Top Pirates Manga Recommendations

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

Vinland Saga

Also known as Vinland Saga.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama

As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his father, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band's leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery … the land Leif called Vinland.



Notes:
- Won the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2009.
- Winner of the 36th Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 2012.

Tags: Rehabilitation , Historical , Coming of Age , Vikings , Foreign , Philosophy , Seinen , Male Protagonist , War , Revenge , Tragedy , Travel , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Slavery , Gore , Time Skip , Swordplay , Ships , Politics , Medieval , Rural , Parenthood , Class Struggle , Anti-Hero , Agriculture , Pirates , Environmental , Religion , Indigenous Cultures , Achronological Order , Adoption , Language Barrier , Mythology , Nudity , Archery , Wilderness , Tomboy , Transgender , LGBTQ+ Themes

Akatsuki no Yona

Also known as Yona of the Dawn.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom—now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

Yona reels from the shock of witnessing a loved one's murder and having to fight for her life. With Hak's help, she flees the palace and struggles to survive while evading her enemy's forces. But where will this displaced princess go when all the paths before her are uncertain?



Tags: Found Family , Female Protagonist , Travel , Shoujo , Historical , Dragons , Politics , Fugitive , Gods , Mythology , Kingdom Management , Reincarnation , Royal Affairs , War , Tragedy , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Foreign , Primarily Male Cast , Super Power , Archery , Survival , Male Harem , Animals , Medicine , Orphan , Pirates , Kuudere , Drugs

Magi

Also known as Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic.

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

Deep within the deserts lie the mysterious Dungeons, vast stores of riches there for the taking by anyone lucky enough to find them and brave enough to venture into the depths from where few have ever returned. Plucky young adventurer Aladdin means to find the Dungeons and their riches, but Aladdin may be just as mysterious as the treasures he seeks. Together with the djinn Ugo and his friend Alibaba, Aladdin sets out to find his fortune in the depths of the endless dunes…



Tags: Magic , Foreign , Conspiracy , War , Politics , Royal Affairs , Criminal Organization , Class Struggle , Male Protagonist , Time Manipulation , Memory Manipulation , Shounen , Time Skip , Dungeon , Philosophy , Slavery , Economics , Revenge , Gods , Ensemble Cast , Pirates , Desert , Swordplay , Dystopian , Reincarnation , Cultivation , Spearplay , Dragons , Food

BLACK LAGOON

Also known as Black Lagoon.

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

Rokurō Okajima is just an average Japanese salaryman, living an average life. But when he's taken hostage by the crew of the Black Lagoon, Rokurō finds himself thrown headfirst into a deadly world of outlawed heroes, brutal villains, and blazing gunfights. Where he ends up is anyone's guess, but one thing is for certain—he's in for a wild ride!



Tags: Guns , Seinen , Gangs , Military , Male Protagonist , Crime , Ships , Mafia , Triads , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Assassins , Yakuza , Foreign , Pirates , Ensemble Cast , Gore , Heterosexual , Tragedy , Nun

Shangri-La Frontier: Kusoge Hunter, Kami ge ni Idoman to su

Also known as Shangri-La Frontier.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Second year high school student Rakuro Hizutome is interested in one thing only: finding "shitty games" and beating the crap out of them. His gaming skills are second to none, and no game is too bad for him to enjoy. So when he's introduced to the new VR game Shangri-La Frontier, he does what he does best—min-maxes and skips the prologue to jump straight into the action. But can even an expert gamer like Rakuro discover all the secrets that Shangri-La Frontier hides...?



Tags: Video Games , Virtual World , Shounen , Kemonomimi , Anthropomorphism , Curses , Travel , Male Protagonist , Artificial Intelligence , Magic , Swordplay , Unrequited Love , Gender Bending , Pirates , Survival

Toshokan no Daimajutsushi

Also known as Magus of the Library.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

A story about a poor boy swept away by a kind library mage and the (literal) magic of reading, Magus of the Library is a beautifully-drawn, spirited fantasy adventure, like a Fullmetal Alchemist for all ages!

