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 of horror manga that are spine-tingling.
I Am a Hero
I Am a Hero is about an unhinged manga artist who can’t seem to get his big break. He’s kind of a loner, is dealing with writer’s block, and feels extreme jealously against the big mangaka who are making it in the publishing world. The story is mainly about a zombie apocalypse so fans of that story genre will thoroughly enjoy this story. Though the art style is not my favorite (personally) the story premise is definitely interesting because we get to navigate the impending horror from a first-person pov.
Tokyo Ghoul
Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with the beautiful Rize. When an incident occurs Rize’s rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid. This new transition takes Kaneki into the violent world of Ghouls hiding in plain sight.
Ishida’s take on ghouls in this manga is particularly interesting when it comes to the horror/paranormal genre. People fight for survival in a world where there is a constant battle between human beings and ghouls. On top of that, Kaneki doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere because of his “half-ghoul” status. This manga can be pretty graphic at times and some of the ghouls are definitely spine-tingling which makes for an immersive reading experience.
Godchild
Set in 19th century London, a young nobleman named Cain walks the shadowy cobblestone streets of the aristocratic society into which he was born. Forced to become an earl upon the untimely death of his father, Cain assumes the role of head of the Hargreaves, a noble family with a dark past. With Riff, his faithful manservant, and Mary Weather, his 10-year-old half-sister, Cain investigates the mysterious crimes that seem to follow him wherever he goes.
Godchild is a great manga for fans of the Gothic horror genre. The story is very suspenseful and the mangaka Yuki uses Gothic architecture and shadowing techniques to give the overall series an ominous feel. Reading this series reminds me of Horror tales by Edgar Allan Poe and murder mystery stories such as Sherlock Holmes.
Dragon Head
Dragon Head is the story of Teru Aoki who is returning home by train after a class trip. When the train derails, nearly everyone aboard is killed. Amidst the disaster, Teru discovers two survivors but help is nowhere near. As they try to dig out from the wreck in order to come up with a plan to stay alive, the lack of light and food, combined with the stench of death and decay starts to wear on them.
If you’re intrigued by survival horror stories, Dragon Head may appeal to you. It has a very haunting feeling due to the main characters being trapped within a tunnel with no rescue crews on the way to help. Mochizuki’s drawing style is detailed and thorough. It embodies the dark tones and fearful emotions presented in the manga. It poses the question of “What would you do?”. I enjoyed the high suspense aspect that keeps the reader on edge.
Bizenghast
Set in the haunted New England town of Bizenghast, the story follows Dinah, an orphaned teenager who is tasked with returning each night to an ancient mausoleum to free the ghosts within the building.
Bizenghast is one of my favorite manga series ever! I love the Gothic artwork style and subtle horror aspects of this series. It’s got a mixture of suspense, romance, mystery, and action elements that keeps the reader turning pages. The artwork can be beautiful but a bit grotesque at times giving the manga a very eerie atmosphere. In this manga, appearances can be deceiving which adds to the surprise plot twists throughout the narrative.
