I've been on a manga reading spree recently, having completed good manga like Helck (2014; Nanao Nanaki), Thermae Romae (2008; Yamazaki Mari) [and its IMO better ongoing spinoff Olympia Kyklos] or Boku dake ga Inai Machi (2012; Sanbe Kei)

Does anyone have some recommendations for something that's...

  1. Plot-driven (Romance is fine, as long as it's not one of those stories that moves at a snail's pace)

  2. At worst mildly horny

  3. Doesn't have awful politics

  4. Isn't half the length of One Piece

and of course

  1. good?
  • Hatandwatch [she/her, comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Obligatory Berserk. Not really horny but is sexuality graphic and general [content warning].

    Land of the Lustrous follows a race of gem people who have to protect themselves from the people of the moon who abduct and harvest them. They're generally asexual and non-binary though there is a bit of a subversion of that later. Has a 12~episode anime you can start with that covers about 30 chapters of the 100 chapter manga that's wrapping up.

    20th Century Boys has been a lot of fun, I can't say if the politics fall off because I haven't finished it yet but it's been a good thriller. If you liked Monster it's the same author.

    Rurouni Kenshin especially if you liked the anime. The anime is competely different (and bad) after the Shishio arc, so if you want the proper ending read the manga. You can find fan made coloraled versions even.

    Planetes is about the drudgery of space capitalism following people cleaning up orbiting space litter, but there's a revolution near the end, if resolved a bit lib-ly (I think editor intervention there though). I don't recall any big differences in the anime so I'd actually suggest that first for the great music.

    Jojos Bizarre Adventure no politics just high fashion body horror fights. Can find colorized versions as well.

    If you haven't used it before find the Tachiyomi app. It compiles a lot of fan sources for manga and comics in one app so finding anything is mostly hassle free. It's not on app stores so you have to get the .apk yourself (or whatever Apple equivalent). It can be a bit confusing so I can help if you decide to check it out.

      • Hatandwatch [she/her, comrade/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Shit I'd competely spaced that. Definitely another instance where the art somehow transcends the artist even contradicting them, like Ender's Game. Well I did give the tools necessary to avoid financing the monster.

      • Hatandwatch [she/her, comrade/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Much like Berserk, Chainsaw Man, and Fire Punch, I've learned I really enjoy a story where the MC is treated to endless misery, trauma, and solitude.

    • Cromalin [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      rurouni kenshin's mangaka was arrested for having so much child porn they believed he was a distributor

      jojo's is largely apolitical, but it goes from being vaguely nazi apologia in part 2 to being pretty convincingly anti-imperialist in part 7