Best Fantasy Manga of 2017

High above the realm of man, the gods of the world have convened to decide on a single matter: the continued existence of mankind. Under the head of Zeus, the deities of Ancient Greece, Norse mythology, and Hinduism, among others, call assembly every one thousand years to decide the fate of humanity. Because of their unrelenting abuse toward each other and the planet, this time the gods vote unanimously in favor of ending the human race. But before the mandate passes, Brunhilde, one of the 13 demigod Valkyries, puts forth an alternate proposal: rather than anticlimactically annihilating mankind, why not give them a fighting chance and enact Ragnarök, a one-on-one showdown between man and god? Spurred on by the audacity of the challenge, the divine council quickly accepts, fully confident that this contest will display the utter might of the gods. To stand a chance against the mighty heavens, Brunhilde will need to assemble history's greatest individuals, otherwise the death knell will surely be sounded for mankind.

Fourteen-year-old Iruma Suzuki has the worst luck possible! Incapable of saying no to anyone, he has always performed whatever life-threatening jobs his greedy and lazy parents requested. His life takes an unexpected turn when they form a contract with Sullivan, a high-ranking demon, at the cost of his soul. Afraid and confused, Iruma is surprised that all Sullivan wants is to act as his grandfather. Sullivan takes care of Iruma and decides to enroll him in the demon school Babyls. Iruma's greatest challenge is hiding his status as a human, so keeping a low profile among his peers is the only option. However, Iruma will soon discover that he is no ordinary human, and the demons might also be more than what meets the eye.

In the novel The Lovely Princess, the secondary character Athanasia de Alger Obelia is the most pitiful of all. Her mother died in childbirth and her father, Emperor Claude, never gave his daughter even an inch of love. Forever yearning for even the slightest bit of parental love, she was ultimately framed for a crime and executed by the orders of her beloved father. When a woman from modern-day Korea falls asleep with some sleeping pills, she later awakens in the infant body of Athanasia. Knowing the unenviable fate that awaits her, she resolves to remain out of her tyrannical father's sight so that she may never incur his wrath. However, fate is not so kind, and she meets him at only five years of age. With her original plan tossed out of the window, she now aims to endear herself so much to her father that he would never dream to hurt her. However, as many work toward their own ends, her plan is thrown into chaos—Athanasia's biological "sister" Jennette Margarita longs for a family, high-ranking nobility vie for power, and a shadow from Claude's past threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.

When Park Eunha dies in modern-day Korea, she awakens in the body of Raeliana McMillan, the eldest daughter of a nouveaux riche baron. However, this is no ordinary world; it's the exact same one as a novel she once read. Beloved by her family, it would seem as though she is in a fairy tale. But Raeliana is far from the main character—she is a mere plot device, whose murder at the hands of her fiancé instigates the entire story. Raeliana has no intention to accept her fate quietly. She sets her eyes on someone in a position of great power—the vieux riche male protagonist Duke Noah Volstaire Wynknight—aiming to completely change the original story. Using her knowledge of future events, Raeliana offers information to Noah on the condition that he acts as her fake fiancé, but the Duke's two-faced nature throws a wrench in her plans!

Three days after his sister's death, he finally regained the will to move. In the aftermath of a goblin raid, a lone boy mourns the loss of his village, his family... Five years later, that same boy visits a city on the frontier and becomes an adventurer. Despite being the lowest rank and wholly inexperienced, the young adventurer immediately accepts a quest and sets out alone to raid a goblin lair. His mind already burning with a clear vision of his calling, the legend of Goblin Slayer begins!

