One of the most important awards ceremonies in the literary world, the Harvey Awards, will be held again this year. October is just around the corner and the list of nominations is now being published. Thankfully, the nominations for the “Best Manga” category are finally here. The Harvey Awards, named after the author and illustrator Harvey Kurtzman, were first presented in 1998.

The annual event has quickly gained momentum, and given the growing popularity of manga series worldwide, it’s no wonder fans couldn’t wait for the release of their nominations list in the Best Manga category. Now, without much ado, let’s take a look at which manga series made the list this year:

The nominations for the best manga at the Harvey Awards 2024:

The summer Hikaru died

The horror manga by Mokumokuren made the list. Based on the lives of two teenagers, Hikaru and Yoshiki, the manga tells the story of friendship, adventure, finding peace, and making the best of every situation life throws at you. This is seen when Hikaru is suddenly close to death in a freak accident when a sinister entity consumes him before he can die. As a result, the sinister entity takes on the form of Hikaru, with all of his memories and feelings remaining intact.

Yoshiki, however, quickly notices the change but still wants to stay close to his friend, even as he has to deal with the strange nature of the new Hikaru as well as deadly beings that suddenly seem too close to him. The phenomenal art style and captivating narrative have made the series extremely popular, and now that an anime adaptation has been announced, this nomination is happy news for fans.

Which Hat Atelier

Kamome Shirahama’s Which Hat Atelier has also made it into the nominations once again. Having already won the award in 2020, it’s no surprise that its continued brilliance secures it another nomination. Famous for its gorgeous art style and holistic concept, Witch Hat Atelier follows Coco with her dreams of becoming a witch. However, since only those born with magical powers are destined to do so, her dreams seem impossible until she meets a witch named Qifrey. The story shows how they embark on a journey together full of hope and dreams, striving to make the world a better place while malevolent forces try to stop them at all costs.

Tasty in the Dungeon

Ryoko Kui’s fantasy comedy manga Delicious in Dungeon finished the first season of its anime adaptation in June, so this nomination only increased fans’ delight. An adventure comedy with mythical creatures, dungeon exploration, and a penchant for monster gourmets? Well, all of this combined has made it one of the most popular sein manga in recent times. The wacky art style complements the story perfectly, so the nomination was expected.

Second hand love

Yamada Murasaki’s manga collection Second Hand Love includes two of the artist’s most popular works, A Blue Flame and Second Hand Love. A translated version by Ryan Holmberg was published in North America by Drawn and Quarterly in 2024. Murasaki’s work effectively evokes thoughts and feelings and deals with adult themes. It will give you a lot to think about after reading it. The nomination comes as a pleasant surprise to fans of his works worldwide.

My picture diary

Maki Fujiwara showed her own masterful artistry by depicting several years of her married life with the much-celebrated mangaka Yoshiharu Tsuge. From her struggles, the stress of raising children, her battle with cancer, and Tsuge’s obvious mental health issues, the diary tackles everything in an unflinching way while still maintaining a very simplistic, almost intimate art style. Originally compiled by Fujiwara as a memory journal for her son to remember when he’s older, the publication sheds light on her personal life and the enigma that Tsuge represented. A translated version by Ryan Holmberg was published in North America by Drawn and Quarterly in 2023.

Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 14

Berserk is considered one of the most popular manga of all time and has won many awards over the years. The detailed drawings, complex plot, and great sensitivity in dealing with the serious themes in Kentaro Miura’s manga are phenomenal. It is a testament to the series’ legacy that Miura’s childhood friend and fellow manga writer Kouji Mori took over the helm to continue the series after his unfortunate death, so this nomination is highly anticipated and appreciated by fans.

Okinawa

Okinawa is basically Susumu Higa’s love letter to his culture, people, history and homeland. A collection of his works previously published in two volumes: Sword of Sand and Mabui. From the struggles of the occupation and WWII to contemporary life on the island, his art finds a delicate balance of violence, love and nostalgia in Okinawa. Completed with an image at the end of each chapter that contains the soul of the country, be it geography, people or cultural aspects, it sheds light on a different kind of manga genre unknown to many people outside Japan.

Fortunately, its brilliance has already been noticed, as it continues to receive many awards since its release in 2023. Jocelyn Allen’s translation makes for an overall pleasant reading experience. It also includes one of Higa’s interviews, where he notes that his work can make people around the world take another look at Okinawa and connect everyone to our common humanity.

The Shadow over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft

Famed horror mangaka Gou Tanabe has submitted another of his HP Lovecraft collaborations, featuring the late author’s only story to be published as a book during his lifetime. Its incredibly detailed art style with scary scenes was pretty obvious and would make it onto the list of nominees, but the confirmation has excited many of his fans.

Freeze: Beyond Journey’s End

The fantasy manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe is another contender for the award. The overwhelming response that both the manga and the anime adaptation have received from fans is a testament to their genius, so this nomination makes perfect sense. With over 22 million copies in circulation, Freeze: Beyond Journey’s End is undoubtedly one of the most popular shonen manga in recent times. Its brilliant illustrations have already led to several awards in recent years, and fans expect this to continue to be the case.

Soichi: Junji Ito story collection

The collection of stories of the Uzumaki It was probably clear from the start that famous manga artist Junti Ito would have a place on the nomination list. And rightly so, because Ito has consistently delivered exquisite art over the years that complements his complex storylines. Therefore, a nod to the artist’s brilliance is to be expected.

The winner of the Harvey Awards is expected to be announced in October, when the ceremony is scheduled to take place. Until then, stay tuned to our website as we continue to bring more news on the event!

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