Versus Battle Which manga is the best out of the so called dark shonen trio?

[Light D Lamperouge]

My bad for turning this thread into a TG wankfest @Light 💀

LMAO no worries my dude. I am skimming those posts of yours and @ConquistadoR's tho cuz TG along with JoJo and some others is next on my reading list after I finish FMA, which I am currently reading. I think TG will be the first one after FMA.

 

[wordy]

Yeah my man, 127 chapters and done.

The chapters are also of normal length. By that I mean they average around 20ish pages per chapter most often, besides the first few chapters.

When you finish it, here's a thread where you can drop your thoughts.

https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/hells-paradise-jigokuraku.5556/



Yeah I read it a while ago too. Might need a reread or someone who has recently read it to compare. I think @wordy did and has been reading JJK recently. Not sure about CSM tho Wordy?

I read maybe 40-50 chapters a couple years ago and I've seen a handful of anime episodes, but I'm not up to date. The art is really cool, but it just never hooked me.

Hell's Paradise is my favorite of these three. It's just a really clean and tidy short story like reading a short novel or something. The pacing and plot progression are fantastic. Can't wait for the anime! I love JJK, but I think HP is a better-written story.

 

[NikaInParis]

-Plot:
I think Hell's Paradise has the most original plotline out of the three. Since it's the only one that's finished we can also see that it wrapped up virtually all plotlines neatly.

-Main characters
Part 1 Chainsaw Man would be the winner here, though personally I enjoy JJK main cast more

-Side characters
Jujutsu Kaisen has the most charismatic supporting cast out of the trio (Todo, Toji, Yuta, Hakari)

-Villains
It's between Makima and Sukuna. They're roughly on the same evilness level, but ig Makima's plotline was a bit more interesting

-Character designs
Tough choice. Might be controversial but I'd go with Hell's Paradise, mostly because of the island monsters and Tao priests

-Power system
Hell's Paradise

-Story arcs
Jujutsu Kaisen

-Incorporation of themes
Chainsawman

-Art
This is a tough one, again. People look for different things. I like Hell's Paradise overall, but I prefer JJK's fight scenes most of the time.

-Imagery
Between HP and CSM probably

-Panelling
Maybe CSM?

-Originality
I'd go with HP here

-World building
Between JJK and HP

-Characterization
I think all three are good here but CSM edges it out a bit in front of HP

-Enjoyment
JJK > HP > CSM

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

I read maybe 40-50 chapters a couple years ago and I've seen a handful of anime episodes, but I'm not up to date. The art is really cool, but it just never hooked me.

Yeah I agree the art is really on point. Hmmm, that should be around the bomb arc iirc. I think the story really really picks up there so it might be worth giving it another try. There are some amazing moments from there to the end.

 

[York]

I'm voting for Hell's Paradise across the board. Wouldve been a tougher decision but recently both Chainsawman and JJK have been kind of falling off for me. So good job for Hells Paradise for ending before it could sour itself for me

 

[wordy]

Yeah I agree the art is really on point. Hmmm, that should be around the bomb arc iirc. I think the story really really picks up there so it might be worth giving it another try. There are some amazing moments from there to the end.

I may give it another shot once I finish a few other things I'll let you know!

 

[Boris D. Foot]

Have to go with Chainsawman on this one.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

I may give it another shot once I finish a few other things I'll let you know!

Aye nice. What do you have on your reading list if you don't mind me asking?


I've been trying to get people to read some of these and I think you might like some of them.

Bungo Stray Dogs

Spoiler: Synopsis

Nakajima Atsushi was kicked out of his orphanage, and now he has no place to go and no food. While he is standing by a river, on the brink of starvation, he rescues a man whimsically attempting suicide. That man is Dazai Osamu, and he and his partner Kunikida are members of a very special detective agency. They have supernatural powers, and deal with cases that are too dangerous for the police or the military. They're tracking down a tiger that has appeared in the area recently, around the time Atsushi came to the area. The tiger seems to have a connection to Atsushi, and by the time the case is solved, it is clear that Atsushi's future will involve much more of Dazai and the rest of the detectives!

Moriarty the Patriot

Spoiler: Synopsis

In the late 19th century, the British Empire has become a global power. Due to the strict class stratification, the average citizen has little chance of successfully rising up to the top, where the despicable nobility rules over them all.

