Manga like Karakuri Circus

Ushio to Tora

Also known as Ushio and Tora.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Supernatural

It centers around the travels and battles of one Aotsuki Ushio, who is constantly being stalked and aided by a gigantic, supernatural and sometimes invisible tiger (Some people describe it as akin to Calvin and Hobbes on acid).

Ushio's family maintains a Shinto temple in Japan, where 500 years ago, his samurai ancestor battled that same tiger to a standstill, and eventually trapped him against a rock using, a blessed spear called the "Beast Spear", which in addition to its intrinsic formidability as a weapon, can also boost the physical powers of the user. While cleaning out the temple storage, Ushio accidentally unseals the chamber which Tora was trapped in. Initially, Ushio wisely refused to remove the spear pinning Tora (とら, Japanese for tiger) down, as Tora unwisely makes the strategic blunder of mentioning that the first thing he would do upon being freed would be to devour Ushio; but Tora's unsealed presence attracts various demons to the premises, and Ushio is forced to free Tora in exchange for his help. The series focuses on their relationship, interspersed with battles against mythological foes, and with Tora's attempts to grapple with modern life and gobble up Ushio.

Note: Won the Seiun Award for Best Comic of the Year in 1997.
It also received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shounen in 1992.

Tags: Shounen , Mythology , Urban Fantasy , Youkai , Demons , Male Protagonist , Ghost , Time Manipulation , Love Triangle , Nudity , Amnesia , Reincarnation

HUNTER×HUNTER

Also known as Hunter x Hunter.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

Gon might be a country boy, but he has high aspirations. Despite his Aunt Mito's protests, Gon decides to follow in his father's footsteps and become a legendary Hunter. The Hunter hopefuls begin their journey by storm-tossed ship, where Gon meets Leorio and Kurapika, the only other applicants who aren't devastated by bouts of seasickness.

Having survived the terrors of the high seas, Gon and his companions now have to prove their worth in a variety of tests in order to find the elusive Exam Hall. And once they get there, will they ever leave alive...?



Tags: Shounen , Super Power , Cultivation , Ensemble Cast , Travel , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Urban Fantasy , Tragedy , Assassins , Revenge , Chimera , Battle Royale , Death Game , Anti-Hero , Politics , Crime , Coming of Age , Gangs , War , Martial Arts , Lost Civilization , Philosophy , Gore , Conspiracy , Ships , Video Games , Card Battle , Mafia , Animals , LGBTQ+ Themes , Time Manipulation , Demons , Cannibalism , Amnesia , Transgender , Virtual World , Kemonomimi , Reincarnation , Asexual

Souboutei Kowasubeshi

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Supernatural

A mysterious mansion has towered proudly over the Tokyo district of Numanakarai since the Taisho period. Those who enter either never escape, or leave having experienced horrors untold, and with the desire to take revenge.

Tags: Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Cosmic Horror , Male Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Drawing , Body Horror , Ghost , Survival , Slapstick , Shrine Maiden

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stone Ocean

Also known as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 6: Stone Ocean.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Supernatural

The story of Joutarou Kuujou's (Part 3) daughter, Jolyne Kuujou. She is framed for a murder and ends up in the Green Dolphin Street Prison. She is given an amulet inherited from her father, which cuts her hand and unlocks her Stand ability, Stone Free, which allows her to unravel her body into living string. The string can form a humanoid Stand within 2 meters of her body, and can extend further as string. In the prison, she soon becomes uneasy allies with fellow convicts and Stand users Hermes (Kiss) and Foo Fighters.

Tags: Super Power , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Memory Manipulation , Prison , Urban Fantasy , Foreign , Time Manipulation , Alternate Universe , Gore , Crime , Body Horror , Primarily Female Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Shounen , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Transgender , Religion , Cosmic Horror , Amnesia , Disability

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Diamond wa Kudakenai

Also known as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Mystery , Supernatural

In April 1999, Jotaro Kujo travels to a town in Japan called Morioh to find a young man named Josuke Higashikata, the secret love child of his grandfather, Joseph Joestar. Upon finding him, Jotaro is surprised to learn that Josuke also possesses a Stand. After their strange meeting, the pair team up to investigate the town’s proliferation of unusual Stands!



Tags: Super Power , Urban Fantasy , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Time Manipulation , Delinquents , Body Horror , Gore , School , Yandere , Tragedy

Gekkou Jourei

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Supernatural

Series by Fujita Kazuhiro about characters from fairy tales, mythology, and stories coming to life.

Gekko Iwasaki, a high-school student, is selected as executor of "Moonlight Ordinance" and fights against the residents. In this fairy tale, there is a world which is strangely affected by blue moonlight once in dozens of years. "Moonlight Ordinance" is a rule to restore the world to its former condition.



Tags: Shounen , Urban Fantasy , Anti-Hero , Classic Literature , Delinquents

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders

Also known as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Mystery , Supernatural

In a Japanese jail sits 17-year-old Jotaro Kujo: punk, fighter, delinquent...and possessed by a force beyond his control! Around the world, evil spirits are awakening: "Stands," monstrous invisible creatures which give their bearers incredible powers. To save his mother's life, Jotaro must tame his dark forces and travel around the world to Cairo, Egypt, where a hundred-year-old vampire thirsts for the blood of his family. But the road is long, and an army of evil Stand Users waits to kill JoJo and his friends...



Tags: Super Power , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Foreign , Primarily Male Cast , Travel , Tragedy , Time Manipulation , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Vampire , Body Horror , Delinquents , Desert , Animals , Shapeshifting , Revenge , Gambling , Cars , Disability , Age Regression , Unrequited Love

Konjiki no Gash!!

Also known as Zatch Bell!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

Kiyo is a brilliant junior high student whose inflated ego (and tendency to blow the grading curve) has made him a major target for teasing at school. So his father sends him a bizarre birthday present – a strange little boy named Zatch Bell – to help him make friends and reform his bad attitude. Zatch brings with him a mysterious red volume of spells, and Kiyo discovers that Zatch has magic powers that are unleashed by reading from the book! But there are more surprises to come, and Kiyo's destiny is about to change forever!



Note: The chapter count includes the volume-exclusive bonus chapter “The Two Queens”.

Tags: Battle Royale , Shounen , Magic , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Demons , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Child Cast , Super Power , Urban Fantasy , Survival , Slapstick , Foreign , Time Skip , Amnesia , Memory Manipulation , Surreal Comedy , Dragons , Kaiju , Bullying

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Mystery , Supernatural

The Demon Neuro has a raging hunger for 'mysteries.' Being dissatisfied with his current regime in hell, he’s come into the mortal realm in order to satiate his ever-growing appetite. The murder case of a young girl’s father seems to be sufficiently enticing for the Demon’s needs.. But what else might happen between these two? Find out in this disturbingly good murder-mystery series.

Included one-shot:
Volume 23: Rikon Choutei (Divorce Conciliation)

Tags: Detective , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Crime , Police , Demons , Urban Fantasy , Artificial Intelligence , Body Horror , Terrorism , Gore

Hajime no Ippo

Also known as Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sports

Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to Takamura boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo’s classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo’s journey to the top of the boxing world begins.



Tags: Boxing , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Bullying , Delinquents