The 10 Best Zombie Manga, Ranked
Looking for the best zombie manga but not sure where to start? There are a LOT of options out there — survival horror, zombie comedies, romantic twists, even series where the protagonist is the zombie. This guide breaks down 10 standout zombie manga, ranked by how good they are and how easy they are to get your hands on in English.
A quick note before we dive in: eight of these ten series have official English releases you can buy right now. Two entries near the bottom of the list don’t have English editions, which limits how most readers can access them — I’ve noted that clearly in the table and in each entry.
Here’s the quick version:
| Rank | Title | Feel | Volumes | English Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Am a Hero | Tense, disturbing | 22 | Dark Horse (2-in-1 collected editions) |
| 2 | Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead | Fun, upbeat | 22 (Japan); ~20 (English) | Viz Media |
| 3 | Highschool of the Dead | Intense, over-the-top | 7 (unfinished) | Yen Press |
| 4 | School-Live! (Gakkou Gurashi!) | Creepy, emotional | 12 | Yen Press |
| 5 | Sankarea: Undying Love | Romantic, bittersweet | 11 | Kodansha Comics |
| 6 | Zombie-Loan | Action-packed, supernatural | 13 | Yen Press |
| 7 | Reiko the Zombie Shop | Gory, darkly funny | 6 (English, incomplete) | Dark Horse Comics |
| 8 | Is This a Zombie? (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?) | Absurd, hilarious | 8 | Yen Press |
| 9 | Living Dead | Dark, intense | 3 | ⚠️ No English release |
| 10 | Green Worldz | Tense, sci-fi | 8 | ⚠️ No English release |
If you’re new to buying manga, the publisher names in the table (Viz Media, Yen Press, Kodansha Comics, Dark Horse Comics) are the companies that translate and print these series in English. All four are well-established and widely available through bookstores and online retailers. Most of these series are available in both physical and digital formats — you can often find digital volumes on platforms like Kindle, Apple Books, or Kobo, usually at a lower price than print.
A volume is a single collected book, typically around 180–200 pages. Each volume contains several chapters. One volume is roughly 30–60 minutes of reading depending on your pace — so a 12-volume series is a medium-length commitment, while a 22-volume series is a longer one.
Now let’s dig into each one.
1. I Am a Hero — The Gold Standard of Zombie Manga
If someone asks “what’s the best zombie manga?” — this is the answer most people give, and for good reason.
I Am a Hero follows Hideo Suzuki, a manga assistant in his mid-thirties who’s barely holding his life together. He’s insecure, delusional (literally — he has hallucinations), and stuck in a dead-end career. The first several volumes are almost entirely character drama. There are no zombies. Just Hideo’s crumbling relationships, his paranoia, and the slow, uncomfortable feeling that something is very wrong with the world around him.
Then the outbreak hits, and it hits hard.
The infected — called ZQN (the series’ own in-world term for the zombies) — are some of the most disturbing creatures in manga. Their designs lean into body horror — a style of horror focused on grotesque transformations of the human body — in ways that rival the work of Junji Ito, one of the most famous horror manga creators. Faces frozen mid-expression, bodies twisted into impossible shapes, movements that look wrong in a way that’s genuinely unsettling on the page. Creator Kengo Hanazawa drew these things with meticulous detail, and the contrast between the mundane early volumes and the grotesque later ones makes the horror land even harder.
What makes it special
The slow buildup is polarizing. Some readers bounce off the early volumes because they came for zombies and got a character study of an unlikable man instead. But that buildup is exactly what makes the horror work. You know Hideo. You know his flaws. You know he’s not a capable action hero. So when the world falls apart, the tension is almost unbearable.
A few honest notes:
- The final story arc (the last major section of the plot) is controversial among fans. Many feel the ending doesn’t stick the landing. The journey is what makes this series worth reading, not the destination.
- Content warning: graphic violence, deeply disturbing imagery, and some sexual content.
- Length: 22 volumes, 264 chapters.
- English edition: Dark Horse published collected editions — 11 two-in-one volumes (each book contains two volumes’ worth of content), so you can collect the whole series in 11 books. Available in both print and digital.
If you want the most realistic, grounded zombie apocalypse manga has ever produced, this is it.
2. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead — Zombies Meet Feel-Good Adventure
Zom 100 is the anti-zombie manga. The protagonist, Akira Tendou, has been working at an exploitative company for three soul-crushing years. Unpaid overtime, abusive management, zero personal life. When the zombie apocalypse breaks out, his first reaction isn’t terror — it’s relief. He doesn’t have to go to work tomorrow.
That premise alone is brilliant, and the series commits to it fully. Akira makes a bucket list of 100 things he wants to do before he becomes a zombie, and the story follows him checking items off while navigating the apocalypse with a growing group of friends. It’s colorful, warm, and genuinely funny — while still having real zombie action and stakes when it counts.
The creative team
- Story: Haro Aso, who also created Alice in Borderland, a well-known survival game manga that was adapted into a hit Netflix series — so the guy knows how to write survival scenarios
- Art: Kotaro Takata, whose vibrant, energetic art style is a huge part of why this series feels so different from other zombie manga
Reading details
- 22 volumes (Japan); ~20 volumes (English) — ongoing as of 2026
- English edition: Viz Media (print and digital)
- Anime: Season 1 (12 episodes, 2023) available on Netflix and Crunchyroll (a major anime streaming service). Season 2 has not been officially announced as of 2025, though fan demand is high
- Fun fact: the series is based on Haro Aso’s earlier solo version, Zombie 100 (2 volumes), which was originally published online rather than in a print magazine and isn’t available in English
This is a fantastic entry point if you want zombie manga but aren’t looking for pure horror. The tone is closer to a feel-good adventure that happens to have zombies in it.
3. Highschool of the Dead — Iconic but Forever Unfinished
This is the series that introduced a huge number of Western fans to zombie manga. It’s fast, violent, over-the-top, and — let’s be completely upfront — absolutely loaded with sexualized imagery of its female characters (referred to as “fan service” in manga culture). Both the action and the fan service are central to the experience. If either one sounds appealing, you’re in for a ride.
Highschool of the Dead drops a group of high school students into a sudden zombie outbreak and follows them fighting their way out of school and across the city. The action choreography is excellent, the pacing is relentless, and the stakes feel real despite the frequent detours into gratuitous shots of the female cast.
The team and publication history
- Story: Daisuke Satō
- Art: Shōji Satō
- Published in Monthly Dragon Age, a manga anthology magazine, from 2006 to 2013
- 7 volumes, 30 chapters
- English edition: Yen Press (print and digital)
The big caveat
You will not get an ending. The manga went on hiatus (a publication pause) in 2011, returned briefly in 2013, then stopped for good. Writer Daisuke Satō passed away on March 22, 2017. The story will never be completed.
That’s a dealbreaker for some readers, and that’s completely fair. But even knowing this, Highschool of the Dead is still worth reading for what it delivers. The anime adaptation (12 episodes, 2010) is also widely regarded and covers roughly the same ground if you want a more complete experience.
Just go in with your eyes open about the fan service level — it’s extreme — and the fact that the story stops mid-plot.
4. School-Live! (Gakkou Gurashi!) — The Zombie Manga That Tricks You
If you only read one page of School-Live!, you’d think it was a cute everyday-life manga about a school club. Bright colors, cheerful girls, a puppy, school activities. Nothing remotely horror-related.
That’s the trick.
The series is actually a zombie survival story, and one of the main characters — Yuki Takeya — is in deep psychological denial about what’s happening around her. She sees the school as it was before the outbreak. She talks to classmates who aren’t there anymore. The other surviving club members play along to protect her mental state while desperately trying to keep everyone alive.
It’s a genuinely clever premise, and the contrast between Yuki’s cheerful narration and the reality of their situation creates a kind of horror that’s completely different from what you’d expect from a zombie manga. The tension comes from empathy, not gore.
Details
- Story: Norimitsu Kaihō, working with the Japanese game and media company Nitroplus
- Art: Sadoru Chiba
- 12 volumes, 78 chapters — completed 2019
- English edition: Yen Press (print and digital)
The anime adaptation (12 episodes, 2015) is also well-done, and the first episode commits fully to the misdirection — worth watching even if you plan to read the manga.
This is a great pick if you want zombie manga with strong emotional weight and a unique angle on the genre.
5. Sankarea: Undying Love — Zombie Romance Done Right
What if a boy who’s obsessed with zombie movies accidentally turns the girl he likes into an actual zombie? That’s the premise of Sankarea, and it works way better than it has any right to.
