As Halloween approaches, there are plenty of horror manga to get you in the mood. Here are 5 mangas that you shouldn’t miss for the festival of monsters and horror.
In pop culture, Halloween is a holiday that can be found everywhere. Whether in films, series, board games or video games, the spirit of this holiday is often highlighted. We all know The Simpson Horror Show, Scream and many other titles of the genre. A taste for fear that we also find in manga culture, which has seen numerous manga throughout its history that could embody, directly or indirectly, the spirit of Halloween. Berserk, Tokyo Ghoul or the multiple works of the master of horror, Junji Ito, all have some form of horror.
Halloween is the perfect time to delve into spooky and supernatural stories. If you are a manga lover and looking for perfect reads for this season, here is a selection of five manga that will immerse you in the horror and mysterious atmosphere of this holiday.
Parasite
In France, Parasite is best known for its anime, which can be found on Netflix. But the manga from which it is adapted is also a monument of horror manga. Created by Hitoshi Iwaaki, Parasite tells the story of a shy young high school student who finds himself infected by an alien parasite that takes control of his right hand. A disastrous situation for the young man but which seems very weak compared to that of the rest of the world, which sees these aliens take complete control of thousands of other humans.
Beyond this horrific scenario and its terrifying drawings, Parasite asks real moral questions. Parasites, although monstrous and ruthless, see their mentality evolve through contact with human society. The manga is in itself a form of reflection on humans, who can become a monster even more dangerous than any other living being. The ability to Parasite to transcend the boundaries of genre by handling horror, science fiction and philosophy makes this manga as fascinating as it is distressing.
Tomie
Within the vast library of already very dark horror manga, Tomie is sinister, unhealthy but devilishly intriguing. Created by an absolute leader of the genre, Junji Ito, Tomie, has been, since its publication in 1997, a true masterpiece of graphic horror. Tomie Kawakami is a young woman who triggers passions in all the men who meet her gaze and who pushes them to murder her in atrocious circumstances. This twisted and nightmarish plot has made Tomie a niche manga. However, its influence on the horror genre endures and today, it is difficult to talk about horror manga without talking about Tomie and Junji Ito, as this title makes you shiver with its chilling and sadistic staging.
For horror fans, Tomie is a must read. The recent reissue of the manga from Mangetsu is also another reason to be interested in Junji Ito’s gem.
Choujin X
Among all the titles in this selection, Choujin X is not the flashiest, nor the most cult. The manga, available in France since 2022, is slowly paving its way with a certain touch of freshness in the world of horror. Choujin X, it is the story of a world where individuals with supernatural powers live, the Choujin. For them, these powers are a curse, and possessing them confronts harrowing moral dilemmas. As Parasite, Choujin X highlights the consequences of the choices the characters are forced to make. But Sui Ishida, the author of the manga, is much colder and cynical here.
The artistic work of the author, known for Tokyo Ghoulis another important point of Choujin X. It is above all with his pen that Sui Ishida delivers a new horrific and dark work, perfect for fans of the genre.
Jagaaan
Jagaaan could be both a horror manga and a simple action manga. However, this mixture of genres results in a work capable of being distressing and crazy at the same time. The manga of Muneyuki Kaneshiro follows Shintarô Jagasaki, a neighborhood policeman in a small town in Tokyo Prefecture. Although he seems calm and considerate, Jagasaki feels trapped in a monotonous life, without any real change. He doesn’t particularly like his job and his life as a couple seems to follow the path of marriage and the children that come with it. However, he asks for nothing other than action and to finally be able to shoot his service weapon at anyone. A bloody dream that comes true when frogs invade human bodies to awaken their darkest desires.
If this scenario seems to be inspired by Parasite, Jagaaan is also a parody of humankind and its darkest desires. Through the violence of numerous drawings and a very dark humor, Jagaaan will not leave anyone indifferent as Halloween approaches.
Gantz
Hiroya Oku’s manga may not be the first manga we think of when we talk about Halloween. However, its very mature, violent and uncensored plot is proof of the link between Gantz and horror. The manga in fact tells the story of several people mysteriously reincarnated to participate in an even more mysterious game, which will lead them to encounter nightmarish creatures, almost traumatic for some. The start of a grueling and macabre adventure, both for the protagonists and for the reader.
The manga, with its SF/survival dimension, offers a perfect manga for the Halloween period with its gory but very adult universe. As if, unfortunately, horror and violence could never be taken away from a human even when the absurd touches them.
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