Sometimes, you’re in the mood for a quick scare. A chilling story you can devour in one sitting, but that still leaves a lasting impression. That’s where short horror manga come in.
I’ve always been obsessed with the horror genre. I’ve read disturbing novels, watched twisted movies, and spent years exploring the darkest corners of the internet. But horror manga stand out. Some build dread over multiple volumes, while others deliver unforgettable scares in just a handful of pages.
This list focuses on the latter. Short horror manga that are completed in one or two volumes, just a few chapters long, or standalone one-shots. These tales may be brief, but they waste no time getting under your skin.
What makes them special is their variety. You’ll find psychological horror, eerie urban legends, grotesque body horror, and surreal fever dreams. Some aim to shock; others aim for atmosphere. Some leave you disturbed; others leave you thinking. All of them, however, show why horror manga is such a uniquely powerful medium.
Over the years, I’ve read hundreds of horror manga. Some are famous; others are buried deep in obscurity. This list collects my favorite short-form stories.
So if you’re looking for short horror manga that you can read in one sitting, and won’t forget anytime soon, you’re in the right place.
Mild spoiler warning: I’ve tried to keep things vague, but some light plot details might be mentioned below.
Here are the 12 best short horror manga you can read in one sitting (last updated: July 2025).
12. The Laughing Vampire
If you’re looking for a short horror manga that pushes the absolute limits of taste, The Laughing Vampire stands in a league of its own. At just two volumes, it’s a story you can finish in one sitting. The question is, should you?
This transgressive cult classic by Suehiro Maruo is a disturbing blend of eroticism, violence and surrealism. Often associated with the ero-guro (erotic grotesque) movement, Maruo uses his signature style to tell a nightmarish story in a warped post-war Tokyo. The plot follows a recently turned vampire boy on a brutal rampage, but that’s just one thread in a tangled web of perversion, social decay, and atrocity.
The true horror here isn’t just the supernatural. It’s how closely the manga mirrors real-world cruelty, abuse, exploitation and madness, and renders it in stark, grotesquely beautiful art. Every panel is immaculately composed, giving the entire work a theatrical, almost mythic tone. Later chapters descend into symbolic, avant-garde imagery, transforming the narrative into a surreal fairy tale soaked in blood.
The Laughing Vampire is the most sexually explicit and psychologically disturbing manga on this list. It’s not for casual readers. But if you’re seeking a bold, visionary work that breaks genre conventions, this is one of the most unforgettable and horrifying short horror manga you’ll ever read.
Genres: Horror, Psychological, Supernatural, Vampire
Status: Finished (Seinen)
11. Abstraction
Few short horror manga are as mind-bending and disturbing as Abstraction by Shintaro Kago. This one-shot may only take a few minutes to read, but it will stay on your mind for days, if not weeks.
Known for his work in the ero-guro tradition, Kago often blends body horror with satire and surrealism. Abstraction, however, takes things further. It abandons narrative, character, and even logic. This is horror as meta-art, a radical deconstruction of manga itself.
It begins with a mundane setup: a couple at the beach and a lost ring. The second page shatters everything. Panels become literal 3D spaces. Characters crawl in and out of them like stagehands. These aren’t people, however, they’re bizarre assemblages of body parts. We bear witness to eyeball-covered furniture, stitched-up hands, ambulatory genitals, and malformed creatures barely resembling the human form.
What little plot exists is graphic, nonsensical, and intentionally exploitative. There’s sex, nudity, and later, extreme violence. But the real horror is formal. As the story unravels, even the grotesque performers begin to fall apart, dragging their mangled, bleeding bodies from panel to panel, barely able to keep the illusion going.
There’s no official English release of Abstraction, but for fans of experimental manga, it’s essential reading. This is one of the most creative and transgressive short horror manga ever drawn. It’s brilliant and terrifying. It’s not just a manga; it’s a visual autopsy of the medium itself.
Genres: Horror, Psychological, Erotica
Status: One-shot (Seinen)
10. Hideout
If you’re searching for a short horror manga that drags you straight into darkness and doesn’t let up, Hideout is a must-read. Just nine chapters long, this one-volume descent into madness can be finished in a single sitting, but the experience is anything but comfortable.
The story follows Seiichi Kirishima, a failed writer grieving the death of his son. He brings his wife to a remote island under the guise of salvaging their broken marriage. His true intent, however, is far more sinister: he plans to kill her. When his plan goes awry, a desperate chase leads them into the depths of the island, and into a hidden cave where something far worse awaits.
