Top Space Opera Manga Recommendations

Sinui Tap

Also known as Tower of God.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery

What do you desire? Money and wealth? Honor and pride? Authority and power? Revenge? Or something that transcends them all? Whatever you desire—it's here.



Tags: Super Power , Ensemble Cast , Full Color , War , Conspiracy , Travel , Male Protagonist , Magic , Tragedy , Cultivation , Dungeon , Time Skip , Politics , Space Opera , Martial Arts , Anti-Hero , Memory Manipulation , Battle Royale , Kemonomimi , Philosophy , Artificial Intelligence , Criminal Organization , Trains , Terrorism , Gore , Afterlife , Meta , Primarily Adult Cast , Long Strip , Necromancy , Slavery , Found Family , Female Harem , Goblin , Creature Taming , Time Manipulation

Dai Dark

Also known as Dai Dark.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Horror , Sci-Fi

Zaha Sanko’s body has great and terrible powers–they say that possessing his bones will grant you any wish, even the desire to become ruler of the universe. But Sanko is still a teenage dude with his own life, and he isn’t about to let every monstrous lowlife in the galaxy rip him limb from limb. He and his skeletal buddy Avakian will use their dark powers to fend off any murder attempts while they search space for whomever put this curse on Sanko’s bones…because killing them might end the madness.



Tags: Space , Gore , Surreal Comedy , Body Horror , Aliens , Dystopian , Anti-Hero , Shounen , Henshin , Skeleton , Cult , Agender , Demons , Food , Cosmic Horror , Space Opera , Slavery , Nudity , Age Regression

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Also known as Sailor Moon.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil!



Notes:
- The tankoubon release contains 52 Acts and 9 bonus chapters across 18 volumes; chapter/volume counts follow the tankoubon release.
- The shinsouban release contains the original 52 Acts plus 8 new Acts across 12 volumes, but no bonus chapters as all 9 were released separately in Sailor Moon Short Stories alongside another bonus chapter that was previously released in an artbook.
- The kanzenban release contains both the 60 Acts and the 10 bonus chapters from the short story shinsoubans across 10 volumes.


Tags: Shoujo , Primarily Female Cast , Reincarnation , Magic , Lost Civilization , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Time Manipulation , Henshin , Urban Fantasy , Coming of Age , Astronomy , Tragedy , Memory Manipulation , Mythology , War , Cosmic Horror , Demons , Space , Super Power , Aliens , LGBTQ+ Themes , Fairy Tale , Space Opera , Animals , Body Horror , Rehabilitation , Revenge , Time Skip , Dissociative Identities , Philosophy , Urban , Unrequited Love , Found Family , Superhero , Circus , Shrine Maiden , Bisexual , Love Triangle , Parenthood , Tokusatsu , Age Gap , Gender Bending , School , Nudity , Kemonomimi , Age Regression , Bullying , Twins , School Club , Yuri

Mahou Sensei Negima!

Also known as Negima! Magister Negi Magi.

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

After graduated from a magic academy, 10-year-old genius boy Negi Springfield was assigned to a huge Japanese school as an English teacher for practical training. To his surprise, the 8th grade class assigned for him is all-girl. In addition to teaching (and being teased by) those 31 pretty girls while trying to keep his magic capability in secret, he's also looking for clues about his father, who was once known as "Thousand Master" but mysteriously disappeared years ago.



Tags: Female Harem , Magic , Shounen , Super Power , School , Male Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Teacher , Slapstick , Urban Fantasy , Martial Arts , Age Gap , Tomboy , Nudity , Coming of Age , Kuudere , Yandere , Robots , Isekai , Vampire , Ninja , Swordplay , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Memory Manipulation , Kemonomimi , Ghost , Time Manipulation , Guns , Ojou-sama , Foreign , Nun , Tanned Skin , Space Opera , Yuri , Demons

UQ Holder!

