I highly recommend Dorohedoro!!! its whacky is gorey its funny and actually incredibly well written on top of that. Amazing world building and great characters and its finished with 23 volumes! The art style is rough and has a sketch-y vibe to it that fits perfectly to the atmosphere in the story. Its also written and illustrated by a woman! GO WOMEN! I know you arent into anime much, but it does have a great anime adaptation covering the first few volumes as well, which actually improves quite a bit on its source material. Also one of the best OSTs in anime ever fr
I think that made in abyss doesn’t give lovecraftian vibe I’d say it give the feeling of forms of life that formed there and evolved to survive each in their own layer so with different effect from the curse. And you make me laugh hard when you said “I don’t know if I will keep up week to week maybe when there are twenty chapter” Because the chapter come out between three to five months.
Pluto is probably my favourite manga of all time. I love both 20th century boys and monster for kinda same reasons, but I think that Pluto does more with what time and amount of chapters it has. Maybe it reaches a little lesser heights(in my opinion it does, but maybe), but is far more stacked.
Recommend Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shots. My favourites are "Look Back" and "Goodbye Eri" (actual masterpieces). Also maybe revisit Chainsaw Man especially with part 2 raging on right now, reading all his works might recontextualize it for you. It's personally my favourite manga
yeah, he may like part 2 more than 1. He didn't even dislike part 1 much. I think the pacing hurt for him. Part 2 is the part part 1 fans hate more lol, because it fixes all the issues he had with part 1. Word salad. Basically its more of a character study on the world and people living in it, and it also makes denji into a more understandable character. The author prettymuch laid it out that its about him finding his super ego, id is found, he has stability etc. The series also works well with people who relate to denji being poor and disrespected. He feels worthless and holds onto baser instincts of a kid his age till he finds out that's not what life is...and hides behind being a super hero while really just wanting a family then learning its ok to still want more, your human and should chase happiness till your content. Their is a lot of show don't tell which hurts a series that people usually speed read. like fugi using manga panels outside the panels to attack characters. Id watch the animation to see the love some artist have for the series revigorating their love of media. I also made a video on goodbye eri that did well for my channel lol so I'm a sucker...100 views or so is good for me XD.
You absolutely have to read Battle Angel Alita !!!! it's the best manga ever right up there with Berserk, Lone wolf and cub and Vagabond !!! Also highly recommend dorohedoro and blame! Also the made in abyss ANIME elivates the manga to a 10x higher level. You know how good that is given the manga itself is great !
The made in abyss anime is why anime exists, it builds on the manga with incredible sound design and voice acting. The abyss really comes alive. I can't recommend it enough A perfect example of when anime elevates and perfects manga.
I’ve read a bunch of manga so I’ll try to give you some of the best I haven’t see. Recommended Land of the Lustrous - One of the most psychologically harrowing sci fi fictions out there following a group of gem people, specifically Phos who has no purpose and is searching for meaning amidst attacks from the moon. It’s art is unlike anything out there and it has one of the most unique protagonist progressions I’ve seen. Bibliomania - only eleven chapters. A girl trapped in a book’s pages is told her every wish will be granted if she stays, but she instead leaves, roaming through the other trapped peoples fantasies even as she rots. Blame! - Kyrii is on a mission to find The Net Terminal gene amidst an impossibly large superstructure, and that’s all this manga will give you as you follow his journey and try to piece together what happened in this inscrutable impossible metal hell. Loan Shark Ushijima - pure discomfort. You follow various people as their lives inevitably collide with Ushijima. If you’ve ever been in debt or dealt with a family members money problems, this manga will horrify like nothing else. Abstraction by Shintaro Kago - it’s one chapter long and by one of the weirdest out there. I can only describe it as an lsd formalist fever dream that looks at what manga can do and tests the limits of pages in horrifying ways once you see what it’s doing. Final one is more a suggestion cause I know you gave One Piece a try. If you ever do give it another go I think the biggest mistake is cause people see so much is there they rush through it and it turns into a chore. It’s very much a series that takes its time to build but it’s meant to be fun. Go at a pace that suits you. It also helps cause Oda does not like to flaunt and will hide tons of side details characters and world concepts in the background that people have only found on multiple rereads. Burnouts to be expected with something that large and feeling the need to to say something on the biggest manga out there’s never healthy for enjoyment. Anyways hope you enjoy the recs and hopefully I’ll have more weird shit for you next time.
land of the lustrous, please, for the love of god, cry with us. please read land of the lustrous. unrelated if you enjoyed made in abyss, either watch the anime because its incredible or listen to the soundtrack because its even more incredible and one of my favourite OST's of all time.
I love all the Land of the Lustrous representation in these comments. This manga could really be up his alley too since he seems to enjoy more strange settings and philosophical/mature themes and characters. Another plus is that the story is relatively short too but soo dense and rich with story, characters, worldbuilding, etc. Love Ichikawa.
you should read Land of the lustrous it has a really unique premise, one of the best main Characters in fiction and its the 12th highest ranked manga on MAL. (and its not talked about enough)
if youre a fan of fire punch's analysis of what art is, meta commentary, and style in general, id recommend reading look back and goodbye eri, both of which are by tatsuki fujimoto. Theyre 2 short stories pushing the same themes even further in incredibly creative and innovative ways. For example goodbye eri is panneled as if its a movie. The layout of the pages mimics a reel of film and fujimoto adds camera effects and blur to make it even more immersive. It also gets insanely meta at times in a way that's honestly mindblowing.
Honestly anything Fujimoto does is amazing. He probably my favorite author rn. I recommend goodbye eri and look back as well they’re great. They’re one shots so they’re only about 200 pages long.
Takopi's Original Sin is short and sweet at just two volumes. It's dark stuff with an ending I really like for how oddly grounded it is. Mob Psycho 100 is far from obscure by manga standards but weird when compared to other "powerful badass" series. it's lengthier at 15(?) volumes. Lots of people are rightfully suggesting anything by Noaki Urasawa so for a shorter story by him check out Pluto (8 volumes) in which he turns an episode of Astro Boy into a Scifi nior detective series. A great show of his skills and flaws as a master manga creator. Not a manga but if you're up for some western comic weirdness then check out SAGA. EDIT Based Togata fan! One of my favourite characters in fiction. Fire punch is a high water mark though, I'll say, in terms of weirdness.
I'm glad to see that you're still enjoying manga. I would love to get your take on Homunculus, its a seinen, psychological series and it definitely fits the bizarre bill. As a bonus it's finished serializing.
I looooooveeee that you love Fire Punch. Just as you mention on your old video about Chainsawman, i also don't really resonate or relate to any character there. But Fire Punch is on another level of weirdness. Especially the scene where he burn his face (if you know, you know 👀). And the ending is so bonkers i love it.
Also, for Dandadan, while i agree with all of your points, but man i can't get enough (mild spoiler for whoever reading this) . . . . . The balls joke as a main motivation for the characters, it always cracks me up😂
loved this video! i absolutely suggest anything by shuzo oshimi. aku no hana is the most popular and it's incredible but i also recommend happiness. his recent series okaeri alice deals with gender and its very weird but i also find it beautiful
My reccomendations are Weird manga -Fraction -Homunculus -Ichi the Killer -Ultra heaven -Fourteen Less weird manga -Blood on the tracks -Hakaijuu -PTSD radio Not weird but great manga -Message to Adolf -Cross game -Golden Kamuy -Kaiji
Seeing that musashi miyamoto book on your table made me want to recommend you to read vagabond. Its based/inspired off musashis miyamotos life and has some of the most beautiful illustrations i have ever seen. I dont know how else to say this but in simple words, its a masterpiece and I highly recommend checking it out.
If u like weird shit u need to read dorohedoro it has got alot of gore and bloody battles but it's storyline and mystery aspect is amazing and solid artwork is cherry on cake,it's a short manga with around 165 ch and is completed
"dorohedoro", is a manga i finished recently and has a very unique interesting world and sense of mystery to it, and is not lacking in the weird department. It is hard to find anything like it. I also so Finished "dead dead demon's dededede destruction" it is a much slower burn of weirdness from the author of oyasumi punpun. would love to hear your thoughts on either.