Throughout civilization, books have been revered. They crystallize knowledge, link the past to the future, and convey thought itself. To protect all sorts of written texts, a man known as the Magus of the Library established the Central Library in Aftzaak—the City of Books. In the slums of the desert village Amun lives Theo Fumis, a young boy who loves to read. Unfortunately, people from the slums are unable to use the local library. To make matters worse, he is continually bullied by his peers due to his unusually long ears. Seeking to escape from his miserable living conditions, he dreams of one day going to Aftzaak. His unpleasant daily life is soon interrupted by the arrival of the Kafna—elite librarians skillful enough to work at the Central Library. Sedona Bleu, one of the Kafna, lends Theo her most cherished book; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, he is unable to finish reading it by the time the Kafna have to depart. Fortunately for Theo, Sedona renews his loan, giving him yet another reason to go to the City of Books.

In a world where dragons rule sky, sea, and land, those who would fight them and win must surpass the limits of normal human strength. Set on victory at any cost, dragon hunter Ragna joins forces with the mysterious Crimson. Crimson's motivations may be obscure, but their goal is the same: to destroy the dragon monarchs.

Dr. Song Jihyun is considered a prodigy among Korean surgeons, known for her skill in saving patients no matter their condition. In her past life as Elise de Clorance, the ill-mannered wife of the emperor, her jealousy and greed had led to the loss of her loved ones and—ultimately—her death. For that reason, she vowed to now save lives instead of destroying them. After a fatal plane crash, Elise finds herself once again in her former body. With her previous knowledge of modern medicine and now a chance at mending her mistakes, she is determined to contribute to the empire as a medic in this life. But will Elise be able to avoid her engagement to Prince Linden de Romanoff, the man she had loved to the point of her own demise?

It's a showdown for the ages as the legendary hero takes on the corpse god necromancer, but when the dust settles, something isn't quite right... In the final moments of their epic confrontation, the corpse god's final gambit shot was wholly unexpected—reincarnation magic! Across space and time, a boy named Polka Shinoyama awakens feeling...not quite himself...... Who could've expected that the climactic battle between good and evil would turn out like this??

Five years after the mysterious disappearance of the nation's fourth prince, a statement is issued, demanding that any boy found using his name is reported to the authorities. Thus, a manhunt begins for those named Wolfgang. Wolfgang Goldenleonard is well aware of his identity, and he knows that the authorities are still looking for him. He also knows that they mean to end his life. In hiding since the death of his mother, the prince has fostered a bond with the orphans of the streets. However, after threats to them are made, Wolfgang is forced to reveal himself. With his identity publicly revealed, Wolfgang is taken to the home of his tyrannical father. At his father's palace, Wolfgang retains his hatred for the man who gave him life. He refuses to behave as befitting of a Goldenleonard prince and breaks every rule he possibly can. He is often reminded that he is never to covet the king's possessions, but through his rebellious spirit and fiery nature, he has already caught the eyes of the king's favorite catamite, Shin Soohyuk. Shin sees Wolfgang as a force for change, the spark that may just light the fires of rebellion. And with the promise of granting Shin's freedom, Wolfgang agrees to become his pawn.

In the NieR:Automata series: 1. Nagai Hanashi (Long Story Short) 2. Mijikai Hanashi (Short Story Long) 3. Shounen YoRHa (YoRHa Boys)

In the middle of a secluded forest lives a lonely monster. Isolating herself from humanity due to her appearance, she lives each day yearning for company. One day, her wish comes true when she meets a blind stranger walking around the woods near the empty house she occupies. Unable to see the monster's appearance, the girl—Lily Blind—treats her with a kindness that she has never known. Desiring to form a connection, the monster—nicknamed "Heath" by Lily—decides to lie about her identity. After a series of misunderstandings, Heath finds herself struggling with the guilt of her actions. When Heath suspects that Lily is moving away, she resolves to confess her love before it is too late. Bocchi Kaibutsu to Moumoku Shoujo explores the rapidly deepening love between two girls that have never quite been understood.Note: This entry is for the print edition only.

