Five Viz Media Graphic Novels That Transcend the Genre

You might recognize Viz Media as the incredible American company that brings manga (Japanese comics) to the West. And that’s true! They consistently find the best properties in Japan and translate them for the English-speaking world. But Viz Media has also started to publish original works, showing they are a force to be reckoned with in the graphic novel publishing space.

Whether working in translation or original material, Viz has an unbelievable library of graphic novels. Here are five graphic novels Viz Media has published that transcend the manga genre:

No Longer Human by Junji Ito and Osamu Dazai

No Longer Human by Junji Ito is a horror manga adaptation of Osamu Dazai's novel about a man named Oba Yozo who feels completely disconnected from society and struggles to understand what it means to be human. The story follows Yozo from childhood to adulthood, showing his deep feelings of shame, guilt, and self-destruction. He hides his real emotions by pretending to be happy and carefree, but inside, he's suffering.

As Yozo’s life spirals out of control, he falls into addiction, unhealthy relationships, and mental breakdowns. The manga explores heavy themes like depression, identity, and the feeling of being "no longer human," meaning not fitting into society or feeling like a real person. Junji Ito adds his signature creepy and disturbing art style, making the emotional pain and inner demons Yozo faces feel even more terrifying and intense.

Tekkonkinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto

Tekkonkinkreet is about two orphaned boys, Black and White, who live in a chaotic city called Treasure Town. The boys are inseparable and act as protectors of the city, but they’re very different from each other: Black is brutal, violent, and street-smart, while White is innocent, childlike, and a bit lost in his own world.

As the story unfolds, they face gangs, criminals, and mysterious people who want to take over Treasure Town. The bond between Black and White is tested as they deal with danger and the changing city around them. The comic explores themes like friendship, loyalty, and the struggle between good and evil but also dives into the personal struggles of the boys as they try to survive in a harsh world.

The art is unique and energetic, capturing the city's wildness and the characters' emotional depth. It’s a story about growing up, loss, and the meaning of home.

Matsumoto’s work often focuses on children and found family. Some, like his beautiful work Sunny, are directly influenced by his childhood spent in a group home. But even in Tekkonkinkreet and it’s world of alien yakuza, you can see the themes of loss of innocence, childhood, and family.

Manga Theatre by Akira Toriyama

Manga Theatre is a collection of short stories from the creator of Dragon Ball. It features a variety of fun, imaginative tales that Toriyama made earlier in his career, showcasing his unique sense of humour and creative ideas. Each story is different, but most are filled with action, comedy, and strange, quirky characters.

The stories include adventures with robots, aliens, and wacky heroes, all drawn in Toriyama’s signature style. Some are funny and lighthearted, while others have more serious or exciting moments. The collection looks at Toriyama’s playful storytelling before he became famous for his later works, showing his range and creativity as a manga artist.

With Toriyama's passing earlier this year, this tome needs a place in your collection now. These early works show the roots of his practice and the origins of what the whole shonen genre has become. His influence can not be overstated, and the charmingly honest reflections on his early work interspersed throughout this book constantly show a humble and earnest artist who loved his craft dearly.

Miss you Toriyama-sensei!

Goodnight PunPun by Inio Asano

Goodnight PunPun is about a boy named PunPun who is drawn as a simple bird-like figure, while the world and people around him are depicted in detail. The story follows PunPun as he grows up, starting from childhood and going through his teenage years into adulthood. He deals with tough issues like family problems, first love, growing up, and figuring out his place in the world.

As PunPun’s life gets more complicated, the story becomes darker, exploring heavy themes like depression, loneliness, and the pressures of life. The comic shows how difficult and confusing it can be to grow up, with PunPun’s innocent view of the world slowly changing as he faces painful experiences.

It’s a mix of emotional, sad, and sometimes surreal storytelling, using PunPun’s simple appearance to contrast with the story's deep and often difficult themes. The comic is heartfelt and disturbing at times, showing the struggles of growing up and finding yourself.

No one is making art quite like Asano, and this comic consistently surprises my classes (pleasantly!) when they see it.

Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

Death Note is about a brilliant high school student named Light Yagami who finds a mysterious notebook called the "Death Note." The notebook can kill anyone whose name is written in it as long as the person’s face is known to the writer. Light uses the Death Note to rid the world of criminals, aiming to create a "perfect" world where he rules as a god.

As Light starts using the Death Note, people begin to die mysteriously, and the police try to catch the person behind it. A strange and clever detective named L is brought in to stop Light, and the two begin a cat-and-mouse game, trying to outsmart each other.

The story is full of tension, mind games, and moral questions about justice, power, and whether it’s right for one person to decide who lives and dies. Light’s journey becomes darker as he becomes more obsessed with his goal, and the battle between him and L becomes a central part of the story. The comic mixes thriller, mystery, and supernatural elements to create an intense and gripping story.

There’s a reason this story has been adapted several times (into an anime, Japanese film and notoriously bad Netflix film). Still, nothing can ever replace the source material, where unbelievably clever writing pairs with detail and action-packed sequences.