21 of the Best Horror Manga Series Out There

An alphabetical list of must-read horror manga series

Last Updated: January 20, 2023 References

Gore. Survival. Monsters. From disturbing imagery to psychological scares, the world of horror manga has it all—and we’re here to help you dip your feet in with some great horror manga recommendations. Ready to get started? Keep scrolling to find a new, horrifying series that peaks your interest.

Things You Should Know

Check out Gyo, Tomie, and Uzumaki if you’d like to explore the works of legendary horror author Junji Ito.
Test the waters with some popular, well-established series like Attack on Titan, Berserk, and Tokyo Ghoul.
Explore more violent, gore-filled tales like Another, Chainsaw Man, Corpse Party: Blood Covered, and Parasyte.

1

Ajin: Demi-Human

In the world of Ajin: Demi Human, immortality comes with a cost. This series explores a mostly human society where a small fraction of the population is actually “ajin,” or immortal demi-humans who are targeted and experimented on by the government. When Kei Nagai inadvertently discovers that he himself is an ajin, he finds himself in terrible danger—and faced with a difficult choice.^{[1]
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- Author: Gamon Sakurai
- Subgenres: Mystery, action, dark fantasy, supernatural
- Anime adaptation: Yes

2

Another

Something sinister is killing the students of Class 3-3 in Another. During his stay at the hospital, new student Kouichi Sakakibara crosses paths with the mysterious Mei Misaki, his fellow classmate—but once he gets to school, everyone pretends that Mei isn’t real. Could this strange girl have something to do with the series of strange deaths that are plaguing Class 3-3?^{[2]
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- Author: Yukito Ayatsuji
- Artist: Hiro Kiyohara
- Subgenres: Drama, gore, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes
- This story is based on the novel by Yukito Ayatsuji, also titled Another.

3

Attack on Titan

Humanity’s survival is on the line in the brutal world of Attack on Titan. This manga chronicles the journey of Eren Yeager, a member of humanity’s last survivors against the Titans, a race of humanoid, man-eating giants. He and thousands of others live within a network of walls that protect them from these Titans—until one of these creatures destroys part of the outer wall.^{[3]
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- Author: Hajime Isayama
- Subgenres: Action, gore, survival horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes

4

Berserk

This ageless tale of Berserk tells the gritty story of Guts the mercenary. Spanning 34 total volumes, Berserk follows Guts from his tragic beginnings to his journey as a seasoned mercenary and the people he comes to battle with—and against—along the way. Although Berserk spans several genres, it does a fantastic job exploring the horrible things that human beings are capable of.^{[4]
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- Author: Kentaro Miura
- Subgenres: Action, adventure, fantasy, gore, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes

5

Blame!

Blame! follows one man’s quest to save a broken world from its corruption. In Blame!, society exists in a technological universe populated by humans and killer robots alike. While most of humanity lives in fearful isolation, a man named Killy journeys to find a person with a specific gene marker that could save the world as they know it.^{[5]
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- Author: Tsutomu Nihei
- Subgenres: Action, sci-fi, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes

6

Blood on the Tracks

Blood on the Tacks explores the toxic depths of a mother’s love. While on a family hike, Seiichi sees a whole new side of his mother after she commits a violent act for the sake of his “protection.” As time progresses, Seiichi continues to learn just how twisted and relentless his mother’s love really is.^{[6]
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- Author: Shuuzou Oshimi
- Subgenres: Drama, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: No

7

Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man follows the journey of Denji, a teen with the heart of a devil. Orphaned at a young age, Denji and his pet devil Pochita hunt devils to pay back Denji’s debt to the local yakuza. After a sudden betrayal by his creditors, Denji meets a violent end—only to be revived after Pochita fuses with him, which gives him the ability to transform into a chainsaw-wielding devil.^{[7]
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- Author: Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Subgenres: Action, supernatural, gore
- Anime adaptation: Yes

8

Corpse Party: Blood Covered

A friendly chant leaves several young students trapped in a cursed school. Based on the video game series of a similar name, Corpse Party: Blood Covered follows a group of elementary school students who do a special ritual at their school, Kisaragi Academy, to solidify their bond together. The ritual actually transports them to a cursed version of the school that Kisaragi was built on top of—a school infamously known for its horrible abductions and murders.^{[8]
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- Author: Makoto Kedouin
- Artist: Toshimi Shinomiya
- Subgenres: Mystery, supernatural, gore, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes
- Corpse Party: Blood Covered is a large horror franchise with several spin-off manga like Corpse Party: Book of Shadows.

9

Domu: A Child’s Dream

An evil psychic meets his match in Domu: A Child’s Dream. Terrible things keep happening to the residents of an apartment complex—and it’s all because of their neighbor, an evil psychic man known as “Old Cho.” Everything changes, however, when young Etsuko starts living in the building, wielding some psychic powers of her own.^{[9]
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- Author: Katsuhiro Otomo
- Subgenres: Supernatural
- Anime adaptation: No
- This manga is known as just Doumu in Japanese; when it was translated and adapted in English, it was published as Domu: A Child’s Dream.
- This manga is hard to find in print, but you can read it for free online.