William James Moriarty, the second son of the Moriarty household, is a young mathematics professor who has displayed great cunning and intellect since he was a child. Along with his brothers Albert and Louis, he lives the simple life of a noble. Outside of school, William is a well-known private consultant willing to solve the problems of anyone in need. However, his gentle demeanor belies his position as the head of a group prepared to wreak havoc in pursuit of its desire—a new world built from the ashes of the old.

Yuukoku no Moriarty puts a new spin on Arthur Conan Doyle's original work by putting the spotlight on its main antagonist and exploring how he came to be the first and only "criminal consultant."

Vanitas no Carte

Spoiler: Synopsis

Paris, late 19th century. Vanitas is a human who works as a doctor for vampires and wishes to save them. He uses a magical book called The Vanitas Grimoire to dispel an evil curse that corrupts vampires and turns them into blood-sucking monsters. But...this very same book is rumoured to be the cursed tome that gives birth to vampires on nights when the blue moon is full. Noe is a vampire on the hunt for The Grimoire. Who, really, is Dr Vanitas? What are the secrets that he holds, and what fate do those secrets spell for the vampire species?

Pandora Hearts

Spoiler: Synopsis

• The air of celebration surrounding fifteen-year-old Oz Vessalius's coming-of-age ceremony quickly turns to horror when he is condemned for a sin about which he knows nothing. He is thrown into an eternal prison known as the Abyss, from which there is no escape. There, he meets a young girl named Alice, who is not what she seems. Now that the relentless cogs of fate have begun to turn, will they lead only to crushing despair for Oz, or is there some shred of hope for him to grasp on to?

Dandadan

Spoiler: Synopsis

• Ken Takakura, a boy who is an occult fanatic who doesn't believe in ghosts, and Momo Ayase, a girl who doesn't believe in aliens, encounter overwhelming strangeness that transcends their mutual understanding...! An occult coming-of-age story!

After being aggressively rejected, Momo Ayase finds herself sulking when she stumbles across a boy being bullied. Saved by her rash kindness, the occult-obsessed boy attempts to speak to her about supernatural interests he believes they share. Rejecting his claims, Ayase proclaimed that she instead is a believer in ghosts, starting an argument between the two over which is real.

In a bet to determine who is correct, the two decide to separately visit locations associated with both the occult and the supernatural—Ayase visiting the former and the boy visiting the latter. When the two reach their respective places, it turns out that neither was wrong and that both the occult and ghosts do exist.

This marks the beginning of Ayase and the boy's adventure, as they attempt to fix the surreal, supernatural, and sci-fi elements around them to return to a normal life.

Tomodachi Game

Spoiler: Synopsis

Katagiri Yuichi believes that friends are more important than money, but he also knows the hardships of not having enough funds. He works hard to save up in order to go on the high school trip, because he has promised his four best friends that they will all go together. However, after the class's money is all collected, it is stolen! Suspicion falls on two of Yuichi's friends, Sawaragi Shiho and Shibe Makoto. Soon afterward, the five of them are kidnapped, and wake up in a strange room with a character from a short-lived anime. Apparently, one of them has entered them into a "friendship game" in order to take care of their massive debt. But who was it, and why did they have such a debt? Could they have stolen the money from class to pay for entry into the game? Katagiri and his best friends will have to succeed in psychological games that will test or destroy their faith in one another.

D. Gray Man

Spoiler: Synopsis

Set in a fictional 19th century England, D.Gray-man is the story of Allen Walker, a 15-year-old boy who roams the earth in search of Innocence. Washed away to unknown parts of the world after the Great Flood, Innocence is the mysterious substance used to create weapons that obliterate demons known as akuma.

Thousands of years ago, there existed those gifted with the power of God. Their mission: to destroy the ominous evils that lurk in the darkness known as "Akuma." Led by the Milenium Earl, Akuma seek to destroy fragments of "Innocence," the only weapons capable of harming the Earl and his army and bring about the Great Flood from a hundred years ago.

To prevent this tragedy from happening, the Black Order was formed as an organization dedicated to fighting the Earl. They recruit Exorcists, those with the inherent ability to accomodate Innocence, to fight against the Akuma.

In the late 19th century, Allen Walker—a white-haired boy armed with Innocence that takes the form of his entire left arm and a cursed eye that can see Akuma—is sent to the Black Order. There, Allen meets various comrades from the Order—the mercurial Yuu Kanda, the kindhearted Lenalee Lee, and the cheerful yet mysterious Lavi. Despite their different personalities, they have one goal in mind: to bring salvation to the souls of Akuma and prevent the Earl from destroying the world.

