Manga
Beginning in 1997 and continuing on through the present, Eiichiro Oda's acclaimed pirate comic "One Piece" has run the gamut of Shonen cliché, on occasion surprised its readers (such as a guy who shoots ramen from his nose), thrilled them (Luffy vs. Crocodile Mark III, anyone?), and even chilled them (Usopp's Alabasta speech). Don't take it from words alone! Look through this site, and even better, read the manga -- there's no shortage of links. The popularity of the manga has also allowed for a 7:00 P.M. slot on Japanese TV on Sunday, where an animated version is viewed.
Thus far, One Piece has spanned 505 chapters and 50 volumes. To some, it isn't the jokes, the drama, the characters or the action that matters: it's the amalgamation of it all. "Fight for your dreams!" "Stand up for your friends!" "Make the world a better place!" ... Those are messages that speak to most, but you might still find your own reasons to read.