Manga Like Rasetsu

The American Old West sets the stage for the planet's most monumental race. A massive crowd gathers in San Diego as thousands prepare to journey more than six thousand kilometers, competing for the fifty-million-dollar grand prize. Since the age of the horse is drawing to a close, participants may employ any type of vehicle. Racers must survive harsh conditions, covering up to one hundred kilometers daily across unexplored desert lands. The Steel Ball Run is an unparalleled competition. Young Johnny Joestar, a former horse racer now confined to a wheelchair, arrives in San Diego just to see the race commence. There he meets Gyro Zeppeli, a competitor who carries two steel spheres at his hip rather than a firearm. Johnny watches as Gyro uses one sphere to generate a supernatural effect, forcing a man in a standoff to turn his gun on himself. During the commotion, Johnny accidentally touches the steel ball and experiences energy flowing into his legs, enabling him to stand for the first time in two years. Determined to uncover the mystery behind the steel balls, Johnny joins the race, launching his bizarre journey across America in the Steel Ball Run.

In a world buried under eternal snow and ice, civilization teeters on collapse because of the elusive Ice Witch. The struggle against the freezing cold has driven humanity to its worst extremes—cults, violence, and persecution of the Blessed, individuals born with supernatural abilities. Orphans Agni and Luna, both Blessed with the power of regeneration, try to live peacefully among a small community of elders. Their love for each other provides a brief respite from the lethal climate. But their fragile peace shatters when army commander Doma passes through and sets their refuge village ablaze, killing everyone including Luna. Doma's cursed flames never die until their victim is completely consumed; Agni’s regeneration keeps him perpetually burning, enduring unimaginable agony. After nearly ten years of suffering, Agni has learned to withstand Doma’s fire. Yet his thirst for vengeance burns just as intensely as the day Luna died. Traveling across a frozen wasteland, he swears to kill Doma and avenge his sister.

In 2011, Yasuho Hirose and Joushuu Higashikata, who grew up together as friends, find a naked man buried in the ground on the outskirts of Morioh. The man cannot recall his name or anything from his past life; the only thing he remembers is how to use his Stand, a supernatural power that manifests as a humanoid figure. The stranger is soon named Jousuke, and Joushuu's father, Norisuke, chooses to take him into the Higashikata household until he can locate his own residence. As Jousuke starts looking into his history, it becomes clear that he is no typical amnesiac. His true identity holds far more than he initially realized, and when he is forced into intense Stand confrontations, he gradually uncovers a deadly scheme that involves the entire town.

Susumu Nakoshi is a middle-aged man who divides his time between a luxury hotel and a park frequented by the homeless. One day, a strange young man approaches Nakoshi, seeking volunteers for trepanation—the act of drilling a hole in the skull. This mysterious individual claims Nakoshi is the ideal candidate for the experiment. Nakoshi initially refuses, but after his car is towed, he changes his mind. He agrees to let 22-year-old medical student Manabu Ito drill a hole in his skull in exchange for 700,000 yen. At first, the procedure yields no visible results, and Nakoshi exhibits no unusual symptoms. However, this normalcy is shattered when Nakoshi starts perceiving a homunculus in every person he encounters. With his vision now warped, how will Nakoshi confront these homunculi?

Hidden in the English countryside is the eerie estate of the Phantomhive family, known as the cold and ruthless "Queen's Watchdog" as well as the head of London's underworld. After a tragedy kills the Earl and his wife, many are surprised when their young son, Ciel, takes over as the new Earl of the Phantomhive house. Initially, he is seen as just a child with odd servants, but people soon learn it is unwise to challenge Ciel and his demonic butler, Sebastian. Set in the late 19th century, Kuroshitsuji follows the pair as they confront countless mysteries and dangers that torment England and threaten the Queen, all while uncovering the truth behind Ciel's parents' death.

