” manga series. The box set includes four books — covering the first 13 episodes of the anime show — and two special sticker sets featuring your favorite characters from the series.
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Complete Box Set” by Hiromu Arakawa
This excellent collection is a must-have for fans of the anime series and manga readers in general. Beneath Arakawa’s fascinating tale of two brothers in search of a Philosopher’s Stone to get their souls back in their bodies lies a much deeper story that helps make “Fullmetal Alchemist” so intriguing. The box set includes volumes 1-27 and “Fullmetal Alchemist Novel: The Ties That Bind.”
“Dragon Ball Z Complete Box Set: Vol. 1-26” by Akira Toriyama
When it comes to anime you really can’t go wrong with “Dragon Ball Z.” Join Goku and the crew on an adventurous battle against intergalactic evil in this action-packed adventure/fantasy comedy series. The “Dragon Ball Z” box set contains all 26 volumes of the manga, an exclusive double-sided poster and collector’s booklet featuring “Dragon Ball Z” trivia and guides, plus an interview with its legendary creator.
“Bakuman: Complete Box Set” by Tsugumi Ohba
“Death Note” box sets are either hard to find or maybe a little too pricey, but here’s an alliterative from the same creators of the series. “Bakuman: Complete Box Set” includes volumes 1-20, along with the bonus mini-comic “Otter No. 11,” and a full-color, two-sided poster. The story is about a talented artist and aspiring writer who set out to make a name for themselves in manga publishing. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
