Most Overrated/Underrated Manga Series

[HK]

All right, just like the title says, what series do you believe are severely overrated/underrated by fans? Also, please care to obviously explain why you believe so, and definitely some good valid reasons (particuarly towards the overrated ones, considering you could very well receive flames towards it if you are not careful). I'm just interested in other's thought, and this is a good way to not only get other's to realize some brilliant manga series out there, but actually realize the 'crap' ones as well.

I'll reserve my opinions until others post theirs.

 

[XSilverStarboyX]

The most overrated manga is indeed Naruto. I dont know why everyone thinks its so cool. I dont like the characters, the story is boring, and every fanboy who reads it thinks they can do martial arts;152;

 

[Skiks]

Most underrated manga would be Hunter X Hunter. No one seems to even look at it. ;_;

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

Most underrated manga would be Hunter X Hunter. No one seems to even look at it. ;_;

Trust me, HxH is not really underrated. I see some decent amount of fans out there.

here some underated series that not well known:

1. Kuroshiya 1
2.MPD Psycho
3.Arabian Lamp Lamp
4.leviathan
5. Homoculus
6. Vinland Saga
7 and many many more that I can ever remember.

 

[Cipher]

Most overrated manga (and anime), is in my opinion Inuyasha. How this ever got to be even remotely popular is beyond me. It seems never to progress, is shallow and unexciting, the art is nothing special...it's just so...blah. Not terrible, just very blah, and still somehow popular. I just really friggin' hate Inuyasha.

I agree that Naruto is overrated, but at least it's good. It deserves most of the popularity it has. Oh, and of course Dragonball is overrated, though I'm sure this will be said many times. It's not bad, just very shallow, and WAY too long.

 

[Ed Elric Bunny]

Hmm,I'm agreeing with the person above. Inuyasha is incredibly overrated. The manga and anime seem to have way too many fillers,characters like Kagome act way too mary-sue like,Inuyasha ALWAYS wins battles and saves Kagome.. Kagome has 409573490 guys running after her.. no. I can't believe I used to like this series. >_> I wish it would just end.

Underrated,hm. Perhaps Pita-Ten,by Koge Donbo. It is a really cute original story,even though the main angel character gets on my nerves but whatever,the manga is great. Seriously,it's so good,and I can only find very few fans of it anywhere D:

 

[Dogasu]

Underrated: Maison Ikkoku, which is EASILY Takahashi Rumiko's best work.

Also, the original Pocket Monsters manga with the talking Pippi.

 

[Chris]

Oh, and of course Dragonball is overrated, though I'm sure this will be said many times. It's not bad, just very shallow, and WAY too long.

Blame fans and editors. They didn't want Toriyama to end the series whenever he wanted to. Do remember that before these times, Dragon Ball was considered to be the best manga ever made. Not like these days where manga now relies on deep stories and good art. Look at manga and anime from the '80s and before. Not very many had much in ways of going deep into the story.

Let us not forget, without Dragon Ball's popularity, the manga and anime world would not be what it is today. And Dragon Ball only seems "long" because of the amount of chapters Toriyama made. His manga tend to have shorter chapters. Let's take the DB(Z) graphic novel #4 as an example. Chapter 38 to 39 (*smashes Viz for not using the original chapter numbers*) is only 14 pages long. A book like Fullmetal Alchemist #1 will have four chapters while Dragon Ball #1 will have eleven chapters (despite having the same number of pages in total). The kanzenban condensed the size of the original tankouban from 42 volumes to 34.

 

[Kokukirin]

I wanted to write something to defend Dragonball, but Edward Elric said it better than I can ever do.

Hunter x Hunter is underrated, but not quite underrated at the same time. It was easily one of the most popular manga until it got to G.I, and had some popular characters like Kurapica and Quroro to attract a huge fanbase. In middle of G.I. Togashi decided to start slacking off, and things got turned around. However, even after G.I. it is still a good piece of manga (better than Naruto and Bleach), but many readers don't appreciate it as much as before. I am guessing the draft-like arts on Jump and absence of some popular characters are leading to this downfall.

