Black manga

The manga industry is not particularly known for its representation of Black characters. This is true, even though of the genre. While ignoring and even upsetting a key fan base might not have seemed important to creators and industry leaders when manga was predominantly a Japanese-only market, with manga’s growing global influence, a failure of manga to be more effectively representative would cause issues.

However, it would appear that manga creators increasingly recognize and understand what a lack of representation means for their profession. More and more mangaka are not only speaking out about the need for more diversity in manga characters, but some have taken positive steps to bring about change in their own titles, introducing black characters that have an impact on the wider story and serve as a positive representation and ambassadors.

Even in the wonderful world of fancy that manga is, Black Lagoon’s Dutch is a unicorn. Dutch is one of the few Black manga characters who actually anchors a series. In charge of Lagoon Company, the business that serves as the launching pad or conclusion for many of the series’ adventures, Dutch has a hand in or influence on nearly everything that happens in the story. This is true even when he is not personally in the manga chapter.

Bleach’s Kaname Tosen is the rarest of rare Black manga characters. He has the fortune – or misfortune – of being both one of the series’ top heroes and one of its most hated villains. As a hero, Kaname served as one of – a rank which indicates Kaname’s strength and abilities. He also obtained his position despite being blind. Unfortunately, Tosen became disillusioned with how the Soul Reaper system worked and turned against them when presented the chance.

10 Greatest Black Manga Characters Ever