StrangeRoboMemory
Member
Over the past couple of years, I've been getting back into shonen action stuff, revisiting some old favorites and checking out things I'd never read. I watched all of DBZ Kai, read and watched some One Piece, got back into Hokuto no Ken, and I'm reading Naruto for the first time (enjoying it a lot, even post time-skip). I feel like a lot of other folks on GAF are going through their own manga kick these days, given the number of threads I see about shonen arcs, recommendations, passionate debates over overpowered jutsus, etc. It might just be a coincidence, but it seems like people are excited about manga in a way that I haven't noticed for several years.
However, a lot of the old guard of action manga is gone or soon to end. One Piece is in its twilight years, Naruto, Toriko, and Bleach are over. There are still a few spin-offs around like Boruto and Dragon Ball Super, but those are done by other people and the creators are just there in a "story planning" capacity. When I look at the newer stuff that's serialized in Shonen Jump now (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weekly_Shōnen_Jump#Features), there are a lot of romance, comedy, and sports manga, and quite a bit less of the action/fighting stories that I associate with Jump.
So, what's the next chapter in this story? What are the next big titles in shonen action? What's got you excited and pumped up right now? What characters will be emblazoned on oversized Hawaiian-style shirts in a few years? What series should get a fighting game by Arc System Works? What upcoming fight scenes are you daydreaming about?
Two really good recent shonen action things I've read/watched...
MY HERO ACADEMIA
The story isn't unique by any means, but the presentation is very charming. The art is clean and sharp and really, really good. The character designs just have this sense of openness and freshness that I love. The powers are simple but very creative and they get used in really imaginative ways. I can't wait to see where this story goes!
ONE PUNCH MAN
The mixture of crazy action, over the top humor, great character designs, and a taste for the absurd make this one an instant classic. I've only seen the anime, but I'm looking forward to digging into the manga. The big fight scene against Boros was out of this world, so much style and flair. It's remarkable that the story continually found ways to make things tense and exciting and cool, even though Saitama is so damn powerful.
Interesting how both of these series are inspired by American-style superheroes (though One Punch Man has a tokusatsu influence as well), instead of the usual manga themes like ninjas, samurai, martial arts, shinigami, Japanese folk lore, etc. Maybe it's the international popularity of the Marvel films?
These are the only two titles I can think of that fit the description of New Shonen Action Hotness. Do you all have something different to add? What are you loving right now?
However, a lot of the old guard of action manga is gone or soon to end. One Piece is in its twilight years, Naruto, Toriko, and Bleach are over. There are still a few spin-offs around like Boruto and Dragon Ball Super, but those are done by other people and the creators are just there in a "story planning" capacity. When I look at the newer stuff that's serialized in Shonen Jump now (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weekly_Shōnen_Jump#Features), there are a lot of romance, comedy, and sports manga, and quite a bit less of the action/fighting stories that I associate with Jump.
So, what's the next chapter in this story? What are the next big titles in shonen action? What's got you excited and pumped up right now? What characters will be emblazoned on oversized Hawaiian-style shirts in a few years? What series should get a fighting game by Arc System Works? What upcoming fight scenes are you daydreaming about?
Two really good recent shonen action things I've read/watched...
MY HERO ACADEMIA
The story isn't unique by any means, but the presentation is very charming. The art is clean and sharp and really, really good. The character designs just have this sense of openness and freshness that I love. The powers are simple but very creative and they get used in really imaginative ways. I can't wait to see where this story goes!
ONE PUNCH MAN
The mixture of crazy action, over the top humor, great character designs, and a taste for the absurd make this one an instant classic. I've only seen the anime, but I'm looking forward to digging into the manga. The big fight scene against Boros was out of this world, so much style and flair. It's remarkable that the story continually found ways to make things tense and exciting and cool, even though Saitama is so damn powerful.
Interesting how both of these series are inspired by American-style superheroes (though One Punch Man has a tokusatsu influence as well), instead of the usual manga themes like ninjas, samurai, martial arts, shinigami, Japanese folk lore, etc. Maybe it's the international popularity of the Marvel films?
These are the only two titles I can think of that fit the description of New Shonen Action Hotness. Do you all have something different to add? What are you loving right now?
