Dark manga for fans? Dark manga can come in a variety of forms, with some being just gory, while others also being deep and psychological, questioning the sanity of its creator and readers. Some notable dark manga like Berserk and Attack on Titan to name a few, that try to depict how people’s lives aren’t always rosy and beautiful.
Today, we will focus on titles that show us a different perspective from the usual themes we grew up watching as kids. Some are gory, some are graphic, and others question man’s true nature without sugarcoating it. In no particular order and with bonus mentions:
Best Dark Manga For Fans
30.
Blood on the Tracks
Chi no Wadachi
- Mangaka: Shuuzou Oshimi
- Genres: Drama, Psychological
- Volumes: 12+
- Published: Feb 24, 2017 to present
The story begins at a slow pace, centering on 13-year-old Seiichi Osabe and his overprotective mother Seiko Osabe, who after a certain incident shows a terrifying side to her. Fearing what she might do to anyone else he cares about or she sees as a threat, Seiichi slowly unravels as both mother and son continue a facade.
Starting our list of dark manga series is Blood on the Tracks. The series takes the idea of motherly love and twists it, making you experience conflicting emotions and shocking you with a usually wonderful bond turned manipulative and moral decay. Depicting perfectly a broken and unhinged protagonist, unsettled by past incidents even years later.
29.
Vagrant Soldier Ares
- Mangaka: Geum Chel Ryu
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama
- Volumes: 26
- Published: 2001 to 2007
In a world similar to Ancient Rome, protagonist Ares enlists with Temple Mercenaries, one of the most respected soldiers-for-hire groups in Chronos. Now with new comrades Michael, Baroona, Robin, and comic relief Gohu. The young warriors face their past, deadly missions and try to surpass their skills and resolve.
If you are a fan of the dark themes of war and fighting this is another dark manga series, you will like. Vagrant Soldier Ares deals with heavy and sometimes depressing topics, like how war impacts the lives of people. It’s a series that can be raw, merciless, and build up suspense in a strangely refreshing way with its incidents and encounters.
28.
Made in Abyss
- Mangaka: Akihito Tsukushi
- Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 10+
- Published: Oct 20, 2012 to present
The story of Made in Abyss follows the peculiar robot boy Reg and his human friend Riko as they embark on a perilous journey into the depths of the Abyss in search of Riko’s long-lost mother.
It’s a dark fantasy manga that’s bizarre, beautiful, inventive, painfully emotional, and clarifies that bad things are inevitable. Though overlooked at first because of its cartoonish design, the mystery of what lies at the bottom, the unique and unusual atmosphere, and pretty much everything trying to feed on whoever braves the abyss is unnerving and engaging.
27.
Corpse Party: Blood Covered
- Mangaka: Toshimi Shinomiya, Makoto Kedouin
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Romance, School, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 10
- Published: Aug 22, 2008 to Oct 22, 2012
Saying farewell to a classmate is never easy, but it is the reality a group of students at Kisaragi Academy must face. To ease their sadness, they perform a ritual that will bond them all together eternally as friends: the Sachiko-san Ever After charm. But after they complete it, they find themselves in a run-down elementary school.
Based on the game, Corpse Party is dark, gory and keeps you on your toes to see what happens next. It’s a series that takes a fun, harmless game and turns it deadly. Characters race to discover more about the situation they are in before they lose their humanity because of the situation they find themselves in.
26.
Scumbag Loser
Saiteihen no Otoko
- Mangaka: Mikoto Yamaguchi
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 3
- Published: Nov 22, 2011 to Dec 22, 2012
Masahiko Murai has the strange ability to notice the odors and smells of various people. When he lies to his classmate about being in a long-distance relationship with his childhood friend. She suddenly transfers to his school, however, known only to him, she died years ago. So who or what is his new girlfriend whose scent isn’t the same?
Scumbag Loser isn’t a happy-go-lucky manga, but a messed-up story that heavily focuses on the protagonist’s state of mind. The series is a rare gem that is noticeably different with its unique style, and with twists and turns in its plot that never loses their intensity.
25.
Chainsaw Man
- Mangaka: Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons
- Volumes: 11
- Published: Dec 3, 2018 to Dec 14, 2020
The story is set in a world where Devils are born from human fears. Devils are usually dangerous and malevolent, their power proportional to the fear they incite. However, humans can form contracts with them to use their power, and there are individuals specializing in hunting and employing them, called Devil hunters.
