It's no secret that Kentaro Miura was one of manga's greatest gifts. Berserk's world, stories, and characters will live on for generations to come. Berserk is a dark and twisted fantasy manga series with some grotesque horror elements, if you haven't read it yet. It's a dangerous and unforgiving world. It's twisted and terrifying, but hope is what keeps you reading.

Guts is the protagonist, a man born from a hanged body and raised by a mercenary band, the leader of which, Gambino, is the closest thing Guts has to a parent. Griffith, the Band of the Hawk's calm, fierce, and power-hungry leader, recruits Guts. Beyond its characters, the world of Berserk leaves an indelible impression. The true horror of this manga can also be found here.

Berserk was a major inspiration for Dark Souls' monstrous world, and it shows. Take the grimmest, darkest fantasy novels and stories you can think of and crank up the blood, gore, and inhuman events to 11. That’s Berserk: a perfect, chilling blend of action, fantasy, and horror manga, delivered through horrific monster design and plotting.

Author: Kentaro Miura (1989–2021); Kouji Mori (2022–present)
Original run: August 25, 1989 – present
Volumes: 41
Status: Ongoing
Goodreads rating: 4.5/5 (40,754 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/berserk/s?k=berserk

Dandadan is a shonen manga with elements of supernatural horror and thrillers. This manga's narrative twists and design choices are what set it apart as a modern horror manga. Dandadan, like a lot of horror in literature and film, has a lot of fun with its genres, teasing the reader with romantic elements and a lot of teen drama akin to Buffy or Supernatural. Momo Ayase, the story's fiery heroine, was raised by her spiritual and paranoid grandmother and is obsessed with bad boys.

Ayase meets the pitiful and frail Okarun (a name she later chooses for him) while defending him from bullies, and the two of them agree to a dare. Okarun believes in aliens visiting Earth, whereas Momo believes in the supernatural. As a result, instead of proving each other wrong, they end up confirming each other's conspiracies. Okarun is possessed by a terrifying spirit, while Momo is kidnapped by terrifying and abusive aliens. After her psychic abilities awaken and he uses the spirit that possesses him to his advantage, the two flee danger and set out to remove Okarun's curse.

This is a fantastic horror manga because of the horrifying and imaginative monster designs, creepy settings, and terrifying scenarios. Combine that with some hilarious moments, romantic growth potential, and awkward teen drama, and you've got a winning formula for a horror-tinged shonen manga series.

Author: Yukinobu Tatsu
Original run: April 6, 2021 – present
Volumes: 10
Status: Ongoing
Goodreads rating: 4/5 (‎2,131 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Dandadan-Vol-1-Yukinobu-Tatsu/dp/1974734633

Many of the horror manga on this list thrive due to their creators' imaginative design and visual execution. Gantz, a lengthy horror manga, is no different. Hiroya Oku wrote and illustrated the manga series Gantz (stylized in all caps). From June 2000 to June 2013, it was serialized in Shueisha's Seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump, with chapters collected in 37 tankbon volumes.

The story begins with two young men, Kurono and Kato, dying in a train accident and waking up in an apartment where a black orb tells them and others to go hunt aliens hiding among. It quickly descends into beautiful madness. Hiroya Oku's imagination has helped Gantz thrive. Nothing compares to Gantz in terms of story beats, impactful moments, character design, and action scenes. While the character development and impactful themes may appear to be lacking, it is the dynamic, delicious art, the blood and gore, the monstrous and imaginative designs, and the bizarre plot developments that make Gantz such an exciting and unique action horror manga.

Author: Hiroya Oku

Original run: June 29, 2000 – June 20, 2013
Volumes: 37

Status: Completed

Goodreads rating: 4/5 (497 votes)

Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Gantz-Manga/s?k=Gantz+Manga

Tokyo Ghoul is possibly the most well-known horror manga on this list. This is due in part to the popularity of its anime adaptation, which should be avoided. Please read the manga right now. Tokyo Ghoul, unlike Junji Ito's works, is a long-running serialized horror manga set in an alternate Tokyo populated by hungry vampire-like ghouls that hunt humans. Tokyo Ghoul is a film that combines action, horror, and character drama. It delves into some decent moral and ethical themes, all led by a sympathetic, dynamic central character named Ken Kaneki.

Ken Kaneki is an introverted, bookish college student who attracts the attention of Rize, a hungry ghoul. Rize attempts to kill and eat Kaneki on what he believes is a date. Rize is crushed to death when he is gravely injured and on the verge of death, and her organs are used by a doctor to save Kaneki's life. Now, with the strength, powers, and curse of a ghoul, Kaneki lives on the edge of both worlds.

