Summary
- Gantz traps individuals in purgatory in a psychological horror game of survival.
- Dorohedoro is a violent horror series set in a world of magic abuse and revenge.
- Parasyte follows a young man in a war against alien parasites in a symbiotic action horror.
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 best horror manga of all time.
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8 Gantz
A Hellish Series That Traps Several Individuals In Purgatory
- Release Year: 2000
- Creator: Hiroya Oku
Gantz is a psychological horror series by 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.
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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. Gantz has sold over fifteen million copies and has a large dedicated fan base for its grotesque detail and graphic story.
7 Dorohedoro
A Brutal And Violent Series Set In A Deranged World
- Release Year: 2000
- Creator: Q Hayashida
Dorohedoro is 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.
6 Parasyte
A Young Man Becomes Trapped In The Middle Of An Alien Invasion
- Release Year: 1988
- Creator: Hitoshi Iwaaki
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. Parasyte is a well-paced action horror series and has sold over twenty-five million copies.
5 Homunculus
A Tension-Filled Dramatic Horror Story
- Release Year: 2023
- Creator: Hideo Yamamoto
Homunculus is 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. Homunculus is widely considered one of the best horror manga in recent years and retains a sizable fan base.
4 Made In Abyss
A Heartbreaking And Traumatic Adventure
- Release Year: 2012
- Creator: Akihito Tsukushi
Made In Abyss is 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 Abyss is 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 Abyss is a breakout story that sold over one hundred thousand copies on its release.
3 Tokyo Ghoul
A Dark And Twisted Journey Of A Young Boy Turned Ghoul
- Release Year: 2012
- Creator: Sui Ishida
Tokyo Ghoul is 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 Ghoul is a spiraling story that follows Ken on a path of blood, torture, and mental breakdowns with striking art by Ishida.
2 Uzumaki
One of Junji Ito's Best Works
- Release Year: 1998
- Creator: Junji Ito
Junji Ito is regarded as one of the greatest 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.
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Uzumaki is 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. Uzumaki is a highly acclaimed series and has recently received an anime adaptation.
1 Berserk
A Classic That Pulls The Best Of Fantasy And Horror
- Release Year: 1989
- Creator: Kentaro Miura
Berserk is 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 the multiple levels of suffering he endures in 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. Berserk is a monumental foothold in the anime and manga community, being among the highest-ranked horror manga ever.
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