Anime Is Great, But Face It: Sometimes Shonen Battles Are Best in Manga
While animehas made fights in manga better many times, there are some manga series whose fights are just perfect on their own and don't need to be animated to make them good. Manga often delivers battles that rival, if not surpass, their anime counterparts in intensity and emotion. While anime brings these fights to life with animation, the original manga panels are where some of the most iconic, raw, and powerful clashes are born.
While there is no hard rule as to what can make a manga fight good, a lot of good fights share similarities. Whether it be strategic battles, proper utilization of the power system, the emotional stakes involved, how easy the fights are to read and follow, or more, these aspects can elevate a fight to great lengths.
10 Golden Kamuy
Written and Illustrated by Satoru Noda
The fights in Golden Kamuy are very surprisingly amazing and well-choreographed, and the paneling is simply fantastic. Since the series focuses on nature and different terrains, it is always amazing to see how the characters utilize their environment strategically to win fights.
The emphasis is not only on physical strength but also intelligence and strategy, with characters often outwitting opponents. The fights are grounded in historical accuracy, incorporating real-world survival tactics, Ainu traditions, and period-specific weapons. While Golden Kamuy features other things like adventure more, its fights are superb and very well-made, particularly in the last third of the series.
9 Dragon Ball
Written and Illustrated by Akira Toriyama
This behemoth of a manga needs no introduction when it comes to the discussion of the best fights, and decades later, the battles still hold up as some of the best and most cathartic. The flow of the fights and the way they are choreographed are some of the smoothest and easiest to follow. The series pioneered a high-octane style of combat, where energy blasts, martial arts techniques, and constant power-ups keep fans on edge. Moreover, the emotional stakes, whether it’s personal rivalries or protecting loved ones, elevate the intensity of each confrontation, creating iconic, heart-pounding moments.
From Gohan reaching his potential against Perfect Cell, Vegeta finally atoning for his sins in his sacrifice against Majin Buu, Goku fulfilling a millennia-old prophecy against Frieza, and many more, Dragon Ball has blessed the anime and entertainment with some of the most legendary fights that have solidified the series as one of the greatest to do it.
8 Ajin: Demi-Human
Written and Illustrated by Gamon Sakurai
Some of the most cinematic paneling and fights in manga, Ajin absolutely deserves more praise for its incredibly cool and amazing fights that make a reader feel like they're watching a John Wick movie. Combining fantastical elements such as immortality and supernatural super soldiers, and militaristic weaponry such as guns, jets, and more,Ajin is the definition of cool.
Shonen Jump's latest hit, Kagurabachi, traces a lot of influence from Ajin, as well as Naruto and John Wick.
The events in Ajin are grounded in realism, often featuring confrontations that involve strategic planning, manipulation, and quick thinking. This psychological depth adds an extra layer of complexity, as characters struggle with ethics, anxiety, and the long-term consequences of their decisions. As a result, every battle becomes more than just a physical confrontation. The suspense arises not only from who can deliver the strongest blow but also from who can outsmart or endure their opponent.
7 Jujutsu Kaisen
Written and Illustrated by Gege Akutami
While Jujutsu Kaisen took the world by storm for various reasons, such as its dark tone, its interesting characters, and more, the fights were the highlight of the show and Gege understands what makes a good fight. Crafting an amazingly complex power system, Gege made every fight as strategic as possible, and it was always a blast watching the characters come up with meticulous plots to take each other down.
After years of build-up, the series absolutely delivered on the long-awaited fight between Gojo and Sukuna, which took over the anime world when it was publishing. The series then went on to blow fans away with Yuji and Sukuna's fight, providing a good conclusion to years of greatness. From incredible strategy, amazing character development, intricate abilities and more, Jujutsu Kaisen has the best fights among any manga from the past decade.
6 Baki
Written and Illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki
Baki's fights are unique because they are among the funniest and most entertaining battles ever. They abandon traditional aspects of a good fight and instead create their own style. These battles are over-the-top, chaotic, whimsical, and downright nonsensical, yet they still work. What makes Baki stand out is its extreme approach to martial arts, where fighters can survive impossible injuries, and combat skills seem to defy the limits of human possibility.
Featuring historical characters and influential people such as Muhamad Ali, Musashi Miyamoto, Manny Pacquiao, and many more, the series has wildly different characters duel in funny yet intense fights that cement it as some of the most interesting in the medium. It also has all types of martial arts, and combined with Itagaki's wild imagination that stretches them to their absolute, Baki stands as one of the best action manga for how unique its approach is.