Hideout is a psychological horror manga masterpiece. It blends real-time tension with grim flashbacks to reveal a man unraveling under the weight of guilt, resentment, and grief. The story is lean, tightly focused, and brutal. There’s no filler, just a pure dread from start to finish.
The artwork is nothing short of spectacular. Masasumi Kakizaki’s detailed linework, pitch-black shadows, and cinematic paneling create a suffocating atmosphere that makes every page feel heavy with unease. It’s one of the most visually striking horror manga you’ll ever read.
Short, sharp, and unforgettable, Hideout is a must-read for fans of survival horror and psychological breakdowns. It’s perfect for readers who want intense horror in a single sitting.
Genres: Horror, Psychological
Status: Finished (Seinen)
9. Zashiki Onna
Zashiki Onna is one of the most terrifying horror manga ever made, and it doesn’t need ghosts, gore, or monsters to get there. Instead, it taps into a far more grounded fear: being watched, followed, and slowly consumed by another person’s obsession.
Originally published in the early 1990s, this chilling psychological horror manga helped define the now-familiar stalker horror subgenre. The story follows Hiroshi, a university student whose uneventful life begins to unravel after he notices a strange, tall woman loitering outside his neighbor’s apartment. After that first encounter, her attention shifts to him, and she never leaves.
What makes Zashiki Onna so effective is how real it feels. The woman’s not a ghost, not a demon, just an eerie, relentless presence that refuses to be ignored. As Hiroshi tries to go about his normal life, she keeps returning. Always getting closer. The horror builds slowly, not through jump scares, but with slow, suffocating dread.
At just 11 chapters, this is a short psychological horror manga you can finish in one sitting, but it lingers long afterward. It’s a masterclass in restraint, and proof that the most terrifying threats don’t always come from the supernatural. Sometimes, the scariest thing is a knock on your door from someone who shouldn’t be there.
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
Status: Finished (Seinen)
8. Ibitsu
If Zashiki Onna is a slow-burning psychological nightmare, Ibitsu is its blood-soaked, unhinged cousin. This cult favorite short horror manga starts disturbing and only escalates, blending stalker horror with urban legend and graphic violence.
The premise is simple, but effective. One night, a teenage boy named Kazuki takes out the trash and finds a strange girl in a Lolita outfit sitting beside the garbage. She asks him a single question: „Do you have a little sister?“ Without thinking, he answers yes.
He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s doomed himself. According to an urban legend, if you say yes, the girl will obsessively try to become your sister. If you say no, she’ll kill you.
What follows is a deeply unsettling stalker horror story as the girl begins invading Kazuki’s life in increasingly disturbing and violent ways. Unlike the grounded tension of Zashiki Onna, Ibitsu leans hard into shock value: torture, mutilation, and extreme escalation. It’s brutal, bloody, and relentless.
That said, it’s not without flaws. The story becomes increasingly unrealistic, and the ending leaves several questions unanswered. Yet for horror fans of urban legend horror with a heavy dose of gore and edge, Ibitsu remains a fan favorite.
At just 13 chapters, Ibitsu is a fast, twisted read that grabs you immediately. It’s not for the faint of heart, but one of the most shocking, creepy, and unforgettable short horror manga out there.
Genres: Horror, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller
Status: Finished (Seinen)
7. Fraction
The second entry on this list by Shintaro Kago, the reigning master of erotic grotesque horror, Fraction is one of the most uniquely disturbing short horror manga you’ll ever read. It’s not just violent or weird; it’s a full-blown assault on narrative structure and genre conventions.
At first glance, Fraction appears to be a straightforward horror thriller. A brutal serial killer known as the Slicing Devil is on the loose, cutting victims clean in half. Then, in the second chapter, the story turns itself inside out. Kago inserts himself as a character in his own manga, and what follows is a surreal, self-aware dissection of storytelling and authorial control.
Kago’s deconstruction of genre tropes, narrative structure, and reader expectations is nothing short of brilliant. One twist in particular is so perfectly executed, it will leave you staring at the page. It’s horror, yes, but also meta-fiction, satire, and puzzle box.
And just when you think it’s over, the tone shifts again, spiraling into the chaotic absurdism Kago is infamous for.
