The sheer number of manga titles available in English and the constant releases of manga-based anime adaptations is a recipe for choice overload. With so many to choose from, a reader just starting with this medium may be overwhelmed and may not start reading until months or years. I know because that’s what I’ve experienced for the past ten years or so; I mean, I’ve only read One Piece and Attack on Titan until five years ago!
Determined to venture outside the popular shonen genre, I started looking for other titles and created a system to achieve my manga reading goals. Here’s a little history about my manga fixation and the steps I took to manage it.
How I Discovered the Overwhelming World of Manga
My first exposure to manga is by way of piracy (no, it’s not One Piece). I was watching Naruto (the Tagalized version) and while googling about the series learned that it’s currently running in graphic novel form. At that time, so-called scanlations (scanned manga pages overlaid with fan translations, often in English) were the primary source of fans like me who couldn’t acquire a copy legally.
When you check the sites where these illegally translated manga were posted, you’ll see a long list of manga series translated by fans. Hundreds of titles are neatly categorized by demographics (shonen, shojo, seinen, and josei) and genres (fantasy, slice of life, detective, romance, etc.), available to readers for free. It was by visiting these sites that I experienced what one might feel when choosing which series to watch on Netflix — the options are too many, and you end up not picking anything.
My indecisiveness came to bite me because the illegal websites I used to visit disappeared one after the other, as the crackdown against manga piracy escalated through the years.
Thankfully, I discovered more legal (and affordable) ways to access manga titles licensed in English. Shonen Jump has an app, Kodansha has a catalog with links to bookstores selling a copy, and several subscription-based manga readers release the latest chapters of ongoing series for free reading.
How I Build A Manageable Manga Reading List
Acknowledge that You Can’t Read Every Manga Title
When building a reading list, whether it’s for novels or manga, the first thing you need to remind yourself is that a lifetime isn’t enough to read every published title. Recognizing your limit first will reduce the overwhelm you feel when faced with the sheer number of manga titles available out there.
After the acceptance? The real step.
Create a Demographic and Genre Shortlist
This step will require a bit of inward-looking. In your first months reading manga, pick a title or two from each target audience and a genre you like and choose which stories resonate with you. Doing this will eventually help you determine which types of stories you’d want to read.
For example, during my few years of reading, I often gravitated to adventure stories (One Piece), the occult (Shaman King), weird girls (Yamato Nadeshiko), and magic (The Ancient Magus’ Bride). I also got into academic and sports-focused manga (Blue Period, Haikyu!!), comedy (Spy x Family), and, yes, more magic (Witch Hat Atelier). To this day, I stick to these types of stories, but I also branch out now and then so my reading list doesn’t grow stale. Doing the latter was how I discovered Sakamoto Days!
Also, remember that you don’t need to be strict about your plan. While it will help to follow a list, don’t hesitate when a title piques your interest. Being spontaneous will take the pressure off knocking down your TBR pile and help keep reading enjoyable.
Don’t be Scared to Discontinue Reading a Series
If you know the KonMari method, you’re aware that keeping something that doesn’t spark joy is a big no-no. Some manga series, as they continue, lose the plot, become tedious, or simply do not entertain you anymore. However, it’s jarring not to learn what happens to Characters A and B, so you power through — but what’s the point if you’re not enjoying it anymore? Don’t be like some fans who continue reading the series, only to complain about it every release.
Give your room and mind more space for other manga titles. Giving previously ignored or unnoticed stories a chance often ends in serendipitous finds that you might not find had you stuck to your boring manga.
Also, if you’re sad about the money you used to buy the manga you’re quitting, that’s valid, but don’t be sad for long. You can always resell or donate them to a library. Somewhere, someone will like that series and will appreciate it.
The Wrap Up
You need to learn how to have a manageable manga TBR list because you’ll drown otherwise. To do so, accept the fact that you can’t read all the manga in the world, then create a reading plan, and give up on some titles that no longer spark joy. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be able to read more manga and discover more obscure gems.
