10 Best Ongoing Manga for Those Looking to Fill the My Hero Academia Void – Destructoid

One of the flagships for the Shonen audience for over 10 years, Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academy is also responsible for introducing a whole new generation to the world of manga.

But now that the series has reached its conclusion, many are wondering what to read next. After all, is there another title that can evoke the same feeling as MHA? Here are the 10 best ongoing manga for those who My Hero Academy emptiness.

10. Gokurakugai

• By means of: Yuto Sano
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Monthly

The story takes place in a world where people, beasts and the supernatural go hand in hand. Gokurakugai follows Tao and Alma—the sole members of the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter Agency—as they take on odd jobs and attempt to eradicate the maga threat.

Combining what I consider to be the most stylish character designs since Tite Kubo’s Bleach (as you can see in the image above), a solid storyline and some of the most impressive visuals and creative panels within its target audience, Gokurakugai is an easy choice for anyone who wants to impress.

9. Make the exorcist fall in love

• By means of: Aruma Arima (story) / Masuku Fukayama (art)
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

Although a title that —like Chainsaw Man— reaches the outer limits of its target audience by touching on sensitive topics and showing a high level of bloodshed, Let the Exorcist fall in love brings forth a great mix of action and romance. In it, we follow the story of the world’s greatest exorcist, who is assigned to protect a famous artist who is being targeted by Satan. Little does he know that the one he is supposed to protect is an emissary of the demon lord. Her mission? Well, the title says it all.

8. SPY x FAMILY

• By means of: Tatsuya Endo
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

The manga that started the worldwide phenomenon, Spy x Family follows the story of Twilight, a secret agent tasked with creating a fake family as part of an infiltration mission that could change the fate of the world. But his mission won’t be easy, as both his daughter and wife have secrets of their own.

With much more in common with a slice-of-life manga than an action-oriented manga, Spy X Family can be seen as the ideal choice for those who are looking for a cozy title that can still shake you to your core when the time is right. On the other hand, the slow pace of the series can make it a frustrating read after a while.

7. Chainsawman

• By means of: Tatsuki Fujimoto
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

One of the most talked about mangas of recent years, Chainsaw Man tells the story of Denji, an orphan whose life is turned upside down after a tragedy unites him with the Chainsaw Devil.

Considered by many to be Tatsuki Fujimoto’s magnum opus (which is saying a lot considering its positive reception). Fire blast and his one-shots), the manga combines its unpredictable and unapologetic storytelling with its relentless fight scenes. That combination results in some of the most brutal and out-of-pocket moments within the demographic, many of which will stick with you whether you like them or not.

6. One Punch Man

• By means of: One (Story) / Yusuke Murata (Art)
• Demographic: Bless
• Release Schedule: Biweekly (released irregularly)

A safe bet for anyone looking to delve into the hero world again, Man with one punch is an adaptation of the webtoon of the same name and follows the story of Saitama, a hero who can defeat any threat with a single blow.

While the premise could make any conflict seem pointless, the series makes it work by relying on a strong cast of supporting characters to build momentum. Yusuke Murata’s artwork is also a big draw here, as the artist manages to show movement in a way that I don’t think anyone else on the market can.

5. Jiu-jitsu Kaisen

• By means of: Gege Akutami
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

To open our top five, we have Gege Akutami’s Jiu-jitsu Kaisenwhich tells the story of Itadori Yuji, a student whose life changes after he comes into contact with the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna.

Rushing to his end, JJK still stands strong as one of the pillars of the battle shonen subgenre, given its strong cast of characters and tendency to throw curve balls at readers, for better or worse. Akutami’s creativity when it comes to special abilities also deserves a mention. You can learn more about it in our 10 Strongest Cursed Techniques in Jiu-jitsu Kaisen list.

4. Thendadan

• By means of: Yukinobu-Tatsu
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

It follows the story of high school students Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, as they are drawn into all matters of the paranormal, Thendadan can be described as what happens when you combine some of the most bizarre premise possible with great action scenes and a compelling love story.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, because while the series isn’t perfect, it also features a gripping story that doesn’t skip a beat and knows when to slow down, resulting in unique and beautiful moments. Dandadan’s great mix of fantasy, terror, and sci-fi also helps it stand out as one of the most unique shonen on the market.

3. Sakamoto Days

• By means of: Yuto Suzuki
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

In Sakamoto Daysfollows the story of legendary assassin Taro Sakamoto, who, after leaving his life as a hitman behind and starting a family, finds himself relapsing in the most unexpected ways.

The series excels by combining light comedy with a quality story and a good balance of over-the-top action. The latter is further enhanced by the great fight choreography and the way Suzuki manages to keep readers grounded, even when confronted with the most absurd situations.

2. Kagurabachi

• By means of: Takeru Hokazono
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

Perhaps the greatest representative of the new era of shonen, Kagurabachi tells the story of Chihiro Rokuhira, the son of a legendary swordsmith who seeks revenge after his father is murdered and his six enchanted swords are stolen.

Known for its impressive art style and paneling, Kagurabachi‘s biggest draw is its narrative approach, which always manages to keep the momentum going, even in chapters where the action has to take a back seat. That makes the series a great choice for those looking for a story that, while fast-paced, doesn’t neglect character development. As an arguably new serialization, it’s also the easiest of the manga on our list to keep up with.

1. One piece

• By means of: Eichiro Oda
• Demographic: Shonen
• Release Schedule: Weekly

The best-selling manga series of all time and my personal favorite, One piece follows the Straw Hat Pirates as they search to fulfill their dreams and find the legendary treasure of the former Pirate King.

As the definitive shonen, One piece brings everything you can expect to the forefront through action-packed combat and a story that is able to build to moments like no other. The title also manages to be one of the My Hero AcademyThe book’s weakest points are that it manages to engage readers with most of the characters, no matter how insignificant, without losing sight of the bigger names.