It’s time to rev up your manga reading list!
Chainsaw Man is a ridiculously awesome take on the Shonen genre that ditches the heroics for pure violence, degenerate humor, and deep themes. Its manga series is currently in its second major saga, but each weekly chapter release leaves fans wanting more.
Luckily, tons of other Japanese comics carry the same themes (and bloody gore) as Chainsaw Man.
So, to tide you over, here are the 5 best manga like Chainsaw Man you can read right now!
What is Chainsaw Man?
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man is about an impoverished teenager named Denji who enters a deal with the Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, to realize their shared dream of a normal life.
The beginning follows Denji’s journey with Public Safety – an organization tasked with killing devils – as he becomes the target of other nefarious demi humans.
Top 5 manga like Chainsaw Man
Parasyte
Hitoshi Iwaaki’s iconic Parasyte manga is a Shonen/Seinen series about Izumi Shinichi, whose body is partially infected by a Parasyte – an alien race that butchers and consumes humans.
Both Denji and Izumi come upon more power than they know what to do with. That said, Parasyte’s protagonist goes through a more nuanced relationship with the “devil” he shares his body with.
Both manga presents an army of antagonists hell-bent on destroying humanity. But while Parasyte’s premise seems simple, the manga explores philosophical ideas surrounding co-existence and conflict, making it more than the sum of its parts.
And much like the other entries on our list, plot armor is a thing of the past. Any character (even the protagonist) can die at any time, but each death always serves a purpose.
Parasyte’s thoughtful segments, body horror, and action-packed sequences kick off our list of best manga like Chainsaw Man.
Blood-C
This manga follows Saya Kisaragi, a normal high school student/country shrine maiden by day and flesh-eating Elder Bairn hunter by night.
Sayu slowly uncovers the devastating truth behind the monsters she kills, the town she protects, and her very existence.
The dark mystery surrounding the town’s power structure – coupled with Sayu’s monster-slaying prowess – puts Blood-C on a CSM fan’s to-read list.
Like CSM, Blood-C starts with an eerie tone and quickly builds up to a Kill Bill-esque gorefest. While it replaces any lore with tons of mystery, Sayu and Denji share similar journeys of blood and betrayal, making this manga a worthwhile read for any Chainsaw Man fan.
No Guns Life
In the dark future, humans are turned into cyborgs called Extended, to serve in worldwide conflicts. But after the wars, most Extended have resorted to a life of crime. That’s where Juzo Inui comes in.
Tasuku Karasuma’s cyberpunk manga No Guns Life is about Juzo Inui, an Extended mercenary with a giant handgun for a head. Juzo is an amnesiac veteran who lives as a private detective hunting Extended rebels, But his life takes a sharp turn after one of these criminals breaks into his office and asks him to rescue and protect a young boy.
Like Chainsaw Man’s protagonist, Juzo is a complete delinquent with questionable ethics. He also stumbles into a grand conspiracy that has far-reaching consequences and faces it head-on (literally).
No Guns Life’s story also has its own twists and turns, exploring the same deep themes surrounding the importance of life.
No Guns Life’s delinquent protagonist, corrupt power system and demi human cyborgs all draw lines to CSM. So, if you enjoyed Chainsaw Man’s for its gritty story and wild fights, look no further!
Jujutsu Kaisen
While No Guns Life doubles down on the gritty themes of CSM, Jujutsu Kaisen dials it back to bring the plot back to familiar Shonen territory.
The highly popular series by Gege Akutami takes place in a world of Sorcerers who seek out and exorcise demonic curses that threaten to destroy the very foundations of society.
The main story revolves around Yuji Itadori, a high school student who is recruited by Jujutsu sorcerers after his body becomes the unwilling host of Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses.
Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK) and Chainsaw Man both feature a young, headstrong protagonist who stumbles upon vast amounts of power. Both of them are seen as threats to a large organization, which recruits them to harness their abilities in some capacity.
This manga has the most similarities to Chainsaw Man on our list, but the main difference lies in the main character’s motivations.
Despite his quirks, Itadori is a more Shonen-aligned character than Chainsaw Man. On top of that, the line between good and evil is more defined in JJK, so you always know who the real villains are.
The S-tier fight choreography, mind-breaking moments and mystic power systems make JJK one of the best manga like Chainsaw Man!
Berserk
A classic in the Seinen fantasy genre, “Berserk” is a manga which revolves around the demon hunter, Guts, and his haunting quest for vengeance.
Written by the legendary Kentaro Miura, Berserk is a modern epic that explores themes of loss, greed, power, perseverance and self-forgiveness in a harsh world that evolves with its characters.
Unparalleled artwork and visceral action scenes make Berserk a great read by itself, and Guts’ story is very similar to Denji’s. Both protagonists have a squalid backstory, suffer great trauma, and emerge stronger from that trauma only to be used by a charismatic leader who becomes the main antagonist.
Berserk’s grey morality also mirrors Chainsaw Man’s. There are no heroes or villains, just human beings with varying motivations and loyalties.
After years of strife, Guts’ vengeful drive is put aside as he lets people into his life again. A similar thing happens to Denji down the line.
While both stories vary in depth, the same message of “self-improvement despite the struggle” is present in both themes, making Berserk a fine cure for Chainsaw Man withdrawal symptoms.
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