I would recommend you read Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue it’s based on the novel Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. The mangaka moves beyond the source material. You should also look into reading Rainbow by Abe George and Kakizaki Masasumi. Rainbow follows seven young men navigating a brutal reform school, forging a brotherhood that defies adversity. With stunning artwork and a heart-rending narrative, this manga is a testament to the power of friendship in the face of darkness.
I think you would love Girl's Last Tour, Dorohedoro and anything by Urasawa (my favorite is 20th Century Boys). I think they'd all really be up your alley :)
You should absolutely read Land Of The Lustrous! It has one of the most interesting main character arcs that i've seen in all of media. The MC goes through such a drastic change throughout the series that they're barelly recognisable by the end but it's really subtle while it's happening. The setting of the series is definetely weirder than anything that can easily be explained and the visual component of the story and the way it portrays the mc's change has stuck with me ever since I read it
For book lovers like you: The Magus of the Library. It’s about a boy’s love for books. I don’t want to spoil more, but it’s really good. The art is amazing too. I concede that isnt weird, it is wholesome, but it’s more to compensate for the weird and scary stuff you’ll be reading
I fucking love fire punch man. Im so glad you hopped on it. I wonder if youll give chainsaw man another try when youre a bit more literate in the medium and i think youll understand better why its such a big deal thematicly and stylisticly
I think you would probably like Blame! If you haven’t already read it. It’s a very unconventional story which sounds like you are after. The author was an architect student and it shows with how amazing the designs of his environments are. The series is also very light on dialogue so a lot of the story is told through other means like the environment.
another thing about fire punch is how maximalist it is, it's chaotic, it's emotional, it's profound, it's REALLY funny (togata driving the truck trying to smoke consistently makes me laugh), it's beautiful, like it just handles everything incredibly well edit: i would like to recommend Delicious in dungeon, it ended quite recently, and while it's set in a fairly basic fantasy setting (of witches and dwarves and kingdoms etc) its main focus is quite odd in that it's about monster culinary, and i really love the character interactions in it!
Try BLAME! Recently just read it and it has such an utterly unique world with just enough “solid” story to make sense, but it is so “fluid” that every person I’ve talked to about it has a completely different interpretation. Not as bombastic or absolutely batshit insane as Fire Punch (because fujimoto is a goat) but i have literally never seen anything like it before.
I think Punpun and Fire Punch, the "weird and painful" type of manga, those two are probably the best of that genre. I know of mangas that are similar to them in some specific aspects, but it's hard to find many that fit all the criterion. The closest thing to Fire Punch would of course be the same author's other works, you've read Chainsaw man but I believe you haven't read his one shots, some of his recent works include Goodbye Eri and Look Back, they really have that Fujimoto-ness in them like Fire Punch, more than Chainsaw man. I would also recommend Vagabond, it is closer to Berserk's golden age arc (or around that arc, I can't remember specifically) where Guts learns to go from a boy to a man, I think if you enjoyed that part from Berserk you would enjoy Vagabond too. Mob psycho 100 is amazing too, it's also a story about growing up, I would say it's the textbook for every teenager that's growing up and trying to understand the world and themselves, you would not be it's primary audience since I assume you are past the phase where you need those guidance, but I think you can still appreciate it. If you want something comedic with interesting story, I recommend Dorohedoro and Dai Dark, both from the same author, Chainsaw man was largely inspired by Dorohedoro, and Dai Dark is its own unique thing that I can't really think of any comparison, it feels like one of those children's picture book with how the characters act, but with constant blood and death. That may sound like it's like Made in Abyss or some other edgy story but it's not, it's genuinely cute and funny, the first chapter will explain everything. In the end I want to recommend my personal favorite, Baki, it's about really strong dudes fighting each other, that's it, there's not really a story line like the Shounan battle mangas, there's no evil villain to be defeated, there's just a bunch of really strong people wanting to prove themselves. It's very romantic and poetic (although unfortunately the poeticism is often lost to the English translation), it's not a story where everything has to make absolute clear sense, most of the things in the story is bullshit, pseudo scientific facts you would see on some random cheap magazines, things that may be true in theory but blown out of proportion a thousand times, those are not for the audience to question if they are really true, you just accept the bullshit, and enjoy the ultra masculine badass and creative punching sequence that follows it. It's also not just about who's subjectively stronger, if you try to power level everyone and give them a number and stuff then you would be missing the point, it's about their ideals, their strength are reflections of their philosophy, and their fights are their debates, the story is a discussion of what it is to be "strong", if you ever once imagined to be the strongest, childish fantasies, the manga is going to take you back elementary school and for you to live out those imaginations.
Manga recommendation (mostly dark seinen manga): Gantz - after death people have a chance to return to life if they win in a game of killing giant horrendous monsters Blame! - a guy stranding in a postapocaliptic world with a gun which carries the power of nuclear weapon Slam dunk - the prime of a sports genre which perfects its artstyle over time to the god level by the end
Oh boy, here's an emotional one about how quality time > more time. Three Days of Happiness. Its beautiful. It's actually an adaptation of the light novel. Maybe you can read both? It has arouns 17 chapters and is completed.
I strongly recommend Devilman. The manga itself had a massive impact on Berserk, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc. It's a shonen but the farther it goes on the less stereotypical it becomes, and it has a recent adaptation called Crybaby that takes it in a totally different (but still great) direction. Tons of religious imagery, and it's also pretty short so it's a good intro to older manga (it's from the 70s). Some parts definitely didn't age well but overall I think it's worth checking out. For newer manga I'm a fan of Monster- it's a seinen about a doctor who saves the life of a boy who grows up to be a serial killer and all that results from that. It brings up a lot of ethical questions, has great characters, and deals a lot with the politics of Germany's reunification (something that I find compelling in general but your mileage may vary).
if you want weird, I highly recommend Dorohedoro, and Golden Kamuy. they're a couple of my favorites, and they both have a really unique blend of like... lovable characters, humor, and heart... mixed with violence, and dark themes, and mysteries, and a spiderwebbing interlinked narrative that is really satisfying to figure out as you go. I know a lot of series can split their time between being both of these things, but for these series, it's both at once. sometimes the mysteries have a bunch of really stupid, weird, funny pieces, or sometimes the violence is used as a punchline... it's rare to find media that skews the balance quite the way that these series do... I enjoy it quite a lot! I'm also addicted to Vinland Saga right now, but I have to say... the anime adaptation for that one is beyond gorgeous. I've bought the full hardcover set of the manga regardless, because this story is so immensely valuable to me, I had to own it as soon as possible... but the anime does such phenomenal things with that source material. I don't even know what to recommend, honestly. the anime hit me hard, but any way that a person consumes this story is bound to touch them somehow. I'm just so incredibly impressed by every last bit of it.
dude thought that a series that starts off with someone drinking piss, assault on a ____ and someone burning for years and eating and cutting off arms was a generic start...i think he needs something so crazy out there that anime surpassed his I'm an American and only watch American stuff level. Dude is on that, chainsaw man wasn't that good for me levels, he needs something mind-blowing to get him up lol. Most of his taste, to be fair and not joking now, seem gauged genuinely to serious character studies. He doesn't like action and likes plot motivations and pay off. Shonen is for both but Shonen haters hate action and want mostly emotional stories. I think he should actually try lower rated series, not cause his taste are bad, but because he's so off the norm. he liked series that were focused on doing one plot beat well vs others that did them all generally good. IMO of shonen what would work for him is promise Neverland. fewer fights, more story and characters.
You need to read the light novel series "Monogatari" if you want something culturally weird. It has some of its roots set on anime culture. The sexuality can make you really weirded out but the other parts are really good with the emotional state of the characters and the philosophic value. There are also a lot of dialogue and with that dialogue comes lots of japanese wordplay (it can get lost in translation but some of it still makes sense).
