KingVDV

Title says it all: Who are your top 5 manga authors of all time?

Keep in mind, I said authors, not mangakas. Artwork is completely irrelevant in this thread.

For me:

5. Naoki Urasawa (20th Century Boys, Pluto)

- Would've been higher if 20th Century Boys didn't get significantly worse after about 5 volumes (was pretty much the best manga ever until the time skip) or maybe if I liked Monster. Otherwise, he's an extremely talented writer.

4. Iwaaki Hitoshi (Kiseiju)

- Gets my #4 for Kiseiju (Parasyte) alone. That manga was so far ahead of it's time it's scary.

3. Itou Junji (Uzumaki, Itou Junji Kyoufu Manga Collection)

- I love me some psychological & insane horror, and this guy is brilliant in that regard.

2. Ryukishi07 (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Umineko no Naku Koro ni)

- Absolutely love the Higurashi & Umineko Series'. The former is probably the best psycological horror/mystery going around (particularly the first, Onikakushihen) and the latter is completely insane & complex, but fun & intriguing.

1. Go Nagai (Devilman Series, Violence Jack Series, Mazinger Z Series etc)

- I don't think anyone in this industry has innovated Manga/Anime as a whole as much as he has, and I absolutely love his works. Brought in the Pilotable Mecha genre with Mazinger Z, the Mature Shonen with Devilman, the School Life (& ecchi) setting with Harenchi Gakuen, the Magical Girl Genre with Cutey Honey and the Hardcore, Ultra-Violent Trope in Violence Jack (also the first post-apocalyptic manga). Honestly, I think he's the most influencial author ever, possibly even moreso than Tezuka. He just oozes creativity. Devilman Lady is his best work in my opinion.