Junji Ito’s manga is something else. His stories are deeply disturbing, and his art is unbelievably detailed and often grotesque. If you enjoy horror that blends body horror and psychological terror, then you might like to explore other authors with a similar approach.
This article looks at authors who create stories with that same unsettling feeling as Ito’s work.
Kazuo Umezu is a classic master of Japanese horror manga who sets the standard for macabre storytelling. If you’re a fan of Junji Ito’s eerie tales, check out Umezu’s “The Drifting Classroom.”
This story follows Sho, a young boy whose entire school is suddenly transported into a nightmarish wasteland. Sho and his classmates struggle to understand what has happened, dealing with panic, survival, and monstrous threats.
The artwork captures the terror and chaos faced by children stranded without adults, delivering tense and powerful scenes of horror. Umezu expertly crafts a disturbing scenario that explores both human desperation and supernatural dread.
Readers who enjoy the disturbing horror of Junji Ito may find Hideshi Hino equally captivating. Hino is a Japanese manga artist known for his unsettling imagery and dark storytelling.
His book “Panorama of Hell” follows a twisted painter who creates disturbing paintings using his own blood. Each piece he makes portrays horrific scenes influenced by his traumatic past and obsession with death.
Filled with grotesque visuals and bizarre settings, the story draws readers into a vivid nightmare they won’t soon forget.
Suehiro Maruo is a Japanese manga artist famous for his disturbing horror imagery and dark style. His work often portrays bizarre characters and strange dream sequences that border on surrealism.
If you’re a fan of Junji Ito, you may enjoy Maruo’s “The Strange Tale of Panorama Island.”
This manga follows an ambitious writer who steals the identity of a wealthy deceased man to fulfill his strange dream: to create an island paradise full of grotesque beauty and bizarre wonders.
His utopia quickly spirals into nightmare, combining eerie art with psychological twists that linger long after the final page.
Readers who enjoy the horror manga of Junji Ito may also appreciate the unsettling style of Shintaro Kago. Kago is known for his extreme body horror and twisted, surreal storytelling, often blurring the lines between grotesque humor and outright shock.
His book “Dementia 21” follows Yukie Sakai, a home care nurse who deals with increasingly bizarre and darkly humorous situations in each chapter. Yukie faces elderly patients whose odd afflictions stretch the line between reality and nightmare.
The artwork itself has an eerie charm, detailed yet disturbingly exaggerated, showing body horror in strange and fascinating ways. If you’re interested in challenging and unpredictable manga horror, Shintaro Kago offers disturbing worlds you won’t soon forget.
Books by Itoh Yu offer chilling tales perfect for readers who enjoy Junji Ito’s unsettling style. In “Rasetsu”, Itoh Yu tells the story of a young man who returns to his isolated hometown after learning about the mysterious disappearance of his childhood friend.
The small village seems quiet on the surface, but dark secrets and eerie events soon emerge. Strange figures appear during the night, and villagers behave in ways that defy explanation.
Through vivid illustrations and atmospheric storytelling, Itoh builds a suspenseful narrative that gradually reveals the sinister force behind the town’s mystery.
Fans of strange occurrences, psychological unease, and compelling visual storytelling will find Itoh Yu’s “Rasetsu” difficult to put down.
Go Nagai is a Japanese manga author known for bold storytelling, horror themes, and powerful visuals. Readers who enjoy Junji Ito’s brand of shocking horror and surreal imagery might appreciate Nagai’s influential work, “Devilman.”
This manga series follows Akira Fudo, a timid teenager who merges with a powerful demon and becomes Devilman. Akira must protect humanity from other demons, but soon faces the terrifying truth about mankind itself.
The series explores dark religious themes, moral ambiguity, and shocking violence. Nagai’s intense artwork and fast-paced storytelling keep readers deeply invested until the disturbing climax.
Osamu Tezuka (dark works like MW) is widely known for his darker and more mature manga stories. If you’ve enjoyed Junji Ito’s chilling tales, Tezuka offers a fascinating yet disturbing look at human nature.
In his book “MW,” Tezuka portrays the sinister relationship between two deeply troubled characters: Father Garai, a priest burdened by guilt, and Michio Yuki, a charismatic and ruthless psychopath.
Following a past chemical disaster, their twisted bond leads them down a path of violence and moral corruption. Tezuka explores themes of evil and guilt with stark honesty, crafting a thought-provoking narrative that stays unsettling until the very last page.