In the small village of Amun lives a poor boy named Theo. Theo adores books, but because of his pointed ears and impoverished life, he isn’t allowed to use the village library. As he endures the prejudice and hatred of the village, he dreams of going where such things don’t exist: Aftzaak, City of Books. But one day, Theo chances to meet a Kafna—a librarian who works for the great library of Aftzaak—and his life changes forever…



Tags: Politics , Seinen , Writing , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Philosophy , Elf , Magic , Travel , Primarily Female Cast , Religion , Animals , Language Barrier , Adoption , Desert , Fairy , Conspiracy , Bullying , Kemonomimi , Tanned Skin , Dragons , Environmental , Pirates , Nekomimi , Slavery , Espionage , Criminal Organization , Dinosaurs , Time Skip , Ensemble Cast

BASARA

Also known as Basara.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Basara is a post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure series and one of the most popular shoujo manga of the 90s in Japan. It is the story of how a young girl becomes "the child of destiny" and finds the strength to free her people and seek revenge for the death of her brother.



Note: Won the Shogakukan Manga Award for the shoujo category in 1992.

Tags: War , Twins , Shoujo , Politics , Post-Apocalyptic , Dystopian , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing , Coming of Age , Revenge , Fugitive , Slavery , Class Struggle , Royal Affairs , Conspiracy , Heterosexual , Travel , Tragedy , Swordplay , Military , Philosophy , Kingdom Management , Lost Civilization , Archery , Pirates , Disability , Desert , Tomboy , Animals , Espionage , Ships , Prison , LGBTQ+ Themes , Astronomy , Bisexual , Boys' Love , Suicide , Martial Arts

ONE PIECE episode A

Also known as One Piece: Ace’s Story—The Manga.

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

A manga adaptation of the novel 'One Piece: Ace's Story', drawn by Boichi.

Note: Chapter count includes two special one-shots: "ONE PIECE: Roronoa Zoro, Umi ni Chiru" and "Nami vs Kalifa".

Tags: Shounen , Pirates , Male Protagonist , Found Family , Travel , Super Power , Ships

Arte

Also known as Arte.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

The story takes place in 16th century Florence during a time when women were relegated to the role of wives and caretakers, a young noble girl named Arte dreams of being an artist’s apprentice. One day she stumbles on the workshop of the eccentric Maestro Leo who decides to accept her as his student. Follow Arte on her journey as she discovers the joy and struggles on the path to becoming a maestro.



Note: Series resumed in June 2025 after the conclusion of the main story

Tags: Historical , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Seinen , Drawing , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Coming of Age , Time Skip , Estranged Family , Unrequited Love , Fugitive , Orphan , War , Medieval , Prison , Royal Affairs , Arranged Marriage , Pirates , Prostitution

Shokugeki no Sanji

Also known as One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy

Several one-shots created by the team behind Shokugeki no Souma for various celebrations and anniversaries of One Piece.

Follow Sanji's tales of cooking up meals and adventuring through the Grand Line with the Straw Hat Pirates!

Tags: Food , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Pirates , Shounen , Nudity

WANTED! Oda Eiichiro Tanpenshuu

Also known as Wanted! Eiichiro Oda Before One Piece .

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy

A collection of short stories drawn by Oda Eiichiro before One Piece became a major hit. Includes:

Wanted! (1992)
God's Gift for the Future (1993)
Ikki Yakou (1993)
Monsters (1994)
Romance Dawn (Version 2, 1996)

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the One Piece TV anime, Romance Dawn version 2 was adapted into a TV special. (Episode 907)

Tags: Pirates , Shounen , Dragons , Ghost , Swordplay , Guns , Anthology , Gods , Cowboys

Dungeon Tou de Yadoya wo Yarou! Souzou Mahou wo Moratta Ore no Hosoude Hanjouki

Also known as Let’s Run an Inn on Dungeon Island! (In a World Ruled by Women).

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy , Romance

Sanada Shirou thought escaping his dead-end corporate job would mean peace at last—until he wakes up in a world where women rule the battlefield and men are treated like fragile treasures. Gifted with creation magic, Shirou figures the smart move is to open a cozy inn and live the slow life he’s always wanted. But “slow” doesn’t last long when the fiercest fighters and boldest beauties of this matriarchal world start checking in…and checking him out! Between building the perfect inn and surviving as the entertainment for his rowdy residents, Shirou’s new life is shaping up to be anything but ordinary in this sexy isekai romp.



Tags: Primarily Female Cast , Male Protagonist , Isekai , Magic , Shounen , Nudity , Female Harem , Dungeon , Food , Survival , Age Gap , Defloration , Demons , Fishing , Pirates , Tragedy , Revenge , Vampire

Hinowa ga Yuku!

