2024] Traumatizing! 10 Recommended Depressing Comics! From stories with too much relief to revenge stories.

Reading them makes you feel down, but strangely enough, you can't stop turning the next page. For some reason, depressing manga with their snarky worldviews and crazy characters never cease to stimulate people's hearts and minds.

In this article, we would like to introduce a selection of interesting depressing manga that make us feel blue when we read them, but somehow become addictive. We hope you will take advantage of your long summer vacation to read them.

Table of Contents: The Last Weapon She; Ushijima-kun: The Dark Money; Bokura no; RAINBOW: The Seven in Two Shacks; The Original Sin of Takopi; MISUMISOU; Zen-aku no kuzu; We Did It!; Made in Abyss; Sunset on Fourth Street

Recommended Depressing Manga

The Last Weapon Girlfriend by Shin Takahashi

Anime version of "The Ultimate Weapon Girlfriend

This work depicts the love story between Shuji, a very ordinary protagonist, and Chise, a clumsy and timid heroine. However, what makes this work different from other works is that Chise is the ultimate weapon. The story takes place during wartime, when nuclear weapons are used, and Chise is awakened as a final weapon and forced to fight as a weapon. What will happen to Shuji and Chise's love story? How will it end?

The author, Shin Takahashi, originally wrote "I Love You" and "Ii Hito," which was dramatized into a TV drama. which has also been dramatized into a TV drama. In "The Last Weapon Girlfriend," however, the author has taken this dusty atmosphere and given it a strong science fiction flavor. The people dying in the intensifying war and the emotional turmoil of the characters will be more shocking when contrasted with the everyday, slightly adolescent ensemble drama.

YAKKIN Ushijima-kun by Shohei Manabe

Many people would probably cite "YAKKIN USHIJIMA-KUN" as a milestone in depressing manga. This work is a story about the main character, Kaoru Ushijima, who runs a high-interest financial institution, the so-called "Yami Kinyu" (black market finance), and the customers and residents of the underground world who take advantage of it. The story is not only about the overtly evil, as a seemingly normal housewife is actually a pachinko addict, or a young man pursues his dreams for the sake of his pride and ends up in a tragedy.

Because the story is modeled on actual incidents and social problems, each frame is very realistic, and you will definitely feel a sense of dread that is not a part of anyone else's life. In addition to being made into a TV drama and a movie, there are also many spin-off works such as "YAKKIN USHIJIMAKUN Gaiden: Nekimamushi Densetsu" and "Shonenin USHIJIMAKUN," making this a work that should be read during long vacations.

Bokura no Bokura by Mohiro Kito / 5 volumes

Anime version of " Bokura no

Many of you may have heard the impactful intro and chorus of "Uninstall. Bokura" has also been made into an anime, but its original story is a manga. It is about 14 boys and girls in the first year of junior high school who are invited to play a game in which they pilot giant robots to protect the earth from an oncoming enemy.

At first glance, the story seems to be an action story of children fighting with robots, but in fact, the life force of the boys and girls is necessary to operate the giant robot. In other words, a cruel rule had been set up whereby the pilots would obtain the art of fighting the enemy at the cost of their lives. Moreover, whether they lost or won, the pilot would die.

The sight of these children, all of whom are still very young, putting their lives on the line for their own reasons is undeniably moving. The inner life of human beings is also delicately depicted, so this work is especially recommended for those who are interested in reading depressing manga.

RAINBOW: Seven Men in Two Shacks by Masazumi Kakizaki, Joji Abe / 22 volumes

RAINBOW: The Seven in Two Shackles, the anime version

The story takes place in Japan in 1955, shortly after the end of World War II, when there was a great social disparity. The story begins when six juveniles who have committed crimes are admitted to a special reformatory, Ninsha Rokubou. They are treated like livestock by the irrational guards and adults, but their desperate attempts to survive in this environment make one's hands sweat.

