Best Adventure Manga of 2005

Thorfinn, son of one of the Vikings' greatest warriors, is among the finest fighters in the merry band of mercenaries run by the cunning Askeladd, an impressive feat for a person his age. However, Thorfinn is not part of the group for the plunder it entails—instead, for having caused his family great tragedy, the boy has vowed to kill Askeladd in a fair duel. Not yet skilled enough to defeat him, but unable to abandon his vengeance, Thorfinn spends his boyhood with the mercenary crew, honing his skills on the battlefield among the war-loving Danes, where killing is just another pleasure of life. One day, when Askeladd receives word that Danish prince Canute has been taken hostage, he hatches an ambitious plot—one that will decide the next King of England and drastically alter the lives of Thorfinn, Canute, and himself. Set in 11th-century Europe, Vinland Saga tells a bloody epic in an era where violence, madness, and injustice are inescapable, providing a paradise for the battle-crazed and utter hell for the rest who live in it.Included one-shots: Volume 23: Sayounara ga Chikai node (For Our Farewell Is Near) Volume 25: "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" Collab Bangai-hen (Assassin's Creed x Vinland Saga)

After 18 years of fighting and pushing his body beyond its natural limits, Baki Hanma is almost ready to face his father Yuujirou in one final battle. Publicly challenging his father to a revenge bout for the title of "World's Strongest," Baki sets out to train himself even further. He targets the few men who are said to hold comparable power to Yuujirou, including the "Unchained" bounty hunter Biscuit Olivia and a prehistoric human named Pickle revived from the Mesozoic era. The demonic Yuujirou monitors his son's training with a growing anticipation. The "Ogre" sees Baki as little more than a savory meal marinating for him to devour. Still, Yuujirou exists in solitude at the top of the mountain of strength. He yearns for a combatant to rise up and prove themselves a worthy opponent capable of giving him a challenge. Despite viewing his son as pathetic, Yuujirou can't help but hope his child will be the one to give him the thrill of equal combat he has lived so long without. As Baki seeks to understand his father's monstrous legacy, Yuujirou comes to terms with his true feelings toward his son. The two Hanmas advance toward their climactic fight to decide who is really the "World's Strongest."

Having lived in an orphanage for as long as he can remember, high school student Yuki Sakurai has always believed that he existed to burden others. Despite possessing a mysterious power that allows him to see other people's emotions, the ability seems to torment him instead. One day, a beautiful man in black clothes saves Yuki's life, and Yuki faintly feels as if he has met this stranger before. The stranger, later introducing himself as Zess, displays a strong concern about Yuki but quickly disappears after giving him a warning. The following day, Takashiro Giou—the head of the Giou Clan—appears at the orphanage claiming to be Yuki's brother and proposes an idea that Yuki is reluctant to accept. As puzzling problems threaten his safety emerge and familiar faces reappear, Yuki soon learns that his frail existence holds a greater significance than he had initially thought.

Renton Thurston is a young 14-year-old who is tired of his monotonous life. The only thing that makes him happy is when he "lifts," an extreme form of aerial hoverboarding. His feelings of frustration come from his life of toil in his Grandfather's garage and being the son of an enigmatic yet legendary "hero." One day, a large LFO (Light Finding Operation) craft called Nirvash falls from the sky and a beautiful young girl named Eureka emerges and asks for repairs. When a smitten Renton literally falls over himself to help her, the two begin a journey that will change both of their destinies.

Born from the corpses of fallen soldiers, the "Undying" are near-immortal beings created for the sole purpose of being weapons. However, after the War came to an end, so did their usefulness, and the Church began slaughtering them mercilessly in the Undying Hunt. Eighty years have passed since then; there are now barely any remnants of the Undying, and those found alive are hunted down by the Church. Kieli, an orphan studying at a religious boarding school, possesses the unique ability to see spirits. Isolated from her classmates, she spends her days talking with Becca, the spirit of a girl who used to inhabit her room. One day, Kieli runs into an aloof and mysterious individual named Harvey, one of the few surviving Undying. Following an unexpected turn of events, Harvey saves Kieli from being run over by a train, putting himself at risk in the process. Wanting to learn more about Harvey, Kieli decides to accompany him in fulfilling his promise to the Corporal, the spirit of a soldier who died in the War and has since been possessing a radio—the promise to reunite him with his mortal remains. Throughout their journey, Kieli discovers that beyond Harvey's seemingly ruthless nature lies a kind and thoughtful man tormented by the horrors of war. As the two begin to interact and grow closer, they will develop a bond that they can forever cherish, and Harvey may finally find the warmth that he once lost.

