From jaw-dropping reveals to gut-wrenching sacrifices, discover the 15 most iconic manga panels of all time, curated by a manga guru who’s devoured thousands of stories.
As a manga enthusiast who’s inhaled thousands of chapters and dissected countless panels, I know a thing or two about impactful imagery. Buckle up as I unveil the 15 most jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, soul-stirring manga panels ever drawn. Prepare to relive iconic moments, witness artistic brilliance, and rediscover why you fell in love with manga in the first place. Let’s dive into the pages!
Page Contents
Best Manga Panels In History
Naruto Manga Panel: Itachi’s Love For Sasuke Is Undying
Naruto is a shonen manga series written by Masashi Kishimoto. The storyline of Naruto focuses on a young boy named Naruto who lost his parents when he was an infant.
Naruto likes to be a professional ninja and become the next Hokage of his village Konoha. When Naruto joins the ninja academy he meets his best friend Sasuke Uchiha who’s also Naruto’s rival in the manga.
This manga panel portrays Sasuke and his older brother Itachi who are bitter enemies because Itachi killed their parents and the entire clan. However, in this panel, you can see Itachi still has love towards his brother and how caring he is.
It’s personally my favorite manga panel from Naruto as it brings out a wave of emotions seeing the Uchiha siblings coming to terms. This is also one of the influential manga panels throughout the series that’s loved by the Naruto fandom.
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Attack On Titan Manga Panel: Eren Yeager unleashing Colossal Titans
Attack On Titan manga was written by Hajime Isayama and it’s one of the best-selling mangas.
The storyline of Attack On Titan centers around a post-apocalyptic setting where humanity is threatened by gigantic humanoids called Titans who eat humans and wreak havoc in the city.
Humans are living in between vast walls to protect themselves from the Titans.
The protagonist of Attack On Titan is Eren Yeager who eventually becomes a titan. This manga panel depicts Eren Yeager unleashing Colossal Titans from the walls to save the Eldians.
Just by looking at the panel, one can tell that it portrays pure horror. The titans are ready to wreak havoc on the lands again and kill anyone on their way.
Hunter X Hunter Manga Panel: First interaction between Gon and Killua
Hunter X Hunter is a manga series written by Yoshihiro Togashi that focuses on the protagonist Gon Freecss. Gon is a young boy who believed his father was dead all his life.
However, he learns that his father is a renowned Hunter who seeks treasures and creatures. Gon then decides to become a Hunter like his father and hence joins the Hunter Examination.
During his time in the Hunter Examination, Gon meets other participants like Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio.
This manga panel shows the first interaction between Gon and Killua and how they’re discussing their goals in life. It’s one of the wholesome panels in the Hunter X Hunter manga and portrays the innocence between these two characters.
Tokyo Ghoul Manga Panel: Ken in his half-ghoul form
Tokyo Ghoul is a dark fantasy and thriller manga written by Sui Ishida. The storyline of this manga centers around the protagonist Ken Kaneki. Ken is a high school student with a reserved personality.
One day he manages to go on a date with the hottest girl in school called Rize. During the date, he realizes that Rize is a ghoul who feeds on human flesh. Both Rize and Ken are met with an accident which eventually leads to Rize’s organs being transplanted to Ken.
This manga panel depicts Ken in his half-ghoul form, where his left eye is sunken and dark. Ken is seen struggling to keep up with his new identity and his struggles with contemplating cannibalism. Due to his vile nature, Ken has to be more cautious than ever.
Bleach Manga Panel: Kenpachi and Ichigo’s Duel
Bleach is a very famous Japanese manga written by Tite Kubo. It’s a supernatural manga that focuses on the realm of souls and humans.
The protagonist of Bleach is Ichigo Kurosaki who’s a teenager that inherits the powers of the Soul Reaper after the death of his parents. Ichigo is then forced to protect the humans from evil spirits from the Soul World.
The Bleach manga has a plethora of characters with different superpowers and one such character is Kenpachi Zaraki. Kenpachi is a shinigami who has a wild appearance. This manga panel portrays Kenpachi and Ichigo having a duel against each other.
