Intense Psychological Manga You've Never Heard Of and Where to Read Them

First up is I Am a Hero, a series that follows a manga assistant named Hideo Suzuki who soon finds himself amidst a zombie outbreak in Tokyo.

Partly due to being mentally unstable, Hideo believes himself to be the destined hero of Tokyo, and he soon sets off with his firearm.

While the zombie genre is oversaturated at this point, I Am a Hero is a more twisted take on it given how it focuses on the psychology of its troubled protagonist.

It’s not for everyone, but it's one to read for psychological manga fans.

For those interested, this manga is published in English by Dark Horse Comics in North America.

Takehiko Inoue needs no introduction as his iconic works Slam Dunk and Vagabond are classics in their genre. Unbeknownst to many though, Inoue also has another manga that’s just as good titled Real.

Inoue returns to basketball for this series, though it’s a much more psychological depiction of the sport—not to mention unique, as it tells the story of wheelchair basketball players.

Sure, it’s not a psychological thriller exactly, but its deep delve into the psyche of its characters makes it well worth a read.

Real volumes are published in English by Viz Media, with the volumes being available both physically and digitally.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Sports Anime Like Slam Dunk to Watch

When it comes to unique manga, Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon consistently serialized one-of-a-kind titles such as Heavenly Delusion and Land of the Lustrous.

Eden: It’s an Endless World! is a psychological manga that may not be as well-known as the other Afternoon titles, but its story should be right up the alley of readers looking for something intense.

The series is set after a pandemic ravaged the world, and it follows a boy and a girl who are immune to the virus.

As the story progresses, Eden introduces sub-plots relating to drug cartels and paramilitary forces.

With its grim story filled with violence and psychological themes, Eden is a must-read, and you can do so via Dark Horse Comics’ English volume releases.

School-Live! is another zombie apocalypse series but with another psychological twist. To be exact, it follows Yuki Takeya who continues her high school life along with her friends.

It turns out that Yuki is suffering from delusions, as she and her friends are among the few survivors of the zombie outbreak that has ravaged their city.

Given its contrasting elements, School-Live! is a compelling read for psychological thriller fans who want a manga with sharp contrasts.

In the US, the manga volumes are published in English by Yen Press.

RELATED: The Best Zombie Anime to Watch

Vinland Saga creator Makoto Yukimura is a respected manga artist both in Japan and the West. Before his hit series though, Yukimura also created Planetes.

This manga follows a group of space debris cleaners in their daily lives. It’s not the most exciting of sci-fi premises, but Planetes is a gritty take on the future of humanity, with a good dose of psychological depth for its characters.

Aside from getting an anime adaptation back in 2003, the Planetes manga is also published in English by Dark Horse Comics.

Takopi's Original Sin is one of the shortest manga in this list at just 16 chapters, but it packs a hefty punch thanks to its dark themes that tackle bullying and abuse.

This manga follows the alien Takopi who wishes to spread happiness throughout the universe. He then lands on Earth, where he meets Shizuka Kuze, a young girl who is a victim of bullying.

Takopi resolves to make Shizuka smile, but this proves to be tougher than it seems to him.

Given how dark the series gets, this manga isn’t for everyone. For those up to the challenge though, the manga is published by Viz Media and is available on Manga Plus.

With works like Cardcaptor Sakura and xxxHolic under their belt, the artist group CLAMP is popular across the world. For more casual fans though, they may not be familiar with the group’s first major work titled X.

This manga started serialization in 1994, and it got praise for its art, as well as its dark story that follows a young man who has the power to decide the fate of the world.

Sadly, the manga entered a hiatus in 2003 and never came back. Even though it’s unfinished, the manga is still worth checking out for readers looking for a psychological thriller with supernatural elements.

Viz Media publishes the manga in English, though only a few volumes are available currently.

ALSO READ: The Best Manga on Hiatus That Fans Can't Wait to Come Back

Junji Ito is considered a horror manga maestro thanks to classic works such as Uzumaki and Tomie. In 2017 though, Ito created a psychological horror adaptation of the Japanese classic No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai.

This version of Dazai’s novel features disturbing imagery that enhances the deep dive into the psyche of its protagonist.

Ito’s manga is available in English through Viz Media. Aside from this, readers may also consider looking for a copy of Dazai’s original novel.