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

Most overrated manga (and anime), is in my opinion Inuyasha. How this ever got to be even remotely popular is beyond me. It seems never to progress, is shallow and unexciting, the art is nothing special...it's just so...blah. Not terrible, just very blah, and still somehow popular. I just really friggin' hate Inuyasha.

I agree that Naruto is overrated, but at least it's good. It deserves most of the popularity it has. Oh, and of course Dragonball is overrated, though I'm sure this will be said many times. It's not bad, just very shallow, and WAY too long.

I agree with everything you said except that Long series doesn't nesercery means it bad. Try Golgo 13 which is over 145 volumes long.

Dogasu Underrated: Maison Ikkoku, which is EASILY Takahashi Rumiko's best work.

I agree with that definetly as well as One Pound Gospel and Mermaid Forest.

Blame fans and editors. They didn't want Toriyama to end the series whenever he wanted to.

Fans and (and editors to some degree) what make any series overrated any way. I agree had Toriyama ended it at the end of frieza saga, fan wouldn't be as high.

Do remember that before these times, Dragon Ball was considered to be the best manga ever made.

I dunno about the best ever made, but I can say it's ONE of the most famous series at that time. There were alot of famous and "best" manga out there at the time. You just don't realize it.

Not like these days where manga now relies on deep stories and good art. Look at manga and anime from the '80s and before. Not very many had much in ways of going deep into the story

Akira anyone? Made in the 80's and had excellent and deep story. Also was very popular and later made into a movie.

Let us not forget, without Dragon Ball's popularity, the manga and anime world would not be what it is today. And Dragon Ball only seems "long" because of the amount of chapters Toriyama made.

You mean without Tezuka manga and anime would be were they are now. And also as i've said before being a long story doesn't make bad. After Frieza Saga, it just seems to.....get repetive.

His manga tend to have shorter chapters. Let's taked the DB(Z) graphic novel #4 as an example. Chapter 38 to 39 (*smashes Viz for not using the original chapter numbers*) is only 14 pages long. A book like Fullmetal Alchemist #1 will have four chapters while Dragon Ball #1 will have eleven chapters (despite having the same number of pages in total). The kanzenban condensed the size of the original tankouban from 42 volumes to 34.

Well you have to also consider that SJ series have chapters out weekly
where other series like Hellsing, FMA, Berserk or Tenjo Tenge have chapters out like monthly. This the reason why SJ titles tend to come out mor volumes quicker than other series.

 

[Skiks]

I wanted to write something to defend Dragonball, but Edward Elric said it better than I can ever do.

Hunter x Hunter is underrated, but not quite underrated at the same time. It was easily one of the most popular manga until it got to G.I, and had some popular characters like Kurapica and Quroro to attract a huge fanbase. In middle of G.I. Togashi decided to start slacking off, and things got turned around. However, even after G.I. it is still a good piece of manga (better than Naruto and Bleach), but many readers don't appreciate it as much as before. I am guessing the draft-like arts on Jump and absence of some popular characters are leading to this downfall.

Well it's Kuroro frist of all. Togashi Has been sick during GI and still kept going with his manga. Though releases have been eh, he does fix them when he puts them into volumes. Just because Kurapica and Kuroro haven't appeared doesn't mean it doesn't attract anyone. Moru has done become quiet an intresting character. Gon and Killua seem to have had more character development then usual as well. Togashi did promise he wouldn't end this like he did YYH so we have that at least. This current arc is shaping up to have a good ending. I do agree it's underrated yet has some popularity.

 

[Chris]

I dunno about the best ever made, but I can say it's ONE of the most famous series at that time. There were alot of famous and "best" manga out there at the time. You just don't realize it.

No no. I mean at the time when it was out, it was considered the best while still being worked on.

Akira anyone? Made in the 80's and had excellent and deep story. Also was very popular and later made into a movie.

You misread what I said. Not very many had much in ways of going deep into the story. Didn't say there weren't any.

You mean without Tezuka manga and anime would be were they are now. And also as i've said before being a long story doesn't make bad. After Frieza Saga, it just seems to.....get repetive.

No. Tezuka built the manga and anime franchise, Toriyama helped shape it after influencing so many manga artists/creators such a Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Yoshio Sawai (Bobobo-Bobo-Bobo), Tite Kubo (Bleach) and others. This is a perfect example: http://www.daizex.com/multimedia/images/artists/index.shtml Dragon Ball was the first popular long running, manga series that lived for more than 10 years and is STILL a giant hit among the world even after the anime and manga have finished several years before. At the time, there was no other manga like it when it was first made.

