The Best Shonen Manga That Debuted In 2024

Summary

• Centuria
  is the best new manga of 2024, filled with gripping action, drama, and supernatural elements.
• The Witch and the Mercenary
  offers an RPG-like fantasy story following a witch and her powerful bodyguard on epic missions.
• Monochrome Days
  tells a relatable story of rediscovering childhood dreams, making it more engaging than similar manga.

Every year, new manga titles are published. Some of them won’t make it to the end of the year, while others will continue for a couple of years, and some will stay for years and even decades to come. With that in mind, let’s use this chance to take a look at some of the best shonen manga that make their debut in 2024.

Apart from the fact that it has to be a shonen manga that debuted in 2024, this list also has three additional rules: Firstly, it has to be a full manga, which means One Shot is not included in this list. Secondly, it has to be available in English, so that readers can check them out if there’s any manga that piques their interest. Lastly, to be considered among the best, the manga must have a minimum score of 7.0 on MyAnimeList at the time of writing. With that out of the way, here are some of the best new shonen manga in 2024.

10 No\Name

The Thrilling Life of A Wolf Man And A Bear Girl

• Japanese Title: No\Name
• Author(s): Jaki, Rafał (story), MACHINE GAMU (art)
• Release Date: Jan 26, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.09
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

In the world of No/Name, a name equals supernatural power. That’s why the Government heavily regulates the naming process of every baby born on their soil through an organization called the Nordic Name Bureau (NNB). The story follows two officers of the NNB named Ralf, a man who can summon wolves, and Ursula, a girl who can turn into a massive brown bear, as they track illegal naming activity in their city.

The pilot chapter of No\Name won Manga Plus’s Gold Award in 2023, and it officially began serialization through Shounen Jump+ in 2024. No\Name is the first major manga series made solely by non-Japanese creators. Seeing the positive response that this series has received thus far, readers can expect more non-Japanese creators to enter the manga industry in the future.

9 Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi

A Hilarious Story Of A Scaredy-Cat Exorcist

• Japanese Title: Exorcist no Kiyoshi-kun
• Author(s): Usui, Shouichi
• Release Date: Jun 24, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.12
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

Kiyoshi Harai is an exorcist. Not just any regular exorcist, he is a valedictorian and the youngest graduate from the Exorcist Academy. It goes without saying that he is one of the best exorcists in the world. Or at least he should be. Unfortunately, Kiyoshi is terrified of demons. This is Kiyoshi’s hilarious and exciting story as he attempts to overcome his fears and protect innocent people from the terror of demons.

Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi is the work of a newcomer author named Shouichi Usui. This series is his way of delivering a lighthearted tale filled with action and comedy, despite its eerie horror setting. It’s reminiscent of Beelzebub and Mob Psycho 100. Hopefully, Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi can also enjoy the same success and longevity as its inspirations.

8 Goze Hotaru

A Chronicle Of A Girl Who Lost Her Eyes But Gained A New Voice

• Japanese Title: Jaki, Rafał
• Author(s): Tosaya, Kou
• Release Date: Mar 19, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.13
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

A little girl named Hotaru lives in a small village deep in the jungle. She lost her parents when she was a baby, and recently, she lost her eyesight as well. Her grandfather is worried that Hotaru will spend the rest of her life confined to her house, but Hotaru’s life changes forever when her grandfather takes her to see a Goze performance. Their beautiful voice and the melody of their shamisen filled the room. What’s even more impressive is the fact that the Goze are blind as well. Inspired by that performance, Hotaru begins her training to become a Goze.

Goze Hotaru is a heartwarming coming-of-age story with a dash of mystery and the supernatural sprinkled on top. This is the work of a first-time author named Kou Tosaya. Unfortunately, Goze Hotaru ended its publication with its 24th chapter, making it one of the few manga that started and ended in 2024. That being said, it is still a deeply engaging and wholesome story, and readers should definitely give Goze Hotaru a try.

7 MAD

A Story Of Alien Invasion, Death, And Desperate Attempts To Survive

• Japanese Title: MAD
• Author(s): Ootori, Yuusuke
• Release Date: Jun 18, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

When the alien invades, it devastates Earth’s population, leaving only a handful of humans alive. John is one of the survivors. The aliens take away everything he holds dear, and now he is nothing more than an empty shell of a man. One day, John and a few survivors stumble upon what seems to be a military bunker. Unbeknownst to him, what occurs inside is actually as terrifying as what happens outside. So begins a new chapter in John’s tragic survival story.

MAD by new author Yuusuke Ootori, is a horror story through and through. There is action and drama in this story, but horror and survival are still the underlying themes. The art is as bare as the world itself. It relies more on illustrations than dialog to tell the story, which further elevates the sense of despair and desolation of the story. Fans of horror should give MAD a try.

6 Galaxias

A Girl And A DragonFolk’s Epic Journey Across A Fantasy World

• Japanese Title: Galaxias
• Author(s): Hatezaka, Ao
• Release Date: Jul 17, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.23
• Available at: K Manga

Jio has always wanted to leave the tiny island she calls her hometown to explore the world. The Laniakea Kingdom, the Dragonfolks, the Dragon King, there are so many things that she wants to see. Alas, her father never let her venture far from their home, let alone go to a different island. But Jio’s life is about to change forever when she discovers a Dragonfolk with severe memory loss stranded on their shore.

Galaxias is the new action fantasy series by Kodansha, and also the first series from a new author named Ao Hatezaka. It combines fast-paced action with an epic adventure across so many fantastical and mysterious places. At the time of writing, Galaxias has already released 15 chapters and we can certainly expect more in the future.