 

[wordy]

Aye nice. What do you have on your reading list if you don't mind me asking?


I've been trying to get people to read some of these and I think you might like some of them.

Bungo Stray Dogs

Spoiler: Synopsis

Nakajima Atsushi was kicked out of his orphanage, and now he has no place to go and no food. While he is standing by a river, on the brink of starvation, he rescues a man whimsically attempting suicide. That man is Dazai Osamu, and he and his partner Kunikida are members of a very special detective agency. They have supernatural powers, and deal with cases that are too dangerous for the police or the military. They're tracking down a tiger that has appeared in the area recently, around the time Atsushi came to the area. The tiger seems to have a connection to Atsushi, and by the time the case is solved, it is clear that Atsushi's future will involve much more of Dazai and the rest of the detectives!

Moriarty the Patriot

Spoiler: Synopsis

In the late 19th century, the British Empire has become a global power. Due to the strict class stratification, the average citizen has little chance of successfully rising up to the top, where the despicable nobility rules over them all.

William James Moriarty, the second son of the Moriarty household, is a young mathematics professor who has displayed great cunning and intellect since he was a child. Along with his brothers Albert and Louis, he lives the simple life of a noble. Outside of school, William is a well-known private consultant willing to solve the problems of anyone in need. However, his gentle demeanor belies his position as the head of a group prepared to wreak havoc in pursuit of its desire—a new world built from the ashes of the old.

Yuukoku no Moriarty puts a new spin on Arthur Conan Doyle's original work by putting the spotlight on its main antagonist and exploring how he came to be the first and only "criminal consultant."

Vanitas no Carte

Spoiler: Synopsis

Paris, late 19th century. Vanitas is a human who works as a doctor for vampires and wishes to save them. He uses a magical book called The Vanitas Grimoire to dispel an evil curse that corrupts vampires and turns them into blood-sucking monsters. But...this very same book is rumoured to be the cursed tome that gives birth to vampires on nights when the blue moon is full. Noe is a vampire on the hunt for The Grimoire. Who, really, is Dr Vanitas? What are the secrets that he holds, and what fate do those secrets spell for the vampire species?

Pandora Hearts

Spoiler: Synopsis

• The air of celebration surrounding fifteen-year-old Oz Vessalius's coming-of-age ceremony quickly turns to horror when he is condemned for a sin about which he knows nothing. He is thrown into an eternal prison known as the Abyss, from which there is no escape. There, he meets a young girl named Alice, who is not what she seems. Now that the relentless cogs of fate have begun to turn, will they lead only to crushing despair for Oz, or is there some shred of hope for him to grasp on to?

Dandadan

Spoiler: Synopsis

• Ken Takakura, a boy who is an occult fanatic who doesn't believe in ghosts, and Momo Ayase, a girl who doesn't believe in aliens, encounter overwhelming strangeness that transcends their mutual understanding...! An occult coming-of-age story!

After being aggressively rejected, Momo Ayase finds herself sulking when she stumbles across a boy being bullied. Saved by her rash kindness, the occult-obsessed boy attempts to speak to her about supernatural interests he believes they share. Rejecting his claims, Ayase proclaimed that she instead is a believer in ghosts, starting an argument between the two over which is real.

In a bet to determine who is correct, the two decide to separately visit locations associated with both the occult and the supernatural—Ayase visiting the former and the boy visiting the latter. When the two reach their respective places, it turns out that neither was wrong and that both the occult and ghosts do exist.

This marks the beginning of Ayase and the boy's adventure, as they attempt to fix the surreal, supernatural, and sci-fi elements around them to return to a normal life.

Tomodachi Game

Spoiler: Synopsis

Katagiri Yuichi believes that friends are more important than money, but he also knows the hardships of not having enough funds. He works hard to save up in order to go on the high school trip, because he has promised his four best friends that they will all go together. However, after the class's money is all collected, it is stolen! Suspicion falls on two of Yuichi's friends, Sawaragi Shiho and Shibe Makoto. Soon afterward, the five of them are kidnapped, and wake up in a strange room with a character from a short-lived anime. Apparently, one of them has entered them into a "friendship game" in order to take care of their massive debt. But who was it, and why did they have such a debt? Could they have stolen the money from class to pay for entry into the game? Katagiri and his best friends will have to succeed in psychological games that will test or destroy their faith in one another.

