 If you liked
Dragon Ball
|
 ...then you might like
Kinnikuman
|
Both start out as gag mangas but slowly turns into more serious fighting manga. Both are classics that you will see referenced alot in other works.
80s superpower manga which started as a gag manga originally then as time went on, they became intense battle manga with a gigantic cast where frequent deaths are solved with revivals.
Both were very popular Weekly Shounen Jump manga and feature a protagonist who isn't very intelligent and really likes to eat, as well as many characters who start as villains but then turn out good and help the heroes.
This is a shonen trope setter. This is Dragon Ball Meets Wrestling. It has Surreal and Epic fights, Colorful characters, and grows with it's audience (all just like Dragon Ball). I wouldn't be surprised if it inspired if it inspired Akira Toriyama with some aspects of the series. If you like Dragon ball in an form, you owe it to yourself to Read/Watch Kinnikuman.
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Recommended by AnonymousYoshi
Starts as a gag manga, but eventually becomes a full-blown action series with dramatic fights and complete story arcs.
MC creates a constantly growing group of friends, and consistently learns new moves/techniques.
Establishes many tropes and concepts within the genre. Arguably the broader medium itself.
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Recommended by PlasticRobot