Chainsaw Man is extremely dark, brutal, and mature, with profound characters, and serious about its chaotic themes, unlike other manga that is friendship-themed. The series gives us a new refreshing style to the dark manga genre. It looks at the idea of how all shonen protagonists that are teenagers go through horrible things, that no one their age should have to.
24.
The Most Notorious “Talker”, Run the World’s Greatest Clan
Saikyou no Shienshoku “Wajutsushi” de Aru Ore wa Sekai Saikyou Clan wo Shitagaeru
- Mangaka: Yamorichan, Jaki
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Volumes: 4+
- Published: Jun 12, 2020 to present
When Noel becomes a support class “Talker,” the job with the weakest individual abilities, that could never become the strongest. To fulfill his ambition, he becomes morally grey, subduing his allies and creating the strongest clan in the world. The story of the evilest Talker begins.
What makes this manga dark is the characters and the personality of the protagonist who doesn’t care what he does with others or who does, all he wants is to achieve his goal so he can be unpredictable with how he deals with situations.
23.
Sekai Oni
- Mangaka: Uru Okabe
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 11
- Published: Jul 2, 2012 to Jun 1, 2015
The story follows Azuma Shinonome whose parents are no more and who lives with her uncle’s family. She gets summoned along with several other people to defeat the World Devils that are going to destroy everything.
Sekai Oni is not for the faint of heart, as the plot doesn’t pull its punches. The series focuses on loss, abuse, and the mental psyche of its characters. Who are kept in unfamiliar situations where so much is going on and mysteries are slowly resolved while introducing new ones.
22.
The Drifting Classroom
Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu
- Mangaka: Kazuo Umezu
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 11
- Published: 1972 to 1974
When an entire school is transported to a post-apocalyptic future, chaos and madness ensue as they face an immediate crisis of food and water shortage. Sixth-grader Shou Takamatsu and other classmates try to prevent their fellow students from becoming ravenous animals in their new world.
The Drifting Classroom is a dark manga that seems to be filled with things that have terrified readers at some point in their lives. The series feels like the manga version of Lord Of The Flies and is quite an amazing science fiction manga. It explores human nature during apocalyptical situations.
21.
I Am a Hero
- Mangaka: Kengo Hanazawa
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 22
- Published: Apr 20, 2009 to Feb 27, 2017
The story follows 35-year-old Hideo Suzuki, who is forced to work as a mangaka’s assistant after the failure of his serialization. Plagued by hallucinations every day, and an argument with his girlfriend. Hideo’s world turns into a real horrific nightmare on his way to his girlfriend’s house.
I Am a Hero is a dark manga series with a compelling story that keeps you on your toes, characters you can relate with, and an original take on the zombie virus theme. It’s a series that tries to have a realistic telling of the horrors of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world.
20.
Goblin Slayer
- Mangaka: Kousuke Kurose, Kumo Kagyuu
- Genres: Action, Fantasy
- Volumes: 12+
- Published: May 25, 2016 to present
When newbie priestess Onna Shinkan gets invited to her first adventuring party, they immediately find themselves in distress on their quest to kill goblins. But luckily for only her Goblin Slayer who comes to her rescue—a man whose sole mission in life is to wreak havoc on goblins, murdering as many of them as he possibly can, by any means necessary. And when rumors of his feats begin to circulate, there’s no telling how he, Onna, and the other party members will overcome all the goblins and other massive adventures they are dragged into.
Goblin Slayer tells the tragic and violent story of a man on a quest for revenge in a dark fantasy world that can be very unforgiving. The series is very serious with a realistic physiological take on characters dealing with trauma.
19.
Dragon Head
- Mangaka: Minetaro Mochizuki
- Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 10
- Published: Sep 12, 1994 to Dec 13, 1999
After a gruesome train accident Teru Aoki, Nobuo Takahashi, and Ako Seto realize they must band together to grapple with hunger, loneliness, an overwhelming sense of loss, and their worst impulses that tempt them to madness.
Dragon Head is one of those rare manga that make your heart jump with every turn, with its portrayal of characters trying to survive and find a way out while coming across disturbing obstacles. The series takes a real-life crisis scenario and focuses on all the dark themes that could accompany it.
18.
Maoh: Juvenile Remix
- Mangaka: Megum Osuga, Kotaro Isaka
- Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, School, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 10
- Published: Jun 6, 2007 to Jun 24, 2009
Andou is a high-schooler who possesses the ability to make anyone within a specific range say whatever he thinks, an ability similar to ventriloquism. And Inukai, a man who commands a vigilante group called Grass Hopper. Become enemies when Andou realizes Inukai uses inhuman methods to control their town.
