The success and popularity of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is extraordinary. In 1999, Naruto started its run in the Weekly Shonen Jump. With over 250 Million copies sold, the manga series has hit its 25th anniversary mark on September 21st. Achieving the commercial success of Naruto would be a dream come true for any artist.
Besides Masashi Kishimoto, there are 5 other mangaka who have lived this dream. Moreover, they have surpassed Kishimoto with the sales figures of their respective creations. So here’s a list of the top 5 manga that have outsold Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto.
5. Doraemon
First published in 1967, Fujiko F. Fujio’s manga Doraemon has sold over 250 million copies with just 45 volumes. Doraemon is the story of ten-year-old Nobita and a robot cat called Doraemon. Their daily lives involve Doraemon helping Nobita with the help of gadgets. Nobita often finds himself in trouble and his best friend Doraemon always comes to his rescue.
The manga is a lighthearted comedy and the dynamic between the central duo results in some emotional moments as well. The manga has been adapted into various anime series and there are several movies as well. Besides the commercial success, the manga is culturally significant to its homeland. Even outside of Japan, Doraemon gained massive popularity in countries like Vietnam and India.
As of the writing of this article, the only way to read the Doraemon manga is by purchasing it on Amazon.
4. Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball needs no introduction among anime fans. The influence and importance of Akira Toriyama’s masterpiece is unparalleled. Dragon Ball began its run in 1984, and with 42 volumes, it has sold over 260 million copies. The legacy of the manga series is one of the richest, with many creators citing it as their inspiration years after its release.
Dragon Ball has been adapted into an anime with the same title. The story introduced in the original series hasn’t yet been completed, as its sequel Dragon Ball Super is still ongoing. The Dragon Ball franchise has expanded significantly with multiple anime series, films, and spin-offs.
Dragon Ball is available to read on the Viz Media website.
3. Detective Conan (Case Closed)
First published in January 1995, Detective Conan is still ongoing. Case Closed is the English title of the series. The manga has sold over 270 million copies with 105 volumes. Just like every other title on this list, the Detective Conan Franchise has multiple spin-offs, films, specials, OVAs, and anime series.
Detective Conan tells the story of Shinichi Kudo, a genius high-school student who solves mystery cases. During one such case, the enemies give him a drug that shrinks his body to the size of a child. However, there’s no stopping the genius detective!
Detective Conan is available to read on the Viz Media website.
2. Golgo 13
Golgo 13 started its run in October 1968 and is still publishing to this day. The manga has sold over 300 Million copies with more than 200 volumes. The manga tells the story of an exceptional assassin who gets the job done, no matter who he is up against. Golgo 13 also holds the Guinness World Record for the most volumes published for a single manga. Despite its commercial success, Golgo 13 is fairly unknown to most fans.
The manga series have some problematic aspects. Its long-running nature and obscurity also restrain some readers from giving it a try. However, that doesn’t make the phenomenal sales figures any less impressive.
Golgo 13 is available to read on the Viz Media Website.
1. One Piece
Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece started its run in the Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997. The manga has sold over 516 Million copies with 109 volumes at present. Even years later, the manga is continuing in great stride. The consistently growing popularity of One Piece is impressive given how long it has been since it first aired. The critical acclaim matches up with the commercial success of the manga.
The series is highly regarded for its top tier storytelling and its great blend of goofy and serious elements. One Piece has taken the anime-manga industry by storm and its incredible effect doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
One Piece is available to read on the MangaPlus app and website.
All these manga have created records with their commercial success and surpassed Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto. However, that doesn’t negate the impact and influence of Naruto in any way. Even after completing 25 years, the mention of Naruto is more than enough to get fans excited. While it might not be number one in sales, for many fans, it’s the best experience they have had.
Naruto is available to read on the MangaPlus app and website.