Seventeen years ago, immortal soldiers called divine warriors appeared on African battlefields. These entities, later named Ajin or demi-humans, were hailed as one of humanity's most significant discoveries. Officially, the government declared them compatible with humans, but rumors persist that bounties are placed on captured Ajin so that they can be subjected to secret, inhumane experiments. Kei Nagai, an indifferent high school student studying to become a doctor, only wants a normal life. That simple desire shatters when he is caught in a fatal traffic accident. Revived at the scene, he is instantly branded an Ajin by witnesses eager for the reward. Unable to grasp his own immortality or prove his innocence, Kei goes on the run, fighting to survive. He barely evades government capture when a group of anarchistic Ajin reaches out, urging him to join their forces and strike back against the government. As the conflict between humans and Ajin escalates, Kei must decide who his true enemy is and which side he will choose.

At Suzaku High, Ryuu Yamada is well-known as a troublemaker and a delinquent. After getting scolded for his bad grades and attitude, he spots Urara Shiraishi, the top student in their grade. As Shiraishi climbs the stairs, Yamada tries to rile her up but trips and falls, pulling her down with him. When he wakes up in the infirmary, he realizes he's in someone else's body—he has swapped places with Shiraishi. Confronting her, he learns that the accidental kiss during the fall caused the swap. Armed with this newfound power, Yamada's chaotic high school life is only beginning.

Kazuki Hoshino treasures his mundane routine above anything else. He spends his school days carefree with his friends, until that uneventful bliss is shattered when the aloof beauty Aya Otonashi transfers into his class and immediately delivers a cold, dramatic statement to him: "I've come to break you. This is my 13,118th transfer. After so many times, it's starting to grate on me, so this time I'm spicing things up with a proper declaration of war." With those puzzling words, the ordinary days Kazuki loved so much become a cycle of turmoil and fear—Aya's sudden appearance signals the unraveling of unseen mysteries surrounding his seemingly normal friends, including the discovery of strange devices known as "boxes."

Atsushi Nakajima is near death after being thrown out of his orphanage. With no food and no place to stay, all hope seems lost—until he rescues a mysterious man named Osamu Dazai from drowning. Despite annoyance from his colleague Doppo Kunikida, Dazai feeds Atsushi and explains they belong to the Armed Detective Agency, a group of gifted individuals handling criminal cases the authorities can't solve. The two ask for Atsushi's help tracking down a supernatural tiger terrorizing the city, and he reluctantly goes along. Once the case is closed, Dazai offers him a job at the agency. But things turn more perilous when the Port Mafia, the local crime syndicate, starts moving against them. Stuck in the middle of a turf war, Atsushi must master his newfound special ability to protect himself, his new allies, and the whole city.

Mushi represent the most fundamental forms of life in existence. They have no goals or purposes, existing only for the sake of being itself, and operate entirely outside the concepts of good and evil. They appear in countless varieties and can imitate natural phenomena such as plants, diseases, and even rainbows. However, this description only scratches the surface of these elusive entities that fill the vibrant world—calling them a mere form of life would be too simplistic. Information about mushi remains scarce because most humans are oblivious to their presence. The core question—what exactly are mushi and why do they exist—is what drives Ginko, a Mushishi. Mushishi are people who study mushi, seeking to understand their role in the world's hierarchy of life. Ginko tirelessly follows rumors of events that might be linked to mushi, all in the pursuit of an answer. After all, that answer could reveal the very meaning of life itself.

Satoru Fujinuma is a 29-year-old who works a part-time job delivering pizza to support himself because his career as a mangaka never took off. But this struggling adult hides a secret: he possesses a mysterious ability that sends him back in time just before a life-threatening event occurs. When this power—which he calls "Revival"—activates, it keeps pulling him backward until he manages to save the people involved. However, Satoru's life takes a dark turn when a loved one is murdered by an unknown assailant, and he is framed for the crime. Desperate to escape and figure out his predicament, he is inexplicably thrown 18 years into the past—right before the disappearance and death of his classmate, Kayo Hinazuki, an incident that has haunted him since childhood. Now an elementary school student once again, Satoru must gather his wits and rescue the young girl from an untimely death by uncovering the culprit's identity. But what connection does Kayo's murder have to the present day?