Great video! I really loved the segment on Fire Punch, it definitely has to be one of my favorite manga. But anyway, here take a truckload of manga recs: -Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction -Spirit Circle -Inside Mari -Dementia 21 -I am a Hero -Dragon Head -Inuyashiki -The Climber -Ping Pong -Ajin -20th Century Boys + 21st Cenury Boys -The Flowers of Evil -MPD Psycho
If you want something with a similar intrigue and fast pacing to Made in Abyss I would recommend (you've probably already heard of it a hundred times) Attack on Titan. Not quite as weird as MiA but definitely has more weird elements than you'd expect for something as popular as it is.
I think you should read tokyo ghoul it is quite good. Tokyo ghoul re (tokyo ghoul’s second half) is my favorite manga in terms of artwork. Kaneki Ken is one of my favorite main characters in fiction.
I know this is a MASSIVE undertaking and I'm sure hundreds of people are gonna start asking you to do this, but based on everything you said here I think you'd REALLY like One Piece. If you need to pace it out more id recommend at least reading the first hundred chapters. It's a shonen battle series and it's long as hell which sounds terrible to you but I swear, it had so many elements I think you'd enjoy. It takes a bit to pick up but if you stick with it it's really solid
If youre looking for weird stuff, then i highly suggest horror manga. Junji Ito's wprks such as Uzumaaki, Tomie, and his anthology volumes come to mind. Also, PTSD radio is another weird one. p.s. naoki urasawa's monster, billy bat, and 20th century boys are beautifully crafted wild rides
I love all three series. Right now, I think I tend to favor enjoyment over interesting concepts, but I'd maybe recommend 20th Century Boys. Summary In 1969, Kenji and his friends make up a story in which they save the world from an evil organization. 28 years later, a strange virus outbreak, a friend’s death, and a family's disappearance seem connected to a cult(?) leader by the name of “friend”. The cultish group uses the same symbol Kenji’s friend group used for themselves and appears to be acting out the absurd doomsday narrative they made up as kids. It’s hard to summarize since the story’s scope is huge; covering 3 distinct timed periods with dozens of characters/groups and their individual story arcs. And naturally, seeing these different chains of events cause this interweaving domino effect was really satisfying. It’s not “weird” in a flashy way, but I think its “weirdness” was used in a mystery/thriller context really well. Its creator, Naoki Urasawa, is the one behind the critically acclaimed Monster manga series.
I would 100% recommend Shozo Oshimi’s works. Most of his works character driven psychological horror series that don’t shy away from uncomfortable topics such as abuse and sexuality. His art is also top tier. I’d start with Blood on the Tracks or The Flowers Of Evil.
I'm farily late and, despite me loving to recommend stuff to read, I think other people already named the most interesting picks, for example the two one-shots by Fujimoto, Goodbye Eri and Look Back. So, to try and recommend something that may be interesting but maybe less mentioned in the comments, I have two titles for you: - The Girl from the Other Side. This is a peculiar story that's honestly hard to describe in any way that isn't "a modern dark fairy tale". Not only the story and setting, but especially the artstyle are really reminiscent of old fairy tales imo, with a heavy use of blacks and sometimes very sketchy and rough designs, and also a lack of elements typical of modern comics books, like kinetic lines. - Girls' Last Tour. This is the surprisingly chill and yet melancholic story of a couple of girls travelling in a post apocalyptic world. It focuses heavily on their almost aimeless journey, the relationship they establish with random objects and places, what they choose to care about and bring with them, and how many of the things we would value (or want to know more about as readers) are easily forgotten and abandoned. There's a couple more titles I'd like to mention, but for now I'll limit it to these two.
Maybe you'd like kokoro no kanashimi, or something more popular thats also "weird", like homunculus, ichi the killer, devilman, kokumin quiz, freesia, ultra heaven or akagi if you like mahjong, they all get pretty absurd
My main recommendation for a weird manga is Dungeon Meshi/Delicious in Dungeon (12 volumes so far) is a really weird and funny manga about an rpg-like party of adventurers that, in order to cut costs, cook the weird and creepy monsters they kill. It's really, really funny, but also has some pretty dark moments. Tatsuki Fujimoto really likes this one and recommended it, so it's his type of humor. It's also getting anime this fall and based on my predictions (and I had almost never got it wrong so far) it's going to get very popular, when it comes out. Some other weird manga you might enjoy: - Opus (2 volumes, finished) is about a mangaka that gets sucked into his own manga after he tries to kill off one of the characters and said character escapes. - Shiori Experience (19 volumes so far) is a manga about music, where 27yo high school teacher is haunted (and sometimes possessed) by Jimi Hendrix. Kurt Cobain is also in there. It made me want to play in a band. - Oshi no Ko (12 volumes so far) is an insane manga about a pregnant teenage j-idol, where her doctor is killed by her stalker and reincarnates as her baby, along with his deceased 12yo patient (they are twins). It only gets more crazy from there. This is a story about murder, revenge and a scathing critique of japanese entertainment industry. This manga just got super popular thanks to the anime that just got released and it's insane first episode plot twist that I won't spoil for you. - Onanie Master Kurosawa (4 volumes, finshed) is about an anti-social mc with superiority complex that masturbates as a hobby, and gets blackmailed into bullying some of his classmates. It might sound like a bad kind of weird, but it's actually really good and has a lot to say about it's themes. - Koko wa Ima kara Rinri desu (7 volumes so far) is about ethics teacher that teaches about, well, ethics and inspires his students to approach their problems differently. On a smaller scale than other mangas I've recommended, but some wild shit happens in it. It also deals with some heavy topics and has some dark comedy.
I think you would really like Dorohedoro. It has a very gritty art style and humor, with a very gripping mystery being unraveled throughout the story. It deals with themes of hierarchy, belonging and identity which I think it deals with it well.
If you're looking for something weird I'd highly recommend any series by Oku Hiroya (Gantz, then Inuyashiki and Gigant). One of my favourite series is Jagaaaan though it has some battle shounen elements, its very weird, unique and also pretty adult. If youre looking for something more grounded then i'd recommend Homunculus or My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought.
I'd recommend Alice in Borderland. There is a live action Netflix series which is also great but the manga is a unique and weird and wacky death game full of social commentary that I think would be up your alley. Also, others have said it before here (and i think I even commented it before on one of your past videos) but anything by Naoki Urasawa is magnificent and should be read by anyone and everyone who reads manga. Whether it's Pluto (his twist on a mature Astro Boy), 20th Century Boys (my personal favorite), or Monster for more thriller vibes.
Homunculus is probably the weirdest, most bat-shit insane thing I've ever read. I can't even to begin to describe how off the rails it gets. Also, I don't know if it counts as an unreliable narrator or not, but ever single character has an extremely loose grip on reality, especially the main character and thus us as the reader as well. It can get hard to keep track of at times, but in a fun way. It's so weird and unpredictable and goes places I never even knew were possible. I've seen gore, I've seen cruelty, I've seen bizarre, I've seen intense, but nothing has been as wild and shocking as Homunculus to me. Idk maybe I'm just a wuss. Regardless, I feel like it would be right up your alley. Also, I haven't read it myself, but I've heard nothing but incredible things about 20th (and 21st) Century Boys. I get the impression it also spirals out of control so to speak and turns into some incredibly crazy stuff. I think it starts out just as some boys being friends, but then they grow up and there's maybe weird cult stuff? And like the Illuminati? Also, it's a battle shonen, but Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is super fun. Also, if you want, you can break it down by parts. So maybe read parts 1 and 2, and two other series for a video, then next video it's two more short series and part 3, etc. It is long, and not all of the parts or even arcs in those parts are created equal, but it certainly is a bizarre adventure and it is just so fun the whole time. The powers start out incredibly basic, but infamously get more and more creative, and in many cases, oddly specific. Some fights in later parts are hardly even "fights" and more like weird death puzzles. It both takes itself 200% serious and 0% serious at the same time. Edit to add Gantz as well. It's not exactly a pinnacle of story telling, but it is incredibly weird and has some amazing art. It's an action series, but not really a battle series the way a lot of shonen are. Different sections are vastly different in quality and the ending lowkey sucks, but it's such an incredible and wild ride that it's worth it. The highs are incredible and the lows are... there. Some of the coolest, weirdest creature designs I've seen, absolutely bonkers plot points and some surprisingly deep philosophical stuff toward the end? It's crazy, and the art is some of my favorite in all of manga.
