Best Manga Like Junji Ito’s Uzumaki

Best Manga Like Junji Ito's Uzumaki

Key Takeaways

  • Uzumaki is a horrifying tale with a nightmarish art style that horror fans tend to adore.
  • Gyo offers a unique take on a zombie epidemic with terrifying machines and evil spirits.
  • Blood On The Tracks is a personal and harrowing psychological horror manga that ends on a hopeful note.

As a seasoned manga enthusiast who’s seen my fair share of spine-tingling tales, I must say that these three horror mangas have left quite an indelible mark on me. The first one, “Kiss Him, Kiss Him, I Chang’d It All, A Story of Seiichi and Yoshino,” is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It’s a poignant tale that explores the complexities of love and acceptance, making it a must-read for those who appreciate deep, psychological narratives.


The haunting tale of “Uzumaki” stands among the best in horror literature, offering a visual feast that’s hard to resist. Despite the seemingly bizarre concept of a town cursed by spirals, Ito’s chilling illustrations and the intricate plot twists make it evident why the anime adaptation of this series is highly acclaimed. The meteoric rise in popularity of Junji Ito can be attributed to the gripping horror elements found within “Uzumaki”, and fans seeking more of the same genre can find plenty of suitable options available.

Ito himself wrote numerous tales similar to those loved by Uzumaki fans, yet there are other manga artists who craft chilling stories capable of instilling terror and a sense of impending doom in their readers.

5 Gyo

A Long-Form Junji Ito Story That Is Absolutely Nightmarish

Release Date November 12, 2001
Mangaka Junji Ito
Publication Big Comic Spirits

Junji Ito is exceptionally skilled in his art, particularly excelling at crafting chilling short stories despite their brevity. However, diving into his collection of short stories might feel overwhelming for readers accustomed to longer narratives. For those looking for a smoother introduction to his work, I’d recommend “Gyo“. In this story, Ito explores the emergence of grotesque machinery that is infected with a deadly virus called the death stench, which transforms living beings into hosts.

What follows is a unique take on a zombie epidemic, with the undead being replaced by these machines that terrorize the world and destroy humanity. To make things worse, the death stench is revealed to harbor the faces of evil spirits when it’s ignited, leading to one of the most haunting page turns that Ito fans can come across.

4 Ibitsu

A Psychological Horror Manga That Is Perfect For Fans Of Yandere Archetypes

Release Date October 2, 2009
Mangaka Haruto Ryo
Publication Young Champion

It can be easy to be unnerved by the character archetype of a yandere. The idea of a girl being so crazy that she can murder for her love is far from an easy concept to digest, and Ibitsu rolls with this concept by exploring the idea of a cursed spirit that terrorizes the sisters of men who acknowledge their presence. The gothic lolita who plays a central role in Ibitsu is unhinged and entertaining at the same time.

Absolutely, it doesn’t make the actions of the spirit any less horrific. When Kazuki doubts the reality of this spectral threat, his misjudgment results in his younger sister being tormented by a vicious spirit intent on murdering her and taking her place as Kazuki’s sibling. The chilling events she endures in this narrative are difficult to stomach, creating an unsettling yet captivating horror adventure.

3 Blood On The Tracks

A Nightmarish Psychological Horror Manga With A Personal Touch

Release Date February 24, 2017
Mangaka Shuzo Oshimi
Publication Big Comic Superior

Psychological horror is an intriguingly developed aspect within the horror genre, and Shuzo Oshimi’s renowned work, titled “Blood on the Tracks“, beautifully embodies this transformation. At first glance, the story appears to be a simple portrayal of maternal protection. However, it swiftly veers into a chilling narrative when Seiichi witnesses his mother shoving his cousin off a cliff in response to her cousin mocking their relationship. This disturbing event paves the way for a deeply unsettling journey.

Emotional abuse is not something to be taken lightly, and watching Seiko traumatize his son time and time again by questioning his love for her is hard to take in. As her true nature slowly comes to light, readers are treated to some of the most nightmarish page turns in manga history as her troubled psyche rears its ugly head time and time again. This strong visualization and storytelling is precisely why the latter half of the manga is such a breath of fresh air, ending things on a hopeful note for Seiichi, who finally accepts her mother for who she is.

2 The Drifting Classroom

An Iconic Horror Manga Perfect For Uzumaki Fans

Release Year 1972
Mangaka Kazuo Umezu
Publication Weekly Shonen Sunday

The Drifting Classroom, renowned as one of the greatest mangas ever created, has inspired other manga artists like Shuzo Oshimi to acknowledge its influence. Readers who enjoy stories akin to Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies will find themselves drawn to The Drifting Classroom. However, it’s crucial to be aware that this title contains intense horror elements which may prove disturbing. Following an inexplicable supernatural event that transports an entire school into a post-apocalyptic landscape, both children and adults respond with extreme violence to this sudden change of circumstances.

The narrative delves into the deterioration of human nature as grown-ups succumb to madness and perpetrate horrific acts in a chaotic, unregulated society. Despite its disturbing visuals, there’s an undying sense of optimism that keeps readers turning the pages, eager to see how the story unfolds. With unexpected turns and plotlines, it becomes clear why The Drifting Classroom stands as a horror manga classic.

1 Tomie

An Iconic Junji Ito Horror Series That’s Easily His Most Popular Work

Release Year 1987
Mangaka Junji Ito
Publication Monthly Halloween

The tale that significantly boosted Junji Ito’s popularity, known as Tomie, revolves around a mysterious girl named Tomie, whose stunning beauty captivates men so powerfully that they become obsessed with her. They sacrifice their careers, health, and even their lives to please her constantly, only to find themselves becoming victims as Tomie moves on to her next target.

What makes this malevolent entity even more disturbing is that Tomie can’t be stopped. Even if a good Samaritan manages to uncover her evil and kills her, she is instantly reborn in another body and continues her hunt. It’s a unique concept that makes for some engaging stories that readers can use to get a taste of Junji Ito before diving into the true meat of this mangaka’s bibliography and checking out what else his twisted mind has to offer.

Read More

2024-08-27 08:34