Top Espionage Manga Recommendations

Shingeki no Kyojin

Also known as Attack on Titan.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery

In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi story, humanity has been devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming mankind. Seemingly unintelligent, they have roamed the world for years, killing everyone they see. For the past century, what's left of man has hidden in a giant, three-walled city. People believe their 50-meter-high walls will protect them from the Titans, but the sudden appearance of an immense Titan is about to change everything.



Note: Includes two extra chapters.

Tags: Dystopian , Anti-Hero , War , Philosophy , Tragedy , Military , Conspiracy , Survival , Kaiju , Shapeshifting , Memory Manipulation , Politics , Revenge , Henshin , Male Protagonist , Monster Boy , Terrorism , Steampunk , Post-Apocalyptic , Super Power , Gore , Time Manipulation , Body Horror , Ensemble Cast , Cosmic Horror , Time Skip , Cannibalism , Coming of Age , Slavery , Swordplay , Shounen , Torture , Espionage , Mythology , Medieval , Amnesia , Tsundere , Kuudere , Class Struggle , Disability , Cult , Dissociative Identities , Drugs , Achronological Order , Primarily Adult Cast , Transgender , Religion , Heterosexual , Reincarnation , Suicide , Baseball , Acrobatics , Yuri

ONE PIECE

Also known as One Piece.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

As a child, Monkey D. Luffy was inspired to become a pirate by listening to the tales of the buccaneer "Red-Haired" Shanks. But his life changed when Luffy accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit and gained the power to stretch like rubber...at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, still vowing to become the king of the pirates, Luffy sets out on his adventure...one guy alone in a rowboat, in search of the legendary "One Piece," said to be the greatest treasure in the world...



Tags: Pirates , Travel , Found Family , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Tragedy , Ships , Politics , Fugitive , Crime , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Military , Slapstick , War , Terrorism , Time Skip , Lost Civilization , Slavery , Post-Apocalyptic , Anachronism , Primarily Adult Cast , Gods , Swordplay , Mythology , Religion , Animals , Environmental , Gangs , Espionage , Anti-Hero , Prison , Anthropomorphism , Primarily Male Cast , Skeleton , Samurai , Cyborg , Henshin , Adoption , Food , Medicine , Robots , Mermaid , Assassins , Drugs , Guns , Battle Royale , Revenge , Meta , Board Game , Dragons , Amnesia , Monster Girl , Desert , Surreal Comedy , Oiran , Time Manipulation , Kemonomimi , Demons , Memory Manipulation , Ninja , Transgender , Zombie , Trains , Aliens , Clone , Centaur , Dinosaurs , Gender Bending , Angels , Shapeshifting , Bar , Female Protagonist , Body Swapping , Curses , Arranged Marriage , Artificial Intelligence , Episodic

SPY×FAMILY

Also known as SPY x FAMILY.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

The master spy codenamed <Twilight> has spent his days on undercover missions, all for the dream of a better world. But one day, he receives a particularly difficult new order from command. For his mission, he must form a temporary family and start a new life?! A Spy/Action/Comedy about a one-of-a-kind family!



Notes:
- Includes 2 "Extra Missions" and 11 “Short Missions”.
- Nominated for the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2020.
- Nominated for the 13th and 14th Manga Taisho Award in 2020 and 2021.
- Nominated for the 44th Kodansha Manga Award in the Shounen Category in 2020.

Tags: Family Life , Espionage , Found Family , War , Assassins , Surreal Comedy , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Adoption , Work , Fake Relationship , School , Aliens , Politics , Orphan , Shounen , Heterosexual , Marriage , Super Power , Slapstick , Guns , Ensemble Cast , Episodic , Parody , Parenthood , Foreign , Terrorism , Hikikomori , Satire , Iyashikei , Urban , Historical , Anachronism , Tsundere , Urban Fantasy

Tokyo卍Revengers

Also known as Tokyo Revengers.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

Hanagaki Takemichi was once a low-life punk, but after biting off more than he could chew with a gang in middle school, he ran away from his old life. Now that he’s an adult, the gang that once terrorized him has grown into the largest gang in Tokyo, and they’ve started killing people–including his old girlfriend! After learning this news, a mysterious force on a train platform shoves Takemichi right in front of an approaching train. As his life flashes before his eyes, he blinks to find himself transported back to middle school, before he fled from the gang! Now he has the chance to right what went wrong all those years ago. Can he save his girlfriend’s life in the future–and what else might he change if he’s rewriting the past?



