Puppet Circus

This is the masterpiece shonen manga [Puppet Circus] by Fujita Kazuhiro. Serialized from 1997 to 2006, it concluded with a total of 43 volumes, or 26 volumes in the complete edition. The story primarily revolves around the events that unfold as three individuals – Kato, a martial artist afflicted with Jonaha's disease which causes him to suffocate if he doesn't make others laugh; Shirogane, a puppeteer; and Masaru, a young boy who inherits a vast fortune and faces imminent death – become embroiled in a war between an army of automatons and the automaton-destroying legion. While its meticulous plot-thread recovery and the direction that grants nearly every character a narrative arc and purpose deserve high praise, it does have the drawback of being somewhat slow-paced in the beginning, with the real fun only kicking in after enduring a certain level of buildup. It might be viewed negatively by those who prefer clean art and fast-paced developments, but once you get past the initial part, it's a work that leaves such a strong impression it could be called a "life-changing manga."