10 Books/Manga Like Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho is a Shonen Jump classic. It was written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. It follows the supernatural adventures of Yusuke Urameshi and his friends as they take on multiple cases to please the Spirit Realm’s Princess, Koenma. The manga was serialized in Shueuisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from December 1990 to July 1994. It’s one of those series that benefitted from having likable characters, engaging fights, and stellar drama.
If you’re in the mood for more action, comedy, and supernatural 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 Yu Yu Hakusho. Of course, if you feel we’ve missed any of your favorites, do comment below and let us know!
Hunter X Hunter – Yoshihiro Togashi
Similarities – Action-Adventure Stories
Hunter X Hunter is another profound work by Yoshihiro Togashi. Like Yu Yu Hakusho, it features well-rounded characters, a thrilling adventurous vibe, and emotional storytelling. Unlike Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter X Hunter is an ongoing project and has yet to conclude despite Togashi’s unfortunate health issues. Therefore, if you want to be in the know about its current arc, catch up.
In it, we follow the young Gon Freecss. He leaves his lovely home of Whale Island to become a professional hunter. He wants to experience what his absentee father Ging Freecss experienced. By becoming a hunter, Gon hopes he’ll be able to run into Ging again. However, the hunter life isn’t easy. Gon will have to face countless enemies and hurdles that will bring him to his breaking point.
Thankfully, he’ll be joined by a few friends for the journey. His companions harbor incredible strengths, personalities, and goals. If you enjoyed following Yusuke and his friends in the Spirit Realm, chances are, you’ll adore seeing Gon and his friends interact with their glorious universe.
Bleach – Tite Kubo
Similarities – Action, Supernatural, Themes
Bleach earned its spot amongst Shonen Jump’s Big Three, according to fans. It shares this title with One Piece and Naruto since it played a huge role in helping Shonen Jump prosper after works like Dragon Ball concluded. Like Yu Yu Hakusho, the series features menacing demonic and superpowered villains and heroes. Each character receives great development time and has a stand-out design.
The narrative features some complexities regarding its power system and several plot twists. It takes place at the home of Ichigo Kurosaki. At night, a strange beast called a Hollow arrives and destroys a good portion of Ichigo’s household. Although he’s bewildered by the beast, a Soul Reaper named Rukia arrives to lend Ichigo a helping hand.
Unfortunately, the Hollow is too much for Rukia. Therefore, she bestows Ichigo with powers similar to her own and he transforms into a Soul Reaper. With his newfound powers, Ichigo destroys the Hollow. However, Ichigo will realize that this is only the beginning of his marvelous supernatural-themed adventure. With its multiple shonen tropes, dark and alluring setting, and colorful cast, Bleach is a great manga to read after you’ve finished Yu Yu Hakusho.
Jujutsu Kaisen – Gege Akutami
Similarities – Tone, Action, Demons
Jujutsu Kaisen is apart of Shonen Jump’s dark trio. This series is cherished for its detailed artwork, likable cast, and intricate world. Like Yu Yu Hakusho, our protagonist battles all types of demonic entities. Some are nonsensical while others pose a severe threat to mankind. Both start off as novice fights but gradually become formidable as the series continues.
In Jujutsu Kaisen, monsters called Curses and Jujutsu Sorcerers roam the Earth in the shadows. Yuuji, our series’s protagonist, gets roped into a battle between a Jujutsu Sorcerer and a Curse. Before Yuuji perishes, he swallows the finger of one of the most dangerous Curses of all time named Sukuna. With Sukuna’s power, Yuuji defeats the Curse but he’s not out of the clear yet.
Many people want Yuuji dead, but a skilled Jujutsu Sorcerer named Gojo pleads with them to give Yuuji a chance. To remain alive, Yuuji must spend his life at Jujutsu High and train to become a skilled Jujutsu Sorcerer. From its premise alone, many can make ties to Yusuke and Yuuji’s journey. Both must complete a task to return to a life they once lived. They will meet familiar and new people who will push them toward their desires. Jujutsu Kaisen has some complexities, though. If you’re okay with that, give it a shot.
Naruto – Masashi Kishimoto
Similarities – Action, Characters, Themes
As mentioned in the Bleach entry, Shonen Jump owes most of its success to Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto’s ninja-themed work has won the hearts of many anime and manga fans worldwide. It has memorable characters, great drama, and stellar action set pieces. Like Yusuke, Naruto is a delinquent for the majority of his series’ start. It’s the situations and people he meets that will help him mature.
On that note, Naruto travels alongside a rival turned-friend named Sasuke. Sasuke has more of a darker backstory compared to Yusuke’s rival Kuwabara, though. Once you learn about Sasuke’s past, you’ll start growing empathetic toward him and wish for him to succeed. The Naruto world features all types of baddies for our heroes to defeat.
Like Yusuke, Naruto will be combatting demons, giants, and skilled martial artists. The series also features your usual tournament story arcs, call-out attacks, and themes like friendship, courage, and determination. Naruto can be as emotional as Yu Yu Hakusho when it comes to the characters who perish in its storytelling, too. If you’re looking for a fun Shonen Jump manga to read, give Naruto a shot.
Beelzebub – Ryuuhei Tamura
Similarities – Characters, Action, Comedy
Beelzebub is a comedy manga with fun characters and a decent plot. It revolves around the defiant teenager Oga who likes getting into fights and causing problems. One day, Oga meets Baby Beel, a baby, and son of the Demon King. He gets forced into becoming Beel’s caretaker which causes him a boatload of issues. Like Yusuke, Oga will mature over the course of the narrative.
