Arguably one of 2020’s best anime series, and one of the many positives of the anime and manga community, Jujutsu Kaisen has set the anime and manga community ablaze with its remarkable fight sequences, amazing animation, and relatable characters. With the premiere of its second season just a peek away, it remains to be seen what the series has in store for its viewers.
There are, however, fans who have been unable to wait for what happens next and have moved on to read the manga. However, recent chapters suggest that the manga series may soon be nearing its end. In this regard, viewers and readers who have become heavily invested in the genre that Jujutsu Kaisen represents or have a preference for reading over watching, here are some manga to read that are just as eye-catching as Jujutsu Kaisen.
10 Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Hell’s Paradise, although it is one of the new anime of 2023, has been available in manga form since as far back as 2018. Quite similar to Jujutsu Kaisen due to its goriness and its centering on the supernatural, the series is written by Yuji Kaku and is being animated by production giant MAPPA.
Hell’s Paradise is centered around a rogue ninja by the name of Gabimaru the Hollow, who, after the failures of his execution, is offered a chance at a pardon for all his crimes alongside a group of death row convicts. These convicts are each assigned an executioner who must also return with them to obtain the pardon on the condition of finding “the elixir of life” on a mythical island called the Shinsenkyo, where supernatural creatures of all kinds dwell. Although protagonist-wise, Yuuji, and Gabimaru are quite opposites, the anime, like Jujutsu Kaisen, makes a good representation of different life themes, which makes for a sensational read.
9 Dorohedoro
Dorohedoro, despite having an anime adaptation that premiered in 2020, is widely considered to be one of the best post-apocalyptic pieces of fiction to be written. In comparison to Jujutsu Kaisen, it is more gory and a lot more gloomy, but also quite humorous, albeit weirdly.
The story follows the character Caiman, considered more reptile than man, after an encounter with a sorcerer leaves him in such a state and also without any memories of his identity, making him immune to magic, along with his trusted female companion by the name of Nikaidou. The duo embarks on a quest of dark humor, violence, magic, and determination for answers. For fans who are very appreciative of gore, violence, and humor, this series is a great choice.
8 Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is considered by many to be one of the best dark fantasy series of the last decade. The series received anime adaptations, but none ever lived up to the standard of the manga, as there were glaring differences between the anime adaptation and its manga. The series is written by Sui Ishida and, like Jujutsu Kaisen, is dark but less humorous, expressing a more serious tone.
The series, set in an alternate reality in which ghouls exist, takes on the evolution of the protagonist, Ken Kaneki , from an oblivious and innocent high schooler to one of the most powerful Ghouls to exist. During this evolution, the series explores themes ranging from race to societal expectations to identity amidst a history of violence and bloodshed, with Kaneki at the heart of it all.
7 Kaiju No.8
Swap out cursed spirits, and the next best thing is the Kaijus. Kaiju No.8 is written and illustrated by Naoya Matsumoto and is one of the newest manga series to receive an anime adaptation. For fans who love the well-crafted fight sequences present in the Jujutsu Kaisen series, Kaiju no.8 is definitely the manga to jump on.
The series is set in a world in which monsters called Kaijus constantly wreak havoc and destruction, with Japan at the forefront of the attacks. The story revolves around Kafka Hibino, the protagonist, who, after an unexplainable incident, becomes able to transform into a Kaiju. He then begins to use this newly found power to fight against the Kaijus.
6 Kekkaishi
Written and illustrated by Yellow Tanabe , Kekkaishi can be considered a dive into the past, or more accurately, a sort of precursor for anime series like Jujutsu Kaisen, as it is heavily centered around the supernatural, which is also a significant trope of the world of cursed spirits. It is easily reminiscent of Jujutsu Kaisen while reading this manga series due to the heavy similarities between the protagonists of both series, leaving aside the arrogance of the former.
The series follows the two protagonists, Yoshimura and Tokine, who are heirs of the Hazama clan, also called the Kekkaishi. They have the responsibility of protecting the sacred land called Karasumori, which attracts evil supernatural creatures called the Ayakashi. Using a technique called the Kekkai , they fight against these creatures, ensuring the protection of the Karasumori .
5 Black Torch
Although it may not the most popular manga series out there, Black Torch is quite similar to Jujutsu Kaisen, in regards to its concept of the supernatural and the dark theme the latter infuses into itself. Also, rather than the usual traditional martial arts available in the latter, Black Torch uses more of the ninja/shinobi trope.
The protagonist, Jirou Azuma, like Itadori, finds himself in a situation beyond his control, leading him to unexpected strength with the help of a mononoke (evil spirit) called Rago. With this newfound power, Jirou and Rago join the Bureau of Espionage to fight against Mononoke .
4 Demon Slayer
One of the biggest anime series out there. Demon Slayer captivated social media and the anime and manga communities in its first season with its jaw-dropping fight sequences, beautiful animation, and eye-catching character designs. However, for fans with a preference for reading, the manga series is also just as intense and nerve-wracking and, most importantly, has been completed.
The series is set in the Taisho era of the history of Japan and follows a young boy, Kamado Tanjiro , whose entire family is gruesomely murdered by a demon, save for his sister, who also becomes a demon. Having lost everything but his will and determination, he joins the Demon Slayer Corps and vows to eradicate demons and protect what is left of his sister’s humanity. For fans with a preference for intense, suspense-filled action, this series is a must-read.
3 Fire Force
After making its debut in 2019, the series quickly gained popularity among fans of anime and manga thanks to its distinctive animation style, shrill sound effects, and impressive fight scenes. However, after the conclusion of its second season, not a lot has been revealed about its continued animation. The manga series, on the other hand, is where it is really at. For fans and viewers captivated by the brilliance of Jujutsu Kaisen, Fire Force is definitely one to read.
The series follows the life of a third-generation pyrokinetic by the name of Shinra Kusakabe , who, along with his crew members, is determined to become a hero of hope and also investigate the cause of the fire behind the death of his mother and the disappearance of his little brother. The manga series takes on different levels of power-scaling while exploring the supernatural using the hell-fire trope.
2 Attack On Titan
Attack on Titan is arguably one of the greatest anime series ever produced, featuring a near-perfect story, epic story-telling, heart-racing moments, inevitable plot twists, nerve-wracking suspense doused in political machinations, and the never-ending cycle of vengeance. For fans with a preference for reading as opposed to watching, the manga series is a great option. Compared to Jujutsu Kaisen, the series adopts much more somber themes and tones, but it also features a lot of bloodshed, violence, and gore.
The series, set in a fantasy world, is centered around a civilization separated from the world on an island by three walls. Within these walls is a boy, Eren Yeager, from whom, after the death of his mother and the destruction of his hometown, the threads of vengeance and violence begin to spin drastically.
1 Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man balances comedy with intense action and goriness. With its first season debuting in October 2022, Chainsaw Man is one of the most popular anime and manga as of recent. Style-wise, it is the most similar to Jujutsu Kaisen, as they explore the same concepts of the supernatural, employing humor, violence, and gore.
Chainsaw Man contains essentially the same elements that make Jujutsu Kaisen a great read, so it is essentially a given to be equally entertaining as the latter, making it a series that should be read by fans of Jujutsu Kaisen`.