Summary
The popular Japanese manga seriesDemon Slayerhas seen unprecedented success, matched only by a few other big-hitters in manga history. Written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge, the series has sold over one hundred fifty million copies since its beginning, making it one of thebest-selling manga ever.
Demon Slayerfollows the path of its central character, Kamado Tanjiro, who embarks on a quest for revenge after losing his family save for his sister to a demon’s attack. Like the demon-filled series, there is no shortage of similarly resounding manga. Just some more than others, so, therefore, below is alist of these mangas, specifically the ones that best dish out similarities, like the knife-edged action series.
10Ajin: Demi-Human
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5
Ajin: Demi-Human, much likeDemon Slayer, features a protagonist whose life is suddenly whisked away from him by powers beyond his comprehension, ultimately ending up on a path of blood to piece back the remains of it. The series focuses on the life of the ordinary high schooler, Kei Nagai, who lives in a world whose reality shifted with thediscovery of the immortalwarriors called the ‘Ajin.’
Declared by the government to be compatible with humans, coexistence seemed an easy task till the rumors of bounties being placed on the Ajin began to surface. Things take a dark turn when Kei gets into a deadly traffic accident that he should have died from. However, he revives and is immediately labeled an Ajin by witnesses in hopes of receiving a bounty. What follows for Kei is a life of confusion, on the run from both the government and those who seek his life.
9Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.3 / 5
Hell’s Paradisepresents a thrilling quest in search of the mythical elixir of life. Like Demon Slayer, it features a host of supernatural creatures akin to demons who stand between the protagonist and his final goal. The series revolves around the central character, Gabimaru the Hollow,an infamous ninjaassassin now on death row. While seemingly wanting to die, Gabimaru has reason enough to live— to return to his wife.
So, unable to die, his executioner proposes that he join an expedition to a mythical island south of Japan in search of the elixir of life in exchange for a full pardon by the Shogunate. However, what remains untold is the origins and nature of this island. Mythical and out of the ordinary, Gabimaru quickly realizes that there is more to the island than meets the eye.
8Twin Star Exorcists
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5
Twin Star Exorciststakes place in a world where order and peace are threatened by the continued presence of creatures known as “Kegare,” which originate from the parallel realm of Magano. The exorcists' only goal in combating these creatures is eliminating the Kegare. The series focuses on the central characters, Enmadou Rokuro and Benio Adashino, two prodigious child exorcists who are the prophesied “Twin Star Exorcists.”
Due to a tragic event in his past, Rokuro gives up on his dream of becoming the strongest exorcist and resents the profession. Meanwhile, Benio carries on the hopes and wishes of her family, whom the Kegare killed. Despite their differences, the two come together to embrace their destinies: to be the ones to give birth to the Miko—the exorcist who will vanquish all of the Kegare from the world. However, for both, the maturity of youth can wait a little longer.
7Fire Force
Much likeDemon Slayer,Fire Forcefeatures demon-like creatures called infernals that threaten humanity’s continued existence. The series revolves around the protagonist, Shinra Kusakabe, who, like the protagonist ofDemon Slayer, also loses his entire family, save for his brother, to a demon-infernal, thrusting him on the path to eliminating all infernals and becoming a hero.
Determined to follow through on his dream, Shinra finally joins the Special Fire Force Company 8 and realizes that the path of a hero may be more arduous than he initially thought. However, with the help of his colleagues at the 8th Company, Shinra hopes to uncover the truth behind the infernals and prevent the world’s destruction.
6Blue Exorcist
Similar toDemon Slayer,Blue Exorcistimmaculately builds on the existence of demons and supernatural creatures to tell its tale. The series revolves around the seemingly ordinary Rin Okumura. Also, like Demon Slayer’s protagonists, Rin’s life comes to a temporary yet permanent half after the death of his foster father, Shirou Fujimoto, and it is revealed that Rin is the biological son of Satan.
Driven by revenge and loss, Rin becomes an exorcist like his father and twin brother, Yukio. However, Rin’s path is fraught with difficulties and contradictions as he tries to navigate his life as an exorcist while possessing demonic powers in the hopes of killing his father, Satan, who is the King of hell.