Maoh is a manga that starts simple enough but quickly evolves as new situations are brought to light. Focusing on whether change can be right or wrong, and looking at the darker side of humanity.
17.
Battle Royale
- Mangaka: Masayuki Taguchi, Koushun Takami
- Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 15
- Published: 2000 to 2005
Battle Royale sees Class 3B involved in a game with life and death stakes until only one is left alive. Will students be able to keep their humanity intact?
The series is famous for its disturbing themes and violence that take you on one of the most extreme thrill rides you can imagine. It brings forth a great deal of intensity and emotional turmoil that can be gut-wrenching most of the time.
16.
Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator
Brutal: Satsujin Keisatsukan no Kokuhaku
- Mangaka: Kei Koga, Ryou Izawa
- Genres: Drama, Police, Psychological, Josei
- Volumes: 5+
- Published: Jun 28, 2019 to present
Handsome, successful, and talented, detective Hiroki Dan has it all. Each investigation solved is another good deed to add to his pile of closed cases. However, while his work is fulfilling, there are still times when he becomes frustrated; the police are helpless when vile people are beyond the reach of the law. It is for this very reason that Hiroki takes matters into his own hands.
Confessions of a Homicide Investigator is an unusual manga series that reminded me of Dexter (TV series) when I started reading it. Topics covered can be quite heavy, making you question your opinions of right and wrong. It’s gory and spine-chillingly worth wasting your time on.
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15.
Satougashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai: A Lollypop or A Bullet
- Mangaka: Kazuki Sakuraba, Iqura Sugimoto
- Genres: Drama, School, Psychological
- Volumes: 2
- Published: Jan 9, 2007 to Jan 9, 2008
The story follows Nagisa who aspires to be a soldier for the Self Defense Force to finance both her and her family’s needs and Mokuzu who claims to be a mermaid. Watching has the pair bond over real-life issues in hopes of a better world.
A Lollypop or A Bullet is a dark manga that might turn off some readers, with its realistic drama in a hopelessly believable style. The series focuses on the fear of loneliness vs. the fear of opening up and just trying to survive the world.
14.
Genocyber
- Mangaka: Tony Takezaki
- Genres: Action, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 1
- Published: 1992
As the nations of the world merge, the private armies of individual corporations threaten world peace. Elaine and her twin sister, Diana’s psychic powers may be the key one of these corporations are looking for. Battle erupts in the cyberpunk world of the future.
Genocyber is a manga that though short is extremely fun, focusing on grotesque body horror, humanity’s greed, arrogance, and miscalculation of our intellect, leads to the near destruction of the world. The series is great for fans of the sci-fi genre that want something dark.
13.
Life
- Mangaka: Keiko Suenobu
- Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, School, Psychological
- Volumes: 20
- Published: Apr 13, 2002 to Feb 13, 2009
Life is the story of a certain girl’s isolation, a tale filled with despair and persecution enough to bring any person to the brink of insanity. Looking at the mind of evil, and why these bad personalities develop.
The series is deep, impactful, emotional, and realistic showing the harsh effects bullying has on a person. As a dark manga, it’s slightly sadistic and heart-crushing focusing on serious issues that can happen during school, especially for girls trying to fit in but yet still heartwarming at times.
12.
Drifting Net Café
Hyouryuu Net Cafe
- Mangaka: Shuuzou Oshimi
- Genres: Action, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 7
- Published: Feb 28, 2009 to Jun 28, 2011
When hardworking husband Toki Kouichi, runs into his first love again after heading to a net cafe. Just as the two are rejoicing over their reunion, the city outside disappears! They are stuck together in the middle of nowhere with some of the sketchiest characters imaginable.
Drifting Net Café is a dark story that focuses on characters who fall to depravity by the hopelessness they feel from being cut off from modern society. The series, though uncomfortable dark looks at the feelings and struggles of nostalgic old crushes.
11.
Innocent Rouge
- Mangaka: Shinichi Sakamoto
- Genres: Drama, Historical
- Volumes: 12
- Published: May 20, 2015 to Jan 8, 2020
The story centers on the eve of the French revolution, and the siblings of the Sanson family. A family of executioners, Chevalier Charles-Henri and sister Marie-Joseph who live a carefree life in Versailles. Experience events that cause them numerous conflicts, both in their family, moral and personal conflicts that will make both change their worldview: from the rebellious and idealistic to the convinced executor of the will of the King and the people and more.
Innocent Rouge uses a lot of symbolism, depicting a world that is dark, gloomy, and ruthless. The series focuses on the idea of immorality and evil being heart-wrenching, fast-paced and flamboyant.
