[Top 10] Serial Killer Mangas
By Chris Park
Some of the best-developed characters and plots don’t always have the best intentions in mind. Whether it’s a craving for taking lives or feeling the warmth of blood, here are the ten best serial killer mangas and manwhas.
10. Misu Misou
After moving into the small town of Ootsuuma, Nozaki Haruka eventually became subject to relentless bullying. Doing her best to not retaliate or let anyone know, that eventually falls apart as burning revenge that had built up within Nozaki is let loose. This gory manga tells a wonderful story of romance, violence, and revenge.
9. Lesson of Evil
Illustrated by: Eiji Karasuyama
Seiji Hasumi is a teacher with a charming smile and deep care for his students at Shinkou Academy Machida High. However, what many don’t realize, is that he is a murderous psychopath who will do anything to ensure things go his way and that he is able to make the school his own perfect kingdom. Orchestrating events, his limits seem nonexistent as even murder is committed in order to achieve his goal.
8. Peephole
After a failed suicide attempt, Etsurou Kurosu accidentally creates a peephole in his wall, where he finds himself able to peep in on his beautiful neighbor, Rio Miyaichi. Quickly becoming obsessed, that is where he finds himself witnessing Rio commit murder before he ultimately joins her in her twisted and systematic plans.
7. Murciélago
Koumori Kuroko is an ex-mass murderer who is hired as a hitwoman/assassin by the Japanese police force, to carry out various hits on other renowned murderers. This manga is surprisingly dark, comedic, and filled to the brim with action and some yuri romance.
6. Killing Stalking
Killing Stalking is manwha quite literally about serial stalker Yoon Bum, and serial killer Oh Sangwoo. After developing an infatuation with Sangwoo, Yoon Bum breaks into his house to discover a tied-up and beaten woman in Sangwoo’s basement. Before he realizes it, Sangwoo then takes Yoon Bum captive, starting an abusive, manipulative, and emotionally draining relationship between the two.
5. Unhinged
Unhinged is a manwha telling the story of Erika, who was wrongly convicted of her husband’s murder. After spending nearly a decade behind bars, she was finally freed, where she wastes no time walking on her path of blood and broken laws, in order to gain vengeance for her murdered husband.
4. Monster
Centering on a brain surgeon Kenzo Tenma, his decision to save a pair of twins instead of the mayor, results in the mayor’s death. After the director and other doctors in the hospital are murdered and the twins vanish, a similar incident happens years later, where Kenzo realizes that the source of these murders and killings was one of the twins. Realizing the mistake he had made due to his own bias, he vowed to atone for the decision he had made in saving the serial killer’s life.
3. Bastard
Illustrated by: Youngchan Hwang
Bastard is a manwha that tells the story of a boy named Jin Seon, and his life as a reluctant accomplice to his serial killer father. With love, gore, angst, and drama, Bastard is quite literally a bloody masterpiece that tells the story of Jin finding out the truth about his past and deciding his own future.
2. Erased
Being able to visit moments in time that takes place before a life-changing incident, otherwise known as ‘Revival’, Satoru Fujinuma must relive these moments in time in order to try and change the future. This isn’t just to save his own life, but the futures of many others who were previously slated to fall victim to an unknown serial killer.
1. Death Note
Illustrated by: Takeshi Obata
Death Note tells the story of Light Yagami, a teenager who stumbles upon a notebook called the ‘Death Note’, allowing him to kill anyone by writing their name within its pages. With this newfound power, Light begins to use the ability to murder those around the world who he deems morally unworthy of life, in an attempt to create a utopian society. Donning the alias ‘Kira’ to carry out his serial murders, Light is pursued by an elite police force led by a detective named L, who works to put an end to Light’s murderous reign.