The volume also contains several standalone stories, Voracious Itches in particular, one of the most repulsive pieces of body horror ever drawn.
Fraction is short, just eight chapters plus a few extra stories, but it’s a lot to take in. Bizarre, transgressive, and structurally brilliant, it’s a must-read for fans of experimental or surreal horror manga. Just be warned: it’s not for the squeamish or the traditional.
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Meta
Status: Finished (Seinen)
6. Hanging Balloons
Junji Ito has written dozens of short horror manga, but Hanging Balloons remains one of his most unforgettable. This surreal nightmare compresses cosmic dread, body horror, and apocalyptic horror into a single one-shot that’s impossible to forget.
The story opens with the suicide of a beloved idol named Terumi. Her body is discovered in public, suspended by a bizarre noose of twisted wire. Whispers of her ghost haunting the city begin to spread, but the truth is far stranger: a giant floating balloon with her exact face has appeared. And this is only the beginning.
Soon, more of these enormous balloon-heads emerge, each one hunting the person they resemble. They drift silently through the skies, calling out their victim’s name before attempting to hang them from the noose. Fighting back is futile. If the balloon is destroyed, its human counterpart dies instantly.
The story offers no explanation. No cause. No solution. All we get is a slow, surreal apocalypse. The result is deeply unnerving. Despite the absurd visual premise, the tone is grim and hopeless, creating a powerful sense of unease. It’s a masterclass in tonal dissonance.
Some interpret Hanging Balloons as a metaphor for the lingering impact of celebrity suicides, or our own subconscious fascination with death itself. Others see it as pure existential horror. Either way, it’s a standout among short horror manga, and one of Ito’s very best one-shots.
If you want a terrifying read that’s over in 15 minutes but will linger on your mind, Hanging Balloons is a must-read.
Genres: Horror, Apocalypse, Psychological
Status: One-shot (Seinen)
5. BIBLIOMANIA
One of the most visually mesmerizing short horror manga ever drawn, BIBLIOMANIA is a surreal plunge into madness, transformation, and grotesque beauty. At under 100 pages, it’s a quick read, but the imagery will stay on your mind long after you’ve closed the book.
The story follows Alice, a young girl who awakens in Room 431 of a decaying, otherworldly mansion. A talking serpent warns her not to leave, or her body will decay. But Alice ignores the warning, beginning a disturbing journey through a nightmarish labyrinth of rooms, each more twisted than the last. As she explores, her body slowly contorts and mutates in strange, horrific ways.
BIBLIOMANIA blends eerie fairytale logic with unrelenting body horror. It loosely echoes Alice in Wonderland, but dives into something far darker and more psychologically warped. Each chapter is a step deeper into transformation and madness.
Equal parts elegant and grotesque, the real draw is the art. Illustrated by Macchiro, every panel is gorgeously detailed. Alice’s delicate, doll-like appearance stands in stark contrast to the horrific environments and violent metamorphoses that surround her. It’s a stunning juxtaposition that heightens the story’s dreamlike, almost mythic tone.
Though short, BIBLIOMANIA is unforgettable. It’s not just a horror manga; it’s an experience. If you’re drawn to surreal horror, artistic experimentation, and beauty within the grotesque, this is an absolute must-read.
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Drama, Psychological
Status: Finished (Seinen)
4. Goth
Adapted from the novel by Otsuichi and illustrated by Kenji Ooiwa, Goth follows high school students Itsuki Kamiyama and Yoru Morino, two teenagers who form a strange bond over their shared fascination with gruesome crimes. But they’re not your typical horror protagonists. Kamiyama is especially unsettling, more intrigued by the killers than the idea of justice. Morino, meanwhile, hides deep scars of her own.
The manga unfolds as a series of murder cases, with each chapter exploring a different killer. While Kamiyama often solves the crimes, he does so out of curiosity, not moral obligation. The horror lies not just in the murders themselves, but in the eerie detachment of the protagonists.
At just five chapters, Goth is a quick but chilling read, packed with graphical violence and a hauntingly bleak atmosphere. The artwork isn’t flashy, but it captures the cold, clinical beauty of each murder with precision. Some characters, especially Morino, feel underdeveloped due to the short length, but the overall tone and execution leave a lasting impression.
If you’re looking for a short psychological horror manga that explores the darkness within rather than external monsters, Goth is a grim and memorable experience.