10.
Hoshi no Ponko to Toufuya Reiko
- Mangaka: Shinji Ohara, Tony Takezaki
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 1
- Published: Aug 24, 2013 to Oct 25, 2013
Hoshi no Ponko to Toufuya Reiko is a weird story about an alien tricking a young girl into giving up her brother’s soul and her subsequent quest to get revenge.
The series starts quite harmless with a cutesy art style but quickly turns into a more brutal and darker storyline. With the focus being on family, revenge, sacrifice, and dealing with loss, it’s a short dark manga everyone can make time to read.
9.
Judge
- Mangaka: Yoshiki Tonogai
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological
- Volumes: 6
- Published: Jan 12, 2010 to Aug 11, 2012
Hiroyuki Sakurai wakes up handcuffed in a pitch-black room, wearing a rabbit mask, with eight other people also in animal masks. They are forced to play a twisted game where they judge each other for their past sins and decide the four who will be spared from death.
Judge is a dark psychological manga that focuses on the punishment of sinning and trust, exploring questions and the morality of the answers provided by characters involved in the plot, we witness how their actions impact those around them.
8.
Devilman
- Mangaka: Go Nagai
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Super Power, Supernatural
- Volumes: 5
- Published: Jun 11, 1972 to Jun 24, 1973
Devilman starts with our protagonist, Akira Fudou who lends a helping hand to his best friend Ryou Asuka. But events occur and Akira is aware of the existence of demons. With demons out to conquer the world, and a demon inside him that transforms him into Devilman. Will Akira be able to keep the world and his family safe?
Devilman is a series with dark supernatural themes. The series looks at friendship, corruption, betrayal, what humanity is, and the brutality of war. Focusing on the protagonist and villain of the series starting as best friends then to mortal enemies.
7.
Jisatsu Circle
- Mangaka: Usamaru Furuya
- Genres: Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 1
- Published: Mar 20, 2002
The story begins with 54 girls from the same club jumping in front of a train. However, one girl survives, Saya Kota, and she starts another club. Her best friend, Kyoko, fears for Saya’s future and searches for the strange secrets surrounding the club to save Saya and the other girls from committing such a tragedy again.
Jisatsu Circle is a gruesome and deeply disturbing manga. It offers a strange experience that questions society and mental health, leaving you with a bitter-sweet enjoyment of witnessing characters’ thoughts, fears, and desires.
6.
Dead Tube
- Mangaka: Touta Kitakawa, Mikoto Yamaguchi
- Genres: Horror, School
- Volumes: 17+
- Published: Apr 19, 2014 to present
Tomohiro Machiya, a member of the Film Research Club, is asked by Mai Mashiro to film her. Everything seems normal until she kills her boyfriend and uploads the videos to a website called Dead Tube, where users post content and are rewarded with money based on the number of views they get, but there is a catch: the person or people whose video gets the fewest views has to pay for the expenses and the crimes of all the other participants.
Another interestingly dark and edgy manga is Dead Tube, focusing on how crazy humans can get for fame and fortune. Though the series can be very graphic, the questions it asks about morality and if by fighting monsters one also becomes one too is interesting to read.
5.
Boy’s Abyss
Shounen no Abyss
- Mangaka: Ryou Minenami
- Genres: Drama, Psychological
- Volumes: 7+
- Published: Feb 27, 2020 to present
Reiji Kurose lives a difficult life. Along with his mother, Yuko, they provide for their senile grandmother and shut-in older brother, living in near-constant poverty. But when he encounters Nagi Aoe, one of his favorite idols, he does not expect that it will turn his world upside down.
Boy’s Abyss is an uncomfortable read, in the best possible way, being a melodramatic and beautiful mess of emotions. The series looks at the different reasons for living and being tired of it.
4.
King of Thorn
Ibara no Ou
- Mangaka: Yuji Iwahara
- Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 6
- Published: Sep 12, 2002 to Sep 12, 2005
After a viral infection known as the Medusa virus lands in Siberia and spreads contagiously throughout Earth, they choose 160 humans as candidates to experiment with a cure against the virus. Except upon waking up from being cryogenically frozen, a post-apocalyptic world covered in thorns filled with savage monsters greets Kasumi Ishiki and the 159 others.
The King of Thorn is a dark science fiction survivor drama that focuses on rather disastrous events, with characters stranded in a world unfamiliar to them and depicting the struggles of characters as they try to survive in their dire situations.
3.