Chihiro Furuya is a zombie-obsessed high school student who’s been trying to create a resurrection potion. Rea Sanka is a girl from a wealthy family with a deeply troubled home life. When Rea drinks the potion and dies in an accident shortly after, she comes back — and Chihiro gets his zombie girlfriend, but with all the complicated reality that entails. Her body is decaying. She needs to stay cold. She loses emotional responses over time.
The series balances romance, comedy, and genuine horror surprisingly well. It’s lighthearted and fun on the surface but deals with some heavy themes underneath, including Rea’s abusive family situation and the reality of loving someone whose body and mind are slowly changing.
Details
- Author: Mitsuru Hattori
- 11 volumes in English (Kodansha Comics, completed), 59 chapters — completed
- English edition: Kodansha Comics (print and digital)
- Anime adaptation (12 episodes, 2012) covers roughly the first third of the manga
Sankarea: Undying Love, Vol. 1 is a clean, well-translated starting point. Volume 1 introduces both leads and the central premise without rushing. If you like romance manga and want something with a horror twist, this is a really fun read.
Sankarea: Undying Love, Vol. 1
6. Zombie-Loan — Supernatural Action with a Zombie Twist
Zombie-Loan takes the zombie concept in a completely different direction. Michiru Kita has “Shinigami Eyes” — the ability to see dark rings around people’s necks that indicate how close they are to death (“shinigami” means “death god” or “grim reaper” in Japanese). When she notices two classmates, Chika Akatsuki and Shito Tachibana, have completely black rings (meaning they should already be dead), she gets pulled into their secret: they died in an accident and took out a “loan” to come back to life. Now they hunt zombies to pay off their debt.
It’s an action-oriented supernatural manga with a cool premise. The character dynamics have a softer, more relationship-focused style compared to the pure horror entries on this list. The zombie-hunting mechanics are interesting, and the relationship between the three leads drives the story.
Details
- Author: PEACH-PIT, a two-person creative team who work under one pen name
- 13 volumes, 83 chapters — completed
- English edition: Yen Press
- Anime adaptation (11 episodes, 2007)
The series is a good pick if you want zombie manga that feels more like a supernatural action series than a survival horror story. The art is polished and the character designs are distinctive.
7. Reiko the Zombie Shop — Gore-Soaked Horror with a Sense of Humor
Reiko the Zombie Shop (Zombie Shoujo) is wonderfully weird. Reiko Himezono is a necromancer-for-hire — she raises the dead for money. People pay her to resurrect murder victims, usually so they can find out who killed them. Things go wrong constantly, the resurrected corpses are volatile, and the gore is cranked up to absurd levels.
This is splatter horror — a style focused on extreme, exaggerated violence played for shock and dark comedy. The gore is over-the-top, often grotesque, and frequently meant to make you laugh as much as cringe. It’s not trying to be a serious zombie apocalypse story — it’s a series of messy, chaotic supernatural cases with a confident protagonist who treats zombie-raising as a business.
Details
- Author: Rei Mikamoto
- 11 volumes in English (Kodansha Comics, completed), 54 chapters — completed
- English edition: Dark Horse Comics
If you have a taste for over-the-top horror comedy and don’t mind heavy gore, Reiko is a blast. It’s campy in the best way.
8. Is This a Zombie? (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?) — Zombie Comedy Turned Up to 11
Is This a Zombie? is pure comedy chaos. Ayumu Aikawa is murdered, resurrected as a zombie by a necromancer (someone who can raise the dead), and then accidentally absorbs the powers of a magical girl — a character type from anime and manga who transforms into a costume-wearing warrior with special powers, typically reserved for young female characters. Yes, Ayumu — a teenage boy — has to transform and fight in one of those outfits. No, the series never pretends this is normal.
Based on a series of Japanese novels by Shinichi Kimura, with manga art by Sacchi, the manga adaptation is short and sweet — 8 volumes, ~40 chapters. It captures the absurd humor and the comedy setup where one character is surrounded by multiple love interests, though the original novels go much further into the story.
Details
- 8 volumes, ~40 chapters — completed
- English edition: Yen Press
- Anime adaptation (2 seasons, 2011–2012) covers more story than the manga does
This is the pick if you want something completely unserious. The zombies are just a vehicle for comedy, and the series leans fully into absurdist humor.
