Dark & Twisted Manga First Volumes for Horror Fans

Dark & Twisted Manga First Volumes for Horror Fans

Horror manga takes fear to another level with disturbing visuals, psychological mind games, and stories that haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love unsettling, eerie, or outright terrifying stories, these 5 dark and twisted first volumes are perfect to sink your teeth into.

1. Uzumaki (Volume 1)

Genre: Psychological Horror, Supernatural

By: Junji Ito

No horror manga list is complete without Junji Ito, the master of disturbing visuals and creeping dread. Uzumaki takes place in a town obsessed with spirals—an obsession that quickly turns sinister as people begin to experience terrifying, supernatural transformations.

• ✔️ Unsettling body horror
• ✔️ Slow-burning psychological terror
• ✔️ A must-read for any horror fan

2. The Drifting Classroom (Volume 1)

Genre: Psychological Horror, Survival

By: Kazuo Umezz

A classic in the horror manga genre, The Drifting Classroom follows an entire school that mysteriously vanishes from reality. Trapped in a wasteland with no escape, the students and teachers descend into madness, battling horrifying creatures and their own paranoia.

• ✔️ Psychological breakdowns and intense tension
• ✔️ Survival horror with eerie, vintage artwork
• ✔️ A cult-classic horror masterpiece

3. I Am a Hero (Volume 1)

Genre: Zombie Horror, Psychological

By: Kengo Hanazawa

If you think zombie stories have been overdone, think again. I Am a Hero delivers a uniquely disturbing take on a zombie apocalypse through the eyes of Hideo, a struggling manga artist with serious psychological issues. As the world collapses into chaos, Hideo’s unreliable perspective makes for an unsettling, unpredictable ride.

• ✔️ Realistic and gruesome zombie horror
• ✔️ A main character you’re never sure you can trust
• ✔️ Perfect for fans of slow-burn terror

4. Tokyo Ghoul (Volume 1)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror

By: Sui Ishida

Tokyo Ghoul is a modern horror classic, blending supernatural terror with psychological trauma. When college student Kaneki undergoes a gruesome transformation into a human-eating ghoul, he’s forced to navigate the violent and horrifying underworld hidden within Tokyo.

• ✔️ Intense body horror and gore
• ✔️ A gripping, tragic protagonist
• ✔️ A deep dive into the psychology of monsters

5. Blood on the Tracks (Volume 1)

Genre: Psychological Horror, Thriller

By: Shuzo Oshimi

Horror isn’t just about monsters—it’s about the terrifying things humans are capable of. Blood on the Tracks explores the dark, suffocating relationship between a mother and her son. With every slow, calculated panel, the tension builds to an almost unbearable level.

• ✔️ Disturbing psychological horror
• ✔️ Masterful use of suspense
• ✔️ More terrifying than supernatural horror

Which Horror Manga Will You Brave First?

If you love horror that lingers in your mind, these manga will leave you unsettled long after you’ve finished reading. Which one intrigues you the most? Let us know in the comments!

💡 More Manga to Explore:

• 👉 Want even more recommendations? Check out our must-read manga of 2024.
• 👉 Looking for the best way to read manga? Here’s our guide to the top manga subscription services.