Rojica and Rakkasei lead a cozy countryside life, exploring their world's whimsical, fascinating creatures. Through their scholarly friend Isaac, they learn about many bizarre human artifacts and the ancient civilization that once inhabited their planet. A vinyl record and a twister mat are just some of the items with mysterious purposes! When there is nothing else to do, Rojica and Rakkasei investigate their strange neighbors: the secretive C3, who crawls dungeons and slays strange beasts; the off-putting and incoherent Mrs. Grace, who terrifies Rakkasei; and Mrs. Massu, whose doting husband has never been seen by anyone. However, the hidden and darker sides of those around Rojica and Rakkasei tend to emerge unexpectedly, but, nonetheless, adventure never seems to end.

Agricultural student Shizuko Ayanokouji was enjoying a normal day of high-school life, until a lone raindrop fell in front of her. Suddenly, Shizuko lost consciousness and woke up in the middle of the woods, but it wasn't like she teleported - she was in a different era all together. She was in the Sengoku period in Japan. Her peace didn't last forever though, for she was attacked by bandits. Much to her surprise, she was saved last minute by Nobunaga Oda himself! After Shizuko stated that she studied the latest agriculture, Nobunaga decided to let her serve him as a village chief of a small rural town. What will happen when people discover that she's from the future? Will Shizuko be able to please Nobunaga and keep up with his demands?

Dwelling in the small outskirts of a peaceful town, Lawrence works as a local pastor for the townsfolk. When in need, he is responsible for guiding people to the church to visit the "Saint"—a symbol of good morals who heeds each parishioner's struggles and grants them sincere advice. Cecilia, a kind young girl, is tasked to fulfill this role; however, this tiresome job quickly exhausts her. That, paired with her hidden somnolent nature, often causes her to laze around the church. This leaves Lawrence to care for the church all by himself. While Cecilia sleeps in anticipation for her next visitor, Lawrence caters to her needs alongside performing the church's numerous responsibilities. Slowly but surely, they begin to form a comfortable and trusting friendship with one another. Lawrence accepting Cecilia's lax nature elates her while she grows accustomed to Lawrence's overly-doting nature. However, as the adoring and absent-minded saint's feelings for the dense and overly protective pastor progress past friendship, how will he respond?

Kim Hyejung spends her nights gushing about The Flower of the Beast: a fantasy romance novel where the protagonist Ibelin Dott must choose between the affection of three men—the crown prince, a handsome duke, and the master of the magic tower. Despite its cliché premise, the novel is a source of comfort for Hyejung. On one of those nights, Hyejung falls asleep from exhaustion and wakes up in the world of The Flower of the Beast. She now inhabits the body of Latte Ectrie, the daughter of a viscount and a supporting character in the novel. With unlikely odds of meeting the male leads on her own, Latte decides to pour her energy into writing boys' love stories until the female lead comes onto the scene. After a decade, Ibelin is about to make her grand appearance at the crown princess' birthday party, and Latte is ready to watch the drama unfold from the sidelines. Little does she know, her antics have caused major changes. By chance, Latte has befriended Ibelin, and Arwin Hebrim—the third and most dangerous male lead—has taken an interest in Latte instead!

For years, a great war has raged on between the scientifically advanced Empire and a paradise of witches known as the Nebulis Sovereignty. This age-old battle sets the scene for a fateful encounter between two young combatants: an imperial swordsman, Iska, and the witch princess, Aliceliese. As sworn enemies, they vow to cut each other down in order to unite their worlds, and yet Iska finds himself entranced by her beauty and righteousness, while Aliceliese is moved by his strength and resolve. In the midst of a never-ending war that forbids them from being together, they have no choice but to destroy each other—or can they find another way?

When the sorcerer Zagan decides to participate in an auction selling the goods of the now dead Archdemon Marchosias, he expects to find items of untold power. What he finds instead is a rare white-haired slave elf named Nephilia, and he immediately spends all his money to purchase her, much to the bewilderment of those around him. However, the secret reason behind Zagan's investment was that he had actually fallen in love with her at first sight. Unfortunately, Zagan has a problem: he is socially inept and has no idea how to express his true feelings, leading to many misunderstandings between him and his new companion. But slowly, the two begin to understand each other, and love begins to bloom.