Although there is an element of depression, the revenge drama of the boys with dark backbones is also very painful. The boys, led by Rokurouta Sakuragi, aka Anne-chan, work hard for the sake of their friends and relatives, and you will be reminded of how nice friendship is.

The Original Sin of Takopi by Taizan 5

Tacopy comes to Earth to spread happiness, and the story is about his efforts to make fourth-grader Shizuka Kuze happy. Despite Tacopy's cute silhouette, this is a heavy story about young children who are actually suffering from darkness due to bullying and neglect.

But Tacopee is an alien. He is insensitive to the subtleties of emotion, and he seems to believe that there is no such thing as malice in people. Is Tacopee, who is far removed from common ethics, really capable of spreading happiness? Despite its cruel theme, this is a strange work that is saved by its endearing characterization.

MISUMISOU by Rensuke Oshikiri / 6 volumes

The main character, Haruka Nosaki, has to move to a rural area due to her father's work. However, she becomes the target of bullying because she is a transfer student. The bullying escalates, and Haruka loses her parents, who were her only allies, and her younger sister suffers burns all over her body. Haruka swears revenge, but how will it end?

The fact that the bullying started simply because she was a transfer student is also symbolic of the closed village community. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a one-of-a-kind psychological horror story, in which the insanity is transmitted at an accelerated pace because of the tight confines of the community.

Good and Evil by Daisuke Watanabe, Ryo Nagata / 6 volumes

The rule of law is that criminal acts will be judged, but the question remains as to whether this will save the victims. In this work, Takeshi Kamonome and Toranobu Shimada take revenge on behalf of their victims against criminals who cannot be brought to justice by the law.

It is a story of good and evil, so you will often feel refreshed after reading the book, but the criminals are extremely vicious. Some of the stories are based on actual incidents, so there are often gruesome descriptions that make you want to cover your eyes. The work swings between depressing and exhilarating, so be prepared to read it.

Bokutachi ga Yatte by Muneyuki Kaneshiro, Hikaru Araki / 9 volumes

Three high school students and their former classmates decide to take revenge on each other after an incident. However, their revenge goes too far, and they end up being wanted as suspects and forced to live on the run.

The violence and scumminess of the unique characters, coupled with the illustrations, will leave you in a gloomy mood. And it is interesting to see Paisen's characterization throughout the story as a rabble-rouser. The story is sure to stir up a variety of emotions, including the thrill of escape.

Made in Abyss by Akihito Tsukushi

Anime version " Made in Abyss

The Abyss is a large, unexplored cave. In this dark and vast world, strange and bizarre creatures inhabit, and precious relics lie dormant that cannot be reproduced by the current human race. One day, Riko, a young girl who dreams of one day becoming a "caveman" like her mother and unraveling the mysteries of the Abyss, meets Reg, a robot with amnesia. When traces of Rico's mother arrive a short time later, they reveal a picture of a robot that looks like Reg. In order to find his memory and his mother, Rico and Reg set out for the depths of the Abyss.

Don't be fooled by the cute picture. You will be surprised by the storyline and the depressive development, which you never imagined. On the other hand, as the word "explorer" suggests, the process of unraveling the mysteries hidden in the Abyss and the creatures you have never seen before is exciting. It is a work that can be enjoyed as both a depressing manga and an adventure.

Sunset on Fourth Street by Hajime Yamano / 1 volume

Among depressing manga, "Sunset on Fourth Street" has been called one of the most famous. The synopsis of the story is that the mother of the main character Takeshi Bessho has an accident and becomes involved in a chain of negative events. The film depicts the disadvantaged circumstances of factory workers and negative human emotions, and is infused with as much depression and grotesque expressions as possible. You will feel a sense of discomfort at how mercilessly misery is depicted in a comical and unaffected manner.

This work is classified in the "Garo type" genre, which deals with themes such as poverty and discrimination. Although these themes are considered minor because they are too avant-garde, it is a fact that there are a certain number of enthusiastic fans. This summer, it would not be a bad idea to try out some of the legendary masterpieces created by the author, Hajime Yamano.