The Flowers of Evil
Aku no Hana
- Mangaka: Shuuzou Oshimi
- Genres: Drama, Romance, School, Psychological
- Volumes: 11
- Published: Sep 9, 2009 to May 9, 2014
Aku no Hana is a compelling coming-of-age story centered on Takao’s thoughts, feelings, and relationships as he tries to live a normal life with the guilt of his crime after a moment of weakness. However, Sawa who witnessed Takao’s thievery has other plans in store for him.
The Flowers of Evil’s entire story tone can be morbid, ominous, and unsettling. Focusing on the characters gradually developing disturbing psyche, and how people’s interactions with one another rub off on each other’s well being.
2.
Fort of Apocalypse
Apocalypse no Toride
- Mangaka: Yuu Kuraishi, Kazu Inabe
- Genres: Action, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Psychological
- Volumes: 10
- Published: Sep 3, 2011 to Aug 4, 2015
Framed and convicted of murder, Yoshiaki is sentenced to Shouran Academy Juvenile Detention Centre. Placed in Cell 4, Yoshiaki shares his current situation with his cellmates Gou, Masafumi, and Mitsuru. But things only get worse, when unknown to inmates and employees a sudden zombie apocalypse that has ravaged the outside world comes to Shouran.
Fort of Apocalypse is a dark manga that has its characters fight for survival against enemies with overwhelming capabilities. With horror after horror experienced by the characters in gory detail. Though starting off showing the hopelessness of the world, watching the developing bromance of cell 4 is well worth it.
1.
Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror
- Mangaka: Junji Ito
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Supernatural
- Volumes: 3
- Published: Jan 12, 1998 to Aug 30, 1999
Uzumaki follows a high-school teenager, Kirie Goshima; her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, and the citizens of the small, quiet Japanese town of Kurouzu-cho, which is cursed by supernatural events involving spirals.
And last, but not least on our list of best top dark manga for fans is Uzumaki, the series contains a lot of disturbing images, violence and gore, freakiness, and intense scenes of horror. It’s a series that’s not for the faint of hearts, as it might leave you with a few nightmares after with its look on curses being eternal.
Bonus Mentions
Tokyo Ghoul
- Mangaka: Sui Ishida
- Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 14
- Published: Sep 8, 2011 to Sep 18, 2014
Killing Stalking
- Mangaka: Koogi
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 8
- Published: Mar 3, 2016 to Mar 22, 2019
Homunculus
- Mangaka: Hideo Yamamoto
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 15
- Published: Mar 17, 2003 to Feb 21, 2011
Claymore
- Mangaka: Norihiro Yagi
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
- Volumes: 27
- Published: May 6, 2001 to Oct 4, 2014
Pumpkin Night
- Mangaka: Masaya Hokazono, Seima Taniguchi
- Genres: Horror, Psychological
- Volumes: 6+
- Published: Oct 20, 2016 to present
Gantz
- Mangaka: Hiroya Oku
- Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Ecchi
- Volumes: 37
- Published: Jul 13, 2000 to Jun 20, 2013
Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
- Mangaka: Hajime Isayama
- Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Military, Mystery, Super Power
- Volumes: 34
- Published: Sep 9, 2009 to Apr 9, 2021
Berserk
- Mangaka: Kentarou Miura
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Military, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 41+
- Published: Aug 25, 1989 to Sep 10, 2021
Monster
- Mangaka: Naoki Urasawa
- Genres: Mystery, Drama, Psychological, Seinen
- Volumes: 18
- Published: Dec 5, 1994 to Dec 20, 2001
Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji (Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji)
- Mangaka: Nobuyuki Fukumoto
- Genres: Drama, Game
- Volumes: 13
- Published: Feb 10, 1996 to Jul 26, 1999
Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei
- Mangaka: Spike Chunsoft, Hajime Touya
- Genres: Action, Horror, Mystery, Psychological
- Volumes: 4
- Published: Jun 24, 2011 to Oct 18, 2013
Elfen Lied
- Mangaka: Lynn Okamoto
- Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Romance, Supernatural, Psychological
- Volumes: 12
- Published: Jun 6, 2002 to Aug 25, 2005
Dai Dark
- Mangaka: Q Hayashida
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Volumes: 4+
- Published: Mar 12, 2019 to present
And with that I am done for today, leave us a comment let us know what you think about our list of top dark manga for fans, are there any dark manga you think should have made the list? Give us a piece of your mind down below! If you’re not subscribed now’s the best time to do so. We upload brand new content every Saturday of the week. The best way to see them first is of course to subscribe.
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