Summary
Science fictionis a popular genre of fiction, and anime and manga are no different. Stories about dream-like technology, bizarre scientific phenomena, and hypothetical post-apocalyptic futures are some of the most common elements in science fiction, and they’re some of the most interesting stories in manga.
Science fiction manga are popular no matter what the audience, but seinen manga offers science fiction stories an opportunity to explore darker, more complicated premises due to their older demographic. Here are the best science fiction seinen manga, ranked by their MyAnimeList score.
10Planetes
MAL Score: 8.27
In a world where space travel is common and frequent, the DS-12 “Toy Box” works as a part of the Space Debris Section, clearing debris in space to keep it from accidentally colliding with space stations or satellites. The four members that crew the Toy Box each have their reasons for being in space, reasons that ultimately take them on different paths.
Planeteswas written by Makoto Yukimura ofVinland Sagafame and was his first serialized work.It already showcases his strengths and writing style, focusing heavily on character development and interpersonal relationships.
9Blame!
MAL Score: 8.30
In a giant artificial environment known only as “The City,” a mysterious traveler named Killy wanders the metallic structure looking for Net Terminal Genes. Armed with a powerful weapon called a Gravitational Beam Emitter, Killy braves the dangers of The City, facing off against post-human existences and cybernetic beings all the while.
Blame!is a dark science fiction adventure story with worldbuilding that is both highly imaginative and incredibly harrowing. The world of The City is light-years away from current society, and this post-apocalyptic imagining of a post-human future is both intriguing and horrific.
8Parasyte
MAL Score: 8.38
One night, strange extraterrestrial creatures start invading Earth, entering people’s bodies and controlling them by infecting their brains. One boy, Shinichi Izumi, is one targeted by these aliens, but by chance he wakes up, forcing the alien to possess his arm instead. Forced to work together to survive, Shinichi decides to use his new partner to save as many people from the invading Parasites as he can.
Parasyteisa classic sci-fi thriller manga from the 80s. The story is quite philosophical despite its horror-like premise, with the Parasites' sentience and desire to live being just as important as humanity’s desperate attempts to survive their invasion.
7Battle Angel Alita
MAL Score: 8.40
While exploring a local garbage dump, Daisuke Ido discovers a dismembered female cyborg with only her head and chest intact. He repairs her and names her Alita, and she soon realizes that she cannot remember anything except the ability to use Panzer Kunst, a martial art utilized by cyborgs. As Alita moves on with her new life, she slowly starts to uncover her mysterious past.
Battle Angel Alita(known asGunnmin Japan) is a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk mangafrom the 90s. Its unique world full of cyborgs is classic sci-fi, and its action sequences can stand among some of the best in the business.
6Neon Genesis Evangelion
MAL Score: 8.58
In the near future, Tokyo-3 finds itself under attack by strange existences known only as angels. Gendo Ikari, the director in charge of the organization combating these angels, NERV, brings in his son Shinji Ikari to pilot the biomechanical Eva Unit 01, which is one of the few things capable of stopping these angels. Shinji has a difficult relationship with his father, but reluctantly becomes Unit 01’s pilot, becoming one of humanity’s last defenders.
Neon Genesis Evangelion’s manga is an adaptation of the original anime, though it initially started publishing before the anime started airing. The author Yoshiyuki Sadamoto is the character designer for the anime, making hima suitable pick for adapting such a legendary show.
5Pluto
MAL Score: 8.63
Robot detective Gesicht is investigating a strange series of robot-human murders, where the victims have objects shoved into their heads like horns. The targets of the murders seem to be robots that number among the Seven Greatest Robots in the World, as well as humans that are connected to the International Robot Laws.
Plutois a manga by the legendary Naoki Urasawa, adapting a storyline from Osamu Tezuka’s legendaryAstro Boyseries. Urasawa puts a unique spin on the story, making it all his own while never forgetting the charm that made Tezuka’s works stand out so well.
4Akira
MAL Score: 8.68
In the far future, a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo is riddled with gangs, terrorism, and violence. Tetsuo Shima, a member of Shotaro Kaneda’s biker gang, gains powers after an encounter with a psychic. When Tetsuo disappears and starts building up another gang, Kaneda decides to go after him.
Akirais one of the most famous manga and anime franchises of all time, with its movie adaptation being one of the biggest reasons why anime became popular in the West. The manga is just as good, if not better, and is one of the most iconic post-apocalyptic stories around.
3Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
After a cataclysmic environmental disaster, humanity has declined as rising sea levels and rapidly changing climates irreparably change the world. As humans regress to simpler lives while waiting for the end of humanity’s era, the android Alpha Hatsuseno runs a quiet little coffee house while waiting quietly for her owner to return.
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikouis a strange mix of post-apocalyptic and slice-of-life, as despite the wretched state of humanity,the story is lighthearted, calming, and soothing. The manga has a perfect mix of melancholy and warmth, making the best of a sorrowful situation.
2Space Brothers
MAL Score: 8.77
Mutta and Hibito Nanba make a promise as children to one day make it to space as astronauts. Years later, Hibito is about to achieve his dream, but Mutta is nowhere near it, stuck working for a car company instead of as an astronaut. After losing his job and receiving a letter from JAXA in the mail, Mutta suddenly becomes motivated to achieve his once-lapsed dream of becoming an astronaut.
Space Brothersis a manga about astronauts and space travel. While much of the manga’s focus on space technology is true to life, there are some aspects to it that are slightly fictional, especially since it takes place in the very near future.
120th Century Boys
MAL Score: 8.95
Kenji Endo is an aspiring musician who is stuck taking care of his family’s liquor store and watching his baby niece Kanna. One day, he stumbles on a cult worshipping a figure known only as “Friend,” and is shocked to find that the symbol Friend uses is the one he and his friends used for their secret base during their childhood.
20th Century Boysisone of Naoki Urasawa’s best works, and one of his most successful as well. It features incredibly well-developed characters, bizarre conspiracies, and one of the most intriguing mysteries in manga history.