Also known as UQ HOLDER!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Negi Springfield, the boy wizard of the hit manga Negima!, fought and won many battles. Now it is decades later and Negi’s grandson(!), a little boy name Touta, dreams of leaving his quiet village and heading to the City. But first he must defeat his teacher … the immortal vampire, Evangeline! Witness the dramatic beginning of a futuristic battle fantasy



Tags: Magic , Shounen , Martial Arts , Male Protagonist , Time Manipulation , Urban Fantasy , Super Power , Space , Female Harem , Amnesia , Space Opera , Bisexual , Cyborg , Nudity , Super Robot , Primarily Female Cast , Gender Bending , Clone , Guns , Swordplay , Demons , Time Skip , Heterosexual , Ghost , Crossdressing , Tragedy , Vampire , Survival , Agender , Primarily Male Cast

Sidonia no Kishi

Also known as Knights of Sidonia.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Outer space, the far future.

A lone seed ship, the Sidonia, plies the void, ten centuries since the obliteration of the solar system. The massive, nearly indestructible, yet barely sentient alien life forms that destroyed humanity’s home world continue to pose an existential threat.

Nagate Tanikaze has only known life in the vessel’s bowels deep below the sparkling strata where humans have achieved photosynthesis and new genders. Not long after he emerges from the Underground, however, the youth is bequeathed a treasured legacy by the spaceship’s coolheaded female captain.

Meticulously drawn, peppered with clipped humor, but also unusually attentive to plot and structure for the international cult favorite, Knights of Sidonia may be Tsutomu Nihei’s most accessible work to date even as it hits notes of tragic grandeur as a hopeless struggle for survival unfolds.



Tags: Aliens , Space , Military , War , Male Protagonist , Survival , Post-Apocalyptic , Agender , Seinen , Real Robot , Heterosexual , Clone , Space Opera , Nudity , Female Harem

Mezametara Saikyou Soubi to Uchuusen-mochi datta no de, Ikkodate Mezashite Youhei Toshite Jiyuu ni Ikitai

Also known as Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mecha , Romance , Sci-Fi

Sato Takahiro was an ordinary office worker and hobbyist gamer until the day he woke up on a spaceship–one that strangely resembled a craft from a favorite space-shooter game. With a decked-out ship, a crew full of babes, and a fantastic universe to explore, he’s going to make the most of his good luck and create the life he’s always dreamed of!



Tags: Space , Isekai , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Female Harem , Heterosexual , Elf , Maids , Space Opera

Kidou Senshi Gundam: The Origin

Also known as Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.

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

Zeon ace pilot, Commander Char Aznable, thought he could foil the Federation's plan to build a mobile suit by attacking their research base on colony Side 7. He was wrong. With a prototype already active, the besieged Federation forces strike back using their new weapon, the mobile suit Gundam, with devastating consequences. Amidst the fighting, young electronics wizard Amuro Ray is determined not to let his friends and family die in the crossfire. But what can one boy do to repel a squad of mobile suit-clad invaders?



Tags: Space Opera , Military , Space , War , Real Robot , Full Color , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Shounen

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Mecha , Romance

In their closed-off underground village, Kamina and Simon chafe at the limits imposed by the village elder. Yet all this will change, when Simon stumbles across a fantastic device - just as the village's peace is broken by a violent intrusion.

Tags: Shounen , Space , Space Opera , Tragedy , Gods

Five Star Stories

Also known as The Five Star Stories.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Mecha , Sci-Fi

The Five Star Stories takes its name from the Joker Star Cluster where the stories take place. The star cluster is made up of four stars: Eastern, Western, Southern and Northern. The "fifth star" is a large comet named Stant that passes through that sector of space every 1,500 years pulling with it its own collection of orbiting planets.