They unleash their unique powers to cause harm to one another. The battle between them is one of the key moments loved by Bleach fans.
Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Panel: “I’m an Alchemist”.
Fullmetal Alchemist is a shonen dark fantasy and adventure manga written by Hiromu Arakawa. The Fullmetal Alchemist manga is one of the best-selling manga series. The storyline of Fullmetal Alchemist focuses on the two protagonists, Edward and Alphonse Elric.
They’re brothers who study alchemy and use forbidden alchemy methods to revive their mother. This causes major injuries to both the brothers as they lose most parts of their bodies.
In this manga panel, you can see Edward Elric seated on a wall and the speech bubble saying “I’m an Alchemist”.
This was like a moment of realization for Edward as he has a serious look. It’s one of the most powerful panels in the manga that portrays sheer bravery.
Dragon Ball Manga Panel: Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form
Dragon Ball is one of the famous anime and manga series loved by countless anime geeks.
The plot of Dragon Ball focuses on the life of a monkey-tailed boy called Son Goku who was obsessed with martial arts and spends his entire life protecting his friends and Earth from any danger. Later it was revealed that Goku is an extraterrestrial being from the Saiyan race and he possesses outstanding powers.
Goku has a son named Gohan who has a similar appearance. Gohan inherited Goku’s Saiyan powers and was the first person who was able to transform into the Super Saiyan 2 form.
This manga panel depicts Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form. You can literally see energy beaming out of his body and his hair is spiky and upright which indicates his Super Saiyan powers.
Death Note Manga Panel:
Death Note manga is a famous supernatural manga written by Tsugumi Ohba. The protagonist of Death Note is a high school boy named Light Yagami who stumbles upon a mysterious black notebook called the Death Note.
The rightful owner of the book is Shinigami Ryuk who’s a supernatural being. When Light takes the book he learns that it has the power to kill anyone if the person’s name is written on it.
This manga panel shows the interaction between Light and Shinigami Ryuk and they can be seen discussing what the Death Note is capable of. Light has a disagreement with Shinigami and states that he should have set the instructions in the Death Note.
Apart from their discussion, the figure of Shinigami is displayed clearly here. He has a slender appearance and a creepy smile that can give you the creeps.
My Hero Academia Manga Panel
My Hero Academia is a superhero manga written by Kohei Horikoshi. The protagonist of My Hero Academia is a young boy named Izuku Midoriya.
In a world where superheroes are praised and people with no superpowers are frowned upon, Izuku is the boy who dreams of becoming a superhero like All Might. Izuku is often bullied for his dreams but that doesn’t stop him from being a hero.
In this manga panel, you can see the superhero All Might carrying a woman after saving the city from supervillains. In the panel below, Izuku and his friends are excited and are cheering for All Might. This is one of the wholesome moments of Izuku who was still young and had no superpowers.
Darling In The Franxx Manga Panel
Darling In The Franxx is a sci-fi and romantic manga illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. Darling In The Franxx manga focuses on a dystopian environment where humans are facing immense danger from creatures called Klaxosaurs.
In this world, human babies are artificially created and their only purpose in life is to protect the existing humanity from other threats. One of the protagonists of this manga is Hiro who’s a pilot. He teams up with a professional pilot named Zero Two.
Zero Two is a woman with Klaxosaur lineage and this makes her look different from the rest. This manga panel depicts Zero Two in her pilot uniform and she has her tiny horns and fangs on display.
She’s also known as the partner killer because all of her partner pilots have died mysteriously.
Best Manga Panels: FAQs
What is a panel in a manga?
Unlike storybooks and novels where pictures are displayed on separate pages, a manga page is sectioned into a variety of panels. The panels in a manga are basically what provides a structure to a manga. Panels are like a frame where characters and their dialogues are displayed and the number of panels per page depends on the sequence of the manga.
What manga has the best paneling?
Paneling is a crucial feature in manga and some of the mangas that have nailed the best paneling are:
– Naruto
– Attack On Titan
– Bleach
– Dragon Ball
– Fullmetal Alchemist
– Death Note
– Hunter X Hunter
– Darling In The Franxx
– My Hero Academia
– Tokyo Ghoul
What is the best manga artwork?
