There are a good chunk of manga out there that have a lot of tonal or atmospheric similarities toChainsaw Man. These manga shares some ofChainsaw Man’schaotic energy, have an equally unique character style, or maybe even feature a plot that’s similarly absurd.
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And, with the overwhelmingly positive reception to the anime adaptation, of course, fans are looking for anything else even a bit similar to it. Now, a lot of manga would fit as comparisons, but the ones that are about to be mentioned are much more similar than the other examples. What’s more, they are also series that have yet to receive an anime adaptation.
Updated November 19th, 2022 by Jacob Buchalter:WithChainsaw Man’sanime doing well for a variety of reasons, such asDenji’s characterizationor the potentialromance between love interests, it’s no wonder that people are still looking for series similar to it. WhatChainsaw Manexcels in is having a hyper-dark setting with tons of violence, death, and cruelty but somehow manages to keep the tone relatively light or at the very least comedic. To do this, it relies on keeping the reader or viewer on their toes constantly, making them wonder what’s going to happen next or who might die. So, let’s take another look and pick out some more series that scratch a similar itch.
9Dai Dark
WhileDorohedorowould have been a fantastic recommendation for somethingChainsaw Manfans would love, it sadly doesn’t meet the requirementsdue to it already having an anime adaptation. That said, the creator ofDorohedoro, Q Hayashida, is actually already a fair amount into her new series,Dai Dark.
And, as it turns out, this series is also a fantastic manga recommendation for fans of the chaotic and comedic nature ofChainsaw Man. Instead of satanic or religious horror likeChainsaw Man,Dai Darkis much more based around space horror and it’s an absolutely disgusting delight (and surprisingly heartfelt) delight.
8Grashros
For anyone who has readGrashros, this will likely be seen as an odd recommendation, given how the story, overall structure, and reception from the fans ofGrashrosturn out near the end of its publication.
That said, the wild ride of this story from 30,000 years in the past absolutely encapsulates the same uninhibited energy asChainsaw Man. The main character Akuu’s violent nature, drive to follow his base desires, and overall demeanor is pretty similar to Denji, even if he’s much less likable.
And, the end goal of taking down an opponent so much stronger than the protagonist who is infamous for its widespread destruction is also a big similarity. Again, this is a story that is regarded as “going off the deep end” very early on, so take that as a word of warning before diving into it. But, for those who can handle that, as well as a lot of adult themes,Grashrosis quite the experience.
7Kaiju No. 8
Kaiju No 8is exactly the type of manga aChainsaw Manfan will love if they’re at all into Kaiju or the idea of humanity banding together to fight a common monstrous enemy. In this setting, the world is constantly attacked by Kaiju with the primary force opposing them being the JSDF. Two kids, Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro, promise each other while looking at their destroyed hometown that they’ll make it to the top of the JSDF and beat all the Kaiju.
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Fast forward to when they’re both adults and Mina is well on her way while Kafka is…part of the cleanup crew. The story quickly progresses from there as Kafka goes through a life (and body) changing event, but regardlessKaiju No 8is an incredibly well-drawn, well-written, and still moderately hyperviolent ride.
6Fire Punch
Fire Punchwas always going to be on this list. There are a couple of reasons for this, some more obvious than others. For one, it’s made by the exact same mangaka asChainsaw Man, Tatsuki Fujimoto. Secondly,Fire Punchcaptures a lot of the same unpredictable energy asChainsaw Man, as both series have narratives where no one can ever guess what’s going to happen next.
While Agni is undoubtedly not the same type of protagonist that Denji is, playing much more of a “straight man” than a “comedic relief”, it’s the cast around him that keeps readers on their toes such as Togata, Sun, or Judah, though none of them compared at all in power to Agni or even a single one ofthe Hybrids inChainsaw Man.
5Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Hell’s Paradise: Jingokurakudoesn’t have an anime yet, but it does have one on the horizon. TheHell’s Paradiseadaptation doesn’t have a release date, though some fans thought that the confirmation of a stage play in 2022 was for the adaptation, but that confusion was cleared up and most expect it sometime in mid-2023.
