10 Books/Manga Like Hellsing
Hellsing is a manga you’d recommend to folks looking for an intense story. It’s written and drawn by Kouta Hirano. It contains vampires, zombies, corrupt priests, and tyrannical organizations. It contains some political terminology but fans like to flock toward it for its characters and epic confrontations. This one follows the vampire overlord Alucard who is on a mission to defeat everyone who stands in the Hellsing Organization’s path. He’ll endure numerous bouts and will enjoy every last minute of it.
If you’re in the mood for more brutal and horrific books/manga that offer a similar vibe, fear not! We’ve gathered together 10 books/manga to check out when you’ve caught up with Hellsing. Of course, if you feel we’ve missed any of your favorites, do comment below and let us know!
Chainsaw Man – Tatuski Fujimoto
Similarities – Action, Atmosphere, Supernatural
With a dark atmosphere that’s on par with the Hellsing universe, Chainsaw Man is a riveting work that explores themes of supernatural forces, violence, and the struggle between good and evil. In Chainsaw Man, we follow Denji, a devil hunter who battles powerful demons as the chainsaw-headed warrior Chainsaw Man.
Like Hellsing, Chainsaw Man captures the grim and oppressive atmosphere of its world by showcasing gruesome scenes and depicting a sense of constant danger. Moreover, both characters fight for a mysterious female lead who is shrouded in mystery. For Alucard, he works for the cunning Integra Hellsing while Denji completes missions for the enigmatic Makima.
For those looking for a tale with epic bouts, great character development, and well-designed monsters, Chainsaw Man should suffice.
Drifters – Kouta Hirano
Similarities – Atmosphere, Action, Themes
Drifters is another dark work from Kouta Hirano that should appeal to Hellsing’s audience. Like Hellsing, this series is set in a world brimming with violence, war, and supernatural aspects. On that note, both series highlight war and the consequences that stem from it. In Drifters, we follow Shimazu, who finds himself trapped in a different world with historical people.
The series delves into the chaotic conflicts of different civilizations, showcasing the grim realities of war and the heinous choices our main character must make. Hellsing portrays the horrors of war through the Hellsing Organization’s consistent battles with supernatural entities and by highlighting the dark consequences of Alucard’s immortality.
With its well-rounded and distinct cast, thrilling action-packed scenarios, and fine detail, Drifters will certainly impress Hellsing fans.
Black Lagoon – Rei Hiroe
Similarities – Action & Dark Worlds
If action, morally ambiguous characters, and dark atmospheres are your foray, consider checking out Black Lagoon. Like Hellsing, this series captivates readers with its intense storytelling that showcases the darker aspects of human nature and the issues with living in a treacherous world. Black Lagoon follows a group of mercenaries called the Lagoon Company.
Readers will observe their journey through the criminal underworld. They’ll engage in gunfights, high-speed chases, and explosive battles. To a similar extent, Hellsing presents readers with exhilarating action scenes by observing Alucard’s countless battles with supernatural foes from fellow zombies to a quirky priest.
If you happen to love stories with complex characters and ones that explore the gritty and violent implications of living in a dangerous society, Black Lagoon should entertain you.
Trigun – Yasuhiro Nightow
Similarities – Action & Themes
Another tale with impressive violence and morally complex characters is Trigun. This tale follows Vash the Stampede, a skilled gunslinger who aims to preserve life despite the rumors spread about him. This manga excels at illustrating the consequences of violence by touching on subjects like revenge, forgiveness, and the impact of one’s actions.
Likewise, Hellsing explores the consequences of violence through Alucard, who battles supernatural creatures and psychotic humans while confronting his own capacity for destruction. Both series wonderfully tackle the moral implications of violence. They question its justification and examine the psychological toll it has on its characters’ psyche.
In addition to sharing a common theme concerning characters who trail the line between good and evil, Trigun is a fabulous wild-west-themed action manga that’ll leave Hellsing fans in awe.
Vampire Hunter D – Hideyuki Kikuchi
Similarities – Vampires, Atmosphere, Themes
Vampire Hunter D is a fascinating vampire-themed novel series written by Hideyuki Kikuchi. In it, we follow D, a half-human and half-vampire warrior who must rescue a wealthy individual’s daughter from a vampire. D hopes to achieve great wealth as a reward, but he won’t be the only one after this prize. Like Hellsing, this series features a dark and brooding atmosphere.
Vampire Hunter D is set in a post-apocalyptic world with eerie landscapes, and gothic architecture, and evokes a sense of doom. Likewise, Hellsing creates a gloomy atmosphere through its depiction of the Hellsing Organization and its consistent run-ins with supernatural foes and menacing individuals. Like Alucard, D possesses phenomenal vampire-like abilities that aid him in battle.
At the same time, he’ll be torn between his vampiric nature and his human side, leading to interesting internal struggles. On top of their shared exploration of vampire-human relationships, Vampire Hunter D is another great vampire-themed epic worth reading.