Author: Sui Ishida

Original run: September 8, 2011 – September 18, 2014
Volumes: 14

Status: Completed

Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 (132,587 votes)

Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/tokyo-ghoul/s?k=tokyo+ghoul

Chainsaw Man is one of the most popular Shounen manga series in recent years. Its ability to captivate readers cannot be overstated. However, categorizing Chainsaw Man can be a challenge. It's a shounen manga, but it's graphic and monstrous enough to be called a seinen manga (depending on your sensibilities). It's also horror, of course.

Tatsuki Fujimoto has made it abundantly clear that he adores the horror genre and aspires to push boundaries and create something entirely unique from the works that inspire him. It's a shounen story about a poor teenager gaining power, learning to be good, and doing brave things. However, Chainsaw Man is also a horror manga, with grotesque imagery, gallons of blood, and themes of death, loss, fear, and trauma. While Chainsaw Man may not frighten readers in the same way that Junji Ito's manga does, it is a horror manga. It revels in blood and gore, and it isn't afraid to make the reader feel lost, lonely, and scared at times.

Author: Tatsuki Fujimoto
Original run: December 3, 2018 – present
Volumes: 14
Status: Ongoing
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 (‎60,389 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Chainsaw-Man-Manga/s?k=Chainsaw+Man+Manga

The Promised Neverland, one of today's most popular manga, is everywhere, and for good reason. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from the anime at all costs. Stick to the manga; it's a work of art. The Promised Neverland is a genre-bending manga that combines fantasy, horror, science fiction, and other elements. However, the horror elements are its most prominent and outstanding features, particularly in Demizu's art. The Promised Neverland follows a group of children at the Grace Field House orphanage.

The children are all overseen and cared for by Isabella, an enigmatic but kind figure whom the children refer to as Mom. The kids take tests, eat together, and play outside every day. Emma, Norman, and Ray are the three main characters. They're the orphanage's oldest and smartest children, and when the story begins, they quickly discover the truth about Grace Field House and what their future holds for them.

As a result, they devise a desperate plan to flee the house and their fate. The art department reacted positively to The Promised Neverland's horror elements. Demizu handles gruesome close-ups, jump scares, reveals, and abrupt shifts in perspective with the deft hand of an experienced horror director. The Promised Neverland's demons are among the most imaginatively realized monster designs in recent memory.

Author: Kaiu Shirai

Original run: August 1, 2016 – June 15, 2020
Volumes: 20

Status: Completed

Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 (‎60,093 votes)

Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Promised-Neverland-Vol-1/dp/1421597128

Junji Ito's horror manga "Uzumaki" was written and illustrated by him. The story takes place in the small town of Kurouzu-cho, where strange events begin to occur following the appearance of a spiral pattern. The manga follows Kirie Goshima, a high school student who witnesses the strange and terrifying events that occur in the town. Kirie and her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, become increasingly drawn into the spiral's influence as the story progresses, causing the townspeople to become obsessed with spirals and spiral-shaped objects. As the characters are confronted with increasingly grotesque and surreal manifestations of the spiral, the manga explores themes such as obsession, madness, and the uncanny.

"Uzumaki" is well-known for its grotesque and disturbing imagery, as well as psychological horror elements. The artwork in the manga is detailed and highly stylized, with a focus on capturing the surreal and horrific aspects of the story. The manga also contains some nudity and mature themes that may not be appropriate for all readers. Overall, "Uzumaki" is a must-read for horror manga fans. It stands out in the genre due to its unique and surreal storytelling, masterful artwork, and exploration of deeper themes. It should be noted, however, that the manga contains disturbing imagery and may not be appropriate for all readers.

Author: Junji Ito
Original run: January 19, 1998 – August 30, 1999
Volumes: 3
Status: Completed
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 (‎52,878 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Uzumaki-3-1-Deluxe-vols/dp/1421561328

The stories in this Junji Ito manga collection are all distinct and stand alone; they demonstrate the breadth and depth of Ito's artistic and narrative abilities to an astounding degree. Hanging Balloons is one of the readers favorites among these horror manga short stories. This story depicts a world invaded by massive balloons, each bearing the face of a real person. Your balloon is stalking you with a noose attached to its bottom, and if it catches you, it will hang you.

Another story, The Long Dream, depicts a man in a hospital bed who dreams of his entire life. When he awakens, his body has also aged, eventually transforming him into an impossibly ancient, horrifyingly morphed creature. These are Junji Ito's best works, and Shiver is one of the best horror manga collections ever published. It's an excellent introduction to Ito's work and to the world of horror manga in general.

