Top 23 Best Post Apocalyptic Manga Ever Created
Since the end of the world is coming soon, we might as well read mangas to prepare ourselves for the different scenarios it could adopt.
In this list, worlds are destroyed or taken over; some are barren and treacherous, while others are luscious but poisonous. Cataclysms occur, or pandemics involving zombies or bugs break out, sometimes even fantastical elements are involved, but in all cases: society as we know it has seized to exist. The most interesting part of each story is the characters: forced to survive in new foreign conditions, some turn into heroes, while others slowly succumb to the folly of their minds, but most choose neither path, trying only to see the light of another day pass by.
+Post Apocalyptic Manhwa/Webtoons+
1.Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
風の谷のナウシカ - Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa
Once part of a thriving civilization, humans engendered a cataclysmic war, destroying their countries and bringing the end of their era. New kingdoms emerged in this new, devastated world but became threatened by the 'Sea Of Corruption': a gigantic forest inhabited by poisonous spores, forever spreading and thinning out habitable lands. As tension rose once again between nations - for such is the folly of our species -princess Nausicaä of the kingdom of Valley Of The Wind found herself forced to participate in a new war whose consequences might finally bring extinction to the human race.
+Volumes: 7
+Chapters: 59
+Published: 1982 to 1994
+Genres: Action - Adventure - Fantasy - Supernatural
+Authors: Miyazaki, Hayao [Art&tory]
+Serialization/Other work: Animage
2.Eden - It's an endless world
'Eden - It's an endless world' alternates between flashbacks and non-linear plots to disclose critical events surrounding the mysterious appearance of a virus that has killed 15% of humankind. The story is told through the eyes of Elijah and his father and spans many years throughout which complex plots intertwine: kidnappings, drug cartels, Human enhancement, and terrorist attacks, to name a few.
+Volumes: 18
+Chapters: 127
+Published: 1997 to 2008
+Genres: Action - Drama - Sci-Fi - Psychological
+Authors: Endo Hiroki [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Afternoon
3.Dr.Stone
As a strange light immerses the Earth in brightness, human and animals exposed to it become petrified, trapped in stone for thousands of years. With time, thick vegetation overtakes fallen cities, and new species emerge, filling the places of old ones. One day, Taiju Ooki breaks free from the stone prison that preserved his body, and as he explores his new surrounding, he meets his old friend Senkuu: a genius high schooler who has been developing a plan to reawaken civilization. This post-apocalyptical manga mixes action, adventure, and accurate scientific tips for survival, making Dr.Stone a sort of guide on how to survive in the wilderness - and yes, reading this made me realize that I would probably die after a couple of days.
+Volumes: 26
+Chapters: 232
+Published: 2017 to 2022
+Genres: Adventure - Sci-Fi - Survival
+Authors: Inagaki, Riichiro [Story] Boichi [Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Jump (Weekly)
4.Blame!
In 'Blame!' the human population has seen both the rise and fall of technology and has ultimately been pushed to struggle to survive within small sections of a colossal labyrinth-like megastructure. As a member of the remnants of humanity, Killy tasks himself with one goal: finding the Net Terminal Gene - a mysterious terminal said to possess genetic information that could restore the world as it once was. Equipped with a rare Graviton Beam Emitter, he embarks on a cyberpunk journey across the labyrinth, encountering horrifying creatures with which he is often forced to battle. This story is packed with action and fights but beware: it has very little dialogue and narration. Here the depicted scenes and extraordinary art tell most of the story.
+Volumes: 10
+Chapters: 66
+Published: 1997 to 2003
+Genres: Action - Drama - Horror - Sci-Fi - Psychological
+Authors: Nihei Tsutomu [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Afternoon
5.7 Seeds
After discovering that a giant meteorite was set on a path to collide with the Earth and produce an extinction-level event, the Japanese government rushed to create a plan to ensure the human race's survival. They came up with the '7SEEDS' project, which consisted of meticulously picking five sets of seven men and women and distributing each set in different parts of Japan. Each group would be put under cryogenic sleep, hoping that at least one of them would survive in the future. The story follows the lives of those men and women as they awaken in a new foreign world.
