It is the ultimate "power fantasy" comfort food, but with great politics and city-building. The Plot: A 37-year-old salaryman is stabbed and wakes up in a fantasy world as a slime monster. He gains the ability to absorb any creature's powers and sets out to build a monster nation where all races can live together happily. The Recommendation: The anime is very faithful and fun. If you love the strategy of Civilization video games, you will love the manga.

Widely regarded as a masterpiece of dark fantasy, it tells the story of Guts, a lone warrior in a brutal world.