5 Hunter X Hunter
Written and Illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi
A master of all technical aspects of combat, Hunter X Hunter has gained notoriety for its amazingly intricate and complex fights. Prioritizing strategy and deception above all, the fights are masterfully crafted and none feel like they are won by luck. An interesting part of the series' fights is that they take influence from many different and random things, such as video games, board games, welding, and more, making them even more unique than they already are. Furthermore, the amazing utilization of its power system by creating interesting abilities makes the fights as exciting as the other.
While Togashi is unmatched when it comes to strategic fights, he can also enhance them with emotional storytelling that will leave one's mouth wide open, with Netero and Meruem's battle being the best example. Hunter X Hunter's fights are amazing in so many respects, and anyone who takes the time to understand the intricacies of it all is always massively rewarded with the experience of a lifetime.
4 Vagabond
Written and Illustrated by Takehiko Inoue
Vagabond is one of the best manga series ever created and is known for its complexity. It features some truly incredible fight scenes. While the technical aspects, such as paneling and choreography, are executed perfectly, the philosophical dimensions of the battles make them particularly engaging. The fights are often quiet and introspective, emphasizing not just the physical combat but also the emotional and spiritual transformations that happen with each clash. Musashi's journey is as much about his inner struggles and his quest for meaning and understanding as it is about becoming the greatest swordsman.
One Of The Best Manga Ever Was Put on Indefinite Hiatus Because It's Too Good
Vagabond has been on hiatus for almost 10 years now despite being extremely successful – which the creator reveals is sometimes a bad thing.
However, what really takes these fights to the next level is Takehiko Inoue's mastery of art and visual storytelling. He has a way of communicating so much with less, and how he switches between a quiet and empty background to a noisy and chaotic panel is quite astonishing. Readers can feel the impact of every blow, the slash of every strike, the breathlessness of the characters and the intensity of their concentration, all because of the beautiful and perfect art that makes Vagabond's fight unbelievable.
3 Blade of the Immortal
Written and Illustrated by Hiroaki Samura
One of the best samurai manga out there and a hidden gem, this series inspired series that are known for their amazing fights such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Naruto, and Chainsaw Man. With incredibly diverse and unique weapon designs, Hiroaki Samura is a master at combat and the flow of the battles is so unbelievably smooth, and combined with the expert compositions that show the scene from every angle like a movie, Blade of the Immortal is very gorgeous, and its fights are some of the best there is.
While the series isn't afraid to dive into gritty and chaotic fights, it balances it out with introspective and philosophical bouts, and coupled with Samura's mastery of visual storytelling, the fights are heightened to the nth degree. Furthermore, Samura's unique aspect of using pencil art makes this manga a must-read experience, and while the use of pencil did lessen as the series went on due to how time-consuming it was, pencil art was still incorporated on certain occasions to make the moment as impactful as possible.
2 Hajime No Ippo
Written and Illustrated by George Morikawa
Of course, a boxing manga is going to be good at fights since that is what it revolves around, but Hajime No Ippo is on a higher plane than other martial arts series when it comes to combat. The choreography is brilliant, the character development is immense, the emotional stakes have readers on the edge of their seats, and the conclusions almost always never disappoint.
The technical aspects of boxing are depicted in great detail, showcasing various styles, techniques, and strategies that reflect the characters' personalities and development. The artwork is equally impressive, allowing readers to feel the impact of each punch. Morikawa takes his time to build up to the results of fights, rewarding the reader for their investment in the series. With over 1400 chapters and counting, Hajime No Ippo is still as amazing as ever, and its longevity is amazing to witness.
1 Naruto
Written and Illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto
The hit ninja series needs no introduction, and it has solidified itself as the manga with the best fights, blessing fans with some of the most iconic battles ever. When it comes to fights, it does almost everything right. The strategies are always present, the paneling is great and easy to keep up with, the art never disappoints, the power system is utilized very well, and the conclusions to the fight are always satisfying. From the buildup to the closure, Naruto's fights are perfect, to say the least.
The emotional depth and character development in each fight is palpable, and the narrative and themes in each fight are executed at such a high level. Another amazing thing about Naruto's fight is how it can be grounded, such as Kakashi vs Obito or Shikamaru vs Hidan, and how it can push the scales to its limits and involve Kaijus such as Madara vs Allied Forces or Naruto vs the Tailed Beasts. While the fights are no doubt brilliant, fans are treated to more when the conflicts of the characters are resolved by complex and philosophical dialogue that sees the fighters talk out their grievances and finally put their conflict to bed.
