Summary
A good power system greatly enhances the story and the action sequences. That’s why, from theDevil Fruits inOne Pieceto the Alchemy inFullmetal Alchemistto the Breathing Technique inDemon Slayer,the world of shonen manga has no shortage of intriguing power systems.
This list offers an opportunity to dive into some incredible manga with equally exciting power systems. Since these series haven’t received an anime adaptation yet, there’s a good chance that readers might not have heard of them, let alone read them. However, they’re definitely worth checking out.
10Dolly Kill Kill
Abilities Awakened by Aliens
Before he shocked the world withthe hyper-dynamic football plays inBlue Lock,Yusuke Nomura provided his amazing art for a manga calledDolly Kill Kill. Unlike the intense yet heartwarmingBlue Lock,Dolly Kill Killis about monstrous aliens, violence, gore, deaths, and strange powers.
The power system inDolly Kill Killis called Phantasma. When aliens invade and kill more than 90% of humanity, some who are lucky enough to survive awaken a strange power. This power can manifest in all sorts of forms, such as super strength, hyper-regenerative ability, and the ability to control animals, to name a few. The most interesting is the ability to cut anything that the user believes can be cut.
9Smokin’ Parade
Transforming Monsters vs Weaponized Mechanical Limbs
After creatingthe cult classicDeadman Wonderland,writer Jinsei Kataoka joins forces once again with artist Kazuma Kondou to create another violent manga. InSmokin’ Parade,a group of bloodthirsty mutated humans called the Spiders (made and employed by an evil corporation) clash against the Jackalopes, an underground organization that dedicated themselves to eradicating the Spiders.
Smokin’ Paradehas two different power systems. The Evil Company uses biotechnology to forcibly transform regular people into Spiders. These monsters come in different forms and have different lethal abilities, such as sharp claws or legs that can stomp the enemy to a pulp. The Jackalopes, on the other hand, use mechanical prosthetics that can transform into all sorts of deadly weapons, such as an arm that can turn into a high-powered cannon.
8Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Fighting with Daemons Servants
Daemons of the Shadow Realmis the latest manga from Hiromu Arakawa, the creator ofcritically acclaimed manga series likeFullmetal Alchemist,Silver Spoon,and more.This story takes place in modern-day Japan and focuses on the clash between different warring clans and their supernatural entities.
These beings go by many names, but in this story, they are known as Daemons. Those who can see daemons can form a contract with them. If the Daemons agree, they serve the human and obey their master’s commands. Some Daemons excel in combat with brute strength, while others have more unconventional abilities, like compressing corpses into meatballs for easier disposal or creating teleportation gates. This wide variety of abilities makes the battles feel intense and dynamic.
7Centuria
Powers Bestowed by Gods and Deities
Centuriaisone of the best new manga from Shounen Jump.It tells the gripping story of a former slave who accidentally acquires tremendous power and won’t hesitate to use it to keep his loved one safe. It is brutal, heartbreaking, and incredibly intriguing.
Centuriatakes place in a world that looks like Medieval Europe. This world also has Gods, deities, and supernatural entities that will bestow strange powers on those whom they deem deserve it. For the story’s hero, the Goddess of the Sea bestowed upon him the strength, speed, endurance, and lives of 100 men.
6Gokurakugai
Guns, Blades, Martial Arts, and Monster Hybrids
InGokurakugai,those who have passed on to the afterlife may sometimes come back in the form of grotesque monsters called Disaster Beasts, also known as Maga. This is the story of Alma and Tao. For the public, they are part of the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter Agency, which does various odd jobs. Behind the scenes, however, they are Maga Killers.
The power system is quite similar tothe one inTokyo Ghoul.Groups of elite fighters can go toe-to-toe with the monsters, using everything from martial arts to weapons like blades and guns. However, some people manage to harness the power of Maga to become a hybrid and use their unique powers to attack the bloodthirsty monsters and the sinister group behind them.
5Dai Dark
Harnessing the Power of Darkness
After shocking the world with his uniqueaction-horror seriesDorohedoro,Q Hayashida returns with an equally strange yet interesting new series.Dai Darktakes place in the empty void of outer space, where people are eager to kill each other over rumors and other petty reasons.
In, certain individuals can harness the power of the dark and use it in all sorts of ways. They can use it as a soft yet extra-durable armor in the form of a Dark Hide. A sharp weapon called Dark Flesh that can instantly separate the bones and the flesh upon contact. It can even serve as a power source for a fairly large spaceship in the form of a Dark Core.
4Gachiakuta
Power Derived from Beloved Objects
In Shintoism, there’s a belief that everything in this world has a soul, especially objects that receive love and attention for years. This is the basis ofGachiakuta’spower system. Here, there are special people called the Givers who can give life to objects and draw out their power.
One Giver has an umbrella that can turn intodevastating cutting machines. Another uses his beloved gloves to turn any objects he touches into killing machines. Needless to say, the Givers use this power extensively in battles against each other and against the pretentious people who live lavishly in the upper realm.
3Kagurabachi
Sorcery and Seven Enchanted Katana
Kagurabachimay be a newcomer to the manga world, but its story of brutal vengeance with magic and enchanted swords took the world by storm. It is one of the leaders of the new generation of Shounen Jump, alongsideDandadanandKaiju No. 8.
The power system inKagurabachirelies on gifted people called sorcerers. Sorcery is similar to magic, but each person usually specializes in one type of ability, such as teleportation or explosion. The centerpiece of the story, however, is sevenenchanted katanasthat have been imbued with powerful sorcery. Each of these katanas has unique powers.
2Fire Punch
Blessings That Grant Miracles
Before Tatsuki Fujimoto took the world by storm with hishit seriesChainsaw Man,he made a strange yet fascinating manga calledFire Punch.In this dystopian tale, a man consumed by eternal flames seeks revenge on the one who took everything from him.
In the world ofFire Punch, a small percentage of people around the world, called the Blessed, are born with “the ability to perform miracles.” From healing injuries to causing endless blizzards that engulf the entire world, different people are blessed with different abilities. Some use their blessings to help those in need, while others use theirs to hurt and exploit those who are weaker.
1Psyren
Ever-Changing Psionic Powers
To sayPsyrenis underratedis an understatement of the decade. It’s amazing how a story featuring time travel, supernatural powers, shocking twists, brutal fights, betrayal, and even romance has managed to stay under the radar for such a long time. The power system inPsyrenisbased around psionic powers,also known as PSI. Some people who are unfortunate enough to be dragged into the dystopian future and manage to stay alive have a chance to awaken their psionic powers. At first, these powers are basic, like telekinetic ability, telepathy, and even pyrokinesis.
As the story progresses, each character develops stronger unique abilities, such as hijacking minds, conjuring a psionic dragon, healing mortal injuries, and more. The power system inPsyrenis intriguing, dynamic, and unpredictable. It is simple enough that it makes it easy for the readers to understand the principle behind it, yet it is also quite complex because the abilities get more elaborate as the story moves forward.