5 Hero Organization

• Japanese Title: Eiyuu Kikan
• Author(s): Saikawa, Kei (Story), Takahashi, Akira (Art)
• Release Date: Sep 15, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.28
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

Ryu Tyler is a single father who works in a subcontracted facility for a major A.I.G.I.S. manufacturer. A.I.G.I.S. itself is a giant mecha created to combat the starbeasts that threaten humanity’s space expansion. Unlike his talented son, Leo, there’s nothing special about Ryu. He is just a regular man who wants to spend more time with his son.

Then, a once-in-a-lifetime chance comes along. Ryu is recruited to be a pilot for the A.I.G.I.S. as part of the Civilian Recruitment Program. This marks the beginning of an ordinary man’s journey to becoming an extraordinary hero. For readers who enjoy stories about underdogs rising to the occasion to achieve greatness, Hero Organization is the manga for them.

4 Monochrome Days

An Inspiring Story Of An Office Worker Who Reignites His Childhood Dream

• Japanese Title: Monochrome no Futari
• Author(s): Matsumoto, Yousuke
• Release Date: Oct 13, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.41
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

Growing up, Hanaichi Fudo has always loved to draw and even won an award for his art. Unfortunately, the death of his mother forced him to abandon his dream and focus on studying so that he could earn a living to support his little sister. Now in his mid-20s, Hanaichi works hard to be a stellar employee. That is until his senior, Saori Wakaba, asks him to help finish her manuscript. Apparently, Saori has been working on her manga every day after she gets home from work. She stumbles upon Hanaichi’s sketch one day and recognizes his ability as an artist. That is when Hanaichi decided to give his childhood dream one last shot.

There have been quite a few manga about the process of creating manga, such as Bakuman, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, and the most recent one, Look Back. Each depicts the struggle of a mangaka, but Monochrome Days offers something more. It offers a premise that is familiar to most of us who have to abandon childhood dreams in order to live as a responsible adult. That’s why this manga is way more relatable than some of its peers.

3 Ichi The Witch

The Story Of The First Hunter Mage

• Japanese Title: Madan no Ichi
• Author(s): Nishi, Osamu (Story), Usazaki, Shiro (Art)
• Release Date: Sep 9, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.44
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

Ichi the Witch is a story about a hunter who accidentally turns into a witch by killing the king of Majik. Majik are the living embodiment of magic, and anybody who manages to kill one of these cruel creatures will be able to use their signature magic power. Incidentally, the only ones who can use magic in this world are women, which is why they are called witches. This makes Ichi the first male witch in history, and he is more than eager to hunt more dangerous Majiks.

There are quite a few fantasy manga out there that focus on the lives of witches and wizards, such as The Ancient Magus Bride, Witch Hat Atelier, and even Fairy Tail, just to name a few. What makes Ichi the Witch different, however, is the protagonist. The idea of a witch who relies more on hunting skills and knowledge to hunt his target rather than relying purely on his magic spells is not only fresh and unique, but it is way more interesting than readers might think.

2 The Witch And The Mercenary

An Epic Tale Of Might And Magic

• Japanese Title: Majo to Youhei
• Author(s): Miyagi, Makoto (Art), Chouhoukiteki, Kaeru (Story)
• Release Date: Jan 28, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.45
• Available at: K Manga

This is a story of a powerful witch named Siasha and her bodyguard, a mighty mercenary named Zig. Siasha can demolish a battalion of battle-hardened soldiers with a single spell, but just like any avid RPG player knows, a mage can deal massive long-range damage, but they’re weak against close-range attacks. That’s where Zig, a towering warrior who wields a dual-bladed weapon, comes in. Together, they can handle anything that dares to stand in their path.

Although The Witch and the Mercenary is undoubtedly a fantasy story, it is more accurate to think of this manga as an RPG story. After all, the story is centered around Siasha and Zig as they take on all sorts of missions from the Adventurers’ Guild. They will team up with other groups for a raid, they will buy new and better weapons and equipment that can boost their innate abilities, and they will take on some side missions from different characters outside the guild, just like a good old RPG. So for anyone who’s a fan of RPGs, this is the perfect manga.

1 Centuria

A Harrowing Journey Born Of Sacrifice, Revenge, And Violence

• Japanese Title: Centuria
• Author(s): Kuramori, Tooru
• Release Date: Apr 8, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.58
• Available at: Shounen Jump+

To escape destruction in a raging storm, a slave trader chooses to lighten the ship’s load by killing the 101 slaves that they have on board. Once they get to number 100, however, a dark and sinister being with a body made of tentacles and human limbs emerges from the sea. It offers the two remaining slaves—a young boy named Julian, and a pregnant woman named Mira who’s due in a couple of days—a blessing from the Mother of the Sea. Only, there’s a catch: One of them has to sacrifice themself so that the other may receive the blessing.

Ever since he was sold by his mother for a handful of coins years ago, Julian never knew what it meant to be loved. That is, until he meets Mira, the only motherly figure who truly cares about him. So, without any hesitation, Julian offers himself to the Mother of the Sea. But before Julian can approach the mysterious being, Mira cuts open her stomach and takes her daughter out. She gave her one last hug, one last kiss, and named her newborn child Diana. Mira hands her daughter to Julian and with her remaining strength, she jumps off the ship.

Now that the requirements have been met, the sinister being grants Julian the strength, the speed, the reflexes, and most importantly, the lives of the 100 slaves who perished on the ship that night. So begins Julian’s bloody journey to find a peaceful place for himself and Diana.

It’s hard to describe how gripping and astonishing Centuria is without resorting to verbose prose. The action, the thrills, the drama, the violence, the mystery, the mind-boggling supernatural phenomenon, all of them are masterfully drawn and written. That’s why, out of the many manga that debuted this year, Centuria is undoubtedly the best new manga of 2024.