Best Adventure Manga of 2008

Just a few hours ago, Akira Sengoku was having fun with his classmates on their flight back to Japan from a school trip in Guam. Now, he finds himself all alone in a jungle after the plane mysteriously crashed. While searching for survivors, his surroundings become increasingly suspicious as he stumbles across various animal species he has never seen before. Finally, he manages to find two survivors—his classmate Shirou Mariya and cabin attendant Kanako Oomori—being attacked by a two-meter tall bird! After barely managing to escape with their lives, Shirou uses his computer to pinpoint their exact location and shed some light on the strange creatures that they have encountered. What he discovers is beyond anything they expected—they have crashed on an island in the Pacific that should not exist, inhabited by animals that supposedly went extinct millions of years ago. Eden no Ori tells the story of Akira and the other survivors' struggles on an island all too eager to see them disappear. With predators lurking around every corner, Akira and his friends must use all their wits to survive and unravel the mysteries of the island's origin.

In a world where the taste and texture of food are an extremely important part of life, a man with superhuman skills is regularly hired by restaurants and the rich as a hunter of precious foods. With the "help" of his timid accomplice, inspired by Toriko's greatness to accompany him, he travels to capture the evasive and ferocious animals he needs to create the ultimate dinner course.

Following the events of her night aboard the ferry, Emanon—the enigmatic girl with a three-billion-year-old memory—continues on her journey, wandering aimlessly through life with no clear destination in mind. Since the beginning of time, she has followed the same cycle: she departs from home and travels the world as a teenager while pondering her mysterious existence, eventually meeting a man and giving birth to a girl who will inherit her memories and very being. Sasurai Emanon, told from the perspective of Emanon herself, chronicles the events between 1967 and 1980, showing how her life had come full circle from her evening aboard the ferry to her reunion with the man at the train station.

Shaman King Kanzenban is a reprint of the original Shaman King series but with differences including the addition of new chapters (which changes the chapter numbering). The releases also included 16 special bonus chapters called Shaman King Remix Track.Note: This entry will only contain the extra chapters included in this edition. Please see here for more information.

The continent Murgenia, where they master swordsmanship and magic: The small country Sunkwoll is in a tight spot because it's under attack of the great country Zarmine. But the general, Rain, who's reputed to be an exceptionally gifted swordsman, is against the war and won't enter the battle. But how is one supposed to wage a war like this anyway?

Hikari "Picasso" Hamura is a talented yet awkward 17-year-old high school artist. Chiaki Yamamoto, Picasso's only friend, gave him his nickname, and the two often spend time after school by the riverside sketching the scenery and reading books. However, misery comes to Picasso's life after the sudden death of Chiaki in a tragic helicopter accident they shared. Picasso questions why he survived the fatal crash, barely scathed, while Chiaki suffered the worst possible fate. But as all hope seems lost, Picasso—remembering that Chiaki left him something right before her death—reaches into his pocket and pulls out a miniature Chiaki! The tiny version of his deceased friend explains to him that he should have also died in the accident, but due to her prayers, God allowed Picasso to live on the condition that he uses his artistic talents and newfound powers of seeing deeper into people's problems to help others in need. Faced with death unless he complies, Picasso soon agrees to the terms. Armed with his trusted pencil and sketchbook, Picasso draws out his classmates' troubles and leaps into his creations in order to save them.

The story revolves around a boy and a girl who travel together through a world that is gradually nearing its end. A mysterious illness has emerged that erases the very existence of everyone who suffers from it. The story does not, however, focus on the tragic aspect of this fairly post-apocalyptic setting, but rather shows the people and events the two travelers come across during their journey.

Koroku Inumura's first Hikuushi series. Charles, a mercenary pilot of the Levamme Imperial Air Force, received a secret order. "Fly 12,000 kilometer across the sea in the middle of the hostile territory and send the Princess securely to the main land." He fought against a devastating number of fighters and overwhelming battleships to protect Princess Fana. This is about a forbidden love between an orphaned pilot and a girl with an unchangeable destiny.