Summary
The manga world is not a simple one. One cannot claim to be an avid manga reader without venturing into the myriad of never-ending genres it has. Things become more complicated when the most outrageous genres get mixed and matched to create something completely unhinged. Yet, it’s precisely these bizarre combinations that elicit a fan following.
One such combination is theisekai slice-of-life manga. Whileisekai themes in manga and light novelsare mostly followed by romance and action, and very rarely by slice-of-life, they’re not completely uncommon. In fact, the addition of slice-of-life in isekai may just be the perfect escape for an isekai manga fan. Slice-of-life is great if pulled off correctly; no plot, no conflict, just pure vibes. Isekai slice-of-life? Far better! Imagine a tired, battle-scarred MC getting another chance at life just so they could take a break. That can turn into one engaging plot!
Other Genres
Comedy
Kemono Michiis an isekai manga that breaks away from the traditional isekai route and adopts a more laid-back approach in terms of story. Although, the same cannot be said for its extremely exaggerated and flashy comedic sequences. It’s an ongoing manga that was released in 2016 and currently has about 70 chapters published.
Kemno Michifollows the story of a Japanese pro wrestler who goes by the name of Genzou Shibata. Genzou is an animal lover to the core and cannot, for the life of him, think of hurting them. Ironically, he gets transported into a fantasy world where mythical beasts are humans' biggest enemies. When the kingdom’s princess orders him to wipe these beasts away, he powerbombs her as an act of defiance and instead opens a small pet shop.
Comedy, Fantasy
Uncle from Another Worldis an ongoing manga series that began in 2018 and currently has approximately 55 published chapters. It’s essentially aparody take on the isekai genre, and it does a great job of not crossing the line. And for all the fantasy stuff in it, it’s way more “realistic” than some of the other manga here, especially considering how it pays tribute to the long-forgotten but classic Sega consoles.
Takafumi’s comatose uncle unexpectedly wakes up from his coma after seventeen years and claims that he’s been fighting monsters and honing his magic in a fantasy world all this time. Takafumi deems this as a side effect of the coma and doesn’t pay much mind to it until his uncle starts showing him some “magic tricks.” The only problem is that his uncle has missed out on seventeen years of technology and cannot keep up with the modern world anymore.
Drama, Fantasy
Despite how straightforward the premise ofThe Reborn Little Girl Won’t Give Upis, it still manages to be the cutest, most feel-good manga out there! It’s like a warm hug in comic form. It emphasizes familial bonds and deals with pretty weighty topics, like neglect and distance, in quite literally the most breezy way ever.
At the tender age of only three months, Leila suddenly becomes self-aware (at three months old!) and realizes she’s been reincarnated into a fantasy world suspiciously resembling one in her leisure reads from her previous life. She’s determined to make the best of this new life but is hit by her father’s coldness and indifference towards her. Either way, she’s bent on living happily and peacefully—just a reminder, she’s only a three-month-old baby!
Romance
Not everyone enjoys the over-the-top slapstick comedy found in manga likeIt’s My Life. Some people prefer a more toned-down family trope manga with just the right amount of comedy.From Maid To Motherfits that description almost perfectly. It’s anongoing romance isekaithat was released in 2016 and currently has 65 chapters published.
Lily, the trustworthy and dependable maid to the crown princess, still has memories of her poverty-stricken past life and tragic death. However, thanks to that, she’s retained most of her skills from the past and can climb the ranks in the castle and become the crown princess' most trusted help. Unexpectedly, one day, she finds herself approached by the empire’s most powerful wizard with a surprising proposition—to quit her job at the castle and become the mother of the child he took in.
Adventure
Unlike its rather wordy and complicated name,A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendationis a refreshingly simple manga that provides a nice change of pace from all thefighting and monster-ridding. It was released in 2018 and currently has about 38 chapters under its belt.
Lizel finds himself teleported to a world that holds some resemblance to his own but clearly isn’t his world. In his previous life, he held the position of a trusted aide to the king, who is nowhere to be seen in this new setting. His old experiences have given him enough wisdom and experience to know that panicking won’t do him anything good. So instead, he hires an “adventurer” to help him settle into his new life, at least until his king seeks him out.
Medical, Fantasy
Koudo ni Hattatsu shita Igaku wa Mahou to Kubetsu ga Tsukanaiis one of those rare manga that attempt to blend in realistic themes with fantasy, and actually get away with it. This one stands out not only because of its gorgeous art but also for its heavily medical-focused plot set in a fantasy world filled with beasts and monsters. Despite the challenge of existing in a fantasy world, themedical aspect of this book remainsas credible as the circumstances allow it. It was released in 2021 and currently has about 23 chapters published.
Tadato Amami is a selfless and devoted doctor who was recently transferred, as the lead physician, to a small, struggling remote island in the middle of nowhere. However, on the way to his new position, Tadato gets isekai’d into a world that’s starkly different from the one he came from. How does he figure that out? Well, for starters, he gets chased down by a lion-centaur hybrid beast on the very day he gets transported to this new and strange place.
