Best New Manga of 2008: 16 Picks from 'Real' to Surreal

After a year of ups and downs in the U.S. publishing business, there was still a wealth of great manga to choose from as I was compiling my list of the best new manga of 2008. In fact, there were so many, I found that I couldn't just pick a "top 10" list of the best new manga that debuted in 2008. In some categories that had many strong candidates to choose from, I just couldn't settle on just one pick -- so that's why there are ties in the Best Seinen Manga and Best One-Shot Manga categories.

But it wasn't too hard to pick my overall favorite for 2008's Best New Manga. There was lots of competition, but again and again, Real by Takehiko Inoue kept rising to the top of my list. Awesome art, sophisticated and sensitive storytelling and memorable, nuanced characters just made Real the undeniable winner in my book.

But Real is just the start -- check out my choices for the 16 best new manga that debuted in U.S. bookstores in 2008, including choices in three new categories: Best New Quirky / Artsy Manga, Best New Yaoi / Boys Love Manga and Best Underappreciated Gems.

Don't agree with my choices? Don't worry -- you'll have your chance to have your say with the readers polls, which will be out and open for voting in the coming week. In the meantime, feel free to nominate your best of 2008 picks in the comments section below or add them in the forums. Next up: The Best Continuing Manga and Manga Books of 2008.

Image credit: © 1999-2008 I.T. Planning, Inc.