The 7 Best 4-Koma Manga: Laugh Out Loud

4-Koma manga is a style of Japanese comics that features four-panel comic strips arranged in a vertical stack.

These manga are known for their simple, humorous, and often absurd content, and are popular in a wide range of genres, including comedy, romance, and action.

In this article, we will recommend seven 4-Koma manga that you should definitely add to your reading list.

1. Bocchi the Rock!

"Bocchi the Rock" is a manga series written and illustrated by Aki Hamaji.

The story follows the life of Hitori Gotoh, a shy high school girl who loves to play the guitar and wants to make friends but finds it difficult due to her social anxiety.

After she met drummer Nijika Ijichi, Hitori Gotoh began to shed her shell and make new friends.

Review

One of the strengths of "Bocchi the Rock" is its relatable characters.

Hitori Gotoh's struggles with social anxiety are portrayed in a realistic and empathetic way, and her journey to overcome her fears is both heartwarming and inspiring.

The manga also features a great soundtrack, with frequent references to rock music that enhance the overall reading experience.

However, some readers may find the pacing of the story slow at times.

2. Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

"Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun" is a famous 4-Koma manga by Izumi Tsubaki.

The series follows high school student Chiyo Sakura as she tries to confess her feelings to her crush, Umetarou Nozaki, but instead becomes his assistant in creating manga.

Review

One of the strengths of "Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun" is its ability to parody the Shoujo genre of manga while also paying homage to it.

The art style is simple and clean, with expressive character designs that convey the emotions and humor of the story effectively.

Overall, its unique take on the shoujo genre and lovable characters make it a must-read for fans of comedy manga.

3. 19 Days

"19 Days" is the best Chinese 4-Koma manhua created and illustrated by Old Xian (aka Ling You).

The story follows the lives of four high school boys, Jian Yi, Zhan Zhengxi, He Tian and Mo Guanshan, and their struggles in friendship, relationships and personal struggles.

Review

The manga is unique in its approach to storytelling, as it is told in a series of short chapters, often only a few pages long, with no overarching plotline.

Instead, the focus is on the day-to-day interactions between the characters and their growing relationships with each other.

The art style is simple yet expressive, with a focus on character designs and body language.

Overall, "19 Days" is a charming and heartwarming manga that explores the complexities of friendship and love in a refreshingly honest and realistic way.

4. Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan

"Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan" is a heartwarming and delightful manga series that follows the life of Kyuu-chan, a cute and fluffy kitten with an extraordinary ability to communicate with humans.

Review

The best thing about "Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan" is how relatable it is to cat owners.

The series captures the quirky and amusing behavior of cats, and the conversations between Kyuu-chan and his owner are always amusing and endearing.

5. The Demon Girl Next Door

"The Demon Girl Next Door" is a manga series written and illustrated by Izumo Ito. 

The story revolves around a high school girl named Yoshida Yuko, who discovers that she is actually a demon and must defeat a magical girl to restore her family's powers.

Review

The manga is a lighthearted comedy that primarily focuses on the daily lives of Yuko and her friends.

The characters are all charming and quirky, and their interactions are often hilarious. Yuko's struggles with her newfound powers and her relationship with the magical girl, Chiyoda Momo, are the main plot points of the story.

6. Tsurezure Children

"Tsurezure Children" is a delightful romantic comedy manga series by Toshiya Wakabayashi. The series revolves around the love lives of several high school students, each with their own unique personalities and quirks.

Review

The outstanding feature of "Tsurezure Children" is its plot structure.

Each chapter focuses on a different couple, allowing readers to quickly become invested in each relationship without feeling overwhelmed by too many characters or subplots. 

In terms of artwork, it is well-drawn and features expressive character designs that help to bring each character to life.

7. Azumanga Daioh

"Azumanga Daioh" is a classic manga series that was written and illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma.

The story follows a group of high school girls and their teachers as they navigate through their daily lives, dealing with schoolwork, relationships, and their own unique quirks and personalities.

Each character has her own distinct traits and interests, and the series does a great job of balancing humor and heartfelt moments.

Review

"Azumanga Daioh" manages to capture the essence of high school life in a way that is both relatable and entertaining. The characters feel like real people, and their struggles and triumphs are easy to identify with.

And its style is simple yet charming, with expressive characters and clean lines. Exaggerated facial expressions and visual gags often accentuate comedic moments.

How to Read 4 Koma Manga

A 4-koma manga has four panels per page. Here are some tips on how to read 4-koma manga:

1. Start from the top left panel and read from left to right.
2. Move down to the next panel on the right and continue reading from left to right.
3. Repeat this process for the third and fourth panels, reading from left to right.
4. After reading all four panels, move down to the next row and repeat the process.

It's important to note that 4-koma manga often use a lot of visual humor and puns that may not translate well to other languages, so some jokes may get lost in translation.

Also, some mangas may have a specific reading order, such as a panel being a punchline, so pay attention to the visual cues and the order of the panels.

See Also

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