Summary
Manga is an incredibly rich source of creativity that is unlike any other form of media. Manga provides thousands upon thousands of unique stories and peak creativity, making it one of the most successful forms of entertainment in the world, not just in its home country of Japan.
Manga is an art form that encompasses every genre imaginable and even births new ones from time to time. An untapped well of entertainment is the horror genre of manga. Frequently overlooked, horror manga deliver some of the most terrifying stories that influence and inspire many horror communities around the world. Here are some of the besthorror mangaof all time.
8Gantz
A Hellish Series That Traps Several Individuals In Purgatory
Gantzis a psychological horror seriesby mangaka Hiroya Oku. The story follows a group of individuals who all end up in a small hotel room after their supposed deaths. Primarily, a young high school student named Kei Kurno and his best friend Katou become pawns in a grand-scale game orchestrated by powers they can not imagine.
Given direction by a monitor, the individuals are drafted into a game of survival as they must take on demonic monstrosities and complete missions with the hope of being returned to their former lives, or die trying.Gantzhas sold over fifteen million copies and has a large dedicated fan base for its grotesque detail and graphic story.
7Dorohedoro
A Brutal And Violent Series Set In A Deranged World
Dorohedorois a gruesome action-thriller horror series theat takes readers on a violent journey of revenge and oppression. Set in a desolate world, in a decrepit district known as “Hole,” there lies a ruthless wasteland ruled by magic users who abuse their power by taking advantage of the weak. Non-magic users, or “denizens,” are hunted, slaughtered, and used for experiments mercilessly.
Caiman, the main character, is an experiment with the head of a lizard who hunts magic users, seeking a way to turn himself back to normal. The manga features visceral art and reads like a room of slasher villains trapped in a city trying to kill one another.
6Parasyte
A Young Man Becomes Trapped In The Middle Of An Alien Invasion
A swarm of mysterious organisms invade Earth and begin attaching themselves to human beings to survive, taking over their bodies and minds. These parasites have increased strength, speed, and reflexes and lack any moral standing against killing. Shinichi Izumi finds himself in a secret war against the parasites when he nearly becomes one himself, but traps one of them in his right arm.
Shinichi and the parasite develop a symbiotic relationship and establish a fragile trust. As Shinichi and his loved ones become targets, he is forced to fend off the ruthless invaders who seek to overthrow humanity.Parasyteis a well-paced action horror series and has sold over twenty-five million copies.
5Homunculus
A Tension-Filled Dramatic Horror Story
Homunculusis a highly praised story that melds psychological and supernatural horror for a truly unnerving tale. A middle-aged man named Ssumu Nakoshi finds himself in a bizarre predicament when a half-baked opportunity to make some extra income upends his entire life. Living in financial uncertainty, Susumu is approached by a mysterious young man and offered a large amount of money to volunteer for a medical procedure that would drill a hole in his head.
While Susumu has no side effects at first, this changes abruptly when he begins to see the inner monsters in everyone around him.Homunculusis widely considered one of the best horror manga in recent years and retains a sizable fan base.
4Made In Abyss
A Heartbreaking And Traumatic Adventure
Made In Abyssis a manga series written and illustrated by Akihito Tsukushi, and while its soft and gentle appearance may portray a happy tale, it is anything but.Made in Abyssis a dark story that lures readers in with false hope and pleasant visuals.
Riko and her robot companion delve into the endless pit called “The Abyss” in search of truth. While their mission was never going to be an easy task, the horror they uncover is unimaginable.Made in Abyssis a breakout story that sold over one hundred thousand copies on its release.
3Tokyo Ghoul
A Dark And Twisted Journey Of A Young Boy Turned Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoulis an incredibly popular manga that has delivered one of the most tragic and gruesome stories of its time. Ken Kaneki was a young and innocent boy whose life was completely ripped apart by a small crush. Having been turned into a ghoul, a mutant race that lives in the dark within Japan, Kaneki endures insurmountable suffering while trying to adapt to his new existence.Tokyo Ghoulis a spiraling story that follows Ken on a path of blood, torture, and mental breakdowns with striking art by Ishida.
2Uzumaki
One of Junji Ito’s Best Works
Junji Ito is regarded as one of thegreatest horror manga artists in the world, whose visual monstrosities fill the nightmares of all his fans. With a long history of authored work, Junji Ito has delivered countless classics that peer into the darkest parts of fear and deliver spine-tingling stories.
Uzumakiis perhaps one of Ito’s most successful works, following a young girl, Kirie, and her boyfriend, Shuuichi, who experience a terrifying event that plagues the people around them. Madness spreads through the city and manifests physically as a spiral, warping people’s bodies and butchering their anatomy.Uzumakiis a highly acclaimed series and has recently received an anime adaptation.
1Berserk
A Classic That Pulls The Best Of Fantasy And Horror
Berserkis a series that defines an entire generation and has had worldwide success for its dark and grim story wrapped in a fantasy setting. The masterpiece of the late great Kentaro Miura tells the story of the Black Swordsman named Guts, and themultiple levels of suffering he enduresin his life.
Starting as a mercenary, Guts is a one-man army who cuts down any man who stands before him. However, his ungodly strength serves him no advantage as interdimensional demons sprout from hell and begin to lay waste to his small, fragile world.Berserkis a monumental foothold in the anime and manga community, being among the highest-ranked horror manga ever.