Well you have to also consider that SJ series have chapters out weekly
where other series like Hellsing, FMA, Berserk or Tenjo Tenge have chapters out like monthly. This the reason why SJ titles tend to come out mor volumes quicker than other series.

That's indeed another good example as to why Dragon Ball has so many chapters.

 

[Kokukirin]

Well it's Kuroro frist of all. Togashi Has been sick during GI and still kept going with his manga. Though releases have been eh, he does fix them when he puts them into volumes. Just because Kurapica and Kuroro haven't appeared doesn't mean it doesn't attract anyone. Moru has done become quiet an intresting character. Gon and Killua seem to have had more character development then usual as well. Togashi did promise he wouldn't end this like he did YYH so we have that at least. This current arc is shaping up to have a good ending. I do agree it's underrated yet has some popularity.

He is sick recently, not during G.I. At least he was healthy enough to travel to Egypt. Besides, he wasn't stopping for a period, but rather went missing for a week or two, came back for 1 week, and went missing again. If he was sick, he would rest for a few weeks/months (like now) and continue later.

p.s. Am I the only one actually finds YYH ending a good one? >>

 

[Skiks]

He is sick recently, not during G.I. At least he was healthy enough to travel to Egypt. Besides, he wasn't stopping for a period, but rather went missing for a week or two, came back for 1 week, and went missing again. If he was sick, he would rest for a few weeks/months (like now) and continue later.

p.s. Am I the only one actually finds YYH ending a good one? >>

You mustn't forget he works on this manga alone with no assistants. Plus I hear he has a sort of permanent illnesss. Even if he can travel doesn't mean he isn't sick. The only reason he hasn't taken breaks this long yet is because he loves the manga so much.

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

No no. I mean at the time when it was out, it was considered the best while still being worked on.

That what I ment. Even at the time, it was one of the best. Not THE best.

You misread what I said. Not very many had much in ways of going deep into the story. Didn't say there weren't any.

There were loads of manga in the 80's that I probably haven't heard of yet that still have great stories.

No. Tezuka built the manga and anime franchise, Toriyama helped shape it after influencing so many manga artists/creators such a Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Yoshio Sawai (Bobobo-Bobo-Bobo), Tite Kubo (Bleach) and others. This is a perfect example: http://www.daizex.com/multimedia/images/artists/index.shtml

Do you realize all the examples you listed there are SJ manga-ka's? A better worded would be "helped shape Shonan Jump manga and anime. Before DB/DBZ Shonan jump didn't have that many 'action' titles." SJ had series like Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo before DB, which weren't really a boys action series like DB/Z, Naruto etc.

Dragon Ball was the first popular long running, manga series that lived for more than 10 years and is STILL a giant hit among the world even after the anime and manga have finished several years before. At the time, there was no other manga like it when it was first made.

First part I agree with ya on. Second part, no. There were a bunch that lived from 80's on. Hell, Jo Jo's Biazarre Adventure started in the 70's and still popular in Japan as it stopped at volume 80, or Akira.


All in all, DB(z) was a wonderful series no doubt, but its still overrated since people hype about it when actually the story onward tends to become repitive. There are better series out there that I see.

 

[Poison Master]

underated, I would have to say Eyeshield 21, I never hear anything about it.

Overated, I'm not too sure, I would have to say that Naruto and Full Metal Alchemist are pretty overated myself.

 

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Whistle! owns both FMA and Naruto, as well as One Piece, but not one seems to like it at all. The characters all have greatly expanded personalities...and backgrounds for that matter. The Prince of Tennis is also underrated in America, and I think Eyeshield21 might also be underrated. Three great comics. BTW Ed, I've not read FMA, so...LOL.

Shonen Jump comics are popular because they ARE the best. No other Manga can compare, seriously, look at their rosters:

Dragonball (probably the best of all the JPN comics in the world)
Whistle!
The Prince of Tennis
Eyeshield21
Naruto
One Piece
JoJo's
Death Note
Hikaru no Go
Etc. etc.

