Best Manga About Vampires
Although many people cherish watching anime, they often forget that most anime serve as adaptations of the original source material. While there are some instances where the anime is better than the manga, those instances are few and far between. With the amount of manga released on a daily basis, it can be hard to cut through all those books to find the “Best of” for any chosen topic.
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable manga through the years. For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best manga, our attention this time turns to those with a vampire focus. From action-centric adventures to romantic storylines, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood – Hirohiko Araki
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a great action-packed manga with compelling characters and storytelling. Although the series would go on to create numerous tales involving separate protagonists, Phantom Blood is the tale that’ll appeal to vampire enthusiasts. It follows a young Jonathan Joestar and his adoptive brother, Dio Brando.
Dio’s been a thorn in Jonathan’s side since they met. One day, Dio discovers a mask that grants him fierce vampire abilities. He murders Jonathan’s father and threatens to kill Jonathan. Jonathan must embark on a quest to learn Hamon if he hopes to stop Dio’s reign of terror. This manga explores captivating themes like revenge, betrayal, and family.
Dio is a great antagonist and formidable villain for Jonathan. You’ll adore seeing Jonathan train and fight numerous foes that’ll help him reach Dio’s might. He’ll endure intense hardship but there will be moments when things will feel slightly lighthearted. With its grotesque bouts, astonishing artwork, and fun characters, you’re sure to walk away from this satisfied.
Vampire Knight – Matsuri Hino
Vampire Knight is what happens when you mix school life with vampires. It contains dramatic dialogue and emotional circumstances involving the characters’ tragic backstories. It revolves around Yuuki, a committee member at a prestigious academy. One day, she meets a pure vampire named Kaname. Kaname saved her years ago from a vampire attack and despises vampires.
At the same time, Yuuki has feelings for Kaname despite his distaste for human and vampire relationships. From Kaname’s hidden material to Yuuki’s infatuation with him, readers can expect a lot of tension from this series. Its mystery components will leave readers engaged and will pique their interest in uncovering its secrets.
This manga also has great world-building and delves into the deep struggles between humans and vampires. It provides a unique take on vampire culture and the author makes sure most of its cast feels well-rounded and intriguing to follow. For those looking for a fun take on the vampire mythos, Vampire Knight should appeal to you.
Devil’s Line – Ryo Hanada
Midnight Secretary – Tomu Ohmi
Midnight Secretary is about a private secretary named Kaya, who works for the tableware company director named Kyouhei. Despite being a provocative and arrogant boss, Kaya’s determined to prove she’s a capable secretary for him. Everything changes one night when she learns Kyouhei’s a vampire, leading to many entertaining interactions between the two.
This manga offers a great balance of romance and suspense that will keep readers invested. It beautifully portrays the development between Kyouhei and Kaya’s relationship well. The artwork can look breathtaking at times, but there are instances where the backgrounds could’ve used more polish. Otherwise, you’re in for a visual treat with Tomu Ohmi’s art style.
The main characters receive great development and the supporting characters add to the story’s depth and world-building. Humans undergo realistic humane issues while the vampire characters endure trauma and problems that are tied to their society. Overall, this is a great read for those looking for an enjoyable vampire manga to read.
Vampire Hunter D – Saiko Takaki
Vampire Hunter D is a dark, gothic vampire manga with an alluring fantasy setting. It follows D, a human and vampire hybrid bounty hunter who embarks on a journey to rescue a princess from an evil vampire for a bountiful prize. D won’t be alone in this endeavor as he’ll have to compete with other skilled hunters who are after a similar prize.
This manga blends horror, action, and fantasy elements to create an unforgettable experience. It is an atmospheric and immersive work that many vampire enthusiasts should check out. Its artwork is outstanding as each panel captures the eerie essence of Vampire Hunter D’s narrative. The characters are well-developed and some have mysterious pasts worth learning about.
D’s a complex character and has great interactions with the supporting characters. These characters have compelling backstories many people will be intrigued by. With its unique and alluring gothic setting and a blend of genres, this is a must-read for anyone who loves vampires.
Hellsing – Kohta Hirano
Hellsing is a popular manga series that has captured the attention of many anime and manga enthusiasts. The manga is known for its compelling characters, intricate storytelling, and its ability to delve into vampirism with a fresh perspective. Its protagonist, Alucard, is a complex and powerful antihero who is both a monster hunter and a powerful vampire.
