Sequels in manga actually aren’t all that uncommon. Sometimes a series ends while it’s still very popular, so the author decides to start up a sequelto keep capitalizing on the popularity. Series likeBorutoare a good example of that, while series likeKaijiorBaki the Grapplerhave spawned franchises from the number of sequels they have.
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Sometimes, however, popular series don’t receive sequels right after their conclusion, but many years after. These kinds of sequels are less about capitalizing on the series' current popularity and more about revitalizing a dormant franchise. Here are some manga that have received sequels roughly 10 years after the original’s conclusion.
8City Hunter - Angel Heart
City Hunteris a classic 80’s Weekly Shonen Jump manga featuring the adventures of the sweeper-for-hire Ryo Saeba and his young but feisty assistant Kaori Makimura. The manga ran from 1985 to 1991, and it is considered one of the best-selling manga of all time.
In 2001,City Hunter’s author Tsukasa Hojo created a series namedAngel Heart, meant to be a sequel taking place sometime after the original. However, a controversial decision made in the early chapters of the sequel sparked ire within the fandom, causing the author to declareAngel Heartan alternate continuity rather than a direct sequel. Despite the controversy,Angel Heartis as well received as the original series.
7Fruits Basket - Fruits Basket Another
Fruits Basketis a classic shojo mangaabout the cursed Sohma family, who turn into animals when they are touched by someone of the opposite sex. The series ran from 1998 to 2006 and was incredibly popular, spawning multiple anime adaptations.
The manga eventually received a follow-up in 2015 calledFruits Basket Another. The series follows a new lead encountering the children of the main characters from the original series. Several characters from the original have also appeared, though the main characters do not make an appearance.
6Zatch Bell! - Zatch Bell! 2
Zatch Bell!is a classic shonen battle manga chronicling the adventures of Kiyomaro Takamine, who one day encounters a young boy called Zatch Bell. Zatch Bell is a Mamodo, a child with strange powers of lightning that can be controlled by a book only Kiyo can read. Together, the two work to defeat all the other Mamodo that have come to Earth so that Zatch Bell can become the Mamodo king.
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After concluding in 2007, theZatch Bell!franchise went dormant for quite a long time. Only recently has it received a brand-new sequel in 2022, which takes place not too long after the original series. While the sequel is not as well-known as the original, fans agree that it is still quite good.
5Shaman King - Flowers & Super Star
Shaman Kingis yet another classic shonen manga from the 90s, with its original run concluding in 2004. The series is about a young boy named Yoh Asakura who can see and talk to spirits. With this power, Yoh is one of many shamans who are competingto become the Shaman King that rules over all spirits.
Shaman Kinghad a troubled run, being canceled before properly resolving its storyline. It would receive a sequel in 2012 calledFlowers, which followed the adventures of Yoh’s son, Hana.Flowersitself would get canceled fairly quickly as well, but its storyline would be continued inThe Super Star, which started in 2018.
4Great Teacher Onizuka - GTO: Paradise Lost
Great Teacher Onizukais an incredibly popular manga about the former delinquent Eikichi Onizuka, who becomes a teacher at a local school. His unorthodox teaching philosophy and laid-back outlook on life allow him to reach his problem students in ways other teachers couldn’t, making him a bizarre role model for the students he teaches.
GTOran from 1997 to 2002and received a midquel called14 Days in Shonan, chronicling a blank period in the series where Onizuka went missing. The series would receive a proper sequel inGTO: Paradise Lost, which started in 2014.
3Inuyasha - Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
Inuyashais one of Rumiko Takahashi’smost popular works, as well as her longest-running. Running from 1996 to 2008, the manga tells the story of Kagome Higurashi, who is transported to the past by magical means and meets Inuyasha, a half-demon in search of the Shikon Jewel that would allow him to turn fully demon.
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After its end, theInuyashafranchise was dormant for many years until it received an anime sequel inYashahime, chronicling the stories of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha’s children. The anime itself received a manga version in 2021, though Rumiko Takahashi herself has little to do with it.
2Cardcaptor Sakura - Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card
Cardcaptor Sakurais easily one of the most popular magical girl series of all time, as well asmanga collective CLAMP’s most easily recognizable work. The story follows Sakura Kinomoto as she is entrusted with capturing and controlling the powerful Clow Cards, each one granting her unique control over a particular aspect.
The franchise went dormant after concluding in 2000, only to resume in 2016 with the release ofCardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, a sequel that picks up right after the original’s ending. With new threats and strange occurrences, Sakura is forced to return to her role as protector of the Clow Cards.
1Dragon Ball - Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ballis easily one of the most popular manga of all time, with its legacy and influence still affecting manga to this day. The adventures of Goku, his friends, and his many enemies are thrilling and exciting in a way few manga have ever been before, and its run from 1984 to 1995 has changed manga and anime forever.
After twenty years of dormancy,during which manyDragon Ballvideo gamesand spin-offs were released, the manga received a sequel inDragon Ball Super, which chronicles the events of the ten-year time skip between the end of the Buu Saga and the End of Z.Dragon Ball Superand its accompanying anime have been very popular, keeping the franchise relevant in the anime and manga community.