Seriously, SJ comics are great, just great...

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

Shonen Jump comics are popular because they ARE the best. No other Manga can compare, seriously, look at their rosters:

Dragonball (probably the best of all the JPN comics in the world)
Whistle!
The Prince of Tennis
Eyeshield21
Naruto
One Piece
JoJo's
Death Note
Hikaru no Go
Etc. etc.

You obviously know nothing about manga do you? Some SJ titles are great but alot are boring and become too similar to each other. Death Noth, Jo Jo, and few minor others are good, but lot don't make me and even some others like "OMG this is SO intense!!!!!" or "SO deep and complex and excellent!"
Most of these titles I can predict what gonna happen. I can give you one manga alone that owns about 95% of the SJ series.

Series like Monster, Berserk, Pluto, Kuroshiya 1, Angel Sanctuary, Trigun Maximum(believe me, the manga is way better than its anime counterpart), Eden, Blade of Immortal, Akira, etc. Hell FMA is better than alot of these SJ series.
Screw that, there are many undergroundor underrated AMERICAN comic that are way better than SJ titles.

Don't act as you know what great manga is.

Seriously, SJ comics are great, just great...

Seriously, go read some more and different manga(s) before making an ignorance judgement like that as a fact.

 

[Yuugis Black Magician]

You obviously know nothing about manga do you? Some SJ titles are great but alot are boring and become too similar to each other. Death Noth, Jo Jo, and few minor others are good, but lot don't make me and even some others like "OMG this is SO intense!!!!!" or "SO deep and complex and excellent!"
Most of these titles I can predict what gonna happen. I can give you one manga alone that owns about 95% of the SJ series.

Series like Monster, Berserk, Pluto, Kuroshiya 1, Angel Sanctuary, Trigun Maximum(believe me, the manga is way better than its anime counterpart), Eden, Blade of Immortal, Akira, etc. Hell FMA is better than alot of these SJ series.
Screw that, there are many undergroundor underrated AMERICAN comic that are way better than SJ titles.

Don't act as you know what great manga is.



Seriously, go read some more and different manga(s) before making an ignorance judgement like that as a fact.

LOL, I agree. Boy was I outta line there. I really shouldn't have sounded so stupid.

Silly me, though, I was just spouting off my stupidity, when really all I wanted to do with the post was spout off as how Whistle! was a good comic that really got no attention at all....

 

[Chris]

Do you realize all the examples you listed there are SJ manga-ka's? A better worded would be "helped shape Shonan Jump manga and anime. Before DB/DBZ Shonan jump didn't have that many 'action' titles." SJ had series like Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo before DB, which weren't really a boys action series like DB/Z, Naruto etc.

If you followed the link I provided, you'd have seen even Shoujo manga-ka were inspired and moved by Dragon Ball. Not just Shonen manga-ka.

First part I agree with ya on. Second part, no. There were a bunch that lived from 80's on. Hell, Jo Jo's Biazarre Adventure started in the 70's and still popular in Japan as it stopped at volume 80, or Akira.

Another misreading. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is NOT a big commercial hit like Dragon Ball. Neither is Akira. Neither can actually compare to the WORLD WIDE success that Dragon Ball had. Hell, Dragon Ball's actually more recognizable than the other two you've mentioned, despite how big they may have of fanbases in the US or Japan. Neither of them had the big commercial success that Dragon Ball had and still is continuing on. I don't see any JoJo or Akira eyedrops in Japan. ;P Or two different "super power" study desks by Koizumi for them. The fact that Dragon Ball is still very much alive everywhere, despite having ended in SEVERAL different languages (even before the US finished), is amazing and says something. No matter how good JoJo and Akira are, they don't have as big of fanbases or influences as Dragon Ball had, nor are they close to being commercial successes globally like DB was.

All in all, DB(z) was a wonderful series no doubt, but its still overrated since people hype about it when actually the story onward tends to become repitive. There are better series out there that I see.

The only story that was repetitive was GT. It pretty much copied stuff from the previous series' and mixed it up. DBZ only went repetitive with Lord Slug (cheap imitation of Piccolo Daimao and Ma Jr arcs mixed together) and Brolli. Yes, there are better series' out there. However, Dragon Ball's seen as overrated for negative reasons.