Destination is a state of mind. A tale of one girl and her bike and the road ahead. Kino wanders around the world on the back of Hermes, her unusual, anthropomorphic motorcycle, only staying in each country for three days. During their adventures, they find happiness, sadness, pain, decadence, violence, beauty, and wisdom. But through it all, they never lose their sense of freedom. They discover that because of the world's imperfections, it is actually a thing of beauty. "The world is not beautiful, therefore it is."

Washed up on the shores of a deserted island at the edge of the East Blue Sea, two men from different backgrounds unite in their shared thirst for adventure. One of them, Portgaz D. Ace, will follow in his infamous father’s footsteps as the fearless captain of a pirate crew. The other, Masked Deuce, becomes the reluctant first member of Ace’s Spade Pirates. Survival is not enough for these seafaring buccaneers, as together they seek treasure, excitement, and a route to the New World.

Despite the law that forbids human entry, one young witch seeks refuge in the world of demons. Upon arrival, the witch Nicola meets the traveling merchant Simon, who decides to bring her along on his journeys, despite her being a human and him being a demon. With their newfound friendship blooming, the duo take off on numerous adventures throughout the demon world—many of which are exciting, charming, or even somewhat perilous! But no matter what happens, Nicola always finds joy in learning more about this fantastical realm; be it by visiting fascinating places, making friends, or uncovering her own magical potential.

With unparalleled strength, a harem in the hundreds, and rulership of both the human and demon realms, Luo Binghe is a typical male lead for the stallion novel Proud Immortal Demon Way (PIDW). Like every protagonist, he has a tragic past: suffering under the thumb of his loathsome shizun, the scum villain Shen Qingqiu. However, despite its great world-building and setup, PIDW eventually went off the rails, abandoning plotlines left and right, and now focusing exclusively on gratuitous sex. This is the very trash-tier web novel that a young millennial named Shen Yuan curses as he dies, swearing that even he could write a better story. That moment is when the "System" initiates, and Shen Yuan awakens in the body of Shen Qingqiu. His mission? Turn this piece of subpar fiction into a grade-A masterpiece. Constrained by a System that will punish him for even being slightly out of character, Shen Yuan must avoid Shen Qingqiu's fate of becoming a human stick—and step one is to hug the protagonist's thigh!

Her first encounter with Toriko Nishina was on the Otherside after seeing "that thing" and nearly dying. Ever since that day, exhausted university student Sorawo Kamikoshi's life changed. In this Otherworld, full of mystery, which exists alongside our own, dangerous beings like the Kunekune and Hasshaku-sama that are spoken of in real ghost stories appear. For research, for profit, and to find an important person, Toriko and Sorawo set foot into the abnormal. A tale of two girls' bizarre exploration and survival, brought to you by an up-and-coming sci-fi author!

Humans have created many stories. Joy, sadness, anger, deep emotion. Stories shake our emotions, and fascinate us. However, these are only the thoughts of bystanders. But what if the characters in the story have "intentions"? To them, are we god-like existences for bringing their story into the world? Our world is changed. Mete out punishment upon the realm of the gods. In Re:Creators, everyone becomes a Creator.

When a meteorite struck the Earth, it shattered more than just the land—it broke reality. A wave of madness swept the globe, twisting people into monsters and leaving a cursed few unable to die. Now, in a world of chaos and grotesque wonders, two immortals wander in search of the only thing they still desire: an end.

Though she doesn't play many MMOs, Maple has either a natural talent or impossibly good luck, because by pouring every last stat point she has into Vitality, she's created a character who can't be hurt! Whether it's physical attacks or magic or status effects, nothing poses a real threat. In no time at all, news spreads across the server about the adorable terror who can't be defeated. While Maple may just be having fun, her broken build is sure to attract lots of unexpected attention...