10

The Drifting Classroom

Survival is on the line when a classroom gets transported to a strange world. In The Drifting Classroom, a strange earthquake sends Shou and his fellow classmates to a hellish new world. As they come to terms with their new reality, the students must learn how to fight the threats around them, as well as the threats within.^{[10]
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- Author: Kazuo Umezu
- Subgenres: Mystery, sci-fi
- Anime adaptation: Yes

11

Gantz

A student finds his world turned upside down with a supernatural bounty hunt. In Gantz, students Kei and Katou are summoned upon their death into a strange bounty hunt by a black orb known as “Gantz.” They learn that they can return to their normal lives, as long as they answer the call when another hunt comes along.^{[11]
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- Author: Hiroya Oku
- Subgenres: Action, drama, gore, supernatural
- Anime adaptation: Yes

12

Gyo

This slightly lesser-known Junji Ito story Gyo explores an aquatic apocalypse. During a trip to Okinawa, partners Tadashi and Kaori are targeted by a fish-human hybrid. Although they’re able to kill the creature, the attack proves to be one of many as strange sea creatures start invading the world on land.^{[12]
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- Author: Junji Ito
- Subgenres: Drama, mystery, sci-fi, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes (movie)

13

I Am a Hero

I Am a Hero explores a world ravaged by the zombie apocalypse. This series follows the journey of Hideo Suzuki, a mangaka assistant who’s struggling with some serious relationship issues. When he goes to make amends to his girlfriend, he finds himself thrust into a terrifying violent new world.^{[13]
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- Author: Kengo Hanazawa
- Subgenres: Drama, gore, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Live-action movie adaptation
- This popular series has several spin-offs, including I Am a Hero in Ibaraki, I Am a Hero in Osaka, and I Am a Hero in Nagasaki.

14

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service

Five students with unique talents join up in Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service. When all of your talents and hobbies revolve around dead people, there aren’t a lot of career options to choose from—except for helping dead people, of course! This series chronicles the titular business as it takes an up-close and personal look into the world of death.^{[14]
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- Author: Eiji Otsuka
- Artist: Housui Yamazaki
- Subgenres: Comedy, drama, supernatural
- Anime adaptation: No

15

Mieruko-chan

In Mieruko-chan, the titular character can see terrible monsters. Mieruko is absolutely horrified by the creatures she sees, but she tries to act like nothing that she witnesses is real. Despite her terror, Mieruko must face the horrors around her to protect both her friend and herself.^{[15]
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- Author: Tomoki Izumi
- Subgenres: Comedy, slice of life, supernatural
- Anime adaptation: Yes

16

Parasyte

In this gory sci-fi tale, Parasyte explores exactly what it means to be human. Small, alien-like creatures invade Earth and take over various human hosts. Shinichi is one such human—except, he manages to stop his parasite from taking over his brain, limiting its control to his right arm instead. Together, Shinichi and his still-sentient parasite navigate a strange new world filled with humans and monsters alike.^{[16]
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- Author: Hitoshi Iwaaki
- Subgenres: Action, sci-fi, gore, body horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes

17

Pet Shop of Horrors

Pet Shop of Horrors offers a classic reminder to be careful what you wish for. Set in Los Angeles, the titular pet shop sells a variety of majestic pets—but to buy a pet, you need to sign a contract and follow a specific set of rules. Of course, the pet shop owner isn’t liable for anything that happens to pet owners who violate their contract, who often meet a grisly end.^{[17]
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- Author: Matsuri Akino
- Subgenres: Comedy, mystery, supernatural
- Anime adaptation: Yes

18

The Promised Neverland

Three children seek to escape a horrific fate in The Promised Neverland. The Grace Field House orphanage offers a happy, fulfilling life for its young wards—only to send them off to an unspeakably horrible end. Upon learning the truth about their destinies, Emma, Norman, and Ray must escape the orphanage—as well as the terrible fate that waits for them.^{[18]
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- Author: Kaiu Shirai
- Artist: Posuka Demizu
- Subgenres: Mystery, sci-fi, survival horror, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes

19

Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul explores a world of humans and flesh-eating ghouls. Ken Kaneki finds his world turned upside-down after a violently disastrous date with a ghoul ends with him being transformed into a half-ghoul at the hospital. With the help of some kind ghouls, Kaneki slowly comes to terms with the dangerous reality of his new life—and the target now painted on his back.^{[19]
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- Author: Sui Ishida
- Subgenres: Action, fantasy, gore, psychological horror
- Anime adaptation: Yes
- Kaneki’s story continues in Tokyo Ghoul: re, the sequel to Tokyo Ghoul.

20

Tomie

Tomie tells the tale of a mysterious girl who just can’t seem to die. In the words of author Junji Ito, “Tomie came from the concept of a lizard’s tail growing back after being cut off,” along with “that feeling when someone close to you suddenly passes away.”^{[20]
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- Author: Junji Ito
- Subgenres: Drama, supernatural, body horror
- Anime adaptation: Currently in production

21

Uzumaki

Uzumaki tells the story of a town plagued with a curse related to spirals. Over the span of 3 volumes, the manga chronicles the lives of lovers Shuichi and Kirie as they witness the destruction and collapse of their town—and loved ones—at the hands of the curse.^{[22]
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- Author: Junji Ito
- Subgenres: Drama, supernatural, body horror
- Anime adaptation: Currently in production
- Don’t be fooled by its placement on this list—Uzumaki is a horror manga classic!
- Want to explore even more of Junji Ito’s works? Check out his story collections like Shiver and Smashed.