Among the numerous genres in the realm of manga, there lies that delve into the darkest and deepest of human psychology. Manga in the dark psychological genre pushes the boundaries of the mind and challenges the perception while leaving an indelible mark on the readers. If you are a fan of this genre, then you are in the right place as in this article, we will explore some of the best dark psychological manga for you to read.
Uzumaki
Uzumaki is a horror psychological manga that takes place in a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan. While the horror genre is present in the Uzumaki manga, it takes a different take towards surprising the audience, as the town is haunted but not by a being or human, instead by a pattern. Uzumaki, the spiral, is the shape that haunts the town and at the start, the manifestation is small. However, as the story progresses, madness spreads and the characters are pulled even deeper into a whirlpool of chaos. Uzumaki is a manga with a strong theme, great storyline, and compelling characters, and is a highly recommended manga for you to read.
Misu Misou
Misu Misou is a dark psychological manga that has a very unique art style that complements the overall story. While the manga revolves around the day-to-day life of some school girls, it takes a dark turn very quickly while featuring themes like bullying, mental breakdown, psychotic tendencies, and such. Although Misu Misou is among the best dark psychological manga, the concept and art style of this manga are not for everybody. Unlike the previous entry in this article, Misu Misou is only recommended to the audience that can handle dark themes and can go around the art style of this manga.
Boy’s Abyss
Following the story of Kurose Reiji, the manga takes place in a small and nameless seaside town that is only known for its lore about a lover’s suicide. While the town has nothing doesn’t seem anything special, as the story progresses, it becomes an abyss of trauma and depression for Reiji. Boy’s Abyss features a lot of interesting characters and some of those characters wish to leave the town and search for happiness while some are engulfed by their trauma and want others to feel the same. Boy’s Abyss is an exceptionally written manga that delves into the darker territory of the mind and shows how trauma can ruin some innocent lives.
Our Happy Hours
Our Happy Hours is a short and one of the best dark psychological manga out there. The concept of this manga delves into the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the complexities of human emotions. The story revolves around a woman named Juri, who has attempted suicide three times and is now taken to help her aunt at a prison where murderers are sentenced to the death penalty. The life of Juri starts to change as she meets a man named Yuu, who has taken three lives indiscriminately. Together, in their own ways, they embrace the violent rebellion in their hearts caused by the large deep scars they carry. Even after committing the worst form of crime, the hope “I want to live” resides in their hearts but the past can’t be changed and they shall soon have to face the punishment. With only eight chapters long, Our Happy Hours is a masterpiece of psychological manga and is highly recommended for you to read.
Billy Bat
Written by Urasawa Naoki, Billy Bat is a highly underrated dark psychological manga. Even though underrated, Billy Bat is a highly recommended manga for its ability to play with the reader’s mind. The concept of Billy Bat is one of the most unique, the manga features compelling characters and from time to time, it throws them into a pit of mental breakdown from where some characters manage to rise while others fall down. Moreover, the manga also features some historical events, while there is no major change in the historical events, what makes them interesting is the involvement of the characters.
The Flower of Evil
The manga “The Flower of Evil” features a compelling story revolving around a middle school student who is led into a downward spiral of guilt, fear, and obsession. While The Flower of Evil is not the darkest manga out there, it is still among the best psychological manga due to its story which grows much further with each chapter. The manga delves deep into psychological themes such as adolescent angst, alienation, and the search for identity, making it an excellent psychological manga for you to read.
20th Century Boys
Another masterpiece by Urasawa Naoki, the manga follows Kenji who is finding out how hard it can be on him as life starts wearing down on him. Running a mini-mart and taking care of his niece and his missing sister, Kenji takes care of his responsibilities and makes them a bit easier with the memories of his youth. However, the memories of his youth come back to haunt him and the others around him. Kenji and his old friends find themselves being drawn into a mysterious conspiracy that could threaten the world. The 20th Century Boys manga is among the best dark psychological manga out there and with its compelling storyline, great characters, and of course, one of the best antagonists, “Friend” it is highly recommended for you to read the manga.
Gantz
Showing the story of a couple of high school students who died in a subway train accident in an attempt to save the life of a drunk homeless guy who fell on the train tracks. Gantz is a dark science fiction manga that revolves around a life-threatening game where a team of characters is forced to participate in dangerous missions to hunt and kill alien creatures. The manga delves into themes of life, death, and existentialism while the characters struggle with the new harsh reality and struggle to find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. Gantz is a hidden manga gem and more than often, it is considered as peak fiction in the dark and psychological genre.
Goodnight Punpun
One of the best psychological manga, Goodnight Punpun is widely acclaimed as ‘the greatest’ coming-of-age manga series. The story follows the life of Punpun Punyama, a young boy depicted as a simplistic bird-like figure, as he navigates the challenges of adolescence and adulthood in modern-day Japan. However, little by little, the life of Punpun starts to fall apart with the harsh realities he faces. The manga is highly praised for its emotional depth, complex characters, and exploration of themes that resonate with readers on a deep level, making it one of the best dark psychological manga and a highly recommended read from us to you.
Berserk
A masterpiece by Kentaro Miura, Berserk is a dark fantasy manga with a great storyline and great artwork. The manga takes place in the medieval era and features the story of Guts who is also widely known as ‘The Black Swordsman’. Throughout the story, the manga does not hold anything back and features lots of gore while keeping the readers hooked to the story. Besides its characters, the manga is highly known for its mature themes, graphic violence, and intricate world-building. If you are a fan of dark psychological works set in a fantasy land, then Berserk is a highly recommended manga for you.