Summary
The manga industry is growing at an astounding pace. Every year, hundreds of different manga series come out, and avid readers are able to enjoy the various genres that are put out. Despite the high number of manga though, not all of them manage to solidify themselves as a must-read.
Due to this reason, readers find themselves going back to some of the older series that have the numbers to back up their quality. While some might prefer reading lesser-known manga, most readers tend to go for the best-selling manga series. To many, their impressive sales demonstrate their quality, making the best-selling manga of all time an easy choice for manga fans.
Updated August 04, 2025, by Suzail Ahmad:The manga industry has grown a lot over the years, and it has developed into one of the most successful industries. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is how the quality of a series is measured. Most people grade a series based on the copies they sell.
Every manga author wants their series to sell millions, but only a handful of them manage to achieve this target. Since the creation of the first manga series, there have been just a few titles that have sold more than 100 million copies. With that in mind, here are the best-selling manga titles of all time.
Captain Tsubasa is one of the most well-known sports manga series of all time. The series is renowned for its intense games, but also for the way it handles the relationships between different characters. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that it has set a precedent for sports manga.
Captain Tsubasa, as the name suggests, follows a boy named Tsubasa, who is obsessed with soccer. Despite his age, Tsubasa is faster, stronger, and smarter than players older than him. To him, every day is a challenge, and this mindset sets him apart from his peers.
23Touch
100 Million Copies Sold
Touch is a heartwarming story of two brothers, both of whom are outstanding athletes. The manga delves into rivalry between the siblings. Despite the older brother’s natural talent, Kazuya has always been in the spotlight because of his hardworking nature. One day, Tatsuya realizes that he does not want to be second-best to his younger brother, so he makes it his goal to come out on top.
Touch is written by Mitsuru Adachi. The manga began serializing in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1981. Touch came to an end in 1987 and its chapters were compiled into 27 volumes. Fans who enjoy slice-of-life series shouldn’t hesitate to dig into Touch.
Baki The Grappler
Baki the Grappler is a manga series that delves into the world of martial arts. Written by Keisuke Itagaki, the manga was serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999. Baki the Grappler is catered towards shonen fans, but it is one of the more violent titles that is readily available to read.
Baki the Grappler has had several sequels, and all of them have been popular. Their overall fame has enabled the series to sell over 100 million copies to date. The manga takes a gander into the life of Baki Hanma, who partakes in dangerous battles to test his combat skills. Each fight is unique, and it offers fans a chance to see different fighting styles.
Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen has become a sensation in a very short time. A key reason why it became a super successful series is down to its brilliant anime adaptation by MAPPA. Upon the conclusion of the first season, more and more people started to read the manga, resulting in a massive increase in sales.
Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of Itadori Yuji, a young boy, whose life changes when he consumes a cursed object. This exposes him to a brand-new world of curses and sorcerers, each group trying to outdo the other. The manga came to an end in 2024, but the anime is still ongoing.
Astro Boy is written by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, a man who revolutionized the manga industry forever. In fact, his praises are sung to this day. He worked on Astro Boy from 1952 to 1968. The manga blends sci-fi and adventure together, resulting in a powerful concoction that is sure to keep fans hooked.
Astro Boy follows the story of an android boy with human emotions. After a series of unusual events, he ends up as the surrogate son to a professor, who then creates an entire family for Astro. The manga has 23 volumes in total, and overall it has sold more than 100 million copies.
19The Kindaichi Case Files
Originally, the Kendaichi Case Files started serializing in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 1992. It was later shifted to Evening and finally to Comic Days, where it has been part of the line-up since 2023. The series has also received an anime adaptation, which is not as mainstream as some of the other titles.
The Kendaichi Case Files follows the life of Hajime Kindaichi, the grandson of one of the greatest detectives in the world. Hajime Kindaichi takes on different criminal cases and uses his intelligence to solve them. The manga is perfect for readers who are fascinated by mysteries.
My Hero Academia’spopularity took off when the series debuted the first season of the anime. Viewers found many resemblances with the other great shonen, which is why it proved to be a big success. As the word began to spread, more and more people began to pick up manga copies to find out what happened next.
My Hero Academiafollows the story of Midoriya Izuku, a boy who dreams of becoming the number one hero. The story has many relatable characters, which boosted the overall popularity of the series. So far,My Hero Academiahas released 40 volumes and sold over 100 million copies, which is extremely impressive. Since the story is still ongoing, the number will continue to increase.
For years,Kingdomwas the only manga title that constantly competed withOne Piecein terms of sales. Yasuhisa Hara’s ingenuity made the manga extremely popular among manga enthusiasts.Kingdomstarted serializing on July 22, 2025, and it has constantly been on the best-selling lists.
The manga focuses on ancient China, allowing fans to relive the war-torn era. Kingdom has released 70 volumes so far, and there will definitely be more releases before the story comes to a close.
Fighting Spirit
Hajime no Ippois considered one of the greatest sports manga of all time. It can be easily recommended to another person because of how good it is. The manga has good humor and great action, which is a great combination.
George Morikawa began working on the manga in October 1989. The manga is serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine.Hajime no Ippohas over 100 volumes to its name, which shows the dedication of George Morikawa and the appreciation of the audience. The manga has received several anime adaptations, and all of them have been showered with positive reviews.
Fist Of The North Star
First of the North Starhas always been popular in Japan, but it took a while for western audiences to become familiar with the title. The popularity of the series increased by several folds when one of the clips from the anime went viral. The more it circulated, the more curious fans were about the series.
Fist of the North Staris set in a post-apocalyptic world where humankind is fighting for food. Amidst all the turmoil, a man named Kenshiro uses his strength to help the weak and needy. This particular manga has released just 27 volumes but sold 100 copies.