In the distant past the Farus Di Kanon Empire, now commonly known as the "Super Empire", controlled all 4 solar systems of the Joker Cluster. They enjoyed a level of technology much higher than is currently known and sent explorers to the far reaches of the Joker Galaxy. Around the year 9000 AD (Ammon Duul) the empire collapsed due to internal strife. The explorers were called home and what remained of civilization focused mainly on survival. Much technology and knowledge was lost by the time the imperial families of Amaterasu, Fillmore and Hathuha gathered and established the JC era. JC stands for "Joker Calendar" and was meant to give a common frame of reference to all nations to help foster a lasting peace. The JC calendar was adopted but the dream of peace was never realized.

The first story of The Five Star Stories begins in JC 2988. At this time interstellar travel is common and genetically engineered "fatimas" are well established as necessary co-pilots of the fearsome mortar headds that dominate the battlefields. Warfare between nations is commonplace and few still hope for peace.

Tags: Ensemble Cast , Gods , War , Space Opera , Politics , Space , Military , Real Robot

2001-ya Monogatari

Also known as 2001 Nights.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sci-Fi

A collection of short stories that look to mankind's exploration of space, and examine the possibilities that we could face when we decide to take those first fateful steps into the unknown.

Tags: Space , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Philosophy , Astronomy , Artificial Intelligence , Environmental , Politics , Educational , Tragedy , Terrorism , Nudity , Heterosexual , Time Skip , Religion , Time Manipulation , Space Opera

Evangelion: ANIMA

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA.

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

An alternate universe ending for the legendary anime!

What would have happened if the Human Instrumentality Project–from the final two episodes of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime–had never reached fruition? This official light novel series explores just that, allowing Shinji Ikari and the pilots around him to age three years and face a different future. This alternate ending began serialization in Japan a decade ago, and remains the only light novel series for the legendary franchise. With the original 1990s anime series having its very first streaming release on Netflix in Spring 2019, these light novels are a perfect expansion for fans new and old.



Tags: Super Robot , Kaiju , Post-Apocalyptic , Military , Space Opera , Tokusatsu , Lost Civilization , Clone , Time Manipulation

Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Harlock

Also known as Captain Harlock.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi

Introducing Captain Harlock, the fiercely independent space pirate who fights totalitarianism in every corner of the Universe. When a mysterious alien force invades Earth, teenager Tadashi Daiba joins up with the only people brave enough to defend the planet: Captain Harlock and his ragtag crew of renegades! Aboard the space battleship Arcadia, Harlock sets forth to uncover the truth behind the beautiful extraterrestrial women taking over his home planet.



Tags: Pirates , Space , Space Opera , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Revenge , Primarily Adult Cast , Aliens

Hitoribocchi no Chikyuu Shinryaku

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Kouichi has looked forward to becoming a high schooler for one reason: to help continue his grandfather's coffee shop. But on the first day of school, a strange girl wearing an eerie mask tells him that she has come to take his life. She tells him that the heart beating within his chest is her own, and that she is an alien invader who has come to take over the world.

Tags: Aliens , Shounen , Coming of Age , Super Power , School , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Philosophy , Space , Space Opera , Tragedy , Assassins , Anthropomorphism , Memory Manipulation

Terra e...

Also known as To Terra....

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi

A few days before Atalaxian Jomy Marcus Shin's Awakening Day, he has a strange dream of a young blue-haired man. This young man is Soldier Blue, the leader of a group of psionic humans called Mu. The Mu have been fighting for generations for the right to survive against the humans who want them all killed, and have been dreaming to go back to the old homeland - Terra - the old Earth. Little does Jomy know that his awakening is the Mu's last chance - can he unlock his own powers and lead the Mu back to Terra?



Tags: Space Opera , Space , Fugitive , Artificial Intelligence , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Super Power , Shounen , Tragedy , War , Reincarnation

Getter Robo Go

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

Years after the events of Getter Robo/Shin Getter Robo, Hayato Jin is the leader of NISAR; a private owned research and weapons development organization based in Japan. He, and Professor Tachibana, have been developing various weapons and building up their forces to deal with a threat that started fifteen years ago: the mad scientist Rando. When Rando's forces begin their terrorist operations around the world, NISAR begins its search for exceptional soldiers to pilot their super weapon, the Getter Robo.