Also known as Hinowa ga CRUSH!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy

On the island of Wakoku, the civil war offers anyone the chance of becoming a hero -- from fishing women to bastard children, any can make a name for themselves by working through the rigorous ranks of the army. Hinowa, a young woman with extraordinary skills, is determined to do just that, but soon learns things may not always go to plan...More than ten years after a disastrous battle, the war is still ongoing, and a girl with black hair and black markings washes up on shore...



Tags: War , Seinen , Swordplay , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Samurai , Assassins , Super Power , Ninja , Nudity , Pirates

Trinity Blood

Also known as Trinity Blood.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Sci-Fi

In a dark and distant future, Armageddon has given rise to the fabled Second Moon - and a perpetual war between the vampires and the humans!

Esther is a nun in the city of Istavan. When she crosses paths with Abel Nightroad, a priest sent from the Vatican to combat the local order of vampires, the two form a holy alliance to battle the most evil of threats. In this gorgeous, gothic-action series - part of the super-popular Trinity Blood franchise - the very survival of the human race is at stake!



Tags: Nun , Post-Apocalyptic , Shoujo , Vampire , Foreign , Guns , Religion , Trains , Mermaid , Pirates , Nudity , Cyborg , Politics , Conspiracy

ONE PIECE: STRONG WORLD

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

One Piece Strong World 0 is a one-shot story published in Weekly Shounen Jump as a special prologue chapter to the 10th One Piece movie, Strong World. This one-shot depicts events 20 years before the current timeline of the manga, One Piece. The main focus is the relationship between Shiki, the Golden Lion and Roger, the Pirate King. In addition, it shows what other characters were doing 20 years ago.



Tags: Shounen , Pirates , Super Power , Skeleton , Magic

ONE PIECE: Roronoa Zoro, Umi ni Chiru

Also known as One Piece: Boichi Covers Zolo vs. Mihawk.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action

The one-shot celebrates the 22nd anniversary of the One Piece manga and focuses on a fight between Zoro and Mihawk.

This chapter is the first in a new project for One Piece titled "Cover Comic Project." Through the project, various manga creators will "cover" a chapter of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga.



Tags: Swordplay , Pirates , Shounen , Male Protagonist

Ningyo no Mori

Also known as Mermaid Saga.

Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Romance , Supernatural

This is Rumiko Takahashi at her darkest, but her trademark humor and romance also pop up in this three-volume series. Legend has it that if a human eats a mermaid's flesh, they will be granted eternal life. But is that a blessing or a curse? Immortal lovers Yuta and Mana travel through Japan and the centuries longing for a normal life. On their journey, they meet others who have consumed the flesh of a mermaid in hope of becoming immortal. But the powerful substance affects each person differently. Yuta and Mana are two of the lucky ones. Others are fated to die or transform into a savage monster, a "lost soul."



Note: This is the first volume of the Mermaid Saga series from the original tankoubon release, which includes the two-chapter stories "A Mermaid Never Smiles" (人魚は笑わない, Ningyo wa Warawanai), "The Village of Fighting Fish" (闘魚の里, Tōgyo no Sato), and "Mermaid Forest" (人魚の森, Ningyo no Mori Zenpen).

Tags: Mythology , Mermaid , Episodic , Body Horror , Female Protagonist , Nudity , Gore , Tragedy , Shounen , Achronological Order , Pirates , Male Protagonist , Time Skip , Heterosexual

ONE PIECE: Vivi no Bouken

Also known as One Piece: Naoshi Komi Covers Vivi's Adventure.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy

The "Vivi no Bouken" (Vivi's Adventure) chapter is part of the "Cover Comic Project" for One Piece. It's from the Alabasta arc, and covers "that famous scene" after the long fight is over.

Tags: Shounen , Pirates

Guimi Zhi Zhu

Also known as Lord of Mysteries.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Thriller

Zhou Mingrui possessed and reborn Klein Moretti who committed suicide due to the sealed artifact "Antigonus Family Notes". Zhou Mingrui once again held a "Transfer Ceremony" in order to return to Earth, but accidentally entered a mysterious gray fog space. During this process, he inadvertently pulled the consciousnesses of Audrey Hall and Alger Wilson into the gray fog space. In order to dominate the conversation and pretend to be a hidden existence in recovery, Mr. Fool, who calls himself Mr. Fool, has since embarked on a magnificent legend of becoming a god.



Tags: Steampunk , Magic , Pirates , Detective , Male Protagonist , Gods , Religion , Full Color , Isekai , Historical , Long Strip , Alchemy , Suicide , Reincarnation