After his parents died, high school student Kimihiro Watanuki lives by himself and possesses the ability to see supernatural creatures that are drawn to him. These spirits constantly harass him, and he desperately wants to be free from this burden. One day, while being pursued by a swarm of these entities, he stumbles into a strange shop seeking refuge. There he encounters Yuuko Ichihara, the store's owner, who claims she can fulfill any wish. She offers to grant Kimihiro's desire, provided he pays a suitable price. Consequently, Kimihiro starts working at her shop to earn the compensation needed for his wish. Under Yuuko's guidance, he must immerse himself deeper into the world of spirits and the occult before he can eventually leave it behind. How will he cope with the mysterious encounters that lie ahead?

Japanese-American Kevin Yamagata creates the popular detective comic "Billy Bat" after fighting for the Allied Forces in World War II. When the series becomes a tremendous success, Kevin learns that his character Billy Bat had already appeared in a Japanese comic. Fearing he may have unconsciously copied something he saw while stationed in Japan, Kevin travels there to track down the original artist and ask permission to keep using the character. As he investigates the origins of Billy Bat, he uncovers a dark and disturbing chain of murders that are somehow connected to the character he believed he invented.

Yoshiki and Hikaru have been inseparable since childhood, growing up as the only children their age in a small village. Their friendship appears idyllic, but Yoshiki has noticed a change in Hikaru ever since that one summer. The person sitting beside him now looks and remembers everything exactly like his friend, yet Yoshiki knows something is wrong—the Hikaru he knew is gone. When he confronts this, Hikaru partially transforms into an otherworldly being, threatening to kill Yoshiki if he cannot accept it, while also professing its love for him. Overcome with grief and unable to let go of his best friend, Yoshiki struggles to move forward as he grows closer to this new Hikaru. At the same time, strange events begin to trouble their village, bringing unsettling chaos.

A tale—a "ghostory" of sorts—revolving around scars that forge connections, monsters that linger, and fakes that trick. Koyomi Araragi's story begins with a chance meeting with an immensely powerful, blonde-haired vampire described as "hot-blooded, iron-blooded, and cold-blooded," later revealed as Shinobu Oshino. This tragic encounter ends Araragi's human life and brings about his rebirth as a vampire—a monster. Yet that meeting is merely the start of his entanglements with the supernatural. His noble disposition draws him deeper into the lives of others afflicted by paranormal phenomena. This is his desperate struggle to reclaim a normal human existence within an abnormal world filled solely with tragedy, suffering, and inhumanity. This entry covers the first season of the Monogatari Series.

After the death of his parents, Shinpei Ajiro was raised alongside the Kofune sisters—Mio and Ushio—but eventually moved to Tokyo to live on his own. When Ushio drowns while rescuing young Shiori Kobayakawa, he returns to the island to grieve. Yet bruises around Ushio's neck cast doubt on the official explanation of her death. Stepping back, Shinpei grows convinced that a deeper truth lies beneath the surface. Strange, dangerous beings prowl among the islanders, and a vision of Ushio's ghost pleads with him to "save Mio" as her dying wish. He becomes certain that something sinister is unfolding—and Ushio's demise is only one piece of the mystery. With help from Mio and others, Shinpei struggles to carve out a future where he, his friends, and his family can survive. But the more he digs, the more elusive that future seems. The darkness infects his home island. How much more suffering must he endure before he finds the right path to save everything?

A mysterious incident left a young woman dead alone in the old building of Seikyou Academy. For some reason, only freshman Teiichi Niiya can perceive her ghost. Together, they set out to uncover the truth behind her death and the circumstances that caused it.

Koyomi Araragi is well acquainted with the unnatural. Over spring break of his third year in high school, he becomes a vampire after a fateful run-in with the vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. Plunged into a world of aberrations, Araragi one day catches classmate Hitomi Senjougahara as she tumbles down the school stairs—but something feels off. When Senjougahara confronts him, he discovers her weight was taken by a mythical crab. Despite her blunt threats, Araragi persuades her to let him assist. Seeking a remedy for this abnormal issue, the pair visit the enigmatic Meme Oshino, the wanderer who once freed Araragi from his own vampirism. Bakemonogatari is a story about the monsters lurking inside everyone, but just how deep do they hide within the people Araragi encounters?