He sets the tone for the series and is joined by other fascinating characters such as the fearless Integra Hellsing, the policewoman turned vampire Seras Victoria, and the mysterious Walter C. Dornez. The characters are well written and developed and readers will become invested in their journey throughout the series.
This series questions what it means to be a vampire and explores our cast’s morality, power, and history. The manga uses vampirism as a metaphor for societal ills, touching on issues such as war, religion, and power imbalances. In addition to having breathtaking action sequences and stunning backgrounds, Hellsing’s worth any vampire enthusiast’s time.
Vassalord – Nanae Chrono
Vassalord delivers an enticing tale about vampires and mythology. It follows the exploits of a man named Charley, a cyborg vampire hunter working for the Vatican. Along the way, he meets a vampire playboy named Rayflo, who becomes his vassal–essentially his servant and protector. As the two journey together, they uncover dark secrets about Rayflo’s past and the nature of their bond.
This series has fine character development. Charley and Rayflo are complex characters with rich backgrounds and conflicting motivations. Charley grapples with his faith and the morality of hunting and killing vampires. As for Rayflo, he’s haunted by his past and struggles to come to terms with his immortality.
The dynamic between these two characters is fascinating to read and this will help many people stay invested in Nanae Chrono’s tale. This manga offers a special take on the vampire mythos that creates a sense of danger and urgency distinct from other vampiric stories. Vassalord is a must-read for anyone who wants to indulge in a classic vampire narrative.
Rosario to Vampire – Akihisa Ikeda
Rosario to Vampire is a popular vampire tale that revolves around a young boy named Tsukune Aono. Aono finds himself attending a secret school for monsters that are hidden within his own human universe. Along the way, he meets a beautiful vampire named Moka Akashiya, who becomes his friend and protector as he navigates the dangerous world of the monster academy.
The vampires in Rosario to Vampire have an interesting twist. They can transform into powerful monsters and feed off the life force of humans, adding a level of danger and excitement to this tale. Additionally, the manga features other monsters like witches, werewolves, and zombies. This allows Akihisa Ikeda to create a diverse and rich world for the characters to explore.
Many characters receive rich backstories, personalities, and motivations. Many will adore Tsukune’s growth as he learns to fight and survive in a world where he’s an outsider. The dynamic between Tsukune and Moka is thoroughly entertaining due to their distinct personalities and actions. For those who don’t mind vampire tales with a bit of ecchi and harem elements, Rosario to Vampire should satisfy you.
Lunar Legend Tsukihime – Type-Moon, Kinoko Nasu, Shonen Sasaki
From the folks who brought you Fate and the Garden of Sinners, comes the alluring vampiric work called Lunar Legend Tsukihime. It follows a young boy named Shiki Tohno. He can see the “death lines” of anything he cuts with a knife. He discovers that he’s a member of a powerful vampire family and becomes embroiled in a supernatural struggle between humans and vampires.
This series delivers complex and suspenseful storytelling, detailed artwork, and a wide range of interesting characters. This manga goes above the conventions of vampire fiction and introduces numerous supernatural; elements that are both unique and intriguing. The concept of “death lines” is brilliantly imaginative, and the struggle between humans and vampires is depicted with a fresh coat of paint.
The characters are well-developed and the relationships they forge with each other add an emotional dimension to the tale’s intrigue and action. The manga’s illustrations help bring everything to life. From dynamic action scenes to beautiful locales, you’ll find it difficult to avert your eyes in a different direction while reading this.
Bakemonogatari – Isin Nisio
Bakemonagatari presents a tale about a person who gains supernatural abilities after being bitten by a vampire. Despite the upgrade, our protagonist, Araragi, struggles to live a mundane life. Nonetheless, he develops a passion for helping people. The story relies heavily on the back-and-forth dialogue between its cast to push it forward.
Araragi and his female companion clash multiple times throughout this work. While the side characters have defining traits, many are relegated to fan-service roles and don’t add much depth to the story. Fortunately, Araragi will encounter people who will have a significant impact on his life. The artwork is visually stunning from its character designs to the way the world appears in each panel. For those looking for a fun story with a distinct approach to vampire mythology, check out Bakemonogatari.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime through the years about vampires!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!