5Claymore
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5
Claymoreexamines a world set in the Middle Ages, teetering on the edge of paranoia and death at the hands of hellish-like creatures called the Youma, who blend themselves with the human populace due totheir ability to shapeshiftand steal the memory of their prey. With only a few ways to kill a Youma, humanity’s last hope and defense are the ‘Claymore,’ half-human, half-youma female warriors born and raised to kill their kind.
The series revolves around the central character, Claire, a low-ranking Claymore member whose only reason for living is to avenge her mentor. Threading the arduous path of vengeance, Claire travels and experiences the world and comes to learn its secrets, some of which lead back to the true nature of the Claymore organization.
4Dororo
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.7 / 5
Dororotells a rather cruel and horrifying tale of the life of the central character, Hyakkimaru, whose life hardly begins after just being born, as his father, Lord Daigo Kagemitsu, sells his body parts to forty-eight demons in exchange for power. Abandoned with what remained of his body, Hyakkimaru survives after being found by a doctor who raises him as his own, fitting him with advanced prosthetics that make his movement and fighting possible for him.
However, fate proves unkind once again, as Hyakkimaru discovers he is more or less a beacon that attracts demons, eventually leaving the doctor with no choice but to send him to the world. Amidst his travels, Hyakkimaru discovers he can restore himself by killing demons. Shortly after, he encounters the child thief, Dororo, who willingly becomes his companion. Together, the pair continue their travels in the hunt for demons, hoping Hyakkimaru makes himself whole again.
3Soul Eater
Soul Eater takes off from the mysterious Death City, home to theDeath Weapon Meister Academy, founded by Shinigami, the ruler of Death City. The academy, created to maintain peace, is home to meisters and their demon weapons: supernatural people who take on the form of weapons to defend humanity against evil.
The ultimate goal of a Meister is to create a ‘Death Scythe’ capable of being wielded by Shinigami himself. However, to do this, their weapon partner must consume ninety-nine souls of wicked humans and one of a witch. The series' central character, Maka Albarn, and her partner, Soul Evans, are on their way to making a Death Scythe. However, the mysteries surrounding both may prove to be more than they can handle.
2Chainsaw Man
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.4 / 5
Chainsaw Manfollows the relatively empty and plain life of the central character, Denji, whose simple dream is to live a happy and peaceful life with lots to eat. However, his reality could not be farther from his wishes, as he currently works for the Yakuza, who force him to kill devils to offset his enormous debts, debts incurred by his late father. With his pet devil, Pochita, Denji does anything to scrape a living.
Unfortunately, his employers soon decide he has outlived his usefulness and have him murdered. However, in an unexpected twist of fate, Pochita sacrifices himself for Denji, merging both of them and becomingthe Chainsaw Devil. Revived and with superhuman abilities, Denji makes light work of his enemies and catches the attention of the official Devil hunters while doing so. Unexpectedly, Denji receives a job offer to work as an official devil hunter from those who arrive at the scene of his murder, and so begins his journey to fulfilling his life’s dream.
1Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen, likeDemon Slayer, explores a world overrun by ‘Curses’ hidden in plain sight. Only the Jujutsu sorcerers are capable ofexorcising these curses. The series follows the life of the central character, Yuuji Itadori, an ordinary high schooler whose life comes to a standstill when he, alongside members of the occultic club, finds a dried-up finger of the legendary King of Curses, Ryoumen Sukuna. Attacked by a curse attracted to the power of the finger, Yuuji recklessly decides to ingest the finger, plunging him to the center of the conflict of power in the Jujutsu World.
By ingesting the finger, Yuuji gains the ability to combat curses, but at the same time, carries the potential once again to unleash the malicious Ryoumen Sukuna on the world. To prevent the potential destruction of humanity, Yuuji is sentenced to an execution by the Jujutsu high-ranking officials. However, his execution is stalled by Satoru Gojo, the most powerful jujutsu sorcerer, who instead seeks to make Yuuji into a jujutsu sorcerer. Thus, by accepting Gojo’s offer, Yuuji plunges headfirst into the unforgiving world of Jujutsu.
