Are you in the mood for stories that go bump in the night for the Halloween season? Horror manga is one of my go-to’s when looking for a good spooky story. Here are five recommendations for horror manga with tales that are spine-tingling.
Outcast
Outcast is the story of Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life and now needs answers. After meeting a priest he learns he may have the power to help others who are controlled by demons. It’s a slow-moving graphic novel series, but the slow build-up of suspense is what pulls the reader in. This comic is quite graphic at times (so take caution), and the imminent danger the main characters and others are in constantly has you on edge.
The Liminal Zone
The Liminal Zone is a collection of stories originally written for the LINE manga app in Japan which have now been converted into graphic novel form. The collection consists of four stories and each story brings its own uniqueness to the collection while all equally being spine-tingling. The stories are digestible and like with most of Ito’s works the grotesque yet sometimes beautiful art is what sticks with you long after finishing his stories. I enjoyed this Ito collection more than the previous one I read in the past titled, The Dissolving Classroom.
Monstress
Monstress is set in an alternate matriarchal 1900s Asia and is about the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power. The artwork in this graphic novel is stunning and the fantasy aspects of the story are highly immersive. The alternate/fantasy version of history is something that will appeal to the readers of this story with its action-packed scenes and strong world-building. Though more of a steampunk fantasy than straight-up horror the series does include some chilling horror elements.
Rabbit Game
Rabbit Game is a short graphic novel that takes readers into a world of the strange and mysterious. Following the main character Kiritani, he develops a crush on Inaba his long-time friend. Inaba has a tendency to be an outsider and some of the things she says are perplexing and yet also unsettling. However, when she invites Kiritani to play “Rabbit Game” a seemingly unknown video game is when his life truly changes. He is transported to a world of strange things and unlimited desires. It’s more of a psychological horror story as the events play on the characters and the reader’s mind.
Through The Woods
I really enjoyed Carroll’s art style, design, and color scheme used to bring out the suspense, eerie, and dark tones of this graphic novel anthology. Each story depicts its own unique theme such as jealousy between brothers and arranged marriages. Some of the stories are genuinely scary and leave you feeling unsettled, while others are more subtle and discuss things that go “bump in the night”. My top two favorite stories in this collection were, A Lady’s Hands Are Cold and Our Neighbor’s House.
What are some of your favorite horror-themed manga? Let us know in the comments.