9. Living Dead — Short and Sharp Survival Horror
Living Dead by Saizou Harawata is a compact, intense zombie survival manga. At just 3 volumes and 18 chapters, it doesn’t waste a single page. The horror is effective, the pacing is tight, and it tells a complete story without overstaying its welcome.
The catch
Living Dead is not available in English. There’s no official English release as of this writing. If you can read Japanese, it’s worth seeking out — but most readers will need to skip this one unless the situation changes.
- 3 volumes, 18 chapters — completed
10. Green Worldz — Sci-Fi Survival with Zombie Elements
Green Worldz by Yusuke Osawa blends zombie-like threats with sci-fi and environmental horror. The world has been overtaken by mutant plants, and some of the resulting creatures behave a lot like zombies. It’s a survival manga at its core, with a group of characters trying to navigate a hostile, overgrown Tokyo.
At 8 volumes and 113 chapters, it’s a decent length for a survival manga, and it keeps the tension up throughout. The creature designs are creative and the survival scenarios are well-constructed.
The catch (same as above)
Green Worldz is also not available in English. Same situation as Living Dead — no official release.
- 8 volumes, 113 chapters — completed
Quick Comparison: Which Best Zombie Manga Is Right for You?
| If you want… | Read this |
|---|---|
| The most realistic zombie apocalypse | I Am a Hero |
| Feel-good vibes with zombies | Zom 100 |
| Non-stop action (with lots of sexualized imagery) | Highschool of the Dead |
| Psychological horror with a twist | School-Live! |
| Zombie romance | Sankarea |
| Supernatural action | Zombie-Loan |
| Gory dark comedy | Reiko the Zombie Shop |
| Absurdist comedy | Is This a Zombie? |
| Short, intense survival horror (Japanese only) | Living Dead |
| Sci-fi survival (Japanese only) | Green Worldz |
Where to Buy Zombie Manga in English
Most of the series on this list are available through major bookstores and online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Book Depository. Digital editions are typically available through Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, and publisher-specific apps. Digital volumes usually cost less than print and let you start reading immediately.
Here are a few specific editions worth highlighting:
I Am a Hero (Dark Horse 2-in-1 Editions)
The number one pick on this list, and the collected editions are a great way to read it — each book contains two volumes, so you get the full 22-volume series in 11 books. Available in both print and digital.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 1
The easiest starting point on this whole list. Volume 1 sets up the premise perfectly — you’ll know within 30 pages whether this series is for you.
Sankarea: Undying Love, Vol. 1
Sankarea: Undying Love, Vol. 1
Volume 1 introduces both leads and the central premise without rushing. A clean starting point for the zombie romance angle.
The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
A graphic novel (not manga) adaptation of Max Brooks’ Zombie Survival Guide, illustrated by Ibraim Roberson. If you’re into zombie fiction in general and want something in graphic novel format, this is a fun companion piece to your manga collection. Included here because zombie manga fans often enjoy zombie comics and graphic novels too.
Honorable Mentions
A few more zombie-adjacent titles worth knowing about:
- Zo Zo Zombie — A kids’ comedy manga about a zombie who’s friends with a regular boy. Completely silly, completely harmless, and genuinely funny if you’re in the right mood. Great for younger readers who want “zombie manga” without the horror. Available in English from Kodansha Comics.
- Touring After the Apocalypse — Not a zombie manga, but if you enjoy post-apocalyptic settings with a quieter, more contemplative tone, this is worth a look. Two girls travel through the ruins of Japan on a motorcycle. It’s peaceful and melancholy rather than scary. Available in English from Yen Press.
Final Thoughts
The best zombie manga covers way more ground than most people expect. You’ve got slow-burn psychological horror, slapstick comedy, romance, sci-fi survival, and everything in between. The genre’s range is one of the best things about it.
If you’re picking just one to start with:
- Want horror? Go with I Am a Hero. Nothing else in the genre comes close to its atmosphere and body horror (grotesque physical transformations that make your skin crawl).
- Want fun? Go with Zom 100. It’s the most purely enjoyable zombie manga out there, with the series ongoing as of 2026.
- Want something unique? Go with School-Live! The premise alone makes it worth reading, and it executes on that premise beautifully.
Whatever you pick, you’re in for a good time. Zombie manga is one of horror manga’s most varied subgenres, and there’s genuinely something here for every kind of reader.