Kazuki Takahashi created Yu-Gi-Oh!, the manga series that began as a dark school story about games, punishment and the mysterious alter ego of Yugi Mutou before evolving into the card-battle mythology for which it became internationally known. Early chapters feature many different games and dangerous challenges; later arcs centre more heavily on Duel Monsters, ancient Egyptian history, rival duellists and the identity of the spirit connected to Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. Takahashi's artwork is energetic and increasingly elaborate, with monster design, game mechanics and dramatic confrontations driving the later volumes. The series sits most naturally across shōnen manga, fantasy adventure and game-based comics. Readers wanting the full development should begin with the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga rather than entering only through later card-focused spin-offs. Read more Less