Junji Ito might be the king of horror manga, but there are still many other contenders for the title of heir to the throne. These horror selections have been reviewed by staff to tell you what's spooky, what's kooky, and what will give you major creeps.
Everyone faces uncertainty at some point in their lives. Even a brilliant surgeon like Kenzo Tenma is no exception. But there’s no way he could have known that his decision to stop chasing professional success and instead concentrate on his oath to save peoples’ lives would result in the birth of an abomination. The questions of good and evil now take on a terrifyingly real dimension.
Years later, in Germany during the tumultuous post-reunification period, middle-aged childless couples are being killed one after another. The serial killer’s identity is known. The reasons why he kills are not. Dr. Tenma sets out on a journey to find the killer’s twin sister, who may hold some clues to solving the enigma of the “Monster.”
Assh’s Review: I am a huge fan of Urasawa'a masterwork 20th Century Boys, so I knew going into this that I would have a great time. He continues to astound with great work that you just can't put down. Urasawa, like Kazuo Umezu, is clearly influnced by Tezuka Osamu - which makes sense because one of his other famous works is Pluto, based off of Osamu's work. However, he deviates to focus on character driven stories and psychological thrillers. While there isn't a cult in this, there is clearly a network of criminals working with the antagonist, which creates a sense of serious paranoia and dread for the reader. How can you escape from someone that has so many allies? While many of the other books on this list are gore or terrifying psychological horror, this one is more subtle - it unfolds like a well written detective novel. I cannot stress how great this is - if you don't read anything else off this list, you should at least give Monster a look.
Shy Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with the beautiful Rize. But it turns out that she’s only interested in his body—eating it, that is. When a morally questionable rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid, Ken is drawn into the dark and violent world of Ghouls, which exists alongside our own.
Assh’s Review: The premise starts off a bit like another title on the list, Happiness – they both have incredibly nerdy protagonists that are punching above the belt in terms of their love interest. However in Tokyo Ghoul, our protagonist is just a mild geek who ends up turning into a monster. This leans into the horror aspect a bit, asking what makes a ghoul versus a person – if a ghoul turns down human flesh, does that make them a better being? The vibes are very Nezuku from Demon Slayer, without the weird bamboo horse bit. This series spawned a sequel, Tokyo Ghoul:re, an anime, and a live action film, so I do suggest it for fans of Ajin and Parasyte.
His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned -- and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance. Created by Kentaro Miura, Berserk is manga mayhem to the extreme -- violent, horrifying, and mercilessly funny -- and the wellspring for the internationally popular anime series. Not for the squeamish or the easily offended, Berserk asks for no quarter -- and offers none!
Assh’s Review: I started reading this when I was 17, the year after it was released in America and I have to admit that even then I thought of it as a very dark manga. The art is hyper-detailed and Miura spares no expense timewise in ensuring that his ideas are represented to their fullest extent. Every glaring and disgusting act is visually expressed, and the story is gripping. I didn’t realize how much of a horror series it was until you get to the end of the first arc and you get to see one of the most horrific scenes of someone going over the edge of madness for power. It actually is also one of the longest running series of all time, only ending this year due to the unfortunate death of the creator in May 2021. If you have the time to dedicate to it, it is a well worthy series to invest in. Just don’t be squeamish. Check out the anime too.
Nothing interesting is happening in Makoto Ozaki’s first year of high school. HIs life is a series of quiet humiliations: low-grade bullies, unreliable friends, and the constant frustration of his adolescent lust. But one night, a pale, thin girl knocks him to the ground in an alley and offers him a choice. Now everything is different. Daylight is searingly bright. Food tastes awful. And worse than anything is the terrible, consuming thirst. The tiny shames of his old life have been replaced by two towering horrors: the truth of what will slake his awful craving and high school itself.
