Top 10 Action Manga of 2026: The New Generation is Here

by Anime Foxx February 06, 2026 0 Comments

With My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen finished, 2026 marks the official start of a new era. The "vacuums" left by the old giants have been filled by darker, faster, and more stylish series.

Here is what you need to be reading this year.

The "Must-Read" Big Three of 2026

1. Sakamoto Days


  • Genre: Action / Comedy / Assassin

  • The Status: Anime is currently airing (Netflix/TV Tokyo).

  • Why Read: It is John Wick meets The Way of the Househusband. Taro Sakamoto is a legendary hitman who retired, got chubby, and opened a convenience store. But when the assassin world puts a bounty on his head, he has to fight them off using barcode scanners and chopsticks—all without killing anyone (so his wife doesn't divorce him).

  • Best For: Fans of incredibly choreographed fight scenes. The paneling is the best in the industry.

2. Kagurabachi

  • Genre: Dark Fantasy / Swords / Revenge

  • The Status: The "Next Big Thing" (Anime likely soon).

  • Why Read: You’ve probably seen the memes ("Enough time has passed"), but the manga is genuinely a masterpiece. It follows Chihiro, the son of a legendary swordsmith, hunting down the yakuza sorcerers who killed his father. It feels like a mix of Bleach style and John Wick brutality.

  • Best For: People who miss early Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer.

3. Dandadan

  • Genre: Occult / Sci-Fi / Chaos

  • The Status: Season 3 in production.

  • Why Read: Ghosts, aliens, high-speed battles, and romance. It is the most chaotic and visually stunning manga running today. One chapter is a horror story, the next is a rom-com, and the next is a Godzilla-scale kaiju fight.

  • Best For: Readers who want pure adrenaline and insanity.

The Dark & Gritty Picks

4. Centuria

  • Genre: Dark Fantasy / Horror

  • The Status: Rising Star (Jump+).

  • Why Read: If you miss Berserk or Claymore, read this. It follows Julian, a slave on a ship who gains the power of 100 lives from a sea god. It is brutal, emotional, and features some of the most terrifying monster designs in recent years.

  • Best For: Fans of dark, medieval fantasy.

5. Gachiakuta

  • Genre: Urban Fantasy / Battle

  • The Status: Anime Season 2 confirmed.

  • Why Read: Rudo is thrown into the "Abyss," a trash world below a floating city. He fights using weapons made from trash (called "Jinki") that gain power based on how much the owner cherishes them. The art style is unique—think graffiti street art meets anime.

  • Best For: Fans of Fire Force or Soul Eater.

The Strategic & Unique

6. Versus

  • Genre: Isekai / Battle Royale

  • Author: ONE (Creator of One Punch Man)

  • Why Read: 13 different worlds (Magic, Sci-Fi, Robots, Aliens, etc.) merge into one. Humanity is weak in all of them. So, the humans decide to trick their "Natural Enemies" (e.g., Demons vs. Robots) into fighting each other. It is the ultimate "Who would win?" tournament.

7. Shangri-La Frontier

  • Genre: VRMMO / Adventure

  • Why Read: Sunraku is a gamer who only plays "trash games" (buggy, broken messes). He decides to tackle a "God-Tier" game for the first time. Unlike other VR manga, there is no "trapped in the game" death stake—it’s just a guy who is really, really good at video games trying to beat impossible bosses.

The Legends (Still Going Strong)

8. One Piece (Elbaf Arc)

  • The Status: The Final Saga.

  • Why Read: We are finally in Elbaf. Secrets about the Void Century, Joy Boy, and the One Piece itself are dropping almost every chapter. If you ever planned to catch up, do it before the ending gets spoiled for you.

9. Undead Unluck

  • Genre: Sci-Fi / Supernatural

  • Why Read: It has one of the most complex and rewarding power systems ever created (based on negating rules, like "Undead" or "Unluck"). The current arc is a massive, emotional time-loop saga that ties everything together perfectly.

10. Blue Lock

  • Genre: Sports / Thriller

  • Why Read: Yes, it’s soccer, but it reads like a battle manga. The art is intense, the characters are egoists, and the "flow" state visuals are incredible. It is currently the best-selling sports manga in the world.

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