Notes:
- Winner of the Shounen Manga category of the 44th annual Kodansha Manga Awards.
- Includes 1 extra chapter.

Tags: Delinquents , Gangs , Time Manipulation , Time Skip , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Revenge , Crime , Shounen , Age Regression , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Motorcycles , Heterosexual , Suicide , Espionage , Love Triangle , Gore , Mopeds , Age Gap , School , Guns , Adoption

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Steel Ball Run

Also known as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 7–Steel Ball Run.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Mystery , Supernatural

Riders from around the world gather in the Wild West for the race of the century! Johnny Joestar, a former jockey paralyzed from the waist down, comes to spectate, and momentarily regains the ability to walk while watching a duel fought by Gyro Zeppeli. Desperate to learn more about this power, Johnny joins the race alongside Gyro and embarks on the most epic and bizarre race to ever cross the American frontier!



Tags: Travel , Super Power , Cowboys , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Conspiracy , Primarily Adult Cast , Foreign , Disability , Environmental , Tragedy , Alternate Universe , Philosophy , Outdoor Activities , Religion , Ensemble Cast , Historical , Terrorism , Primarily Male Cast , Gore , Guns , Desert , Crossdressing , Coming of Age , Body Horror , Trains , Espionage , Wilderness , Dinosaurs , Nun , Gambling , Time Manipulation , Indigenous Cultures , Nudity , Delinquents , Acting , Shapeshifting , Curses

DEATH NOTE

Also known as Death Note.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But will Light succeed in his noble goal, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?



Tags: Detective , Police , Anti-Hero , Tragedy , Urban Fantasy , Crime , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Gods , Espionage , Primarily Male Cast , Time Skip , Shounen , Memory Manipulation , Demons , Amnesia , Politics , Cult

NARUTO

Also known as Naruto.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Supernatural

Before Naruto's birth, a great demon fox had attacked the Hidden Leaf Village. A man known as the 4th Hokage sealed the demon inside the newly born Naruto, causing him to unknowingly grow up detested by his fellow villagers. Despite his lack of talent in many areas of ninjutsu, Naruto strives for only one goal: to gain the title of Hokage, the strongest ninja in his village. Desiring the respect he never received, Naruto works towards his dream with fellow friends Sasuke and Sakura and mentor Kakashi as they go through many trials and battles that come with being a ninja.

Tags: Shounen , Ninja , Revenge , Coming of Age , Found Family , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Martial Arts , War , Tragedy , Orphan , Kaiju , Time Skip , Necromancy , Philosophy , Cultivation , Magic , Henshin , Anachronism , Animals , Heterosexual , Travel , Love Triangle , Demons , Espionage , Aliens

Dr. STONE

Also known as Dr. STONE.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Sci-Fi

One fateful day, all of humanity was petrified by a blinding flash of light. After several millennia, high schooler Taiju awakens and finds himself lost in a world of statues. However, he’s not alone! His science-loving friend Senku’s been up and running for a few months and he's got a grand plan in mind—to kickstart civilization with the power of science!



Note: Shueisha published its 27th volume on April 4, 2024. This volume contains the one-shot Dr. STONE: TERRAFORMING and the mini-series Dr. STONE 4D SCIENCE.

Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Survival , Ensemble Cast , Educational , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Lost Civilization , Travel , War , Environmental , Philosophy , Time Skip , Space , Kingdom Management , Primarily Male Cast , Tragedy , Espionage , Ships , Wilderness , Adoption , Asexual , Food , Time Manipulation , Guns

SAKAMOTO DAYS

Also known as Sakamoto Days.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy

Taro Sakamoto was the ultimate assassin, feared by villains and admired by hitmen. But one day...he fell in love! Retirement, marriage, fatherhood and then... Sakamoto gained weight! The chubby guy who runs the neighborhood store is actually a former legendary hitman! Can he protect his family from danger? Get ready to experience a new kind of action comedy series!



Tags: Assassins , Family Life , Crime , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Konbini , Male Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Gangs , Guns , Shounen , Espionage , Dissociative Identities , Conspiracy , Gore , Heterosexual , Triads , Mafia , Acting , Slapstick , Urban , Prison , Tragedy , Super Power , Survival , Motorcycles , Gambling , Crossdressing

CLAYMORE

Also known as Claymore.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Horror

In a world where monsters called Yoma prey on humans and live among them in disguise, humanity’s only hope is a new breed of warrior known as Claymores. Half-human, half-monster, these silver-eyed slayers possess supernatural strength but are condemned to fight their savage impulses—or lose their humanity completely.



Note: Includes four extra chapters.