Dorohedoro – Q Hayashida
Similarities – Action & Tone
Dorohedoro is an action-packed manga series with a dark tone and a fascinating supernatural world. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic city called “The Hole.” This decaying world hoses grotesque creatures and individuals with magical capabilities. The series embraces its gritty, surrealistic aesthetic, showcasing violence and gore while evoking a sense of despair.
Both manga excel at setting readers up for their intense storytelling through their world’s atmospheric designs. Moreover, both stories feature morally complex characters who challenge the notions of good and evil. With Dorohedoro, Caiman is a reptile-headed man who wants to learn more about himself. He’ll navigate a dangerous world and make questionable decisions throughout his quest.
This parallels Alucard’s journey throughout Hellsing. He’ll kill enemies without a shadow of a doubt but isn’t against protecting humanity from supernatural threats.
If you love dark tales with intricate leads, Dorohedoro is worth your time.
Claymore – Norihiro Yagi
Similarities – Themes, Action, Horror
Claymore is a gritty manga series with a gloomy world filled with dastardly creatures and humans. Like Hellsing, this tale delves into dark and supernatural themes. In Claymore, its world is plagued by monsters called “Yoma” who have no issues feasting on innocent humans. To combat these foes, half-human, half-Yoma warriors called Claymores scour the world to murder them.
Our protagonist, Clare, happens to be a Claymore. However, she’s specifically after a former Claymore who had killed her master years ago. Similarly, Hellsing revolves around a secret organization dedicated to fighting supernatural threats, particularly vampires and ghouls. Both manga incorporate themes of violence, horror, and the supernatural, creating a bleak atmosphere to draw readers in.
Clare and Alucard are morally complex individuals who teeter on the line between humanity and monstrosity. While Clare must grapple with her dual nature, Alucard represents the blurred boundaries between humanity and vampirism.
In addition to having satisfying fights that’ll get your heart pumping, Claymore is a great story to read after Hellsing.
Berserk – Kentarou Miura
Similarities – Action, Atmosphere, Supernatural
Berserk is often hailed as the king of seinen manga. It was penned and illustrated by the late and great Kentarou Miura and went on to inspire many storywriters, game developers, and filmmakers because of its intricate narrative and complex cast. The story follows Guts, a warrior who meets a man named Griffith. Guts assists Griffith with several wars and earns a promotion within Griffith’s army.
While life seems to be going well for our protagonist, he senses a sinister presence in the air that will change his life for the worse. Like Hellsing, Berserk carries a dark and mature tone throughout its entire narrative. Miura portrays Berserk’s medieval world in a harsh light and has Guts encounter ferocious beasts and individuals who like to make weak-living beings suffer.
Moreover, both tales explore supernatural elements. Guts journeys to fight the Apostles and God Hand, entities with immense power and abilities that challenge the boundaries between humans and monsters. As with Hellsing, it features a world with vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural beings for Alucard to fight.
If you love tales with intense action and complex protagonists, Berserk is worth checking out.
Gantz – Hiroya Oku
Similarities – Action, Atmosphere, Themes
Gantz is another mature tale that explores supernatural phenomena and contains intricately written characters. The story revolves around a group of beings who get transported to a game-like scenario. They must fight grotesque alien-like monsters to survive. The manga delves into themes of death, nihilism, and the consequences of violence, presenting readers with a grim setting.
This echoes the dark and heinous world Alucard and his allies inhabit in Hellsing. Both worlds implement otherworldly elements in their tales to keep readers hooked. In Gantz, the presence of advanced technology and alien beings challenges the boundaries of reality. Likewise, Hellsing revolves around vampires, zombies, and other supernatural beings to enhance its dark aspects.
In addition to featuring well-rounded characters who’ll make questionable decisions to survive, Gantz is an action-packed tale that’ll certainly impress you.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood – Hirohiko Araki
Similarities – Vampires, Action, Settings
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood is the first part of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. It’s the one closest to Hellsing regarding themes, characters, setting, and atmosphere. In it, we follow Jonathan Joestar and his adoptive brother, Dio Brando. Dio’s been a thorn in Jonathan’s side since they met and finds a mask that grants him vampiric abilities.
He murders Jonathan’s father and threatens to kill Jonathan and make others suffer along the way. Therefore, we follow Jonathan on his quest to learn Hamon and stop Dio’s reign of terror. Like Hellsing, Phantom Blood envelops readers with its dark depictions of violence and supernatural wonders. Jonathan and his allies will fight many sadistic entities and individuals during their quest for Dio.
Each enemy is more heinous and powerful than the last, leading to several casualties that elicit an emotional response from readers. Moreover, both tales feature charismatic characters with over-the-top mannerisms and distinct personalities.
If you’re looking for another mature, action-packed, and horrific tale with an unforgettable cast, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood is worth reading.
So there we have it, our 10 books/manga to read after you’re caught up with Hellsing.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!