I really recommend "Girls' Last Tour" by Tsukumizu. It's a peaceful apocalypse story, which is a very niche thing in a market full of action apocalypse, where the protagonists looks back on humanity - what they used to be, their philosophies, and how they came to the decline/end they're experiencing. At first I thought it was another slice-of-life but set in an apocalypse, but I read on and was charmed. As someone who read Fire Punch after Girls' Last Tour, I can only describe them both as cold. It felt like a spiritual sequel to Fire Punch, but might be a stretch. Give it a read. It's my go to when I want to feel something. Also one of my top 10 favourite stories ever. (Never read Made in Abyss, but from what I learned from this review, they are kinda similar (maybe it's the artstyle), but without humanity. Maybe.)
if you want weird probably something like "innocenct" about french revolution excecutioner, "kengan ashura" about fighter battle royale with a couple twist or "homunculus" about unemployed dude journey to his psyche some other recc: "the climber" is a good memoir manga about life of a mountain climber for a living, "a silent voice" is also a manga you must read it rivals "your name" when the movie wasa released
I just remembered a weird manga I read a few days ago. It was great, only 50 chapters. It's called Happiness by Shuzo Oshimi. He did Blood on the Tracks and Flowers of Evil which I heard are amazing. It has a villain who you will fucking despise. And it gets weird at times but not insanely weird. It's completed.
I know written word is your thing, but you should consider watching Revolutionary Girl Utena. The extent to which it explores and answers its themes is pretty unmatched in my experience. Though if you’d like to stick to manga, Vagabond is also amazing. Now for weird recommendations, The World Is Mine, Homunculus, Freesia
some of the weirdest manga i've read are Ichi The Killer, Homunculus, Ibitsu (though possibly not in a good way), and Boku wa Mondai Arimasen. another great, surreal one is Himizu, which is kinda similar to Goodnight Punpun i think!
PLEASE OH PLEASE READ VINLAND SAGA! It's a historical epic following a viking warrior and it has character writing that challenges Berserk. Although if you want more weird then I'd recommend Dorohedoro, I can't even use words to describe it.
I recommend Banana Fish or Oshi No Ko or I reincarnated into a Slime. Banana Fish isn’t necessary weird but I think the name of the is an interesting thing that people question before reading. Oshi No Ko does have a weird and unique plot that I’d think you’d like. And I reincarnated as a Slime is pretty weird too.
Introducing from Japan If you like legitimate cartoons. Monster - Naoki Urasawa (Mystery with a good plot) Dorohedoro - Q Hayashida (A fantasy that is distinctive in style and well put together) Vinland Saga - Makoto Yukimura (A Viking Age story incorporating historical facts* Still in serialization at this time) The one and only manga with a unique drawing style, etc. Hard to explain. BLAME! - Tsutomu Nihei (SF) Houseki no Kuni - Haruko Ichikawa (Fantasy) My recommendation blood on the tracks - Shuuzou Oshimi(If you like punpun, you might fit in.I mean your chest may suffer)
Tekkonkinkreet will probably satisfy the need for unconventional weird manga and its a great intro to its authors work, which might be what you are looking for
Here are some recommendations, though admittedly I'm not sure if any of them are particularly weird. - Angel Densetsu - Sore wa Totsuzen, Unmei no Aite ga - Bokura no Kiseki - Hero Union BBS - Otoyomegatari (worth looking into this one for the art alone)
I have to recommend Vinland Saga, Vagabond, 20th Century Boys and Hommunculus. Those are really grounded Seinen series that are way more character driven and subtle more similar to Goodnight Punpun. I also have to recommend Jojo's Bizarre Adventure just cos its peak fiction
I would check out Uzumaki by Junji Ito. Junji Ito is the King of Horror Manga. Uzumaki is his best work. Its very very weird. Its about a town and Spirals. People in this town become affected by spirals in certain unique ways. Some of them become obsessed with spirals and some of them become spirals themselves in various ways. Junji Itos art style is very unique and weird. It isnt too long, you can even by the entire thing in 1 book from barnes and noble for like $20. I think this is right up your ally. Also a series called Beastars. Which I think based on your taste in novels, you would very much enjoy Beastars. What I loved most about Beastars is the parallels between different races in the real world and herbivores/carnivores in Beastars and the issues surronding that. This book gives you a lot to self reflect on and think about and its an amazing coming of age story.
I would also recommend "Flowers of Evil" by Shuzo Oshimi. I saw someone else recommend "Happiness", which is another novel of his and more weird but "Flowers of Evil" is his best work and something I think youd enjoy.
As someone who's read Fire Punch, believe me when I say Dorohedoro is one of the most unique pieces of fiction out there. SO darn insane, but it all just fits together and makes sense somehow. I still don't know. If you wanna get sucked into a manga with a world that's just as if not more interesting than some of its main characters, Dorohedoro's my recommendation :) For a bit more info, it starts off as a mystery of the identity of the main character, and the world expands as the layers start to unravel. Oh also, there are no holds barred when it comes to the violence. Hope you enjoy it!!! :D
We are slowly cultivating this man into a discerning connoisseur of weeb literature.
And it is glorious
From teacher to sensei
I deeply apologize for the cringe
I highly recommend Dorohedoro!!! its whacky is gorey its funny and actually incredibly well written on top of that. Amazing world building and great characters and its finished with 23 volumes! The art style is rough and has a sketch-y vibe to it that fits perfectly to the atmosphere in the story. Its also written and illustrated by a woman! GO WOMEN!
I know you arent into anime much, but it does have a great anime adaptation covering the first few volumes as well, which actually improves quite a bit on its source material. Also one of the best OSTs in anime ever fr
I think that made in abyss doesn’t give lovecraftian vibe I’d say it give the feeling of forms of life that formed there and evolved to survive each in their own layer so with different effect from the curse. And you make me laugh hard when you said “I don’t know if I will keep up week to week maybe when there are twenty chapter”
Because the chapter come out between three to five months.
Haha I had no idea the mangaka doesn't publish chapters often! Guess I'll check it out again when I'm 30
Dorohedoro!
I cannot recommend Naoki Urasawa's works enough, both monster and 20th century boys are masterpieces
Also don't forget Billy bat!
Big agree with this. Urasawa is the goat. Anything by him is great.
@@zhyarjasimhow do you read Billy Bat in English that isn't online scans?
So billy bat , then recommand monstr now and billy bat.
Pluto is probably my favourite manga of all time. I love both 20th century boys and monster for kinda same reasons, but I think that Pluto does more with what time and amount of chapters it has. Maybe it reaches a little lesser heights(in my opinion it does, but maybe), but is far more stacked.
Brother i can't recomend enough dorohedoro, it's incredible
Recommend Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shots. My favourites are "Look Back" and "Goodbye Eri" (actual masterpieces).
Also maybe revisit Chainsaw Man especially with part 2 raging on right now, reading all his works might recontextualize it for you. It's personally my favourite manga
yeah, he may like part 2 more than 1. He didn't even dislike part 1 much. I think the pacing hurt for him. Part 2 is the part part 1 fans hate more lol, because it fixes all the issues he had with part 1. Word salad. Basically its more of a character study on the world and people living in it, and it also makes denji into a more understandable character. The author prettymuch laid it out that its about him finding his super ego, id is found, he has stability etc. The series also works well with people who relate to denji being poor and disrespected. He feels worthless and holds onto baser instincts of a kid his age till he finds out that's not what life is...and hides behind being a super hero while really just wanting a family then learning its ok to still want more, your human and should chase happiness till your content. Their is a lot of show don't tell which hurts a series that people usually speed read. like fugi using manga panels outside the panels to attack characters. Id watch the animation to see the love some artist have for the series revigorating their love of media. I also made a video on goodbye eri that did well for my channel lol so I'm a sucker...100 views or so is good for me XD.
