i'd love some recs that anyone has to offer :) manga/manhua/manhwa!

hani February 27, 2024 4:14 am

hey you guys! i hope you've had a good day/week so far ♡ if not, i offer you bottomless affection—all the hugs, kisses & headpats in the world with a little side of company in exchange <3

recently, i've been on the search for comics with philosophical, literary or aesthetic/artistic value. understandably, a lot of people associate comics like these with being older or read by a wider audience given their universal appeal (think naruto, vagabond, death note, parasyte, oyasumi punpun, etc.)

undoubtedly, these mangas have reached an audience as vast as they have because of their commentary on the meaning of life and death, their use of powerful and compelling symbols, metaphors and allusions, and how sheerly beautiful the paneling of them are. they all have in common the ability to distill what it means to be human in the purest sense.

but if you're anything like me, it's possible you haven't touched any of these works at all. maybe it's how intimidating they are to read at first glance, or the level of dedication it takes to absorb their contents. you cannot sit and read them quietly or idly, but consume them hungrily, wholly, or you'll miss the wider picture as you sift through the smaller details to make sense of it all.

however, i tend to prefer works that are bursting at the seams with prose, plot and poetry. i don't want to hunt for meaning, i want to immediately notice it. i also don't pay attention to how many readers a work has, or what kind it is, or the length :) if anything, i prefer reading stuff that's underrated or undermined often!

below are some works that i've read in the past that might give you a vision of what i'm interested in!!

philosophical:
- kasane (manga - SOSOSOSO underrated omg by far the most underrated work on this list please read this if you haven't already): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/kasane/
- brutal (manga - not so underrated): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/brutal_satsujin_kansatsukan_no_kokuhaku/
- shall we begin ethics? (manga - this one is a bit more obviously philosophical haha and slightly underrated imo): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/koko_wa_ima_kara_rinri_desu/
- truth or dare (manhwa - kindaaa underrated): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/truth_or_dare/
- annarasumanara (manhwa - HEAVILY underrated): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/annarasumanara/
- i will die soon (manhwa - sorta underrated but not really!): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/i_will_die_soon/

literary:
- the horizon (manhwa): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/the_horizon/
- orv (manhwa - side note sorry but i will forever DIE on the hill that orv is probably the only comic in existence where the translation company did a more beautiful, introspective and thorough job of conveying the meaning behind the work than the actual official translation; consult chapter 157 for reference!!!) https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/omniscient_reader_s_viewpoint/
- a cruel god reigns (manga - i need a peer support group after reading this please. i still think about it. it's been two months since i've last touched this piece.): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/zankoku_na_kami_ga_shihai_suru/

aesthetic:
- blue sky complex (manga - not underrated in the slightest and i hope it NEVER is because it deserves every bit of praise and affection it receives its way. marvelously poetic and the characters could not be more beautifully drawn): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/blue_sky_complex/
- salad days (manhwa - childhood friends to lovers is the best trope. prove me wrong. psst the next work proves me wrong btw )
- 10 years where i loved you the most (manhwa - i told you didn't i. i brought out the big guns. there is nothing left to say. i have nothing left to say. i'm speechless and my fill of breath is gone): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/10_years_where_i_loved_you_the_most/
- call me before dawn (it's only just begun but wow. the sensitivity. the subtlety. the sensuality. i can't help but be reminded of cmbyn reading this, how remarkable): https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/call_me_before_dawn/

UGHHHH i can't think of anymore even though i know they are out there and i have at the very least glanced through them but nothing is clicking rnn. i'm also a bit of a liar haha i'm certain many of you have browsed through these works so to anyone reading this and in the mood to provide recs, i hope you know that you have a lot at your disposal to share :)

BASICALLY anything you consider to have lovely writing (whether it's poetic or just the way it's written in), art, or themes (how it resonates with us as humans) is something i would be curious to see

wishing a good day to everyone who even just stumbles upon this by accident!! and to the rest who choose to read it, thank you very much!!!!! <333

Responses