Kingdom

As we look ahead to the best manga of 2026, Yasuhisa Hara's epic historical series "Kingdom" stands as a monumental work, its legacy powerfully affirmed by its 20th-anniversary celebrations. The manga, published by Shueisha in Weekly Young Jump, has received a staggering tribute from the industry's most legendary creators, including Eiichiro Oda ("One Piece"), Masashi Kishimoto ("Naruto"), Yoshihiro Togashi ("Hunter x Hunter"), and Takehiko Inoue ("Vagabond"), who all contributed special illustrations of protagonist Xin. This widespread homage from peers underscores the series' profound impact, blending grand-scale military strategy and political drama set in China's Warring States period as it follows Xin's dream to become the greatest general.

With its anime adaptation by Studio Pierrot reaching a sixth season and a successful live-action film franchise, "Kingdom" has solidified its status as a cornerstone of modern manga, with Hara projecting a conclusion within the next few years after nearly 80 volumes.