When someone talks about superheroes, usually this means superhero comics. But you will be surprised to know that there is a plethora of superhero-like anime and manga. Naturally, they are not similar to superheroes we are used to in American or European comics. The most popular anime in the western world is “Dragon Ball” in all of its variations, but its protagonist Goku is not a superhero model. However, there are some anime and manga that can be considered as superhero-like in all of their elements. We are going to present you with the best of them.
Heroman
This anime is the perfect example of Stan Lee`s influence on superhero comics throughout the world. Stan Lee even worked on “Heroman”. The main plot follows Joey, a boy from the United States, who discovers a broken robot. After repairing it, the robot gets stronger, and the two are facing an alien invasion.
Devilman Crybaby
Devil is a character that is often depicted in manga and anime. Probably the best-known one is “Devilman” manga created by Go Nagai. However, in our opinion, none of them are capturing the nihilistic horror better than “Devilman Crybaby”. Maybe this one doesn’t look like a superhero anime, but let us assure you, it is. Feel free to watch it.
Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor
This mange “Guyver” is considered to be one of the best superhero manga ever created. There were several adaptations, including the best know 12-episode anime show that was created in the eighties. This show is considered to be one of the must-haves in every old school anime collection. However, our vote goes to “Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor” an adaption created in the 2000s.
My Hero Academia
Of all the anime of the next generation, only “My Hero Academia” reached a certain level of popularity from all around the world. The main character of this show, Midoriya is a boy who lives in a world full of abilities and powers which are called quirks. But he is one of the few people in his surroundings that don’t have any kind of power. Maybe that is the reason, he is the best superhero of them all.
Samurai Flamenco
The main character of this anime, Masayoshi Hazama, has always dreamed of becoming a hero, even though he doesn’t have any kind of superpowers. He has the support of a police officer who boosts his courage and encourages him to become one. Masayoshi doesn’t know that he will need to encounter an extra-terrestrial enemy pretty soon.
One-Punch Man
We can say that “One-Punch Man” is a true superhero anime, to its core. This one is exactly following the pattern that was established by, we can say, western authors. The main character of this show is Saitama, who has enormous strength, and he wins every battle with only one punch. However, this gift has a downside. Saitama gets bored really quickly.
Sailor Moon
“Sailor Moon” follows Usagi Tsukino, an immature girl, who is actually the reincarnation of Serenity, a moon princess. Usagi, along with her friends, who are reincarnations of Serenity`s bodyguards are faced with a task of defending the Earth from a cosmic overlord, time-traveling empires, ancient civilizations, evil circuses, and outer-dimensional destroyers.
