Best manga like Junji Ito’s Uzumaki

Uzumaki is one of the greatest horror stories to watch. It’s hard to sell the idea of ​​a spiral tormenting the townspeople, but the strength of Ito’s nightmarish drawings coupled with the unique twists of this story make it clear why the anime adaptation of this series is being hyped to the moon and back. There’s a reason why Junji Ito’s name has shot into the stratosphere of popularity, and fans who have been swayed by the excellent horror qualities of Uzumaki have many options available if they are looking for something similar.

Ito himself has several similar stories that fans of Uzumaki you will surely enjoybut there are also other mangaka with horror stories that can scare readers and evoke the same feeling of fear in them.

5 Gyo

A detailed Junji Ito story that is absolutely nightmarish

Junji Ito is a master of his craft and his true genius lies in the short stories that are short yet harrowing. However, going through his short story collection can be daunting. Readers more used to long stories may want to check out: Gyo to get to grips with his work. This story is about the rise of monstrous machines that use a virus called the Death Stench to infect living organisms and turn them into hosts.

What follows is a unique take on a zombie epidemic, where the undead are replaced by these machines terrorizing the world and destroying humanity. To make matters worse, the stench of death, when ignited, turns out to house the faces of evil spirits, leading to one of the most haunting page twists Ito fans can experience.

4 Ibitsu

A psychological horror manga that is perfect for fans of Yandere archetypes

The character archetype of a Yandere can be a little unsettling. The idea that a girl is so crazy that she would kill for her love is anything but easy to digest, and Ibitsu takes up this concept and explores the idea of ​​a cursed spirit that terrorizes the sisters of men who acknowledge her presence. The Gothic Lolita, which plays a central role in Ibitsu is crazy and entertaining at the same time.

That’s not to say, of course, that the atrocities she commits aren’t heinous. When Kazuki assumes that the threat posed by this ghost isn’t real, his mistake results in his younger sister being tortured by the ghost who wants to kill her and replace her as Kazuki’s sister. The gruesome ordeal her sister goes through in this story is hard to stomach and makes for a disturbing but unique horror experience.

3 Blood on the tracks

A nightmarish psychological horror manga with a personal touch

Psychological horror is one of the most fascinating developments in the horror genre, and Shuzo Oshimi’s best known and most acclaimed work is a great example of it. Blood on the tracks starts off innocently enough, and readers understand the feeling of having a protective mother. However, things take a turn for the worse when Seiichi witnesses his mother push his cousin off a cliff after making fun of her dynamic with her son, setting the stage for an incredibly harrowing story.

Emotional abuse is not something to be taken lightly, and it’s hard to bear watching Seiko repeatedly traumatize his son by questioning his love for her. As her true nature slowly comes to light, readers are treated to some of the most nightmarish twists in manga history as her disturbed psyche rears its ugly head time and time again. This strong visualization and storytelling is exactly why the second half of the manga is so refreshing, ending things on a hopeful note for Seiichi, who finally accepts her mother for who she is.

2 The floating classroom

A cult horror manga, perfect for Uzumaki fans

Drifting classroom is one of the most iconic manga of all time, and other mangaka like Shuzo Oshimi pay respect to this work in their own way. Fans of stories like Animal Farm And Lord of the Flies find The floating classroom right up your alley, but keep in mind that the horror elements of this title can be quite disturbing. After a crazy supernatural incident causes an entire school to be transported to a post-apocalyptic wasteland, everyone from children to adults react violently to the development.

What follows is an exploration of the human condition as the adults slowly lose their minds and commit numerous atrocities in a lawless world where they are answerable to no higher authority. Some of the imagery in this title is grotesque, but there is a persistent sense of hope that compels readers to turn the page and watch the story. This, coupled with some ridiculous plot twists, ensures that readers understand why The floating classroom is one of the most iconic horror mangas of all time.

1 Tomie

An iconic horror series by Junji Ito, which is by far his most popular work

The story that made Junji Ito famous, Tomierevolves around the horrors wreaked by a mysterious girl whose beauty is so radiant that men cannot help but fall in love with her, giving up their livelihoods and well-being to ensure Tomie is fed at all times, culminating in her death as Tomie moves on to her next victim.

What makes this malevolent being even more disturbing is that Tomie is unstoppable. Even if a good Samaritan manages to uncover her evil and kill her, she is immediately reincarnated in another body and continues her hunt. It’s a unique concept that makes for some exciting stories that allow readers to get a taste of Junji Ito before diving into the real meat of this mangaka’s bibliography and finding out what else his twisted mind has to offer.