The Most Iconic Manga Panels of All Time

Manga is an art form where a single panel can define a story, captivate readers, and leave an unforgettable impression. Whether through breathtaking illustrations or emotionally charged moments, these panels transcend the medium, becoming cultural landmarks. Here, we highlight some of the most visually stunning and narratively powerful manga panels ever created.

Berserk – “Reunion at the Hill of Swords” (Kentaro Miura)

Berserk’s art is legendary for its intricate linework and epic compositions. In this panel, Griffith stands amidst a graveyard of swords – a hauntingly beautiful scene known as the “Hill of Swords.” The level of detail is staggering: every blade, armor etching, and wisp of cloud is rendered with “pen-and-ink artwork... far more intricate and detailed than is typical” for manga.

Critics note Miura’s “almost obsessive use of minute crosshatching and other textural details,” drawing inspiration from classical artists like Gustave Doré and Hieronymus Bosch. Fans and critics alike have lauded panels like this for their emotional impact and visual complexity – here, the composition conveys both grandeur and sorrow.

Jonah Alexander Hunt on his blog calls it “one of the most brilliant villain panels I’ve ever seen in manga”, capturing Griffith’s cold aura as he stands among the very graves of his sacrificed comrades.

The result is a panel that showcases why Berserk’s art is widely praised: unparalleled detail, dramatic contrast, and a palpable atmosphere that leaves readers in awe.

Vagabond – Musashi in the Tall Grass (Takehiko Inoue)

Vagabond exhibits a completely different yet equally stunning artistry. Takehiko Inoue uses bold brush strokes and sweeping ink washes, giving the manga a quasi-calligraphic, painterly look. A frequently cited example is the scene of Miyamoto Musashi walking through tall grass before a duel – the panel conveys motion and solitude with expressive strokes of ink.

Readers on manga forums often remark that Vagabond “hits you in the feels with its art”, especially through its richly textured landscapes. Inoue’s masterful use of light and shadow, along with negative space, produces panels that feel almost alive. One enthusiast describes the series as “filled with beautiful art, and some of them are just masterpieces.”

From serene countryside vistas to intense swordfight spreads, Inoue showcases a unique blend of realism and impressionism. The texture on the landscape scenery is otherworldly, making readers pause to soak in the scenery. Vagabond’s diverse art style – sometimes delicate and quiet, other times explosively dynamic – has cemented its panels among the most celebrated in manga artistry.

Akira – Destruction of Neo-Tokyo (Katsuhiro Otomo)

Akira revolutionized manga with cinematic paneling and meticulously detailed artwork. A standout example is the double-page spread of Neo-Tokyo’s destruction – a chaotic cityscape rendered in astonishing detail, with skyscrapers crumbling and debris flying.

Otomo’s draftsmanship here is often cited by critics: “the detail in the artwork is astounding. The city backdrops are meticulous”, one reviewer marvels. The composition expertly guides the eye through the carnage, embodying Otomo’s mastery of perspective and motion. His peers regard him as a “master at drawing architecture”, able to depict complex urban scenes with both precision and energy.

This panel’s impact comes from its sheer scale and clarity – despite the dense detail, the action remains easy to follow, much like a wide shot in a film. Across manga communities, Akira’s city destruction panels are revered for combining technical excellence with dramatic impact, exemplifying how a black-and-white drawing can feel more immersive than any explosion in color.

Goodnight Punpun – Photorealistic Suburbia (Inio Asano)

Goodnight Punpun (Oyasumi Punpun) is known for blending simple cartoon characters with incredibly realistic backgrounds. One widely praised panel shows two characters standing by a fenced lot under blooming trees, drawn with such realism that it could be mistaken for a photograph.

Inio Asano's technique - often using real photo references then inking over them - results in "some of the most beautiful manga panels [readers] have ever seen", even if the story itself is tragically depressing. In this example, every leaf on the tree, every texture on the concrete wall, and each line of the fence is rendered in painstaking detail. The composition feels lifelike - you can sense the quiet, suburban atmosphere and almost hear the rustle of leaves.

Fans point out how Asano's attention to detail - "the details on the trees and the shed", as one review describes - gives the scene an immersive depth rarely seen in comics. The panel's impact also comes from contrast: the main character, Punpun, is drawn as a simplistic doodle amid an ultra-real world, a stylistic choice that heightens the emotional weight. This marriage of artistry and narrative meaning is why Punpun panels are celebrated in online communities; they're not just background art, but visual storytelling that captures the melancholy and realism of everyday life in breathtaking form.

GeGeGe no Kitarō – The Birth of Kitarō and Medama-Oyaji (Shigeru Mizuki)

One of the most haunting and iconic panels in GeGeGe no Kitarō is the moment of Kitarō’s birth and the emergence of his father as Medama-Oyaji. Originally from Hakaba no Kitarō (“Graveyard Kitarō”), this panel depicts a newborn Kitarō crawling out of a grave, while his father - who has rotted away due to illness - reawakens as a tiny walking eyeball.

Shigeru Mizuki’s artwork blends realistic horror and folkloric whimsy in a way that was groundbreaking for 1960s manga. The graveyard setting is rendered with dark, textured cross-hatching, evoking an eerie, deathly atmosphere. Kitarō’s father, before becoming Medama-Oyaji, appears as a mummified, skeletal corpse, a disturbing yet sorrowful sight. In stark contrast, Medama-Oyaji himself is drawn in a simple, cartoonish style, making his resurrection feel surreal yet oddly endearing. The artistic clash between horror realism and folkloric charm is one of GeGeGe no Kitarō’s defining characteristics.

Narratively, this panel is pivotal - it establishes both Kitarō’s supernatural origins and the deep parental bond between him and his father. Despite losing his human body, Medama-Oyaji chooses to continue guiding and protecting his son, embodying Mizuki’s theme of love transcending death. This scene also sets the tone for GeGeGe no Kitarō’s blend of macabre and heartwarming storytelling, where grotesque imagery often carries profound emotional weight.

Fans and critics alike recognize this as one of the most memorable moments in the series. It has been referenced in later adaptations, recreated in exhibits, and remains a defining visual of Kitarō’s mythology. The shocking yet touching image of a child born from a grave and an eyeball that becomes his father is an unforgettable introduction to Mizuki’s world of yōkai, making this panel one of the most celebrated in manga history.