Tags: Demons , Primarily Female Cast , Super Power , Female Protagonist , Monster Girl , Gore , Swordplay , Revenge , Dystopian , Youkai , Shapeshifting , Tragedy , Body Horror , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Conspiracy , Time Skip , Adoption , Twins , Nudity , Shounen , Anti-Hero , Espionage , Medieval , Cannibalism , Amnesia , Gods , Fugitive , Tomboy , Nun , Desert

GTO

Also known as GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Ecchi

Former juvenile delinquent Onizuka finds himself thrust into to role of high school teacher, facing students who behave just as he used to and an administration that doesn't trust him. Using the brash an unorthodox methods he picked up in his youth, Onizuka manages to reach through to his kids and help them with their problems.



Notes:
- Won the 22nd Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shounen Manga.
- The chapter count includes the 7 chapters extra GTO: Great Toroko Oppai♡ (Tomoko's Big Adventures) published in volumes 11 and 12, and one extra published in volume 25.

Tags: Teacher , School , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Work , Male Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Bullying , Terrorism , Tragedy , Delinquents , Nudity , Gangs , Shounen , Age Gap , Family Life , Motorcycles , Dragons , Crime , Revenge , Heterosexual , Yakuza , Detective , Acting , Guns , Police , Espionage , Drugs , Slapstick , Primarily Teen Cast

God of High School

Also known as The God of High School.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Mori Jin is a high school student and Taekwondo specialist who enters "The God of High School," a fighting tournament that promises the winner anything they want. What began as a competition to seek out the best high school fighter soon reveals itself to be part of a much greater plot that goes beyond Mori's wildest imagination. What will he give to become a true god?



Tags: Martial Arts , Super Power , Gods , Full Color , Mythology , War , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Conspiracy , Revenge , Amnesia , Cult , Time Skip , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Swordplay , Demons , Cultivation , Post-Apocalyptic , Politics , Religion , Foreign , Space , Heterosexual , Terrorism , Dragons , Isekai , Age Regression , School , Athletics , Espionage , Kemonomimi , Long Strip , Centaur

BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS

Also known as Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Supernatural

The ninja adventures continue with Naruto’s son, Boruto!

Naruto was a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He achieved his dream to become the greatest ninja in his village, and now his face sits atop the Hokage monument. But this is not his story... A new generation of ninja are ready to take the stage, led by Naruto's own son, Boruto!

Years have passed since Naruto and Sasuke teamed up to defeat Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra and the greatest threat the ninja world has ever faced. Times are now peaceful and the new generation of shinobi has not experienced the same hardships as its parents. Perhaps that is why Boruto would rather play video games than train. However, one passion does burn deep in this ninja boy’s heart, and that is the desire to defeat his father!



Note: Includes the one-shot "Naruto: The Path Lit by the Full Moon".

Tags: Shounen , Ninja , Gods , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Aliens , Primarily Child Cast , Cyborg , Fugitive , Memory Manipulation , Martial Arts , Anti-Hero , Cultivation , Espionage , Orphan

Gwihwanjaui Mabeobeun Teukbyeolhaeya Hamnida

Also known as A Returner's Magic Should Be Special.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The worst calamity humankind has ever faced...

Shadow Realms have ravaged the earth and decimated almost everyone in their way. The survival of humanity hinges upon the success of just six mages, including analytic fighter Desir Herrman. The remaining heroes make one final stand to end the bloodshed...but to no avail. Desir closes his eyes on what should be the end of his life—only to open them and see the beginning of his school days?! Desir has returned thirteen years back to the past, where he’s been given another chance. A chance to see the loved ones he lost, a chance to meet his fellow warriors again, and a chance to save the world…!



Tags: Male Protagonist , Magic , Lost Civilization , Full Color , Terrorism , Age Regression , School , Time Manipulation , War , Swordplay , Time Skip , Demons , Reincarnation , Historical , Dungeon , Ensemble Cast , Tsundere , Conspiracy , Espionage , Ojou-sama , Gore , Tragedy , Love Triangle , Long Strip , Female Harem

Ao no Exorcist

Also known as Blue Exorcist.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Action , Supernatural

Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth—the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!



Note: Includes three extra chapters.