Daijiro Morohoshi is a Japanese manga author known for his eerie and imaginative storytelling. Fans of Junji Ito’s unsettling horror tales might appreciate Morohoshi’s work, particularly “The Box of Goblins.”
This manga revolves around a mysterious box said to contain supernatural creatures called goblins. As different characters encounter the box, their lives are profoundly altered, and they become entangled in unsettling events that blur the line between reality and myth.
Morohoshi’s story combines horror elements with folklore themes, creating an atmosphere that is both creepy and captivating.
Fuan no Tane (Masaaki Nakayama) If you love the creepy, unsettling stories of Junji Ito, check out “Fuan no Tane” by Masaaki Nakayama. This manga collection takes ordinary moments and twists them into something deeply unsettling.
Nakayama’s short, impactful tales often focus on everyday encounters with strange figures and mysterious apparitions. In one story, a brief glance out the window reveals a person staring silently, leaving readers with lingering unease and an uncertain dread.
Nakayama’s art is subtle but disturbing, letting quiet horror seep slowly from panel to panel. Fans of Junji Ito who enjoy strange visuals and quiet scares might find Nakayama’s work fascinating.
Gyo Fujikawa was an American illustrator and children’s book author known for her imaginative storytelling and unique visual style. If you enjoy Junji Ito’s twisted narratives and striking visuals, you might appreciate Fujikawa’s different yet equally distinctive artistry.
Her work often mixes charming scenes with subtle emotional depth. In her picture book “Oh, What a Busy Day,” Fujikawa captures the daily adventures of children exploring their world with wonder, curiosity, and warmth.
The vivid illustrations bring alive everyday moments in unexpected and imaginative ways, drawing readers into a gentle but captivating journey.
Kentaro Miura was a Japanese manga author known for his detailed art and dark storytelling. Fans of Junji Ito’s horror tales may appreciate Miura’s intense fantasy epic, “Berserk.”
The story follows Guts, a warrior driven by revenge who must face horrifying demons and ruthless adversaries in a brutal medieval world. Rich in complex characters and dark themes, the series portrays scenes of friendship, betrayal, and supernatural terror.
Miura’s haunting visuals and gripping plot twists leave readers deep in thought long after turning the final page.
Readers who enjoy Junji Ito might want to check out Tsutomu Nihei, a manga author known for intense storytelling and stunning visual detail. Nihei’s “Blame!” is set in a huge, endless city dominated by complex architecture and technology that has gotten wildly out of control.
The story follows Killy, a quiet and mysterious protagonist, on his search for something known simply as Net Terminal Genes. The world of “Blame!” is dark, vast, and hauntingly empty.
The atmosphere mixes dystopian dread and technological horror, elements that fans of Junji Ito’s style may well appreciate.
Naoki Urasawa is a manga artist known for his suspenseful storytelling and complex characters. Readers who enjoy Junji Ito’s eerie worlds might appreciate Urasawa’s “Monster.” In the story, brilliant surgeon Dr. Kenzo Tenma risks everything to save a young boy’s life.
However, years later, he discovers that the child he saved has turned into something truly sinister. The narrative unfolds in chilling twists and psychological drama, raising questions about duty, morality, and fate.
Urasawa’s detailed art and layered storytelling pull readers into a tension-filled battle of minds and ethics.
Readers who enjoy Junji Ito’s unsettling blend of horror and psychological mystery may appreciate Eiji Otsuka. His manga “The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service” blends dark humor, mystery, and horror into intriguing self-contained episodes.
It follows a group of oddball university students who have unusual abilities and talents relating to death. Led by a psychic who talks to dead bodies, they try to fulfill the final wishes of the deceased in exchange for rewards.
Each story weaves supernatural elements into gritty, realistic settings, exploring themes like revenge, grief, and unfinished business. Like Ito, Otsuka brings together horror and thoughtful storytelling in a way that’s both chilling and deeply human.
Readers who are fans of Junji Ito’s intense and unsettling style may appreciate exploring Takashi Nagasaki’s work. Nagasaki frequently collaborates with illustrator Naoki Urasawa to create gripping mystery thrillers.
One standout example is “Monster,” which follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a talented surgeon whose decision to save a child’s life sparks devastating consequences. Tenma becomes entangled in a tense and nerve-wracking hunt for a dangerous killer, facing dark moral choices at every turn.
Nagasaki crafts suspenseful narratives filled with striking psychological depth, making “Monster” a fascinating read for those who enjoy dark, thought-provoking storytelling.