Manga come and go like the passing wind and that isn't just my attempt at a cool metaphor. It is also an apt analogy for the dozens of manga that start and end every year, let alone the hundreds to thousands that do the same every decade.
The last decade a host to a number of several popular manga that became rising stars in their market and others that became shooting stars and finally burned out. So with that in mind, let's go over 5 popular manga that ended in the last decade and 5 more that are on their way up before I run out of metaphors.
10 Ended - Naruto
After fifteen years, Naruto finally ended in November of 2014. The manga seeing its titular protagonist going from ninja outcast to shinobi hero in several battles that ended with a great ninja war for anything and everything. Throughout which he showed effort, gained friendship, and earned victory after victory to land himself the respect of his village and follow along with Shonen Jump's famous motto.
The manga earning itself a place not only as one of the best manga of the last decade but as one of Shonen Jump's greatest stories. A story that is sure to inspire manga for decades to come...
9 On Their Way Up - Boruto
...or directly inspire a spin-off manga featuring his son. Finally having achieved his dream of becoming the Hokage, Naruto takes a backseat to his son as the titular protagonist of the new series.
It premiered not too far after the end of the Naruto manga and has since ridden the wave of the last manga's stardom with its assortment of returning character and several new faces to present new stories in its familiar setting. With the manga still going strong and an anime to extend its reach, Boruto seems set to rise even hirer in the next decade.
8 Ended - Nisekoi: False Love
The harem genre lost a great soldier in August of 2016. After five years of Chitoge versus Onodera (sorry but Marika, Tsugumi, et everyone else never stood a chance no matter how much I wanted Tsugumi to win everyone else loved them), Raku finally made his decision and picked Chitoge to spend the rest of his life with. Finally drawing a conclusion to the story that started with a fake love that became every bit as real as the story progressed.
Since then, many manga have tried to emulate Nisekoi's success. Series like Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs and Love Rush! trying the emulate them to various degrees of success.
7 On Their Way Up - We Never Learn
Speaking of manga like Nisekoi, let me introduce you to We Never Learn. Taking the place of Nisekoi as one of the premiere young-man-surrounded-by-a-group-of-pretty-girls manga in Shonen Jump, it has recently been adapted into two seasons of harem hijinks that only made the manga more popular. It striking a chord with all those that enjoy young love and school settings.
Taking place in Ichinose Academy, Nariyuki has to take two geniuses under his wing and tutor them in the opposite subjects in which they excel. The group of girls needing his tutelage (and his romantic attention) only increasing as the series goes on. That's not even to mention the teacher that seems to be a fan favorite.
6 Ended - Full Metal Alchemist
Full Metal Alchemist is heralded as one of the best shonen manga to ever grace the genre. At the very least it should be considered one of the best manga during the first decade of this century but this millennium gem didn't end till the early part of the 2010s.
Finally reaching its grand conclusion in April of 2010, the ending had the Elric brothers finally reach the end of their journey to undo the damage they caused to themselves in their botched attempt to resurrect their mother using forbidden alchemy. The story so popular by the series' end that it inspired not one but two anime adaptations before it could finish.
5 On Their Way Up - Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer caught fire after the anime premiered in the Summer of this past year (2019). Since then it has gotten several critical reviews praising its animation and story. The positive buzz turning the fans' attention towards the manga to continue the adventures of Tanjiro and his little sister, the demonic sweetheart Nezuko.
With a feature-length movie on the way and a spot as the best selling manga of 2019 thanks in no small part to the excellent anime adaptation, Demon Slayer looks to take 2020 just like it did 2019. As one of the best breakout franchises of the year.
4 Ended - Bleach
Bleach started out as one of the big three in Shonen Jump. It took a place next to One Piece and Naruto as the biggest manga in each weekly release, unfortunately, that popularity didn't extend to its entire run. It falling out of favor near the end of the series due to some pacing and overall story issues.
Though, that didn't mean that the remaining fans weren't excited to see the grand conclusion. Ichigo's 15-year journey finally ends with a confrontation against Yhwach and a shipping war between Rukia and Orihime that rivaled most harem manga.
3 On Their Way Up - Komi Can't Communicate
This darling of a manga series owes almost the entirety of it's popularity to Komi and its eccentric casts. The titular character may look like a cool beauty but is actually a shy geek who has problems communicating with others due to social anxiety. The problem only worse because everyone at school sets her up on an unreachable pedestal.
So to fix that problem, she decides to try and make one hundred friends. Her lofty goal a perfect excuse to introduce the eccentric cast of freaks, geeks, and other fun stereotypes that make up the supporting cast. The series even leading to some ship teasing between Komi and Tadano, the relatively normal young man that originally encouraged Komi to pursue her goal and makes a perfect straight man for the rest of its zany cast.
2 End - Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer
The dark horse of this list. Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer may sound like a nonsense title but the story had a wonderful amount of depth during its five-year run. The story ultimately reaching its conclusion early on in the decade in November of 2010.
Taking its genre and wonderfully subverting and playing it straight with its tropes in equal measure, Satoshi Mizukami created an uplifting story about friendship, love, and a giant hammer that threatens to destroy earth in the sky. The conclusion not only satisfying but well earned by its characters.
1 On Their Way Up - Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
A battle of brains never made two geniuses look so stupid. Kaguya-sama: Love is War is the tale of two members of the student council who are absolutely smitten with each other but are too proud to admit it. Each then formulating master plans to force the other to confess in a bid to control the emotional high ground in their potential relationship. Their romantic inexperience, and puppy love, getting in the way of their grand plans.
It may not look like it from the picture on top, but Kaguya-sama: Love is War is prime romantic comedy material (seriously though, it is not a horror series). And with another anime season on the way in 2020, things are only looking up for the story of Kaguya and Shirogane's love.