@@nichescenes Well said my brother
Dude I’m so glad you’re back!!!!!!! I love your videos so much!
You absolutely have to read Battle Angel Alita !!!! it's the best manga ever right up there with Berserk, Lone wolf and cub and Vagabond !!!
Also highly recommend dorohedoro and blame!
Also the made in abyss ANIME elivates the manga to a 10x higher level. You know how good that is given the manga itself is great !
The made in abyss anime is why anime exists, it builds on the manga with incredible sound design and voice acting. The abyss really comes alive. I can't recommend it enough
A perfect example of when anime elevates and perfects manga.
I'll have to check out the anime! Don't know if I can mentally relive children being brutally slaughtered (shout out to Mitty)
@@colorlesswonderland The soundtrack for the MiA anime is without question one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. It is fucking stunning.
Also its like 70% less weird about kids. Some of the manga is sus AF
The entire show is amazing, but special shoutout to that incredible OST
@@BaneDane_JB eh i thought the anime adapted it basically 1 to 1
I’ve read a bunch of manga so I’ll try to give you some of the best I haven’t see. Recommended
Land of the Lustrous - One of the most psychologically harrowing sci fi fictions out there following a group of gem people, specifically Phos who has no purpose and is searching for meaning amidst attacks from the moon. It’s art is unlike anything out there and it has one of the most unique protagonist progressions I’ve seen.
Bibliomania - only eleven chapters. A girl trapped in a book’s pages is told her every wish will be granted if she stays, but she instead leaves, roaming through the other trapped peoples fantasies even as she rots.
Blame! - Kyrii is on a mission to find The Net Terminal gene amidst an impossibly large superstructure, and that’s all this manga will give you as you follow his journey and try to piece together what happened in this inscrutable impossible metal hell.
Loan Shark Ushijima - pure discomfort. You follow various people as their lives inevitably collide with Ushijima. If you’ve ever been in debt or dealt with a family members money problems, this manga will horrify like nothing else.
Abstraction by Shintaro Kago - it’s one chapter long and by one of the weirdest out there. I can only describe it as an lsd formalist fever dream that looks at what manga can do and tests the limits of pages in horrifying ways once you see what it’s doing.
Final one is more a suggestion cause I know you gave One Piece a try. If you ever do give it another go I think the biggest mistake is cause people see so much is there they rush through it and it turns into a chore. It’s very much a series that takes its time to build but it’s meant to be fun. Go at a pace that suits you. It also helps cause Oda does not like to flaunt and will hide tons of side details characters and world concepts in the background that people have only found on multiple rereads. Burnouts to be expected with something that large and feeling the need to to say something on the biggest manga out there’s never healthy for enjoyment.
Anyways hope you enjoy the recs and hopefully I’ll have more weird shit for you next time.
Blood on the tracks. Just read it.
land of the lustrous, please, for the love of god, cry with us. please read land of the lustrous.
unrelated if you enjoyed made in abyss, either watch the anime because its incredible or listen to the soundtrack because its even more incredible and one of my favourite OST's of all time.
I love all the Land of the Lustrous representation in these comments. This manga could really be up his alley too since he seems to enjoy more strange settings and philosophical/mature themes and characters. Another plus is that the story is relatively short too but soo dense and rich with story, characters, worldbuilding, etc. Love Ichikawa.
you should read Land of the lustrous it has a really unique premise, one of the best main Characters in fiction and its the 12th highest ranked manga on MAL.
(and its not talked about enough)
Yess more LotL appreciation :D I started reading it recently, and I've never seen anything like it before
if youre a fan of fire punch's analysis of what art is, meta commentary, and style in general, id recommend reading look back and goodbye eri, both of which are by tatsuki fujimoto. Theyre 2 short stories pushing the same themes even further in incredibly creative and innovative ways. For example goodbye eri is panneled as if its a movie. The layout of the pages mimics a reel of film and fujimoto adds camera effects and blur to make it even more immersive. It also gets insanely meta at times in a way that's honestly mindblowing.
Honestly anything Fujimoto does is amazing. He probably my favorite author rn. I recommend goodbye eri and look back as well they’re great. They’re one shots so they’re only about 200 pages long.
Goodbye Eri is imo Fujimoto’s best work by far
Takopi's Original Sin is short and sweet at just two volumes. It's dark stuff with an ending I really like for how oddly grounded it is.
Mob Psycho 100 is far from obscure by manga standards but weird when compared to other "powerful badass" series. it's lengthier at 15(?) volumes.
Lots of people are rightfully suggesting anything by Noaki Urasawa so for a shorter story by him check out Pluto (8 volumes) in which he turns an episode of Astro Boy into a Scifi nior detective series. A great show of his skills and flaws as a master manga creator.
Not a manga but if you're up for some western comic weirdness then check out SAGA.
EDIT
Based Togata fan! One of my favourite characters in fiction. Fire punch is a high water mark though, I'll say, in terms of weirdness.
You'll seriously love Attack On Titan once you let the story develop
I'm glad to see that you're still enjoying manga. I would love to get your take on Homunculus, its a seinen, psychological series and it definitely fits the bizarre bill. As a bonus it's finished serializing.
Please read JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Golden Kamuy!
I looooooveeee that you love Fire Punch. Just as you mention on your old video about Chainsawman, i also don't really resonate or relate to any character there. But Fire Punch is on another level of weirdness. Especially the scene where he burn his face (if you know, you know 👀). And the ending is so bonkers i love it.
Also, for Dandadan, while i agree with all of your points, but man i can't get enough (mild spoiler for whoever reading this)
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The balls joke as a main motivation for the characters, it always cracks me up😂
loved this video! i absolutely suggest anything by shuzo oshimi. aku no hana is the most popular and it's incredible but i also recommend happiness. his recent series okaeri alice deals with gender and its very weird but i also find it beautiful
dorohedoro.. dorohedoro... DOROHEDORO. It's funny, gory, weird, twisted and just an overall great time, highly recommend
My reccomendations are
Weird manga
-Fraction
-Homunculus
-Ichi the Killer
-Ultra heaven
-Fourteen
Less weird manga
-Blood on the tracks
-Hakaijuu
-PTSD radio
Not weird but great manga
-Message to Adolf
-Cross game
-Golden Kamuy
-Kaiji
Seeing that musashi miyamoto book on your table made me want to recommend you to read vagabond. Its based/inspired off musashis miyamotos life and has some of the most beautiful illustrations i have ever seen. I dont know how else to say this but in simple words, its a masterpiece and I highly recommend checking it out.
If u like weird shit u need to read dorohedoro it has got alot of gore and bloody battles but it's storyline and mystery aspect is amazing and solid artwork is cherry on cake,it's a short manga with around 165 ch and is completed
You gotta read Onani Master Kurosawa
A.K.A Fap Note
"dorohedoro", is a manga i finished recently and has a very unique interesting world and sense of mystery to it, and is not lacking in the weird department. It is hard to find anything like it.
I also so Finished "dead dead demon's dededede destruction" it is a much slower burn of weirdness from the author of oyasumi punpun. would love to hear your thoughts on either.
I would recommend you read Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue it’s based on the novel Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. The mangaka moves beyond the source material. You should also look into reading Rainbow by Abe George and Kakizaki Masasumi. Rainbow follows seven young men navigating a brutal reform school, forging a brotherhood that defies adversity. With stunning artwork and a heart-rending narrative, this manga is a testament to the power of friendship in the face of darkness.
I think you would love Girl's Last Tour, Dorohedoro and anything by Urasawa (my favorite is 20th Century Boys). I think they'd all really be up your alley :)
If you want beautiful characters who you will attach yourself with emotionally. Please read Golden Kamuy, although it's a bit lengthy.
You should try to read Voynich Hotel for weird but awesome shit.
