To most anime and manga fans, the “Big Three” are the three series that took their industry by the horns and steered it forward for over two decades. Their influence was nearly unmatched, and their long plots captivated anime watchers and manga readers for arc after arc. Now, two of the Big Three have long since ended, and fans are left to wonder if anything will ever take their place.
Today, the Big Three of manga are not alone -- and they haven’t been around for 10 years. While One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach were taking the world by storm, another Big Three has been rising -- not in Japanese manga but in Korean manhwa. The names of these mysterious challengers have steadily grown over the years, and since Line Webtoon published its official English translations in 2014, their popularity has exploded drastically. Now, with the launch of Crunchyroll Originals and the anime brand's landmark collaboration with Webtoon, the Big Three of Webtoon are finally coming to anime.
While One Piece carries the mantle of manga’s Big Three alone, the greatest manhwa in history are preparing to crash onto the anime stage in the form of Tower of God, The God of High School and Noblesse. Here's a primer on each of them, and what their closest manga equivalent is from manga's Big Three.
Noblesse (Manga Equivalent: Bleach)
Noblesse tells the story of an ancient, vampiric being named Raizel who has just awoken from an 800-year hibernation. Unlike normal vampires and the eight noble lords who rule them, Rai is a Noblesse: an unstoppable being charged with overseeing the vampire race and ensuring their balance in the world is not overstepped or abused. With the help of his loyal servant Frankenstein, Raizel enrolls in high school to maintain the cover of an ordinary citizen and perhaps figure out the modern world along the way.
It takes place in a modern world identical like ours, where the existence of vampires and other strange beings are kept hidden from humans. Most of the major players are split into three secretive factions: the vampiric Nobles, the transforming Werewolves and the human Union. Each faction wants to stand above the rest, even if it means eliminating everyone else in the process.
In the world of manga, Bleach is the most similar to Noblesse. The characters of Bleach are usually split into clearly-defined factions: Soul Reapers, Quincies, Hollows, and so-on. Each of these factions competes for influence and dominance, and Ichigo usually ends up being the person who keeps them in balance. These groups also happen to be what drives the overall narrative, with each arc usually dedicated to facing at least one of them.
Moreover, Bleach also takes place in a world that seems very much like ours. Hollows, Soul Reapers, and other mystical elements are kept hidden by the fact that ordinary humans cannot see or interact with them. Even Zanpakuto can be found in Noblesse in the form of Soul Weapons, which each of the Noble clan leaders can summon.
The God of High School (Manga Equivalent: Naruto)
The God of High School follows Mori Jin, a young martial artist with a love of fighting and an unwavering desire to beat the best of the best. The manhwa follows Mori as he enters the God of High School Tournament, the greatest and most extreme martial arts competition in history. After befriending and teaming up with karate specialist Daewi Han and swordmaster Mira Yoo, the three push through each round and face off against the most dangerous fighters in the world.
In Mori’s world, people can use Borrowed Power to harness the energy of gods, demons, and mythical beings to use in battle. Every round will see him go against more skilled martial artists and more intimidating Borrowed Power users, which is made more intense by the fact that Mori does not use Borrowed Power -- or any weapon for that matter. Even though the early parts of The God of High School focus almost entirely on the tournament, each arc is kept vastly different. Every arc also raises the power ceiling drastically to keep its audience holding onto their seats.
If any of the Big Three of manga can be compared to The God of High School, it’s Naruto. They both follow the life of an immovable protagonist with a very special origin, albeit in very different ways. While Mori was standing on top of the world for his strength, Naruto was bullied by the people around him. You might even say that, if Naruto was loved for who he was, or if Mori was hated for what he was, the two would relate closer than anyone else.
While Naruto’s ninjas don’t use Borrowed Power, their chakra grants them supernatural powers that enhance their combat skills. In fact, chakra originates from an alien race, making it not too different from Borrowed Power. Lastly, Naruto’s arcs are all incredibly distinct from one another. A new arc in Naruto means more than just a new enemy to face, but it also means that the power ceiling is raised by the arrival of these new foes.
Tower of God (Manga Equivalent: One Piece)
Tower of God is the last and perhaps most legendary of the Big Three of Webtoon. The series follows Bam, a young boy with one goal in mind: to reach the top of the Tower of God, a place where any desire will be granted. However, everyone in his world also wants to reach the top, and while he meets some trusted friends along the way, he also encounters vicious enemies. What drives Bam the most is his hope, trust and optimism. He believes that he can reach the top, and he believes that his friends can reach it with him -- which drives them to also believe in him.
The world of Tower of God is immensely vast and populated with countless forces who have their own dreams, lives and motives. It is an incredibly mysterious and dangerous place with laws, structures and deep history. The Tower is separated into floors, and its inhabitants must pass tests to make it from one floor to the next. Every floor is a grueling adventure, but with every new place Bam visits, the world becomes ever more captivating. However, the Jahad Empire that controls the Tower is also secretly stopping anyone from reaching the top.
Out of the Big Three of manga, none compare to Tower of God as closely as One Piece. Like Bam, Luffy is an idealistic adventurer with a single dream: to reach the end of the Grand Line and become Pirate King. Since everyone else also has the same goal, Luffy builds a crew of trusted friends and gains powerful allies who will help him take on the world.
Instead of the Tower’s floors, the Grand Line is separated into islands that host entire countries. The worlds of One Piece and Tower of God are constantly evolving, and their inhabitants are always achieving things far away or even completely unrelated to their main characters. Because of that, the Grand Line and the Tower always feel incredibly alive. While the Tower is controlled by the Jahad Empire, the Grand Line is overseen by the Navy, who will stop at nothing to prevent any pirate from reaching One Piece.