High school student Yuugi Mutou spends his days being picked on by bullies between classes and his nights playing board games and solving puzzles in his bedroom. His love for games comes from his grandfather, who runs a game shop that also serves as their home. One night, Yuugi finally solves the Millennium Puzzle, an almost impossible challenge that releases his inner darkness and gives rise to a second personality: Yami Yuugi. When under extreme stress, Yuugi involuntarily transforms into this more daring and dangerous alter ego, and he begins operating as a vengeful vigilante, challenging bullies and wrongdoers to high-stakes games where losing leads to fates worse than death. Yuugi and his dark side befriend some of the very students who once tormented him, forming unbreakable bonds with them. However, the group must face off against foes far more dangerous than schoolyard thugs—enemies who use games for evil purposes and threaten the lives of Yuugi and his friends.

Most people are said to be born with a special ability called an "Iris," which manifests as visual cues—ranging from detecting lies to predicting danger. High school student Tooru Mizushima, however, is one of the rare individuals without an Iris. Labeled an "Iris Zero," he faces constant bullying and thus tries to keep a low profile. But when the popular schoolgirl Koyuki Sasamori bursts into his life, his policy of minimal exposure is completely upended. Koyuki's Iris allows her to see the most suitable person for any given task—and she identifies Tooru as the best candidate to help her find the next student council president. Tooru wants nothing to do with such a public endeavor, yet Koyuki's cheerful persistence eventually wins him over. As he becomes involved with more people and applies his exceptional deductive reasoning to solve various mysteries, Tooru's lonely existence as an Iris Zero slowly begins to change.

Hidden in the misty alleys of Los Angeles' Chinatown lies a mysterious pet shop filled with strange yet gentle creatures. Its owner is an enigmatic young man called Count D. Count D opens his doors to those who are lonely and hurt, offering "love, dreams, and hope" through the fantastic animals inside. Each purchase comes with a special contract and a set of rules, but he warns customers he cannot be responsible if they break them. Short-tempered detective Leon Orcot traces several crimes back to Count D and what he calls a pet shop of horrors. Determined to prove the Count is a criminal, he begins visiting the shop regularly.

The daughter of the Shirakiin family, Shirakiin Ririchiyo, struggles with a complex about needing protection and being unable to live on her own. Determined to become independent, she moves into a mansion called "Ayakashi Kan," where only those who pass a very strict examination are allowed to reside. Each resident is assigned an agent from the Secret Service (S.S.) for protection. Although Ririchiyo initially refuses the company of an S.S. agent, she soon discovers that the agent assigned to her is actually the Fox Spirit she once rescued.

Each year, the Ushiromiya family gathers on Rokkenjima at the call of their eccentric patriarch, Kinzou. With his health declining, most relatives believe he doesn't have much longer to live. Outside, a typhoon rages; inside, a storm of greed and resentment brews as they quarrel over the inheritance and who will be named Kinzou's true successor. Battler, Kinzou's grandson, returns after six years away, expecting a calm reunion. But his grandfather has other ideas: he initiates a strange game, challenging everyone to find his hidden gold. Whoever discovers it also earns the most desired prize—control of the family. However, the game spirals into violence and murder when the participants are offered as "sacrifices" to resurrect the Millennial Witch of Rokkenjima, Beatrice. A firm skeptic, Battler rejects belief in the occult. Yet as bodies pile up around him, he is forced to consider whether the deaths are caused by genuine magic or by a human hand among the group.

A tale about the outcomes of decisions, where confessions lead to either affection or refusal, and choices force sacrifice and sorrow. Koyomi Araragi's choice to rescue a blond vampire and involve himself with the supernatural caused his own death as a human and rebirth as a monstrosity. Yet this was merely one among countless tragedies and decisions he would later confront, and he comes to realize that his seemingly unbreakable, hard-won connections are not permanent. As bizarre oddities continue to emerge around him, he must face impossible dilemmas—whether to cut ties with those he cares for, or forever remain part of the realm of monsters and phantoms and let the world collapse because of it. Whether to accept or reject a confession, and give up everything for others. However, both possibilities could end in tragedy and goodbyes. A tale about Koyomi Araragi finally understanding the weight of his decisions. This entry covers the second season of the Monogatari Series.