You should absolutely read Land Of The Lustrous! It has one of the most interesting main character arcs that i've seen in all of media. The MC goes through such a drastic change throughout the series that they're barelly recognisable by the end but it's really subtle while it's happening. The setting of the series is definetely weirder than anything that can easily be explained and the visual component of the story and the way it portrays the mc's change has stuck with me ever since I read it
For book lovers like you: The Magus of the Library. It’s about a boy’s love for books. I don’t want to spoil more, but it’s really good. The art is amazing too. I concede that isnt weird, it is wholesome, but it’s more to compensate for the weird and scary stuff you’ll be reading
>weird manga list
>no sundome
day ruined yet again
Agree. Finally someone with high standards
I fucking love fire punch man. Im so glad you hopped on it. I wonder if youll give chainsaw man another try when youre a bit more literate in the medium and i think youll understand better why its such a big deal thematicly and stylisticly
I think you would probably like Blame! If you haven’t already read it. It’s a very unconventional story which sounds like you are after. The author was an architect student and it shows with how amazing the designs of his environments are. The series is also very light on dialogue so a lot of the story is told through other means like the environment.
another thing about fire punch is how maximalist it is, it's chaotic, it's emotional, it's profound, it's REALLY funny (togata driving the truck trying to smoke consistently makes me laugh), it's beautiful, like it just handles everything incredibly well
edit: i would like to recommend Delicious in dungeon, it ended quite recently, and while it's set in a fairly basic fantasy setting (of witches and dwarves and kingdoms etc) its main focus is quite odd in that it's about monster culinary, and i really love the character interactions in it!
You should read record of Ragnarok and Vagabond
Try BLAME! Recently just read it and it has such an utterly unique world with just enough “solid” story to make sense, but it is so “fluid” that every person I’ve talked to about it has a completely different interpretation. Not as bombastic or absolutely batshit insane as Fire Punch (because fujimoto is a goat) but i have literally never seen anything like it before.
I think Punpun and Fire Punch, the "weird and painful" type of manga, those two are probably the best of that genre.
I know of mangas that are similar to them in some specific aspects, but it's hard to find many that fit all the criterion. The closest thing to Fire Punch would of course be the same author's other works, you've read Chainsaw man but I believe you haven't read his one shots, some of his recent works include Goodbye Eri and Look Back, they really have that Fujimoto-ness in them like Fire Punch, more than Chainsaw man.
I would also recommend Vagabond, it is closer to Berserk's golden age arc (or around that arc, I can't remember specifically) where Guts learns to go from a boy to a man, I think if you enjoyed that part from Berserk you would enjoy Vagabond too.
Mob psycho 100 is amazing too, it's also a story about growing up, I would say it's the textbook for every teenager that's growing up and trying to understand the world and themselves, you would not be it's primary audience since I assume you are past the phase where you need those guidance, but I think you can still appreciate it.
If you want something comedic with interesting story, I recommend Dorohedoro and Dai Dark, both from the same author, Chainsaw man was largely inspired by Dorohedoro, and Dai Dark is its own unique thing that I can't really think of any comparison, it feels like one of those children's picture book with how the characters act, but with constant blood and death. That may sound like it's like Made in Abyss or some other edgy story but it's not, it's genuinely cute and funny, the first chapter will explain everything.
In the end I want to recommend my personal favorite, Baki, it's about really strong dudes fighting each other, that's it, there's not really a story line like the Shounan battle mangas, there's no evil villain to be defeated, there's just a bunch of really strong people wanting to prove themselves. It's very romantic and poetic (although unfortunately the poeticism is often lost to the English translation), it's not a story where everything has to make absolute clear sense, most of the things in the story is bullshit, pseudo scientific facts you would see on some random cheap magazines, things that may be true in theory but blown out of proportion a thousand times, those are not for the audience to question if they are really true, you just accept the bullshit, and enjoy the ultra masculine badass and creative punching sequence that follows it. It's also not just about who's subjectively stronger, if you try to power level everyone and give them a number and stuff then you would be missing the point, it's about their ideals, their strength are reflections of their philosophy, and their fights are their debates, the story is a discussion of what it is to be "strong", if you ever once imagined to be the strongest, childish fantasies, the manga is going to take you back elementary school and for you to live out those imaginations.
pet shop of horrors is pretty weird and good
You can read Dorohedoro. Well, I haven't finished it myself, but what I read of it is so good.
I think that's gonna have to be in the next weird manga series video! Thank you for the recommendation!
Manga recommendation (mostly dark seinen manga):
Gantz - after death people have a chance to return to life if they win in a game of killing giant horrendous monsters
Blame! - a guy stranding in a postapocaliptic world with a gun which carries the power of nuclear weapon
Slam dunk - the prime of a sports genre which perfects its artstyle over time to the god level by the end
Homunculus will probably unlock new traumas for you outside of children dying
Nice book placement I see in the background there, Vagabond video soon? ;)
;)
Probably read some of Junji Ito's mangas. They're pretty short, very weird and scary
-Dorohedoro
-20th Century Boys (or any of Naoki Urasawa's works)
-Fullmetal Alchemist
Oh boy, here's an emotional one about how quality time > more time. Three Days of Happiness. Its beautiful. It's actually an adaptation of the light novel. Maybe you can read both? It has arouns 17 chapters and is completed.
- Dorohedoro
- Frankenfran
- Gantz
(Not necessarily in that order)
Enough said
I strongly recommend Devilman. The manga itself had a massive impact on Berserk, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc. It's a shonen but the farther it goes on the less stereotypical it becomes, and it has a recent adaptation called Crybaby that takes it in a totally different (but still great) direction. Tons of religious imagery, and it's also pretty short so it's a good intro to older manga (it's from the 70s). Some parts definitely didn't age well but overall I think it's worth checking out. For newer manga I'm a fan of Monster- it's a seinen about a doctor who saves the life of a boy who grows up to be a serial killer and all that results from that. It brings up a lot of ethical questions, has great characters, and deals a lot with the politics of Germany's reunification (something that I find compelling in general but your mileage may vary).
aku no hana , chi no wadachi, Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa, Look Back, Real, Fumetsu no Anata e, Sayonara Eri, Solanin, Boys on the Run, Gantz
if you want weird, I highly recommend Dorohedoro, and Golden Kamuy. they're a couple of my favorites, and they both have a really unique blend of like... lovable characters, humor, and heart... mixed with violence, and dark themes, and mysteries, and a spiderwebbing interlinked narrative that is really satisfying to figure out as you go. I know a lot of series can split their time between being both of these things, but for these series, it's both at once. sometimes the mysteries have a bunch of really stupid, weird, funny pieces, or sometimes the violence is used as a punchline... it's rare to find media that skews the balance quite the way that these series do... I enjoy it quite a lot!
I'm also addicted to Vinland Saga right now, but I have to say... the anime adaptation for that one is beyond gorgeous. I've bought the full hardcover set of the manga regardless, because this story is so immensely valuable to me, I had to own it as soon as possible... but the anime does such phenomenal things with that source material. I don't even know what to recommend, honestly. the anime hit me hard, but any way that a person consumes this story is bound to touch them somehow. I'm just so incredibly impressed by every last bit of it.
dude thought that a series that starts off with someone drinking piss, assault on a ____ and someone burning for years and eating and cutting off arms was a generic start...i think he needs something so crazy out there that anime surpassed his I'm an American and only watch American stuff level. Dude is on that, chainsaw man wasn't that good for me levels, he needs something mind-blowing to get him up lol. Most of his taste, to be fair and not joking now, seem gauged genuinely to serious character studies. He doesn't like action and likes plot motivations and pay off. Shonen is for both but Shonen haters hate action and want mostly emotional stories. I think he should actually try lower rated series, not cause his taste are bad, but because he's so off the norm. he liked series that were focused on doing one plot beat well vs others that did them all generally good. IMO of shonen what would work for him is promise Neverland. fewer fights, more story and characters.