Genres: Horror, Psychological, Mystery
Status: Finished (Shonen)
3. N
If you’re looking for a short horror manga that blends modern paranoia with classical Japanese urban legend, N is a must-read. At just 15 chapters, many of them brief, it’s a tightly woven, bingeable nightmare.
What begins as a series of disconnected one-shot horror stories slowly transforms into something more. Each chapter presents a chilling scenario: vanishing classmates, a strange livestream, a haunting encounter at the hospital. Beneath it all lies a sinister presence, the mysterious group known only as N. Bit by bit, connections between the stories emerge, and a larger mythos takes shape.
The storytelling is cryptic, but not confusing. It rewards close attention and builds a creeping sense of dread with each chapter. While N never fully explains everything, the loose threads only deepen the mystery and make the horror feel all the more unknowable.
Visually, the manga uses a rough, sketch-like style that may seem off-putting at first, but it works surprisingly well. The chaotic linework and distorted anatomy make its most horrifying moments truly unforgettable. Twisted smiles, glitched-out faces, and surreal composition create an atmosphere of visual anxiety that hits like a punch to the gut.
Though the manga is currently on hiatus, what’s already available cements N as one of the most terrifying short horror manga in recent years. For fans of Fuan no Tane and PTSD Radio, this is a natural successor, and a story that will linger long after you finish reading.
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
Status: Ongoing (Seinen)
2. The Enigma of Amigara Fault
This is Junji Ito’s second entry on this list and for a good reason. The Enigma of Amigara Fault may be a one-shot, but it’s arguably one of his most iconic works. In just a few pages, it delivers one of the most chilling and psychologically haunting experiences in all of short horror manga.
The premise is deceptively simple: after an earthquake exposes a strange fault line, people flock to the site and discover human-shaped holes carved into the cliff. Yet they are not generic. Instead, each person believes that one of the holes was made specifically for them. And once they find their hole, they feel an overwhelming compulsion to go inside.
There’s no monster. No violence. No clear threat at all. The horror comes from something much deeper: an existential pull toward the unknown. These holes are not traps; they are an invitation. People enter them willingly.
What makes The Enigma of Amigara Fault such an effective piece of cosmic horror is its refusal to explain anything. Where do the holes lead? Who made them? Why do people feel drawn to them? None of these questions are answered, and that’s precisely the point. The story forces readers to confront the terrifying idea that some things are beyond understanding, but feel disturbingly inevitable.
Ito’s artwork is minimal but masterfully controlled. Subtle shadows, claustrophobic framing, and increasingly desperate facial expressions create a tension that builds toward one of horror manga’s most unforgettable endings.
Short, simple, and devastating. The Enigma of Amigara Fault remains one of the greatest one-shot horror manga ever made, still haunting readers decades later.
Genres: Horror, Psychological
Status: Finished (Oneshot)
1. Fuan no Tane
Fuan no Tane is one of the most uniquely terrifying short horror manga ever made, achieving its effect with almost no dialogue, no recurring characters, and no overarching plot. Just fear, distilled to its purest form.
Created by Masaaki Nakayama, this minimalist horror anthology delivers a series of micro-stories, most of which are only 2-3 pages long, each depicting a sudden, unexplained supernatural encounter. Inspired by Japanese urban legends, ghost stories, and local superstitions, these moments are raw, eerie, and expertly timed.
Each entry unfolds in an everyday setting: schools, home visits, alleyways, or hospitals. There’s no buildup or resolution. You’re dropped straight into the moment of horror, and then it’s over, abruptly and disturbingly. This lack of closure is exactly what makes it so unsettling.
The visuals are deceptively simple. Nakayama’s grounded art style lulls you into a sense of safety. That is until he drops something truly horrifying on the page. Distorted faces, eyeless children, and silent figures lurking in alleyways are rendered with stark contrast and expertly composed panels.
At just 16 chapters, Fuan no Tane reads incredibly fast. Many stories are silent or nearly wordless, making this manga perfect for a quick session of bite-sized terror. It’s a favorite among J-horror fans and anyone who prefers atmosphere over explanation.
The series also has two follow-ups, Fuan no Tane+ and Fuan no Tane*, which expand the formula with even more micro-horror scares.
If you’re looking for a short horror manga that taps into primal fear and leaves you glancing over your shoulder, Fuan no Tane is a must-read.
Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Psychological (Shonen)
Status: Finished (Shonen)
