Shonen manga, stories often celebrated for their authentic feeling of excitement and fun, are a staple in today’s marketplace. These stories, enriched with excellent and intricately crafted worlds of fun and adventure, are only amazing with excellent protagonist leads that complement stories of friendship and bonds and pursuing ones dreams.  The times of the past had characters who made many manga unique and creative, for example, Syaoran in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles or Mashiro and Takagi in Bakuman, and even Ikki in the recently concluded Air Gear.

For some currently serialized shonen manga — both up-and-coming and established and long-running (with no end in sight) — they’re home to protagonists who are currently the most memorable and unique.

Read on to find out who these five definitive protagonists are in my opinion.

During the Shonen Jump Alpha Fan Meet-Up on Saturday at FanimeCon 2012, the editors of the digital magazine announced they will be publishing a new manga named Barrage.

Hit the break for more details.