D. Gray Man

Spoiler: Synopsis

Set in a fictional 19th century England, D.Gray-man is the story of Allen Walker, a 15-year-old boy who roams the earth in search of Innocence. Washed away to unknown parts of the world after the Great Flood, Innocence is the mysterious substance used to create weapons that obliterate demons known as akuma.

Thousands of years ago, there existed those gifted with the power of God. Their mission: to destroy the ominous evils that lurk in the darkness known as "Akuma." Led by the Milenium Earl, Akuma seek to destroy fragments of "Innocence," the only weapons capable of harming the Earl and his army and bring about the Great Flood from a hundred years ago.

To prevent this tragedy from happening, the Black Order was formed as an organization dedicated to fighting the Earl. They recruit Exorcists, those with the inherent ability to accomodate Innocence, to fight against the Akuma.

In the late 19th century, Allen Walker—a white-haired boy armed with Innocence that takes the form of his entire left arm and a cursed eye that can see Akuma—is sent to the Black Order. There, Allen meets various comrades from the Order—the mercurial Yuu Kanda, the kindhearted Lenalee Lee, and the cheerful yet mysterious Lavi. Despite their different personalities, they have one goal in mind: to bring salvation to the souls of Akuma and prevent the Earl from destroying the world.

Light, you're the Mrs. Frizzle of manga recommendations. So helpful and enthusiastic! Thanks for the recs!

I never finished BSD. I really liked the Japanese literature references, but I stopped reading around the time they beat the Guild. Plus, Mori and Elise gave me the creeps. Dazai is cool, but I just never felt that much affection for the characters.

Moriarty has been on my list for a while, along with Vanitas. Hoping to read them this spring.

I've seen Pandora Hearts at the manga store. I like the Alice in Wonderland idea. Might check it out.

Dandadan - I think I read a couple chapters?

Never heard of Tomodachi Game, but psychological games are my jam. Will definitely check it out.

D Gray-Man - I'm caught up on the manga, but I've never seen the anime.

I'm currently reading Dragon Quest Adventure of Dai and I just started Claymore. The rest of my list is boring regular books haha

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Light, you're the Mrs. Frizzle of manga recommendations. So helpful and enthusiastic! Thanks for the recs!

Lol the magic school bus. I haven't heard that name in years. Thanks.

I never finished BSD. I really liked the Japanese literature references, but I stopped reading around the time they beat the Guild. Plus, Mori and Elise gave me the creeps. Dazai is cool, but I just never felt that much affection for the characters.

Yeah I think the literature references are quite cool. The next part after the Guild is quite cool as well.

Moriarty has been on my list for a while, along with Vanitas. Hoping to read them this spring.

Nice. They are both quite good and among my faves. Shame VNC is on hiatus.

I've seen Pandora Hearts at the manga store. I like the Alice in Wonderland idea. Might check it out.

It's pretty good. @Cross_Marian has read it recently and loved it.

The same author wrote Pandora and VNC btw.

Dandadan - I think I read a couple chapters?

I was a weekly reader from the start and I have to admit I quite enjoy it now. The art is gorgeous.

Never heard of Tomodachi Game, but psychological games are my jam. Will definitely check it out.

It's amazing. My warmest recommendations.

D Gray-Man - I'm caught up on the manga, but I've never seen the anime.

Oh nice. A new chapter came out recently btw.

I'm currently reading Dragon Quest Adventure of Dai and I just started Claymore. The rest of my list is boring regular books haha

I've heard about Claymore before, and it seems interesting.

 

[Elder Lee Hung]

Really? People think JJK is dark? Lol

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Really? People think JJK is dark? Lol

I think you dropped it way too early my dude. Iirc you watched like the first 5 or 6 episodes, right? It slowly gets darker and darker with each passing arc.

 

[The White Crane]

Title.

Which series do you think is better and which one do you prefer?

Some criteria:

-Plot
-Main characters
-Side characters
-Villains
-Character designs
-Power system
-Story arcs
-Incorporation of themes
-Art
-Imagery
-Panelling
-Originality
-World building
-Characterization
-Enjoyment
- Etc.

Chainsaw Man is peak fiction and can legit claim to be one of the 4 best Shounen ever and even best ongoing series.