You need to read the light novel series "Monogatari" if you want something culturally weird. It has some of its roots set on anime culture. The sexuality can make you really weirded out but the other parts are really good with the emotional state of the characters and the philosophic value. There are also a lot of dialogue and with that dialogue comes lots of japanese wordplay (it can get lost in translation but some of it still makes sense).
Great video! I really loved the segment on Fire Punch, it definitely has to be one of my favorite manga. But anyway, here take a truckload of manga recs:
-Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction
-Spirit Circle
-Inside Mari
-Dementia 21
-I am a Hero
-Dragon Head
-Inuyashiki
-The Climber
-Ping Pong
-Ajin
-20th Century Boys + 21st Cenury Boys
-The Flowers of Evil
-MPD Psycho
Thank you for the recommendations! I keep seeing The Climber as something recommended to me so I think I'm gonna have to check it out now!
@@colorlesswonderland No problem! The Climber is definitely a must read series imo, I hope you enjoy it!
Oh boy The Flowers of Evil and Inside Mari would be... interesting reads for sure.
I love Inuyashiki and Ajin a lot. Aku no Hana is an interesting one for sure too, I think the anime got too bad of a rep.
If you want something with a similar intrigue and fast pacing to Made in Abyss I would recommend (you've probably already heard of it a hundred times) Attack on Titan. Not quite as weird as MiA but definitely has more weird elements than you'd expect for something as popular as it is.
I think you should read tokyo ghoul it is quite good. Tokyo ghoul re (tokyo ghoul’s second half) is my favorite manga in terms of artwork. Kaneki Ken is one of my favorite main characters in fiction.
Me and the Devil Blues should probably be straight up your alley. Can highly recommend
I know this is a MASSIVE undertaking and I'm sure hundreds of people are gonna start asking you to do this, but based on everything you said here I think you'd REALLY like One Piece. If you need to pace it out more id recommend at least reading the first hundred chapters. It's a shonen battle series and it's long as hell which sounds terrible to you but I swear, it had so many elements I think you'd enjoy. It takes a bit to pick up but if you stick with it it's really solid
Made In Abyss is one of my all-time favorite manga/anime, but it's also one of the most difficult to recommend to other people for... obvious reasons.
If youre looking for weird stuff, then i highly suggest horror manga. Junji Ito's wprks such as Uzumaaki, Tomie, and his anthology volumes come to mind. Also, PTSD radio is another weird one.
p.s. naoki urasawa's monster, billy bat, and 20th century boys are beautifully crafted wild rides
I love all three series. Right now, I think I tend to favor enjoyment over interesting concepts, but I'd maybe recommend 20th Century Boys.
Summary
In 1969, Kenji and his friends make up a story in which they save the world from an evil organization. 28 years later, a strange virus outbreak, a friend’s death, and a family's disappearance seem connected to a cult(?) leader by the name of “friend”. The cultish group uses the same symbol Kenji’s friend group used for themselves and appears to be acting out the absurd doomsday narrative they made up as kids.
It’s hard to summarize since the story’s scope is huge; covering 3 distinct timed periods with dozens of characters/groups and their individual story arcs. And naturally, seeing these different chains of events cause this interweaving domino effect was really satisfying. It’s not “weird” in a flashy way, but I think its “weirdness” was used in a mystery/thriller context really well.
Its creator, Naoki Urasawa, is the one behind the critically acclaimed Monster manga series.
I'm really curious what you'd think of Dai Dark. It has such a unique visual style and world, and really loveable characters.
You should read Crying Freeman and Kings Viking, I enjoyed both of 'em.
I would 100% recommend Shozo Oshimi’s works. Most of his works character driven psychological horror series that don’t shy away from uncomfortable topics such as abuse and sexuality. His art is also top tier. I’d start with Blood on the Tracks or The Flowers Of Evil.
I'm farily late and, despite me loving to recommend stuff to read, I think other people already named the most interesting picks, for example the two one-shots by Fujimoto, Goodbye Eri and Look Back.
So, to try and recommend something that may be interesting but maybe less mentioned in the comments, I have two titles for you:
- The Girl from the Other Side. This is a peculiar story that's honestly hard to describe in any way that isn't "a modern dark fairy tale". Not only the story and setting, but especially the artstyle are really reminiscent of old fairy tales imo, with a heavy use of blacks and sometimes very sketchy and rough designs, and also a lack of elements typical of modern comics books, like kinetic lines.
- Girls' Last Tour. This is the surprisingly chill and yet melancholic story of a couple of girls travelling in a post apocalyptic world. It focuses heavily on their almost aimeless journey, the relationship they establish with random objects and places, what they choose to care about and bring with them, and how many of the things we would value (or want to know more about as readers) are easily forgotten and abandoned.
There's a couple more titles I'd like to mention, but for now I'll limit it to these two.
Personally I felt like Fore Punch was a hell of a ride. There was so many topics covered that it kind of overloaded my mind LOL
Maybe you'd like kokoro no kanashimi, or something more popular thats also "weird", like homunculus, ichi the killer, devilman, kokumin quiz, freesia, ultra heaven or akagi if you like mahjong, they all get pretty absurd
My main recommendation for a weird manga is Dungeon Meshi/Delicious in Dungeon (12 volumes so far) is a really weird and funny manga about an rpg-like party of adventurers that, in order to cut costs, cook the weird and creepy monsters they kill. It's really, really funny, but also has some pretty dark moments. Tatsuki Fujimoto really likes this one and recommended it, so it's his type of humor. It's also getting anime this fall and based on my predictions (and I had almost never got it wrong so far) it's going to get very popular, when it comes out.
Some other weird manga you might enjoy:
- Opus (2 volumes, finished) is about a mangaka that gets sucked into his own manga after he tries to kill off one of the characters and said character escapes.
- Shiori Experience (19 volumes so far) is a manga about music, where 27yo high school teacher is haunted (and sometimes possessed) by Jimi Hendrix. Kurt Cobain is also in there. It made me want to play in a band.
- Oshi no Ko (12 volumes so far) is an insane manga about a pregnant teenage j-idol, where her doctor is killed by her stalker and reincarnates as her baby, along with his deceased 12yo patient (they are twins). It only gets more crazy from there. This is a story about murder, revenge and a scathing critique of japanese entertainment industry. This manga just got super popular thanks to the anime that just got released and it's insane first episode plot twist that I won't spoil for you.
- Onanie Master Kurosawa (4 volumes, finshed) is about an anti-social mc with superiority complex that masturbates as a hobby, and gets blackmailed into bullying some of his classmates. It might sound like a bad kind of weird, but it's actually really good and has a lot to say about it's themes.
- Koko wa Ima kara Rinri desu (7 volumes so far) is about ethics teacher that teaches about, well, ethics and inspires his students to approach their problems differently. On a smaller scale than other mangas I've recommended, but some wild shit happens in it. It also deals with some heavy topics and has some dark comedy.
Dorohedoro is all I can say for the weirdest thing I’ve ever read
I think you would really like Dorohedoro. It has a very gritty art style and humor, with a very gripping mystery being unraveled throughout the story. It deals with themes of hierarchy, belonging and identity which I think it deals with it well.
If you're looking for something weird I'd highly recommend any series by Oku Hiroya (Gantz, then Inuyashiki and Gigant).
One of my favourite series is Jagaaaan though it has some battle shounen elements, its very weird, unique and also pretty adult.
If youre looking for something more grounded then i'd recommend Homunculus or My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought.
Read Monster, 20th century boys, BillyBat, and Vinland Saga. Trust me
I'd recommend Alice in Borderland. There is a live action Netflix series which is also great but the manga is a unique and weird and wacky death game full of social commentary that I think would be up your alley.