+Volumes: 35
+Chapters: 178
+Published: 2001 to 2017
+Genres: Action + Adventure + Drama + Psychological + Mystery + Romance + Sci-Fi
+Authors: Tamura Yumi [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Flowers (Monthly)
6.Girls’ Last Tour
少女終末旅行 - Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou
Chito and Yuuri travel across a desolate city with no final destination in mind on a post-war torn planet. Pushed forward by the need to stay alive, the girls roam around haunting yet serene towns, looking for food and supplies. Despite the bleak world they live in, the girls find ways to entertain themselves, engaging in cheerful conversations and remarks on the crumbling cities they explore. Although lighthearted, their discussions sometimes merge into the philosophical, leading to questions concerning their place in this bleak sphere. Girl's last tour does not include the adrenaline-pumping action or gory scenes that apocalypse stories are known for; it is mostly bittersweet and melancholic.
+Volumes: 6
+Chapters: 47
+Published: 2014 to 2018
+Genres: Adventure - Slice of Life
+Authors: Tsukumizu [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Kurage Bunch
7.Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
ヨコハマ買い出し紀行 -
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou proves that not all post-apocalyptical fiction needs to involve violence, cruelty, and deep psyche analysis. Although environmental disasters and climate change are slowly leading to the disappearance of humanity, the slow end of the world does not trigger howls or cries. Instead, humans peacefully witness their declining golden age, accepting their fate, having gone through far too much in the past to feel the need to act out. This is a quiet and melancholic manga set in a rural settlement, whose art and characters reverberate with bittersweet nostalgia. As the sea slowly overtakes their lands, people commit themselves to enjoying the rest of their counted days, embracing a tranquil and soft-paced life.
+Volumes: 14
+Chapters: 142
+Published: 1994 to 2006
+Genres: Drama - Sci-Fi - Slice of Life
+Creator: Ashinano Hitoshi [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Afternoon
8.Rebuild World
リビルドワールド
Born in a world where only the fittest survive, Akira's only hope of a better life is to become a hunter and slowly earn his way out of the slums and into the capital. One day, he decides to do just that and sets foot into the 'Old World', a land occupied by destroyed floating buildings and technological artifacts belonging to a now-extinct civilization. As he ventures into this dangerous place, he comes across a strange naked woman who asks him to form a contract with him: in exchange for venturing deep into an unexplored section of the Old World, she will become his weapon. Yes, this story is as stereotypically apocalyptical and dystopian as it sounds, but it does a very good job at
+Volumes: +6
+Chapters: +30
+Published: 2019 to Present
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Slice of Life
+Authors: Nafuse [Story] Ayamura Kirihito [Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Dengeki Maoh
9.Apocalypse no Toride
アポカリプスの砦 - Fort of Apocalypse
Murder convict Yoshiaki Maeda arrives at Shouran Academy Juvenile to serve his sentence, but the first wave of the zombie apocalypse intends to save him from prison life. Flesh-eating monsters begin to attack the police officers escorting him, and his fellow inmates decide to take this as an opportunity to break free and drag Yoshiaki along. This interesting premise unfolds into a unique take on the zombie genre: although gore, violence, and horror play a role, they are intertwined with strong bonds, plot twists, and virus evolution, making this manga a must-read for any fans of the genre.
+Volumes: 10
+Chapters: 49
+Published: 2011 to 2015
+Genres: Action - Mystery - Horror - Sci-Fi Psychological
+Authors: Yuu Kuraishi [Story] + Kazu Inabe [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Kodansha
10.AKIRA
アキラ
Set in a post-apocalyptic and futuristic neo-Tokyo in the aftermath of WWIII, the story of Akira touches on a myriad of subjects from corruption, war, and violence to psychic powers, religious zealotry, and anarchy. If you don't know what Akira's plot is, I will leave you with that short sentence describing the general mood because you will enjoy it more if you go in not knowing the story. The manga is immensely popular. The anime adaptation is immensely popular. Just try it out.
+Volumes: 6
+Chapters: 120
+Published: 1982 to 1990
+Genres: Post-Apocalyptic - Cyberpunk - Political Thriller
+Authors: Katsuhiro Otomo [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Kodansha
11.Neon Genesis Evangelion
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
Rising sea levels and new climate patterns brought the death of over half of the world's population, but here, the culprit was not the human specie but a meteorite that crashed into Antarctica in 1999. Years later, monstrous celestial beings known as 'Angels' started to appear, intent on destroying what was left of the Earth. To combat them, an organization called NERV developed bio machines named 'Evangelion' and started training their pilots to fight the Angels. The story centers around pilot Shinji Ikari and two other teenage girls recruited by NERV. The manga explores pseudo-religious and philosophical concepts and dives deeply into the characters' psyche and the dark truth of the origin of 'Angels.'