Original run: 2015
Author: Junji Ito
Volumes: 1
Status: Completed
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 (16.384 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Shiver-Junji-Ito-Selected-Stories/dp/1421596938

This is the one for you if you prefer the idea of a horror-themed shounen manga to an outright terrifying horror manga. Toilet-bound Hanako-kun is a playful and charming supernatural comedy with horror themes and a few twisted things peppered in, similar in some ways to the classic shounen manga Soul Eater in its aesthetics and art. The titular Hanako is a yokai, or "supernatural," who haunts a Japanese high school's girls' restroom. Nene-chan summons him one day in the hopes of being granted a wish: for her crush to fall in love with her.

This does not go as planned; Nene is turned into a fish for her trouble and nearly kidnapped by a monstrous fish creature — a twisted and terrifying parody of the mermaid myth. After being rescued and sworn into Hanako's service, the two of them (along with an exorcist named Kou) stumble upon a series of supernatural shenanigans. This is a horror-tinged supernatural comedy at its finest; an excellent choice of horror manga for those who enjoy the aesthetics of Halloween but don't want to be scared by their manga.

Author: AidaIro
Original run: June 18, 2014 – present
Volumes: 19
Status: Ongoing
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 (10.272 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Toilet-bound-Hanako-kun-Vol/dp/1975332873

Shuzo Oshimi's horror manga "Blood on the Tracks" was written and illustrated by him. The plot revolves around Seiichi Osabe, a high school student who becomes increasingly concerned about his mother's behavior after discovering an unidentified package in her closet.

Seiichi begins to have intense hallucinations and fears that his mother is attempting to harm him as he becomes more obsessed with his mother's behavior. As Seiichi struggles to discover the truth about his mother's actions, the manga explores themes such as family dynamics, mental illness, and the fear of the unknown. "Blood on the Tracks" is known for its intense storytelling and psychological horror elements. The artwork in the manga is detailed and highly stylized, with a focus on capturing the characters' emotional turmoil and psychological distress. The manga also contains some violence and mature themes that may not be appropriate for all readers.

"Blood on the Tracks" is an absolute must-read for fans of psychological horror manga. It stands out in the genre due to its unique and unsettling storytelling, masterful artwork, and exploration of deeper themes. It should be noted, however, that the manga contains disturbing imagery and may not be appropriate for all readers.

Author: Shūzō Oshimi
Original run: February 24, 2017 – present
Volumes: 16
Status: Ongoing
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5 (‎6,434 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Tracks-1-Shuzo-Oshimi/dp/1949980138

One of the manga's distinguishing features is its exploration of the supernatural and the fear that it can elicit. The manga depicts a wide range of supernatural entities, each with their own distinct appearance and abilities. The creatures are frequently unsettling and creepy, adding to the story's horror element. The manga's use of humor is another highlight. Despite the manga's dark and unsettling nature, there are comedic moments that help to lighten the mood and make the characters more relatable. The humor also serves to contrast with the horror elements, heightening the impact of the scary moments.

Fear, loneliness, and the supernatural are also explored in the manga. The characters are forced to face their fears and accept that they can see things that others cannot. As the characters try to balance their normal lives with their supernatural abilities, this adds an interesting layer to the story. The manga's artwork is detailed and expressive, with an emphasis on capturing the characters' emotions and expressions. Character design is also noteworthy, with each creature having a distinct and memorable appearance.

Author: Tomoki Izumi
Original run: November 2, 2018 – present
Volumes: 9
Status: Ongoing
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5 (‎1,847 votes)
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/mieruko-chan/s?k=mieruko+chan

Kazuo Umezu's The Drifting Classroom (漂流教室, Hyōryū Kyōshitsu) is a Japanese horror manga series written and illustrated by him. From 1972 to 1974, it was serialized in the manga magazine Weekly Shonen Sunday and published as tankbon volumes by Shogakukan. The plot revolves around a school that is mysteriously transported through time to a post-apocalyptic future. Kazuo Umezu's The Drifting Classroom was originally published in the 1970s and had a massive impact on the worlds of horror and manga (both separately and together) for decades after.

The titular drifting classroom is a school that is struck by an earthquake, mysteriously transporting it and its students to a post-apocalyptic future. In this sudden and impossible situation, devoid of hope and understanding, insanity quickly takes hold of the school's adults—those who should be caring for it. After murder and immolation have taken care of the adults, the children are left to fend for themselves in this world. The children in The Drifting Classroom manga face monstrous creatures and plagues, all of which are the result of the climate disasters that led to this apocalyptic future.

Author: Kazuo Umezu

Original run: 1972–1974
Volumes: 11

Status: Completed

Goodreads rating: 3.8/5 (2,125 votes)

Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Drifting-Classroom-Perfect-Vol-Edit/dp/197470937X