I have not read all of JJK yet (only up to Shibuya arc so far), but it's great. However, neither JJK nor Jigokuraku, excellent though they are, are a match for CSM.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Chainsaw Man is peak fiction and can legit claim to be one of the 4 best Shounen ever and even best ongoing series.

I like CSM a lot, not sure I'd call it peak fiction tho, but I guess it depends on preferences. What would your top 5 Shonen be in that case?

I have not read all of JJK yet (only up to Shibuya arc so far), but it's great. However, neither JJK nor Jigokuraku, excellent though they are, are a match for CSM.

Shibuya is amazing ngl. You're in for a treat.



BTW I started FMA. Finished the first 5 volumes. Well got one chapter of volume 5 left, but still. It's quite good so far.

 

[Nikuzi]

Chainsawman.

 

[The White Crane]

I like CSM a lot, not sure I'd call it peak fiction tho, but I guess it depends on preferences. What would your top 5 Shonen be in that case?



Shibuya is amazing ngl. You're in for a treat.



BTW I started FMA. Finished the first 5 volumes. Well got one chapter of volume 5 left, but still. It's quite so far.

You meant quite great, right?

As for top 5 Shonen, I think it's easier for me to name my Shonen Mt. Rushmore by order of release:

JJBA
FMA
CSM
SXF (fresh addition, solidified after ch. 75)

With recent downgrade of Mid Piece, number 5 is up for grabs, tbh. But the closest to it is likely Beck.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

You meant quite great, right?

Yeah I edited it in lol. Missed an entire word smh lmao.

As for top 5 Shonen, I think it's easier for me to name my Shonen Mt. Rushmore by order of release:

JJBA
FMA
CSM
SXF (fresh addition, solidified after ch. 75)

From this list I've only fully read CSM. FMA, I've talked about it above, and JoJo is on my list, so we'll see. Smh never got the hype for SxF tho.

 

[Formerly Seth]

Really? People think JJK is dark? Lol

You didn't read too far I think + also depends on what your metrics for the dark shonen genre are.

 

[The White Crane]

From this list I've only fully read CSM. FMA, I've talked about it above, and JoJo is on my list, so we'll see. Smh never got the hype for SxF tho.

I hope I don't sound patronizing, so I apologize in advance if I do, but if you had read mangas and watched animes as long as I have, SXF is especially a breath of fresh air in that its strength comes from mixing not only comedy with wholesomeness, but also converging themes and characters with very little errors. This is something you do not find easily in many mainstream entertainment.

Another aspect I have to commend the story with is the strength of the main characters. It's not for nothing that Loid and Yor provide a much needed break from adolescent MCs and Anya has especially been called to be the best written child in any manga ever. I mean, Anya's around only since 2019, barely 4 years at the time of writing, and she is written by someone who, for a long time, was considered a failure. Momoron has been around for over a decade and is written by someone who, for a long time, was considered a genius. But we both know which of the two is now a permanent part of popular culture and one of the most recognizable characters around, right?

If the manga doesn't work for you, perhaps the anime would do it?

In many ways, to me at least, following the story of SXF feels like watching the best works of Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin: witty and thrilling with a real heart beneath it all. :cheers:

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

I hope I don't sound patronizing, so I apologize in advance if I do, but if you had read mangas and watched animes as long as I have, SXF is especially a breath of fresh air in that its strength comes from mixing not only comedy with wholesomeness, but also converging themes and characters with very little errors. This is something you do not find easily in many mainstream entertainment.

Another aspect I have to commend the story with is the strength of the main characters. It's not for nothing that Loid and Yor provide a much needed break from adolescent MCs and Anya has especially been called to be the best written child in any manga ever. I mean, Anya's around only since 2019, barely 4 years at the time of writing, and she is written by someone who, for a long time, was considered a failure. Momoron has been around for over a decade and is written by someone who, for a long time, was considered a genius. But we both know which of the two is now a permanent part of popular culture and one of the most recognizable characters around, right?

If the manga doesn't work for you, perhaps the anime would do it?

In many ways, to me at least, following the story of SXF feels like watching the best works of Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin: witty and thrilling with a real heart beneath it all. :cheers:

Nah, no worries but we seemed to have misunderstood each other. I haven't read or watched SxF at all. I only know of the basic premise of it, but it doesn't sound like my type of manga. Perhaps I am wrong, but I am basing my judgment solely on the basic premise of it and some clips here and there. That's why I said I never got the hype for it. Perhaps I'll give it a try.