A spinoff of Kono Suba featuring Dust as the primary protagonist, taking place around volumes 1-4 of the main series.

Elaine always believed humans were greedy, selfish creatures. Her brother, the King of Fairies Harlequin "King," told her as much, and this belief was only reinforced when tragedy ripped away a dear friend of theirs. This event resulted in King heading off for vengeance, leaving Elaine behind to guard the Fountain of Youth and the forest in which it resided. He promised to return, and so she waited. Seven hundred years later, Elaine has continued to fulfill her duty. Many humans have come to seek immortality for their own selfish reasons. Each one is the same: cruel and backstabbing. But then, Elaine meets the human bandit Ban, and he defies all of her expectations; the forest protects him, and he easily gives up on the Fountain when he learns its truth. From that point on, the two of them spend seven days together, discovering that the other might be the kindred spirit they need to end their lonely days.

Revisit the tale of the faerie soldiers and their young instructor in these short stories featuring the three wielders of the most powerful dug weapon, Seniorious: Legal Brave Lillia Asplay, Chtholly Nota Seniorious, and Lakhesh. Although this virtuous white blade is drawn to wielders doomed to a fate of death and destruction, these girls never stopped yearning for a future they would never experience for themselves.

Yuki finds himself reincarnated as a demon lord in another world, and he's been put in charge of a dungeon to boot! Once Yuki accepts that his fate hinges on the dungeon's survival in a world where powerful monsters roam free and danger lurks at every corner, he begins gathering allies and bolstering his defenses. Within a few days, he takes on a legendary dragon, an adorable pet slime, and a vampire girl, but despite all his precautions, life as a demon lord in a dungeon constantly under threat...is surprisingly mellow? Of course, with such a colorful cast of characters (and possibly more on their way), Yuki's bound to wind up in some trouble. Will he be able to pull off a reckless rescue mission? And how will he and his monster girls survive an invasion by a hostile human kingdom?! Join him as he juggles daily life, responsibilities as a freshly minted demon lord, and his growing family of monster girls and pets!

For the skilled former adventurer Ryu, it's another eventful day at the Benevolent Mistress! A certain couple's only daughter has been kidnapped, bringing Ryu out into the streets to search for her, in the name of justice and Astrea. Her investigation of the missing child eventually leads her to a lawless area of the Labyrinth City, the Grand Casino, where money and power decide everything! This is the start of the Gale Wind's tale in the city of Orario, home of the Dungeon and adventure!

When Lord El-Melloi II, the later Waver Velvet, gets asked to claim his inheritance over Adra Castle, he travels there with his apprentice Gray to do so. But they are not the only ones called that way. The will of the previous owner states that the assembled contestants—including Luviagelita Edelfelt—must compete in a game of wits to win the castle.

Shinozaki, an ordinary office worker recently worried about being "off his head," is approached by a woman named Yuyake. She explains that her magician grandmother modified his body in the past... causing him to have a lot of inside machinery?! He'll have to receive internal maintenance from Yuyake... A slightly wobbly magical remodeling life between a very ordinary salaryman, Shinozaki, and an enigmatic magician, Yuyake, begins.

Mitsuha Yamano falls off a cliff, at which point she finds herself transported to some sort of medieval European fantasy world! While there, during a battle with some wolves that almost costs her her life, she realizes that she has the ability to come and go between Earth and this new world. Mitsuha decides to use this ability as much as she can. Why? To save up for retirement, of course! She sets her sights on saving eighty thousand gold coins—and this is the story of her schemes to get there!

Villains have their own routes too! ​When her engagement to the prince ends unceremoniously, details of the young noblewoman Aileen's past life come rushing back and help her realize she's living inside the world of one of her favorite otome games—as the heroine's greatest rival! However, her memory has more plot holes than bad fan fiction... and the only certainty is that if she doesn't do something quick, her death is all but assured. The hero/main-love-interest can't be relied on, so why not see what the last boss has to say?