There are countless mangas with unique and subtle illustrations and some of the mangas with the best artwork are:
– Naruto
– Attack On Titan
– Hunter X Hunter
– Tokyo Ghoul
– Bleach
– Fullmetal Alchemist
– Dragon Ball
– Death Note
– My Hero Academia
– Darling In The Franxx
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Ava Sato
Hiya! I’m the main author of Japan Truly. I love everything Japan and love testing out Japanese products, be it skincare and makeup or gadgets! You’ll find reviews of some of the best selling Japanese products (tried and tested) right here!
As a seasoned manga enthusiast with a wealth of firsthand experience and an extensive exploration of thousands of chapters across diverse genres, I bring to you an insightful analysis of the 15 most iconic manga panels curated by yours truly. These panels are not just a mere selection but a testament to the profound impact and artistic brilliance that define the essence of manga.
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Naruto Manga Panel: Itachi’s Love For Sasuke Is Undying
- This panel delves into the emotional complexity of the Uchiha siblings, showcasing the depth of Itachi's love for Sasuke despite their tragic past. It resonates with fans on a profound emotional level, highlighting the intricate storytelling prowess of Masashi Kishimoto.
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Attack On Titan Manga Panel: Eren Yeager Unleashing Colossal Titans
- Hajime Isayama's masterpiece comes alive in this panel, capturing the horrifying moment of Eren Yeager releasing the Colossal Titans. The sheer terror depicted in this panel stands as a testament to Isayama's ability to evoke intense emotions through visual storytelling.
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Hunter X Hunter Manga Panel: First Interaction Between Gon and Killua
- Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter X Hunter unfolds a wholesome moment with the first interaction between Gon and Killua. This panel encapsulates the innocence and purity of their budding friendship, showcasing Togashi's skill in character development and narrative finesse.
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Tokyo Ghoul Manga Panel: Ken in His Half-Ghoul Form
- Sui Ishida's dark fantasy comes to life in this panel, portraying Ken Kaneki's struggle with his half-ghoul identity. The stark imagery reflects Ishida's ability to delve into psychological depths and create a visually compelling narrative.
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Bleach Manga Panel: Kenpachi and Ichigo’s Duel
- Tite Kubo's supernatural realm unfolds in the duel between Kenpachi and Ichigo. The dynamic display of unique powers and the intensity of the battle showcases Kubo's talent in crafting visually captivating and action-packed scenes.
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Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Panel: “I’m an Alchemist”
- Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist presents a powerful moment with Edward Elric declaring, "I'm an Alchemist." This panel stands as a testament to Arakawa's ability to convey profound themes of bravery and determination through captivating visual storytelling.
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Dragon Ball Manga Panel: Gohan in His Super Saiyan 2 Form
- Akira Toriyama's iconic series reaches new heights with the depiction of Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form. The energy radiating from Gohan and the dynamic visuals showcase Toriyama's mastery in creating impactful and memorable transformations.
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Death Note Manga Panel: My Hero Academia Manga Panel
- Tsugumi Ohba's Death Note panel captures the intriguing interaction between Light and Shinigami Ryuk, emphasizing the supernatural elements of the story. Ohba's ability to blend suspense with intricate character designs is evident in this thought-provoking scene.
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My Hero Academia Manga Panel
- Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia panel brings forth a moment of heroism with All Might saving the city. The juxtaposition of heroism and the reactions of young characters like Izuku showcases Horikoshi's knack for creating impactful and heartwarming scenes.
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Darling In The Franxx Manga Panel
- Kentaro Yabuki's Darling In The Franxx panel captures the unique aesthetic of the dystopian world and the distinctive appearance of Zero Two. Yabuki's illustration skill is evident in portraying the character's horns and fangs, adding to the intrigue of the narrative.
In exploring these panels, we delve into the diverse worlds created by manga luminaries, each showcasing a mastery of visual storytelling that has left an indelible mark on the manga landscape. As we journey through these iconic moments, we rediscover the allure of manga and the profound impact it has on readers worldwide.