Tags: Demons , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Conspiracy , Urban Fantasy , Twins , Swordplay , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Exorcism , School , Tragedy , Religion , Youkai , Clone , Anthropomorphism , Gore , Body Horror , Chimera , Espionage , Curses , Magic , Orphan , Ensemble Cast , Mythology , Guns , Kemonomimi , Time Manipulation , Heterosexual , Kaiju , Memory Manipulation , Suicide , Zombie , Nudity

Agyeogui Ending Jugeumppun

Also known as Villains Are Destined to Die.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Romance

This game’s got me obsessed! It’s like it’s taken over my life... wait—HARD MODE ACTIVATED. No-no-no-no-no! It has literally taken me and thrown me into the part of Penelope Eckhart. Love is easy as the heroine, but as the hated villainess, I’m trying very hard not to die… at the hands of my brothers… the prince… a fork… every possible ending is death! This world is stacked against me, but can my wits and insider game knowledge score the affection of these male characters? Or the reset button???



Tags: Female Protagonist , Villainess , Full Color , Isekai , Reincarnation , Tragedy , Ojou-sama , Adoption , Video Games , Bullying , Royal Affairs , Long Strip , Primarily Adult Cast , Estranged Family , Male Harem , Heterosexual , Magic , Yandere , Suicide , Slavery , Tsundere , Unrequited Love , Espionage

Eoneu Nal Gongjuga Doeeobeoryeotda

Also known as Who Made Me a Princess.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

The story of Athanasia, forsaken princess of the Obelian Empire, ends with her execution at the hands of her own father—or does it? Her tragic tale is the plot of the novel The Lovely Princess. But now, a modern woman who read the book has just woken up as baby Athanasia herself, filled with her own memories and knowledge of the story she’s stuck in! Determined to survive her doomed fate, infant Athanasia embarks on this new life with a plan: avoid attention and hoard valuables to fund her escape. When her plan goes awry, she suddenly needs to charm her way into the good graces of her father, the beautiful tyrant emperor, so he doesn’t kill her again!



Note: Includes 10 extra chapters.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Reincarnation , Isekai , Family Life , Magic , Full Color , Tsundere , Parenthood , Coming of Age , Amnesia , Heterosexual , Age Regression , Memory Manipulation , Revenge , Royal Affairs , Kuudere , Age Gap , Foreign , Conspiracy , Long Strip , Kingdom Management , Time Skip , Politics , Love Triangle , Survival , Maids , Time Manipulation , Ojou-sama , Chimera , Adoption , Fairy Tale , Witch , Espionage

Shin Seiki Evangelion

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In 2015, the "Angels" have returned, and Shinji Ikari, a fourteen year-old child of the new Earth, is forced by his father Gendo--commander of the secret organization NERV--to pilot the monstrous biomechanical weapon called "Evangelion" to match the Angels' fearsome power...



Tags: Philosophy , Coming of Age , Kaiju , Tragedy , Military , Body Horror , Primarily Teen Cast , Real Robot , Conspiracy , Male Protagonist , Post-Apocalyptic , Denpa , Seinen , Cosmic Horror , Robots , Super Robot , Tsundere , Angels , Kuudere , Gore , Memory Manipulation , Cyberpunk , Amnesia , Bisexual , Espionage , Guns , School , Urban , Nudity , Space , Age Gap , Tokusatsu , Love Triangle , Boys' Love , Yuri

Billy Bat

Also known as Billy Bat.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Supernatural , Thriller

It’s 1949 Los Angeles, and Kevin Yamagata, a Japanese American comic book author, is drawing his bestselling character, Billy Bat: a quick-witted detective who is, unsurprisingly, a cartoon bat. Everything is going well for Kevin until he discovers an unfortunate truth: He may have unintentionally plagiarized his beloved character from a drawing he once saw in Japan. Devastated by the news, Kevin returns to war-torn Japan to find the drawing’s original artist . . . but the character’s origins turn out to be far older and more perplexing than he had ever imagined.



Note: Won the Max und Moritz Prize for "Best international Comic" in 2014.

Tags: Drawing , Historical , Time Manipulation , Seinen , Conspiracy , Philosophy , Politics , Ensemble Cast , Urban Fantasy , Travel , Foreign , Achronological Order , War , Time Skip , Primarily Adult Cast , Police , Religion , Male Protagonist , Dystopian , Ninja , Guns , Swordplay , Anachronism , Espionage , Nudity , Terrorism

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: The JOJOLands

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Supernatural

The stage is set on a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii. Jodio Joestar, a young boy living on Oahu Island, harbors the ambition to become a great millionaire. The clue to his goal lies in reaching the pinnacle of the mechanisms of this world. What means will he choose to achieve his objective?

Tags: Crime , Super Power , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Espionage , Ensemble Cast , Anti-Hero , Urban Fantasy , Body Horror , Fashion , Drugs , Gore , Crossdressing , Transgender , Asexual