Gajang Noh is a strong, dedicated, and humble man, with much respect for the martial arts. After the death of his lovely wife, this muscle-for-hire just wants an easy job that allows him to be a good father to his three little babies. He’s even happy to pull guard duty and fend off amateur fighters if it means he can return home safely each night. But when a creepy cult starts stealing children from the city, Gajang must step up to the challenge and discover his true warrior potential.

In a tranquil neighborhood of Tokyo, seven teenagers wake to find their bedroom mirrors are shining. At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives to a wondrous castle filled with winding stairways, watchful portraits and twinkling chandeliers. In this new sanctuary, they are confronted with a set of clues leading to a hidden room where one of them will be granted a wish. But there's a catch: if they don't leave the castle by five o'clock, they will be punished. As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be saved.

Suddenly appearing in a different world, it looks like I got caught up in a hero summoning. And of course, I'm not the hero, but it's another guy... and while being very cautious and scared of the cliché-like development, I was thrown into the maelstrom of war... or not. The Demon Lord? It was defeated a thousand years ago. Hero? He's just the main actor in a festival. Nobles? They're kindly taking care of us. The demon race? They have good relationships with humans. Wars? It's already 800 years since the last one. Monsters? The Guild and Order of Knight are taking care of them. Return to Earth? It is essentially no-risk. What I'm planning after being caught up into this? I'm gonna enjoy the life in a different world as much as I want to, go on a cultural exchange and sightseeing, and after experiencing the festival that is only held once every ten years... I shall go home safely.

Having lost her chance to become the successor of a retired Hero, the passionate Mebuki Kusunoki is left bitter with envy. Sometime later, she and former Hero candidates are gathered once more by Taisha for a new duty. Unexpectedly, it is not another Hero selection. Instead, Mebuki and the others must assist the Heroes as Sentinels by investigating the treacherous outside world in preparation for humanity's desired comeback. However, their powers are reduced versions of the ones used by the Heroes, which Mebuki feels is making a mockery of her efforts. Nevertheless, she still puts in her all, hoping that one day she will be recognized by Taisha as someone worthy of becoming a Hero. Despite the dangers that lie ahead, the Sentinels unify under Mebuki's command, completing their challenging duties as they discover the horrific state of their world.

1. Most Powerful Spell on Earth 2. Fire Mage 3. Fire Mage VS Crystal Wizard 4. VS Spectral Wizard 5. Salad Wizard

Hazuki Kagimura is a normal girl who is usually alone. Her relationship with her new family is not going so well, so she retreats every day to the world of stories and books. One day, after school, one of the library's bookshelves sends her to another world with a magic school, where she meets Shizuka Tsuchimikado. She finds out that girls (called "mädchen") who attend the school are selected by old fairy tales and folk stories to wield their magic, and are taught how to wield it in the school. The school has girls who are chosen by such stories as Kaguya-hime no Monogatari, Issun-bōshi, Der Freischütz, Shuten-dōji, The Little Matchstick Girl, The Gigantic Turnip, Arthurian legends, and The Ramayana. Hazuki herself is chosen by the Cinderella story. She begins her new life at the school to become a magic user, and be friends with Shizuka. (Source: Anime News Network)

Tsugami Kazaya is an experienced swordsman who travels to another world and back again on a daily basis while also attending high school! After a certain incident, he ended up instructing a senior student from his high school, the beautiful Mikoto Chihiro, on the basics of adventuring! After that, Chihiro, who was usually cool and difficult to approach, started to show her true bright personality only to Kazaya!? “I did it! I did it, Tsugami-kun! I was able to slay it!” “S-Senpai, don’t you think your personality has changed a little too much!?” The Earth and the other world, a RomCom and an adventure story, the two of them travel constantly between the two!! It’s the start of a new twist on a fantasy after school!!