Manga Like Bug Ego

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

The tale that concludes Koyomi Araragi's journey has arrived. This half-human, half-vampire has lingered too long on the boundary between the ordinary and the paranormal. The moment to end his hesitation is here. Bit by bit, his human traits were slipping away, beginning with his reflection. He was transforming into a vampire. Now, Araragi faces a choice: which world to inhabit and which to abandon. To preserve his humanity, he must forsake the companions he gained through supernatural encounters. Alternatively, he can sacrifice his human side to remain with those he cherishes. Koyomi Araragi must make this decision, and its weight will follow him relentlessly. No matter his path, tragedy looms—the inevitable result of every choice made from the very beginning. This entry includes the final season of the Monogatari Series.

A cyborg vampire named Charley performs the Vatican's dirty deeds while serving as the thrall of Johnny Rayflo, a playboy vampire. The pair combat crime and clash with each other, resulting in comedy, violence, and sacrilege. Charley fights his own overwhelming thirst for blood. Together, they confront a childlike vampire princess, a dubious sect of the Unitarian Church, and each other. This edition features the one-shot "Volume 2: Zoul Half."

William Twining is among the top students at Stratford School, but even though he attends a religious institution, he rejects the existence of God and any supernatural forces, as he is a firm realist who champions modern scientific thought. The Twining family is one of Britain's most esteemed noble houses, yet William's absent uncle left behind enormous debts. Searching desperately for saleable valuables in his manor to cover these obligations, William one day uncovers a hidden chamber where a stranger suddenly materializes. This uninvited guest declares himself to be Dantalion, Grand Duke of Hell. Dantalion asserts that William is the "elector" empowered to select the acting Emperor of Hell, a privilege passed down solely through descendants of the ancient wise monarch Solomon. Given William's worldview allows no room for Heaven or Hell, he naturally calls Dantalion a fraud and refuses to back his bid for Emperor. But the demon refuses to accept rejection, even going so far as to enroll at Stratford under the alias "Dantalion Huber" to remain close to the elector and sway him. How can William shake off this persistent nuisance—and the others sure to come?

Ginji Amano is a cool, pragmatic, and hip blonde who can generate electric currents with his body like an electric eel. Ban Mido is an equally hip brunette, bespectacled and rambunctious, who possesses the mystically enigmatic "Evil Eye," granting him the ability to create illusions in the minds of his opponents. Together, they form the GetBackers, the premier retrieval team in the world. They can recover anything taken from their clients, boasting a success rate of (almost) 100%! Yet first, they need to land some clients—and soon—or this lively detective pair will end up starving on the streets!

Five students at a Buddhist university—three men and two women—struggle to apply their unusual talents in modern Tokyo, at least when it comes to the living. The abilities they studied, like channeling, dowsing, and ESP, were dismissed as useless for a career, but they prove invaluable for connecting with the dead—specifically, those whose spirits remain trapped in their own bodies, unable to move on to the next life. Together, they establish the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service. Whether the death is a suicide, murder, accident, or illness, they will transport the body to the location necessary for the soul to be set free.

This anthology of one-shots by Dowman Sayman includes narratives of serial killers discovering romance, historical figures returning from the dead, an original spin on the 9/11 tragedy, yaoi fan-girl ghosts offering suggestions to the men she observes, and a variety of other subjects.

"It's considered stylish to occasionally rescue a girl you have no connection to." Female students from Naoetsu High School are disappearing one after another. When their mummified bodies are found, each has a distinctive mark on the nape of the neck...? Koyomi Araragi, now a first-year university student, sets out to hunt down the perpetrator.

Oddities have existed throughout history, with some accounts dating back six centuries. Tales of vampires, monkey's paws, shikigami, wanderers in mountain mist, murderous cats, mermaids, wolves, golems, and—most terrifying of all—humans have been gathered by individuals known as "oddity specialists." Their roles involve fighting, regulating, and, above all, resolving the many enigmas surrounding the incidents these oddities cause. Monogatari Series: Off Season centers on eight protagonists—some specialists, some oddities themselves—as they engage with the realm of aberrations, frequently landing in peril due to their own mischievous actions.

The work of a Shinigami never ends. Asato Tsuzuki serves as a "Guardian of Death" in the Ministry of Hades, tasked with guiding departed souls to the afterlife. However, stubborn spirits and human wickedness constantly hinder his efforts. Between these troublesome cases, will he ever earn a bonus—or is he doomed to eternally repay damages?

Pamela is a tarot card reader who offers assistance to supernatural beings navigating the human world. She aids anyone who comes to her, whether it’s a cat stricken with love, a vampire who spends his immortal life fleeing from his one true love, an unattractive waitress seeking the man of her dreams, or a magician who crafts a humanoid doll to serve the woman he loves. Despite her kindhearted nature, Pamela harbors a profound secret she must confront before she can pass into the next life.

A collection of Kuroshitsuji one-shots chapters by various manga artists.

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.

After being harshly turned down, Momo Ayase is brooding when she comes across a boy being picked on. Her impulsive kindness saves him, and the occult-obsessed boy tries to talk to her about supernatural interests he thinks they share. Dismissing his claims, Ayase declares she believes in ghosts instead, sparking a quarrel over which is real. To settle the debate, they agree to separately investigate locations tied to the occult and the supernatural—Ayase heading to the former and the boy to the latter. When they reach their chosen spots, they discover neither was wrong: both the occult and ghosts truly exist. This kicks off Ayase and the boy's journey, as they strive to resolve the bizarre, supernatural, and occult phenomena around them in order to return to a normal life.

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.