Also, others have said it before here (and i think I even commented it before on one of your past videos) but anything by Naoki Urasawa is magnificent and should be read by anyone and everyone who reads manga. Whether it's Pluto (his twist on a mature Astro Boy), 20th Century Boys (my personal favorite), or Monster for more thriller vibes.
you gotta read sakamoto days and i think the promised neverland is perfect for you
Read Vinland saga kinda similar to berserk really good
Homunculus is probably the weirdest, most bat-shit insane thing I've ever read. I can't even to begin to describe how off the rails it gets. Also, I don't know if it counts as an unreliable narrator or not, but ever single character has an extremely loose grip on reality, especially the main character and thus us as the reader as well. It can get hard to keep track of at times, but in a fun way. It's so weird and unpredictable and goes places I never even knew were possible. I've seen gore, I've seen cruelty, I've seen bizarre, I've seen intense, but nothing has been as wild and shocking as Homunculus to me. Idk maybe I'm just a wuss. Regardless, I feel like it would be right up your alley.
Also, I haven't read it myself, but I've heard nothing but incredible things about 20th (and 21st) Century Boys. I get the impression it also spirals out of control so to speak and turns into some incredibly crazy stuff. I think it starts out just as some boys being friends, but then they grow up and there's maybe weird cult stuff? And like the Illuminati?
Also, it's a battle shonen, but Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is super fun. Also, if you want, you can break it down by parts. So maybe read parts 1 and 2, and two other series for a video, then next video it's two more short series and part 3, etc. It is long, and not all of the parts or even arcs in those parts are created equal, but it certainly is a bizarre adventure and it is just so fun the whole time. The powers start out incredibly basic, but infamously get more and more creative, and in many cases, oddly specific. Some fights in later parts are hardly even "fights" and more like weird death puzzles. It both takes itself 200% serious and 0% serious at the same time.
Edit to add Gantz as well. It's not exactly a pinnacle of story telling, but it is incredibly weird and has some amazing art. It's an action series, but not really a battle series the way a lot of shonen are. Different sections are vastly different in quality and the ending lowkey sucks, but it's such an incredible and wild ride that it's worth it. The highs are incredible and the lows are... there. Some of the coolest, weirdest creature designs I've seen, absolutely bonkers plot points and some surprisingly deep philosophical stuff toward the end? It's crazy, and the art is some of my favorite in all of manga.
I really recommend "Girls' Last Tour" by Tsukumizu. It's a peaceful apocalypse story, which is a very niche thing in a market full of action apocalypse, where the protagonists looks back on humanity - what they used to be, their philosophies, and how they came to the decline/end they're experiencing. At first I thought it was another slice-of-life but set in an apocalypse, but I read on and was charmed. As someone who read Fire Punch after Girls' Last Tour, I can only describe them both as cold. It felt like a spiritual sequel to Fire Punch, but might be a stretch. Give it a read. It's my go to when I want to feel something. Also one of my top 10 favourite stories ever.
(Never read Made in Abyss, but from what I learned from this review, they are kinda similar (maybe it's the artstyle), but without humanity. Maybe.)
if you want weird probably something like "innocenct" about french revolution excecutioner, "kengan ashura" about fighter battle royale with a couple twist or "homunculus" about unemployed dude journey to his psyche
some other recc:
"the climber" is a good memoir manga about life of a mountain climber for a living, "a silent voice" is also a manga you must read it rivals "your name" when the movie wasa released
Too bad Mob Psycho's English release isn't fully done yet. You'd love that series.
In terms of fun-weird, I'd recommend The Voynich Hotel
I just remembered a weird manga I read a few days ago. It was great, only 50 chapters. It's called Happiness by Shuzo Oshimi. He did Blood on the Tracks and Flowers of Evil which I heard are amazing.
It has a villain who you will fucking despise. And it gets weird at times but not insanely weird. It's completed.
I know written word is your thing, but you should consider watching Revolutionary Girl Utena. The extent to which it explores and answers its themes is pretty unmatched in my experience. Though if you’d like to stick to manga, Vagabond is also amazing.
Now for weird recommendations, The World Is Mine, Homunculus, Freesia
Note if you read vagabond make sure you read the exhibition chapter at the end.
some of the weirdest manga i've read are Ichi The Killer, Homunculus, Ibitsu (though possibly not in a good way), and Boku wa Mondai Arimasen. another great, surreal one is Himizu, which is kinda similar to Goodnight Punpun i think!
Yay a manga video! Thank you
welcome back, Tyler!
i think you should read Aku no Hana or Chi no Wadachi
PLEASE OH PLEASE READ VINLAND SAGA! It's a historical epic following a viking warrior and it has character writing that challenges Berserk. Although if you want more weird then I'd recommend Dorohedoro, I can't even use words to describe it.
I recommend Banana Fish or Oshi No Ko or I reincarnated into a Slime. Banana Fish isn’t necessary weird but I think the name of the is an interesting thing that people question before reading. Oshi No Ko does have a weird and unique plot that I’d think you’d like. And I reincarnated as a Slime is pretty weird too.
Introducing from Japan
If you like legitimate cartoons.
Monster - Naoki Urasawa (Mystery with a good plot)
Dorohedoro - Q Hayashida (A fantasy that is distinctive in style and well put together)
Vinland Saga - Makoto Yukimura (A Viking Age story incorporating historical facts* Still in serialization at this time)
The one and only manga with a unique drawing style, etc. Hard to explain.
BLAME! - Tsutomu Nihei (SF)
Houseki no Kuni - Haruko Ichikawa (Fantasy)
My recommendation
blood on the tracks - Shuuzou Oshimi(If you like punpun, you might fit in.I mean your chest may suffer)
Tekkonkinkreet will probably satisfy the need for unconventional weird manga and its a great intro to its authors work, which might be what you are looking for
It's great to hear that I'm not the only one who likes Fire Punch more than Chainsaw Man. Here's some manga recs:
- Monster
- Vagabond
- Pluto
Here are some recommendations, though admittedly I'm not sure if any of them are particularly weird.
- Angel Densetsu
- Sore wa Totsuzen, Unmei no Aite ga
- Bokura no Kiseki
- Hero Union BBS
- Otoyomegatari (worth looking into this one for the art alone)
If you loved Fire Punch you should read Sayonara Eri. It's super creative and meta and it's only one volume.
I have to recommend Vinland Saga, Vagabond, 20th Century Boys and Hommunculus. Those are really grounded Seinen series that are way more character driven and subtle more similar to Goodnight Punpun. I also have to recommend Jojo's Bizarre Adventure just cos its peak fiction
I really would love for you to read all of Junji Ito's work, if you're into him, and make one long video!
cannot wait for Colorless to read Claymore
I LOVE MADE IN ABYSS! but.... the weird kink shit it does with the CHILD CAST is REALLY uncomfortable
I would check out Uzumaki by Junji Ito. Junji Ito is the King of Horror Manga. Uzumaki is his best work. Its very very weird. Its about a town and Spirals. People in this town become affected by spirals in certain unique ways. Some of them become obsessed with spirals and some of them become spirals themselves in various ways. Junji Itos art style is very unique and weird. It isnt too long, you can even by the entire thing in 1 book from barnes and noble for like $20. I think this is right up your ally.
Also a series called Beastars. Which I think based on your taste in novels, you would very much enjoy Beastars. What I loved most about Beastars is the parallels between different races in the real world and herbivores/carnivores in Beastars and the issues surronding that. This book gives you a lot to self reflect on and think about and its an amazing coming of age story.
I would also recommend "Flowers of Evil" by Shuzo Oshimi. I saw someone else recommend "Happiness", which is another novel of his and more weird but "Flowers of Evil" is his best work and something I think youd enjoy.
As someone who's read Fire Punch, believe me when I say Dorohedoro is one of the most unique pieces of fiction out there. SO darn insane, but it all just fits together and makes sense somehow. I still don't know.
If you wanna get sucked into a manga with a world that's just as if not more interesting than some of its main characters, Dorohedoro's my recommendation :) For a bit more info, it starts off as a mystery of the identity of the main character, and the world expands as the layers start to unravel. Oh also, there are no holds barred when it comes to the violence.
Hope you enjoy it!!! :D
You should read jojo's bizzare adventure!
Joshi Kouhei is extremely weird. Giant robots who look like teenage girls with all sorts of depravity throughout