Baby Beel is a demonic toddler like Koenma, Yusuke’s boss. The situations Oga and Baby Beel get into are downright humorous and exciting. Since many people want Beel’s throne, Oga will receive the powers necessary to stop them. The battles can be as entertaining as Yu Yu Hakusho’s. While they’re wonderful eye candy, they serve to help our boys strengthen their bond and improve as individuals.
Unfortunately, others characters in Beelzebub don’t receive as much attention as Oga and Beel. However, if you’re looking for a manga with strong protagonists who develop a wholesome bond by its conclusion then give this a shot.
Flame of Recca – Noboyuki Anzai
Similarities – Action, Comedy, Characters
Flame of Recca centers its tale around Recca, a troublemaker who likes getting into arguments and fights. He adores ninjas as much as he loves beating people up. His life of delinquency comes to a halt when he meets a girl named Yanagi. Their encounter leads Recca to embark on an eventful journey that’ll help him discover his ninja ancestry and dormant fire-wielding powers.
Based on Recca’s character description, many will already see the connection between him and Yusuke. They start off as rowdy individuals who’ll later mature after being put through multiple life-and-death scenarios. Recca also has a comedic side to his personality like Yusuke. He’ll spout immature comments about others and belittle his enemies whenever he gets the chance.
The artwork looks astonishing. The character, landscape, and structure designs are well-detailed. This will help people immerse themselves in Recca’s world as they advance through its plot. If you’re looking for another supernatural action series with motivational and hilarious dialogue, epic fights, and similar characters, check out Flame of Recca.
Fullmetal Alchemist – Hiromu Arakawa
Similarities – Action & Themes
Fullmetal Alchemist offers a narrative about two brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric. They go on a journey to find the mystical Philosopher’s Stone. After tampering with alchemy at a young age, Edward lost his limbs while Alphonse’s soul was transferred to a large suit of armor. To some extent, their journey resembles Yusuke’s quest.
All three characters travel on quests in hopes of returning to a mundane life. Yusuke must tackle multiple missions while Edward and Alphonse are deadset on completing one. During their journey, Edward and Alphonse encounter many friendly and shady individuals, though. Many of the situations they get roped into will shatter their well-being while others will bring a smile to their face.
Like Yusuke, these brothers will fight using magic and martial arts. The battles are well-drawn and a bit more detailed. Considering Fullmetal Alchemist is a Shonen Jump property like Yu Yu Hakusho, expect many shonen tropes to crop up in this work. If you’re looking for a fantasy and adventure manga with strong protagonists and epic fights, give this a read.
Dragon Ball – Akira Toriyama
Similarities – Action & Comedy
Dragon Ball is a classic Shonen Jump manga that inspired many like it. It offers a tale about a young martial artist named Goku. He travels with his friends to locate the supernatural Dragon Balls. These are wish-granting orbs that will allow them to make their wildest dreams come true. Like Yusuke, Goku will encounter multiple individuals during his quest for the Dragon Balls.
Some are kind-hearted while others are mean-spirited. Nonetheless, Goku and his friends won’t back down from a challenge. The villains vary in design, power, and personality. Some will be easy for Goku and his friends to defeat while others will push them to their absolute limit. Dragon Ball’s art style is comical and unique compared to Yu Yu Hakusho.
It evokes a strong sense of adolescence. Although the manga’s direction will change drastically when Goku hits his adult years, you’ll adore the whimsical adventure this young fighter embarks on from beginning to end. For those looking for a classic martial arts story to read after Yu Yu Hakusho, check out Dragon Ball.
Shaman King – Hiroyuki Takei
Similarities – Action & Supernatural
Shaman King is an underrated Shonen Jump title. It has some entertaining fights, a complex power system, and fun characters. However, this manga places a stronger emphasis on its spiritual themes. Souls and spirits are integral to the series’s plot and the way our characters fight. Shaman King’s pace may be offputting to some people, though. It’s slow and more methodical.
This is because the manga focuses on its protagonist Yoh’s desire to become the Shaman King and wants to give him and other characters authentic character development. This story tackles themes that are somewhat different compared to Yu Yu Hakusho. Shaman King’s main theme is about overcoming spiritual and social barriers.
The cast must overcome these boundaries to forge tighter relationships. Teamwork plays a stronger role in Shaman King, but it and Yu Yu Hakusho tackle friendship. If you’re okay with reading a story that’s more character-driven and offers a tighter focus on spiritual themes, give Shaman King a try.
Psyren – Toshiaki Iwashiro
Similarities – Action, Characters, Themes
Psyren feels like a combination of Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter X Hunter. Both Yu Yu Hakusho and Psyren feature casts that must work together to defeat numerous enemies and overcome external and internal obstacles. The series features favorable action scenes that are well-drawn and captivating. Psyren’s tale revolves around Ageha, a high schooler who likes helping people for a price.
One day, he stumbles upon a calling card in a phone booth and swipes it. Ageha spots a classmate named Sakurako who has a similar calling card. She doesn’t offer any useful information. Sakurako only tells him to save her, which confuses Ageha. A few days pass, and Ageha learns Sakurako’s gone missing. He calls the number provided on the calling card and gets teleported to an apocalyptic world.
Eventually, he meets up with Sakurako and receives supernatural powers. With his comrade and newfound abilities, Ageha must do whatever it takes to survive if he wishes to return home. Ageha has similar characteristics to Yusuke in Yu Yu Hakusho. He starts off as a delinquent but becomes more mature and likable by the end of the series. Other characters receive great development and have shining personalities. With a dash of comedy, Psyren is a great manga to read after Yu Yu Hakusho.
So there we have it, our 10 books/manga to read after you’re caught up with Yu Yu Hakusho.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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Additionally, if you enjoyed 2023’s Netflix live-action Yu Yu Hakusho adaptation and want to hear from one of its special effects artists, click here.