Summary
The success of the “dark trilogy” led to the development of a new genre of manga published in Weekly Shonen Jump, featuring darker and more mature themes. Weekly Shonen Jump and the digital-only Shonen Jump+ have appeared to welcome bold and gruesome works, allowing them to take center stage among their usual safer subject matter. These dark manga titles stand out by boldly presenting tragedies, placing protagonists in psychologically damaging and life-threatening situations, making their world feel Authentic and high stakes.
After the success of the “dark trilogy”, the demand for similar stories led to a rapid rise of Dark manga published on Weekly Shonen Jump. They include everything readers love about shounen works while also not shying away from introducing darker and more mature themes.
Based on the demographics of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, it’s easy to assume that every title published here will play it safe in terms of the themes featured and the type of scenes included. However, the magazine has proven itself to be quite welcoming of bold ideas over the years, allowing darker and more gruesome works to get the spotlight. For those who find the idea of such titles appealing, here they aredarkest manga of all time, published in Weekly Shonen Jump or on its digital sister publication, Shonen Jump+.
10 Jujutsu Kaisen
Weekly Shonen Jump, 2018 – present
As a title that has gained traction at a surprising rate, especially thanks to the popularity of its excellent anime adaptation, Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen may not be the most original work from so far, but it’s definitely one of the most interesting and engaging dark stories out there. Genuine Jujutsu sorcerers are humans who use various mystical arts to combat the Curse, powerful yet mysterious monsters that have secretly terrorized humanity from the shadows for eons. From the unique power system to the immersive world building and compelling story progression, there are many reasons why fans fall in love with this work.
9 Flavors
Shonen Jump+, 2021 – present
Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan revolves around an odd couple, including a girl who believes in ghosts but does not believe in the paranormal, and a boy who is obsessed with the paranormal but does not care about ghosts. After the two meet by chance and share their beliefs, they embark on a mission to disprove each other’s theories by visiting different locations. However, in doing so, they realize that neither of them was wrong all along. From the artwork to the storytelling, and even the way it handles comedy, this title is absolutely brilliant, but it can also get surprisingly dark when the reader least expects it.
8 fire punches
Shonen Jump+, 2016 – 2018
A precursor to the immensely popular Chainsaw Man, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Fire Punch proves that the author has always had a penchant and talent for dark supernatural stories. In a frozen world almost destroyed by the Ice Witch, a powerful “luck” is born with supernatural powers, her actions cause every other lucky person to be targeted and suppressed, including innocent people who want nothing more than to survive. Such is the case of Agni, an orphan who was revenged after losing his younger sister. This title can be controversial at times, with opinions on it ranging from overrated to masterpiece, but it’s certainly dark and depressing.
7 unlucky zombies
Weekly Shonen Jump, 2020 – present
Yoshifumi Tozuka’s wildly inventive Undead Unluck makes its unique premise surprisingly clear right from the title; It’s all about an immortal boy and an unlucky girl. Fuuko Izumo has long suffered from an illness that causes great misfortune to anyone who comes into contact with her, even leading to their death. Her parents were not more fortunate, they also lost their lives because of this curse. Meanwhile, Andy, despite wanting to die, simply cannot do it, which is why Fuuko decides to help him, finally finding a benefit to her unfortunate state.
6 D. Gray-man
Weekly Shonen Jump, 2004 – 2009; Square dance, 2009 – present
One of the older titles on this list, Katsura Hoshino’s D.Gray-man began publication long before dark stories became a trend in the Shounen manga community. While this means that many people who aren’t interested in unusual approaches can skip it, it also makes the experience much more impactful and memorable for fans. The story takes place in a world defined by the conflict between “Akuma”, evil beings led by the Millennium Count, who aim to destroy humanity, and exorcists, who use uses divine power in the form of “Innocent”, working for the Black Order. to protect the world, no matter what tragedies they may encounter along the way.
5th Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Shonen Jump Week, 2016 – 2020
Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba wastes no time in demonstrating how dark and sad it can be, because it’s a tragedy from the start. Living with his family on a remote mountain and working as a coal seller, Tanjirou Kamado’s life may not be rich or comfortable, but he is satisfied being with his loved ones. However, his peaceful life is suddenly ruined when an evil demon slaughters his entire family and turns his sister into a demon, forcing him to embark on a dangerous journey, full of full of problems and tragedies.
4 Hell Paradise: Jigokuraku
Shonen Jump+, 2018 – 2021
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku rose to fame as one of the “dark trinity” of manga that revolutionized Shonen Jump, and has recently experienced a new surge in popularity thanks to an excellent anime adaptation. Gabimaru the Hollow is a notoriously vicious ninja, known for his ruthless efficiency and emotionless attitude. When he is betrayed and sentenced to death, he is sent with other death row inmates on an impossible mission in exchange for their freedom, to retrieve the elixir of life from a supposed island. Paradise, is essentially a nightmarish landscape ruled by undead monsters, turning the story into a horror survival game.
3 Promised Lands
Shonen Jump Week, 2016 – 2020
As a psychological horror film focusing on the theme of survival, few titles can cause as much fear as Posuka Demizu and Kaiu Shirai’s The Promised Neverland. The story follows a group of orphans who initially seem to live a comfortable life at Grace Field House, studying and playing together without a worry in the world. However, their situation soon reveals itself to be much darker than anyone could have expected, as the children learn the truth that they were only raised to be food for the devil. Even without allies by your side or knowledge of the outside world, giving up is not an option. Even after the group escapes the orphanage, the series takes a darker turn.
2 chain saws
Weekly Shonen Jump, 2018 – 2020; Shonen Jump+, 2022 – present
Chainsaw Man is the most famous of the dark trilogy, and it’s not hard to see why. Written and drawn by Tatsuki Fujimoto, who has proven his mastery of various genres through titles like Goodbye, Eri, and Fire Punch, Chainsaw Man surprised the world by proving that manga how dark and gruesome shounen is, redefining the genre both visually and in the psychological themes it addresses. Chainsaw-wielding protagonist Denji lived an unhappy life, forced to work for the yakuza until they decided to kill him. However, instead of dying, he merged with his pet demon Pochita and became a hybrid.
1 hunter x hunter
Weekly Shonen Jump, 1998 – present
As a title released long before bleak and scary situations became popular in Shounen manga, it can be said that Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter paved the way for stories like the “dark trilogy” to become should be appreciated as it is, affecting them. in process. While other Shonen Jump protagonists face their own setbacks and obstacles, Gon Freecss’s journey often takes him to dangerous places, proving exactly how dangerous the world of Hunters is. to what extent. From tragic backstories to gruesome deaths, there’s no limit to how dark the story can get, especially when it comes to the infamous Chimera Ant arc.
Typically setting their stories in dangerous and fantastical worlds, these manga titles understand that the best way to make viewers understand how dark their world is is to boldly present tragedies. violent, not hesitating to put even the main character in psychologically damaging and life-threatening situations. Unlike classic shounen worlds, where death is just a myth and the good guys always win, these stories feel real and the stakes are always high, which is what allows Darkest Shonen Jump manga to stand out from the rest.