Banana Fish

Set in the gritty underbelly of 1980s New York, Banana Fish is a sprawling crime saga published in France by Panini France from 2002 to 2006 across 19 issues. Written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida, this series follows the young gang leader Ash Lynx as he unravels the deadly mystery behind a cryptic phrase, "Banana Fish," while navigating a world of organized crime, corruption, and a powerful, enigmatic syndicate. Its taut, cinematic storytelling and complex, emotionally resonant characters made it a landmark work in the shojo manga genre, proving that a series aimed at young women could deliver a dark, action-packed thriller with equal depth and brutality.