Black Butler and More Spooky Manga to Read This Halloween!

Every Halloween season brings a special kind of excitement. But if you want to dive deeper into the world of terror, a spooky manga can provide a unique blend of chilling stories and eerie artwork! Let’s uncover this Halloween’s top five must-read manga, starting with Black Butler!

(Editor’s Note: Because these horror works deal with sensitive topics, please refer to IMDb for content warnings if necessary.)

Black Butler

Black Butler, also known as Kuroshitsuji, is a famous manga created by Yana Toboso. It was first published in 2006 in Monthly GFantasy, and it has captured readers’ imaginations worldwide with its eerie mix of mystery, revenge, and supernatural elements.

The story takes place in Victorian-era London, where a young boy named Ciel Phantomhive is the Queen’s Watchdog, solving dark crimes. And Ciel has a secret. He made a pact with a demon named Sebastian Michaelis, who now serves as his butler. Together, they set out on a dangerous quest for revenge against those who destroyed Ciel’s family.

The plot of Black Butler revolves around Ciel’s determination to find the people who hurt him and his family. In exchange for Sebastian’s help, the demon will claim Ciel’s soul once his goal is accomplished. This spooky deal adds to the tension as Ciel and Sebastian tackle mysterious crimes. The characters in the story are all unique and exciting. Sebastian is loyal and dangerous, while the people in Ciel’s house are funny and quirky.

Black Butler’s striking artwork and deep, dark themes make it stand out. The art is detailed and beautifully drawn, perfectly capturing the creepy Victorian vibe of the story. There’s a lot of mystery and excitement, but humor is mixed in to balance the dark moments.

Chainsaw Man

Crafted by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Chainsaw Man is a thrilling manga series. It was first published in 2018 in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The manga is split into the Public Safety Saga and the Academy Saga. In the first part, we see Denji, a poor young man who turns into a devil-human hybrid after making a deal with his dog-ish devil named Pochita.

This lets him turn parts of his body into chainsaws, making him a powerful and terrifying Chainsaw Man. The second part introduces Asa Mitaka, a high school student who starts an adventure with the War Devil. 

The plot of Chainsaw Man is full of creepy devils and intense battles. Denji’s life turns wild as he joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters, a team that fights devils that threaten the world.

Throughout the series, these characters and many others face frightening enemies, heart-pounding challenges, and complicated relationships. On the other hand, Asa’s story brings a fresh perspective as she struggles to survive and find her place while confronting Denji. 

One of the highlights of this shonen manga is its unpredictable storyline and strong characters. Despite its scary nature, the manga also has light moments of humor and heart, making it an exciting adventure for many readers. 

Are you looking for cute plushies this Halloween season? Check out YumeTwins! YumeTwins sends all kinds of kawaii character goods – from Japanese plushies to stationery – right to your door so that you can enjoy your best kawaii lifestyle on your way!

Be Very Afraid of Kanako Inuki 

Be Very Afraid of Kanako Inuki is a collection of short stories from Kanako Inuki, the queen of horror manga. This collection features six creepy stories, each showcasing her distinctive and unsettling art style. The tales explore fears and nightmares through a childlike lens. The art is both strange and fascinating. Plus, characters often have bizarre and exaggerated designs, which adds to the eerie atmosphere.

The collection includes stories like The Birthday Present, in which a woman is haunted by the ghost of a girl she once mistreated. Another story, Lolita, follows a girl who ages rapidly but remains mentally young. Each story has suspense and haunted twists, combining cute and grotesque elements. 

Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is a world-renowned manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. It began in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in early 2018 and quickly became a favorite among readers. 

The manga’s story focuses on the hidden world of Jujutsu Sorcerers, who fight against curses created from negative human emotions. The curses are scary and ugly, which makes the story feel spooky and dark. Meanwhile, sorcerers use their special powers, Cursed Techniques, to fight these monsters. One of the most intriguing abilities is Domain Expansion, which allows them to create ultimate realms where they have an advantage in battle.

In Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji Itadori plays the protagonist role. He’s a high school student who accidentally becomes the host of a powerful curse named Ryomen Sukuna. This happens after Yuji swallows a cursed finger to save his friends. Now, he must work with a secret group of Jujutsu Sorcerers to collect and destroy all of Sukuna’s fingers to prevent a global catastrophe.

The action scenes in this manga are lively and fast-paced, making the battles exciting and high-stakes. With its thrilling plot, complex characters, and impressive artwork, the manga has gained a considerable fanbase and widespread praise, becoming one of the best-selling manga series ever.

Uzumaki

Uzumaki is a gripping Japanese horror manga series created by Junji Ito. Published from 1998 to 1999 in the Big Comic Spirits magazine, this scary story is set in the fictional town of Kurouzu-cho. In this town, the people are haunted by a disturbing supernatural curse centered around the shape of spirals.

The story follows Kirie Goshima, a high school student, and her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, as they experience the horrors of Kurouzu-cho. The town’s curse makes people obsessed with spirals, leading to weird and terrifying transformations.

For example, people’s bodies begin to twist into spiral shapes. Even everyday objects, such as seashells and whirlpools, also become sources of fear. The more the townsfolk see spirals, the crazier they become, leading to horrifying events.

The art in Uzumaki is as unsettling as its story, with Junji Ito’s unique style adding to the manga’s atmosphere. This combination of creepy visuals and sinister storylines has made Uzumaki popular and well-regarded. It even earned a spot on the Young Adult Library Services Association’s list of the best graphic novels for teens. Plus, an anime adaptation will come out this year on September 28th!

Why should I read spooky manga like Black Butler?

Reading spooky manga is a fun and exciting experience that pulls you into thrilling mysteries and supernatural adventures. While some stories discuss cursed towns like Uzumaki, others feature sorcerers like Jujutsu Kaisen and Black Butler. All in all, these stories explore the darker side of life in a safe environment, making them perfect for the Halloween season!  So, what’s your favorite spooky manga? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!