Action manga titles are intense and can be quite a page-turner, but adapting them into anime can be a difficult and daunting feat. There are several action manga without an anime adaptation that are awaiting their moment to shine on the screen. Here are some of the most notable ones.
Usogui
First on our list is Usogui, which revolves around a gambler named Madarame Baku, dubbed The Lie Eater. He engages in high-stakes gambling matches against powerful opponents.
With his apprentice, Kaji Takaomi, and loyal bodyguard, Marco, he sets his sights on seizing control of the underground gambling syndicate, Kakerou.
Usogui is an exciting manga full of psychological mind games. The storytelling and worldbuilding of Usogui are top-notch, making it worthy of an anime adaptation.
Usogui is authored and illustrated by Toshio Sako. The manga ran from May 2006 to December 2017 with 49 volumes.
Spirit Circle
Spirit Circle is an action and supernatural manga series released in May 2012.
The manga follows a high schooler named Fuuta Okeya who hides a peculiar mark on his cheek while possessing the ability to see ghosts.
His peaceful routine is disturbed when Kuoko Ishigami, a new classmate bearing a scar on her forehead and accompanied by a ghost named East, enters the scene.
Spirit Circle is written and illustrated by Satoshi Mizukami. The manga ended with six volumes on March 30, 2016.
Holyland
Holyland is an action manga with martial arts and psychological themes.
Yuu Kamishiro is a lonely high schooler who finds himself isolated due to the relentless torment of his peers.
Exhausted from enduring daily beatings, Kamishiro turns to a boxing manual for guidance, honing his skills with practice.
Armed with newfound knowledge, he ventures into the night streets of Tokyo amid the city’s gang conflicts.
Holyland is written and illustrated by Kouji Mori. The manga concluded with 18 volumes and ran from October 2000 to May 2008.
Holyland can be a promising anime that showcases delinquents in a gang setup.
This manga reminds us of Wind Breaker, one of the emerging hits in the spring 2024 anime season.
Fire Punch
Fire Punch is raw and visceral with a complex storyline that will make a spectacular dark anime with ample action and gore elements.
The manga is set in a world that is ravaged by snow and ice. Once upon a time, the Ice Witch cast her wintery spell, enveloping the world in snow, famine, and chaos, prompting its denizens to turn to fire for survival.
Amid this turmoil, two orphaned youths, Luna and Agni, who are endowed with the rare gift of regeneration, set out on an extraordinary journey.
Fire Punch is made by Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series ended with eight volumes in January 2018.
ALSO READ: Tatsuki Fujimoto's Best Manga Ranked
Vagabond
Inspired by one of the greatest samurai warriors from Japan, Miyamoto Musashi, the Vagabond manga is written and illustrated by Slam Dunk's Takehiko Inoue.
Set in 17th century Sengoku era Japan, Shinmen Takezou endures ostracism from local villagers who view him as a malevolent force due to his untamed and aggressive demeanor.
At 17, he flees from his home alongside a comrade, enlisting in the Toyotomi army to confront the Tokugawa clan in the decisive battle of Sekigahara.
Despite their efforts, the Tokugawa emerge victorious, ushering in nearly three centuries of shogunate dominance.
Surviving the ordeal, Takezou and his companion pledge to carve out remarkable destinies for themselves.
The Vagabond manga series started in September 1998 and is currently on hiatus since May 2015, with 37 volumes so far.
What other action manga would you like to get an anime adaptation? Share your picks with us in the comments section below.