Modern war
Manga
Some interesting manga centered around (or set in the backdrop of) war between nations in and around (an analogous version of) the modern era, with a slight emphasis towards the late modern period and beyond. I'll try my best to include a good amount of variety of locations / settings.
I curated this list based on the amount of discourse each of these stories presents about the historical context of a war, or makes considerable effort to deliver storylines that depict war strategies or the lives of combatants or an explanation of national politics.
I will try not including sequels, prequels, or spin-offs in this list, unless they are significantly different in nature to the original, in an effort to avoid repetition or bias towards any particular stories.
Sorted in alphabetical order.
As clarification, I am a pacifist. I wish to also distance myself from the morals held by protagonists in these manga, as well as any real-world jingoists who may see this list as a form of personal fanaticism.
I curated this list based on the amount of discourse each of these stories presents about the historical context of a war, or makes considerable effort to deliver storylines that depict war strategies or the lives of combatants or an explanation of national politics.
I will try not including sequels, prequels, or spin-offs in this list, unless they are significantly different in nature to the original, in an effort to avoid repetition or bias towards any particular stories.
Sorted in alphabetical order.
As clarification, I am a pacifist. I wish to also distance myself from the morals held by protagonists in these manga, as well as any real-world jingoists who may see this list as a form of personal fanaticism.
Manga, ? vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:10
The setting of Baikoku Kikan, a small European Republic, imitates that of real-life Poland in the early 20th century, and its struggles for self-determination while positioned between two large powers. The story follows a part of the Republic's military and their role in suppressing dissent, during a precarious post-war era, where the balance of power can shift at any moment.
Manga, ? vol, 2002
Me:-
Author:9
Black Lagoon contains hints of proxy war between major global powers in the late 20th century and takes place predominantly in and around the waters of southeast Asia.
Manga, 27 vol, 2001
Me:-
Author:9
FMA mimics European, particularly German, society on the cusp of what would be World War 1 in real-life history. Other major issues also briefly addressed are scientific advancements made with military motives and problems with immigration.
Manga, ? vol, 2017
Me:-
Author:8
As the title suggests, the story is predominantly concerned with how a realist would address inter-nation conflicts in a fantasy world, consisting of several humanoid species typical of the stories in this genre. It greatly fleshes out the context of its fantasy world and politics between all the known nations. By a rough estimate of the technological progress of its world, it can be said to occur in an analogue of the mid-to-late 19th century.
Manga, 31 vol, 2014
Me:-
Author:10
Golden Kamuy is set in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese war, with events focused predominantly on the Hokkaido island and Sakhalin oblast. It explores the issues of Ainu assimilation (or lack thereof) into a homogenized Japanese culture, strained Russo-Japanese relations, and the convoluted web of military and intelligence agencies and rogue cartels and the lingering remnants of Japan's shogunate era.
Manga, 3 vol, 1995
Me:-
Author:9
Okay, so technically this isn't set in the modern era at all, as it is set in the mid-to-late 15th century. However, I still included it because it gives great context for the state of affairs in France leading up to the early modern era. We see the aftermath of the Hundred Years' War and the ramifications it had on French society of the time.
Manga, 10 vol, 2019
Me:-
Author:-
Though not directly centred around an international military conflict, this story concerns a international humanitarian issue and the problems faced by Irish refugees in America in the mid-19th century.
Manga, 1 vol, 1989
Me:-
Author:10
A fascinating take, from the late 1980s, on a possible imagining of how proxy war between global powers can take place in the digital age. I included GiTS in this list because it is refreshingly different from other manga I have included, since it is set in the near future, and explores issues of digital warfare.
Manga, 6 vol, 2019
Me:-
Author:7
This is a low-fantasy series set in a society that is very reminiscent of Europe in the mid 19th sentury.
Manga, ? vol, 2022
Me:-
Author:-
Another great low-fantasy series which is reminiscent of some version of Europe around the 17th century.
Manga, ? vol, 2009
Me:-
Author:9
A retelling, with a twist, of events occurring in feudal Japan during the Sengoku period in the mid-16th century..
Manga, ? vol, 2024
Me:-
Author:-
Set in the backdrop of (an analogue of) central Europe, in the leadup to the First World War. The plot, so far, focuses on the logistics of the military and diplomatic justifications for wars. The story also briefly addresses the military's role in technological progress.
Manga, ? vol, 2008
Me:-
Author:10
Otoyomegatari is set in the backdrop of Russia's conquest of central Asia in the last 19th century, and mainly explores the lives of several young tribal women along the Silk Road and their daily lives, and their families' struggle to maintain their livelihood while the Russian Empire's army steadily advances over the course of the story.
Manga, 27 vol, 2007
Me:-
Author:9
This story is set in a close resemblance of the Ottoman empire just before the early modern period. Similar to real history, we get to see how the empire in the story is engaged in constant rivalry with their western rivals, and engages in diplomacy or conquest with other neighbouring factions in an attempt to improve their domain of influence in the region.
Manga, ? vol, 2016
Me:-
Author:10
Youjo Senki is a low-fantasy series transpiring in an analogue of our world from the early 20th century. In this story, World War 1 did not take place; instead, we are introduced, through the perspective of imperial Germany, to a world on the brink of a global war, amidst escalating conflicts between a steadily increasing list of belligerents. We are shown how technological progress in the early 20th century completely changed how countries approached war strategy, and also educated on the shortcomings of the law of war at the time in handling battles fought in this new paradigm.