Assh’s Review: Wow, this series is creepy. And I do mean every aspect – the main character? That dude is absolutely a pervert. And the woman who bites him? All the yikes on bikes. Everything about this manga makes my skin crawl, and that’s why it’s a winner. There isn’t a moment in which you aren’t disgusted, which is exactly what we’re going for.
Ajin: Demi-Human by Gamon Sakurai
High school student Kei Nagai is struck dead in a grisly traffic accident, but immediately revives to learn that he may not be like every other human. Instead, he may be a mysterious almost-immortal being granted not only the powers of rejuvenation but the ability to see supernatural beings. Scared, he runs away and is aided in his escape from society by his friend. Unfortunately for Kei, the manhunt is on, and he will soon be caught within a conflict between mankind and others like him as they prepare to fight a new war based on terror.
Assh’s Review: Full disclosure from me: I watched the anime first and after the first episode I walked away. Why? I thought it was very whatever – it didn’t grip me. My mistake though, because the manga got me good. Kei seems a bit spineless and selfish when you meet him, but as he discovers the truth about himself he does his best to mitigate the fallout for those who help him. It also is a bit bleak in terms of family treatment – his family are filled with jerks who are quick to give him up the moment they think that they can get away from the spectacle of it. I think that anyone who enjoys a good mystery tied in with a bit of gore will enjoy this series. And clearly, it’s also an anime!
Petshop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino
Welcome to Chinatown! During your visit, be sure to stop by Count D's Petshop where love and dreams are sold in the form of mythical creatures - but not without a catch. The buyer must adhere to a set of rules, which if broken, may result in death ... or worse.
Assh’s Review: To start, I definetely want to point out there is something initially off putting about making the setting of the shop LA's Chinatown. That's a very dated and problematic stereotype, however as this was originally written in 1996, they were likely not being as culturally sensitive as they should be. Aside from that, I did enjoy the story. It's very much in the vein of the story of the mogwai from Gremlins - you should be very careful with what you adopt or there will be consequences. Each of the animals thus far has taking on a seemlingly human appearance when you first meet them, which ups the creep factor. If you enjoy a story filed with schadenfreude, this is the manga for you.
The Drifting Classroom by Kazuo Umezz
Out of nowhere, an entire school vanishes, leaving nothing but a hole in the ground. While parents mourn and authorities investigate, the students and teachers find themselves not dead but stranded in a terrifying wasteland where they must fight to survive.
Assh’s Review: The art in Umezu’s work is in the same vein of classic Astro Boy artist Tezuka Osamu and Junji Ito; it’s very stark, and simplistic, but the facial expressions on characters are very terrifying because of it. At first when you start reading The Drifting Classroom, it doesn’t seem to be much of a horror entry, but as the story develops you realize that actually it’s one of the worst possible things that could happen to a child or parent. The story also explores what happens to the human psyche as people are put under immense pressure, some cracking under it and hurting those around them, and others just listless and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I think that if you enjoy Ito’s work Remina, you will enjoy The Drifting Classroom.
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi story, humanity has been devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming mankind. Seemingly unintelligent, they have roamed the world for years, killing everyone they see. For the past century, what's left of man has hidden in a giant, three-walled city. People believe their 100-meter-high walls will protect them from the Titans, but the sudden appearance of an immense Titan is about to change everything.
Assh’s Review: I might be the only person alive who cannot stand this series. I think that the main character is a total jerk and that alone makes me not want to continue reading it, however it is one of the most popular series of all time and I would be remiss to not have it on this list. What makes it horror? Literally everyone you grow to care about, even a little bit, might die a gruesome death. It’s a bleak one, and no one is spared from the tragedies of the Titans. I did like the fact that no one is safe, but it didn’t really get me to stay and read the entirety of it. However, it does have a pretty great plot and many people get very attached to it, so give it a chance. I would say if you like Death Note you will enjoy this series because you clearly enjoy annoying main characters. There is also an anime, if you want to check that out.
Descriptions adapted from publishers