&bull; Chapter 1: &#26053;&#12383;&#12385;&#12398;&#32854;&#32887;&#32773;(&#12463;&#12521;&#12540;&#12482;&#12510;&#12531;) / The Travelling Clergyman<br> Allen is en route to the Black Order's HQ and has arrived in England where he was born. He catches up with Mother, an old nun whom he and Cross stayed with after Mana died. Allen is asked to talk to a nurse who'd recently lost her lover. <br><br> &bull; Chapter 2: &#39764;&#22899;&#12398;&#26866;&#12416;&#26449; / The Village where the Witch Dwells<br> Centers around Kanda Yuu<br><br> &bull; Chapter 3: &#12496;&#12463;&#65294;&#12481;&#12515;&#12531;&#29378;&#24819;&#26354;(&#12459;&#12503;&#12522;&#12483;&#12481;&#12458;) / Bak Chan's Rhapsody (Capriccio) <br> Centers around Bak Chan<br><br> &bull; Chapter 4: 1000&#12398;&#24754;&#21127; / 1,000 Tragedies<br> Centers around The Millenium Earl<br><br> &bull; Chapter 5: &#22235;&#21313;&#20061;&#30058;&#30446;&#12398;&#21517;&#21069; / The 49th Name<br> Centers around Lavi and Doug<br><br> &bull; Chapter 6: &#40658;&#12398;&#25945;&#22243;&#35242;&#30566;&#12497;&#12540;&#12486;&#12451;&#12540; / Black Order's Reunion Party<br> Centers around the Black Order

With the depletion of the life force of the world of Sylvarant, a chosen of legend rises to regenerate the dwindling mana. Lloyd Irving travels with his friend and the chosen Colette Brunel, along with the schoolteacher Raine, her younger brother and whiz kid, Genis Sage, and the enigmatic mercenary, Kratos. They break the seals of the Summon Spirits to awaken them and activate world regeneration, but it's during this crucial journey that they discover a much darker reality behind their mission to save Sylvarant. Based on the popular video game of the same name.

Fonons. Essential components of all matter on planet Auldrant. Ages ago, a new type of fonon was discovered—the Seventh Fonon. Its discovery threw humanity into chaos, for if one could use the Seventh Fonon, one could learn the future. Wars over the Seventh Fonon raged across the lands, ending only when the miasma—a poison from within the planet—covered the entire world. This is when Yulia appeared. A fonist skilled in prophecy, Yulia saw thousands of years into the future and foresaw a way to seal away the miasma. With the guidance of her prophecies, humanity sealed the miasma deep within the planet. Over two thousand years passed. The world is ruled by Yulia's prophecy, known as the Score. People believe in the coming "unprecedented prosperity" promised in the Score, never straying from the path set forth in the Score which will lead them to that prosperity. They look to the Score as revealed by the Order of Lorelei, the religion Yulia founded, and hold that the greatest virtue is to follow the Score faithfully. Yulia's Score tells of a young man who is necessary in order to bring "unprecedented prosperity." His name is Luke fon Fabre. An heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, he was kidnapped as a child by the kingdom's enemy, the Malkuth Empire. Since his return he has been confined to his family's manor for his own safety. He has no idea of the evil that now draws close.

Despite life on Destiny Islands being one of comfort and ease, three friends, Sora, Riku and Kairi, long to explore the many worlds beyond it. One fateful night, their wish is granted sooner than they anticipated when dark forces called "Heartless" invade their island. Overrun by these creatures, the islands are swallowed by darkness, taking Riku and Kairi with it. However, before Sora succumbs to the darkness, a blade of light manifests in his hands: the "Keyblade," granting him the power to vanquish the Heartless. Meanwhile in the world of Disney, the residents are in a flurry over the disappearance of their king Mickey Mouse. Leaving only a note behind, Mickey explains that he has gone to investigate an imminent danger threatening all known worlds. Furthermore, he instructs his aides, Donald Duck and Goofy, to seek out the one carrying a "key"; the one who can save them from their crisis. Thus the pair set off on their search, the first stop—Traverse Town. Sora awakens in the very same town, only to find it plagued by the Heartless. Although finding his friends is his main concern, as the wielder of the Keyblade he must accept the grand fate thrust upon him; many more worlds have come under attack, and he and the Keyblade are the only hope of liberating them.

During the age of exploration and discovery, Europeans who explored the world far away bring home specimens yet unknown in Europe. Those aristocrats and explorers gathered their collection to be shown in a Wunder Kammer (Room of Wonders). Then, a movement began to gather all those collections and open it to the world. This is the birth of the British Museum. In the 19th century, research on those collections begin. Mysteries of the world locked within the Wunder Kammer are revealed to the world with the light of science. Queen Charlotte of England appointed three of the best researchers as the Three Wise Men. She bestowed upon them the title of knight, and the three rings of C.M.B. (Caspar, Melchio, Balthazar, the three wise men from the East who searched for Christ after his birth). The rings grant the holder unlimited research funding and time as well as unrestricted access to all research related documents in any corner of the globe. By tradition, the Three Wise Men would pass their rings onto their most promising apprentice. Today, all the rings are in the hand of Sakaki Shinra, the previous Three Wise Men's foster son. The boy awaits, hoping to present the amazing secrets hidden in the darkness of the Wunder Kammer. But to see further, you'll have to pay for the entrance...

Written by Tomonori Sugihara. The light novels, much like the manga, differ from the TV series in various ways. Renton Thurston is a young 14 year old who is tired of his boring life and spends his time lifting, an extreme form of aerial hoverboarding. One day, a large mecha known as an LFO crash lands in his grandfather's garage and a beautiful young girl named Eureka emerges. This begins a journey that will change both of their lives...

Short stories about the past of the Tales of Symphonia main characters.