That said, there’s a reason this manga similar toChainsaw Manalready has an adaptation in the works. It’s a fantastic story all about an apparently “empty” shinobi elite named Gabimaru the Hollow. Gabimaru, along with his warden and would-be executioner Yamada Sagiri, travel to a mystical island along with other death-row convicts in order to find the Elixir of Life for the Shogun and be pardoned for their crimes.
It turns out that there’s a lot more happening on this island than originally expected, and the cast of characters is quickly tested by the monstrous and horrifying “residents” of the island. There’s a lot that Jigokuraku excels at, from breathtaking art to innately interesting characters and even managing to nail its ending as well (which is not an easy task). But at the core of this series is a real love for character writing,Hopefully, the anime does the manga justice.
4Jagaaaaaan
In terms of pure absurdity,Jagaaaaaan,an action-based pseudo-horror manga, is on the same level asChainsaw Man, for sure. But instead ofpeople making contracts with different “Devils"to gain power,Jagaaaaaanfeatures “Fractured Humans” that either make contracts with “Frenzied Frogs” or become controlled by them completely. And, these Fractured Humans, controlled by the frog, are monsters that take actions entirely depending on their deepest desires and insecurities.
Shintarou Jagasaki is one of those infected humans, but thanks to his unique circumstances, he instead becomes a Fractured Human “Warrior” and is able to retain his sanity while also utilizing the supernatural powers of the Frenzied Tadpole. This manga is gory, goofy, full of dark humor, cruel, sadistic, terrifying, and completely visually stunning in its artwork. And to cap it all off, the protagonists in both series have a warped view oflove for mysterious characterswho, quite frankly, aren’t really looking out for their best interests.
3Homunculus
Homunculusis much more of an introspective choice than a lot of these other action-oriented manga that are likeChainsaw Man. Susumu Nakoshi is a former salaryman who now only has his car left to his name. One day, Nakoshi is approached by a stranger with a unique sense of style named Ito Manabu and asked if he’ll participate in a medical study in exchange for money and some other benefits.
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This study requires him to get a surgery called a trepanation, which is basically having a tiny hole drilled into his skull. But the aftermath of this surgery proves that this study isn’t entirely medical, as Nakoshi starts being able to see the true “soul” of a person (otherwise known as their homunculus) at just a glance.
Homunculus is a very emotional and visceral story that truly dives into the human condition. And, it somehow miraculously manages to mix the sort of “what makes a man” atmosphere ofone of the seinen greatswith the visual horror and pure unpredictabilityof the twists inChainsaw Man.
2Dandadan
Moving into the comedy genre just a bit,Dandadanis another series in Shonen Jump that is absolutely able to at least compete withChainsaw Manin terms of pure chaotic energy, though it’s not quite as dark. To explain a bit about what this manga entails, just think about what it would be like if both the supernatural (aliens, UFOs, etc.) and the occult (curses, ghosts, telekinesis) existed at the same time.
Dandadancombines elements from both of these worlds came together to form a blend of peak battle shonen action, hilarious physical comedy, an adorably well-written romance, and genuine horror in a way that shouldn’t even be possible.
The series separates itself from all other shonen manga in a variety of ways, while still capitalizing on what makes the genre so appealing in the first place with great battles, a well-thought-out power system, and characters who constantly strive to get stronger.
1Gachiakuta
Gachiakutais another series that hasn’t been around all too long, as it only started publishing back in February 2022. But already, this manga is worth an adaptation. For one, the art style ofGachiakutais absolutely incredible and unique. Mangaka Kei Urana has done a fantastic job with the art for this series, and the hard edges and strong lines give off similar vibes to Atsushi Ookubo’s works (such asSoul EaterandFire Force). Second,Gachiakutahas a unique narrative, as the central theme of this manga is based around the “love” people give to objects, what defines an object as a “treasure” or as “trash”, and how that love can actually give these objects a soul.
InGachiakuta, the love and care for an object can sometimes turn these objects into “Jinkis.” These Jinkis are powerful supernatural weapons with individual abilities that “Janitors” use to fight against sentient monsters made of literal garbage, which is a bit of a step down in gravity fromDevil Hunters fighting Devilsthat represent certain fears. If that concept sounds absurd, it absolutely is, but Kei Urana somehow manages to make the concept both work well as a story and come off as inherently badass all at once. So, for manga likeChainsaw Man, this is another easy recommendation.
