When you pick up a manga, the first thing you look at is the artwork. Sometimes, the artwork is so captivating that you don't even bother to read what the manga is about. You just dive right in!
Manga artists (or mangaka in Japanese) have the responsibility to give each manga its own style and personality.
Here are the greatest manga artists who deserve attention and respect for their skill at drawing and writing the most amazing fictional universes and characters in manga.
10. Hiromu Arakawa: Fullmetal Alchemist
Not only is Hiromu Arakawa one of the most legendary mangaka because of her artwork, but she's also one of the most inspirational.
Arakawa has defied stereotypes—she wrote and drew a shonen manga, a genre typically dominated by male mangaka. Fullmetal Alchemist is her most famous work for its creativity and steampunk style, which was adapted into anime... not once but TWICE.
It's versatile enough to be enjoyed by manga and non-manga fans alike, and features one of the best villains of all time.
9. Yusuke Murata: One Punch Man
Yusuke Murata combines a minimalist art style with utter complexity—you'll especially see this contrast in One Punch Man. He sometimes draws the protagonist, Saitama, with extreme simplicity—in other scenes, he makes Saitama look lifelike.
8. Eiichiro Oda: One Piece
What makes Eiichiro Oda so notable is his commitment to his work. He's written over 900 chapters of One Piece, and he still hasn't stopped.
Oda's quirky and charming art style makes his manga a fun read. Plus, any mangaka who's hasn't run out of ideas (or hasn't gotten tired of drawing the same characters over and over again) demands respect.
7. Go Nagai: Devilman
Go Nagai was considered a controversial mangaka in the past. He combines an innocent-looking art style with violent and risque themes. However, his work isn't considered scandalous today by any means.
Devilman is Nagai's most popular manga. It follows a teenager who's been possessed by a devilish creature and must fight a war against his fellow demons.
6. Sui Ishida: Tokyo Ghoul
Sui Ishida incorporates watercolor into his art, making for an unforgettable and beautiful style. The covers of Tokyo Ghoul encompass this faint, pastel look, directly opposing the dark and gory plot of the manga.
You may not get the same watercolor look inside the manga, but the artwork and plot are still just as noteworthy. It's one of the best zombie manga series!
5. Junji Ito: Tomie
If you're a horror fan, you'll appreciate the work of Junji Ito. He's the king of horror manga, producing works so creepy that they'll freak out even the most stoic person.
Ito doesn't write about the typical horror tropes like vampire and zombies—he creates psychological thrillers that haunt you with all kinds of horrifying creatures and imagery.
Tomie, for example, follows a manipulative succubus who triggers the deaths of many men around her. Ito's crisp art style will give you goosebumps.
4. Hirohiko Araki: Jojo's Bizzare Adventure
Hirohiko Araki has one of the most unique art styles out of all the mangaka. His characters' faces are well-defined, with the male cast having both a manly, yet glamorous appearance.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is the prime example of Araki's vibrant drawings. Better yet, it's now available in full color, allowing you to enjoy the supernatural plot and lively artwork even more.
3. Kentaro Miura: Berserk
Kentaro Miura created Berserk, a manga that went on to become one of the most brutal anime of all time.
His artwork will leave you in awe, both because of its depiction of grotesque violence and its extreme detail. Miura does an amazing job at shading, making each page worthy of staring at for several minutes to admire his work.
2. Naoki Urasawa: 20th Century Boys
Not surprisingly, Naoki Urasawa was influenced by Tezuka's revolutionary manga. His manga has a very distinct appearance, and his stories are impeccable.
Urasawa is most famous for 20th Century Boys, a manga that follows Kenji Endo and his companions. They seek to stop a cult-leader by the name of "Friend" who aims to eliminate their childhood memories.
1. Osamu Tezuka: Astroboy
You can't talk about manga without mentioning Osamu Tezuka. This man has been dubbed "the father of manga," as he spurred the manga revolution in Japan with one of the most classic manga series to read.
In addition to creating the popular Astroboy series, he also penned the unfinished Phoenix series before he passed away in 1989. His art has an iconic cartoonish style that almost resembles the style of his idol, Walt Disney.