Tags: Cosmic Horror , War , Super Robot , Cyborg , Shounen , Dinosaurs , Space Opera , Gore , Twins , Nudity , Guns , Zombie , Kaiju , Military , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Space , Foreign , Werewolf , Heterosexual , Ghost , Tomboy , Body Horror , Gods

Getter Robo G

Also known as Getter Robo G.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mecha , Sci-Fi

After Emperor Gore and the Reptilian empire is defeated, a new enemy, Emperor Burai and his Hyakki empire rises and threatens to take over Earth. Ryoma, Hayato, and newcomer Benkei pilot the new Getter Robo G to save Earth.



Tags: Super Robot , Lost Civilization , Body Horror , Delinquents , Gore , Demons , Shounen , Aliens , Space Opera , Cyborg , Guns , Motorcycles , Episodic , Pandemic , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , War , Space

Ginga Tetsudou 999

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Sci-Fi

Tetsuro Hoshino is a young street urchin who desperately wants to replace his human body with an android body, which would grant him immortality and the social freedom the androids have. Normally this is incredibly expensive but it has long been rumoured that if you board the Galaxy Express headed for the Andromeda Galaxy, at the end of the line is a planet where they are given out for free. After seeing his mother murdered by an Android Count, he has no reason to remain on his home planet and nothing to hold him back. Now, not only seeking the android body of his dreams but also a way to avenge his loss, he begins to search for a way to board the train alone. Then he meets Maetel, a mysterious woman who offers him a ticket aboard the train if he will be her companion for the journey. Their journey will take them to planet after planet, each strange and new, and each stop along the way being an opportunity for Tetsuro to reflect on being human, human actions, and the prospect of immortality. During their travels Tetsuro and Maetel meet, amongst others, Emeraldas and Harlock.

Note: The first cycle was released from 1977 to 1981 and spans volumes 1-18.

Tags: Space , Philosophy , Trains , Episodic , Aliens , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Space Opera , Shounen

Shin Getter Robo

Status: Finished
Genres: Mecha

Shin Getter Robo is the third Getter Robo series chronologically.

Years after the original story and in a brief time of peace, Professor Saotome has completed his masterpiece, the Shin Getter Robo, while humanity makes large advancements in space exploration and Getter Rays research. Unfortunately, this progress brings them to the attention of a mysterious and hostile race from across time and space.

Note: Includes an extra chapter that was published on the last volume.

Tags: Cosmic Horror , Super Robot , Aliens , Space , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Time Manipulation , Space Opera , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Dinosaurs , Cyborg , Kaiju , Body Horror , Ghost , Guns , Gods

Kidou Senshi Crossbone Gundam

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mecha , Sci-Fi

The story takes place 10 years after the end of Gundam F91. The movie's heroes, Seabook Arno and Cecily Fairchild, discover that Crux Dogatie of the Jupiter Energy Fleet is plotting to conquer Earth with the forces of his Jupiter Empire. In response, Cecily takes up her birth name "Berah Ronah" and recreates the Crossbone Vanguard, who disguise themselves as pirates attacking the Jupiter Energy Fleet. Seabook, under the alias "Kinkedo Nau", is one of the new Vanguard's top pilots. The other is Zabine Chareux, a veteran of the original Crossbone Vanguard. The main character of Crossbone Gundam is a teenage Newtype named Tobia Arronax, who gets swept up in the war between the Crossbone Vanguard and Jupiter Empire.

While Gundam F91 is understandably viewed as a disappointment by many Gundam fans, Crossbone Gundam is widely regarded as one of Gundam's best installments, with its likeable cast, well-written story, and unique "pirate Gundam" mechanical designs. Its quality easily leads one to wonder how Gundam F91 would have turned out had Tomino been able to complete it as the originally planned 52 episode TV series, rather than having to condense it into a single 2-hour movie.



Tags: Military , Space , Robots , War , Pirates , Real Robot , Space Opera , Cosmic Horror