+Volumes: 14
+Chapters: 97
+Published: 1994 to 2013
+Genres: Action - Drama - Mystery - Sci-Fi - Psychological
+Authors: Sadamoto Yoshiyuki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Young Ace
12.51 Ways to Save Her
彼女を守る51の方法 - Kanojo wo Mamoru 51 no Houhou
Those of us intrigued by the apocalyptic genre often wonder how we would react if faced with such events. Although we'd like to think that we would assume the position of leadership, saving people in the process and being hailed as a hero, reality might paint a different picture. Catastrophes often unveil the true face of the human psyche, revealing the cruelty and savagery that can often lie there - and this is what this manga depicts. After an 8.1 magnitude earthquake rips Tokyo apart, survivors are left to fend for themselves in a world where the worst might be yet to come. This survival story based on real-life disasters does an amazing job at portraying complex human reactions and the physical, mental and psychological effects of traumatic events on people. This one is not for the faint-hearted.
+Volumes: 5
+Chapters: 49
+Published: 2006 to 2007
+Genres: Action - Drama - Romance - Psychological
+Authors: Furuya Usamaru [Art&Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Bunch
13.BioMeat: Nectar
BM ネクタール
As the food shortage grew larger and larger, Japan's solution was not to reduce food waste or work on limiting the effects of climate change (because that's too far-fetched) but to genetically engineer BioMeat: flesh capable of ingesting and digesting anything but vinyl and glass. The flesh grew by consuming waste and provided an endless supply of food in the form of meat, solving the hunger problem across the nation. But, as human's quick-fix scheme often back-fire, some BioMeat, hungry for more than just the trash it got fed, escaped its facilities, set for the city. If you like blood and gore, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Although mostly entertaining, the manga also manages to showcase a good picture of how different types of people react when faced with doomsday scenarios.
+Volumes: 10
+Chapters: 105
+Published: 2007 to 2013
+Genres: Action - Drama - Horror
+Authors: Fujisawa Yuki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Champion (Weekly)
14.Attack on Titan
進撃の巨人 - SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN
Over a century ago, humanity was devoured by giant beings of unknown intelligence and origin known as Titans. The remaining population has managed to survive the last hundred years only by building a multi-walled city capable of keeping the Titans at bay, training military recruits to patrol the perimeter and gather intelligence about their mysterious foe. Eren and Mikasa have lived a relatively peaceful life behind the city's walls, but when a massive Titan appears, smashing the outer barrier and unleashing a wave of terror, their lives are brutally changed forever.
+Volumes: 33
+Chapters: 137
+Published: 2009 to 2021
+Genres: Action - Drama - Fantasy - Horror - Supernatural
+Authors: Hajime Isayama [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Bessatsu Shounen Magazine
15.Fire Punch
ファイアパンチ
Fire Punch takes place in a world where a small number of humans have gained special abilities known as 'blessings.' For unknown reasons, one of them decided to freeze the Earth, turning the planet into a wasteland where nothing can grow. The story follows Agni, a boy blessed with an immense power of regeneration. Living in a small village with no access to food, Agni uses his powers to feed the inhabitants by severing his arms and letting people eat them. Words of his regenerative abilities spread, bringing army commander Doma to pay him a visit, but when he learns of the cannibalistic practice, he is disgusted and horrified and sets everyone aflame, making use of his 'blessings' which are inextinguishable flames. As Agni's body gets stuck in a continous loop of burning and regenerating itself, thoughts of vengeance consume him.
+Volumes: 8
+Chapters: 83
+Published: 2016 to 2018
+Genres: Action - Mystery - Supernatural
+Authors: Fujimoto Tatsuki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Jump+
16.Alive: Saishuu Shinkateki Shounen
アライブ 最終進化的少年 - Alive: Last Evolutionary Boy
This manga takes on a unique perspective on the apocalypse genre of pandemic events, giving it a twist: instead of a virus or a zombie outbreak, the spreading disease is that of suicide. As Taisuke Kanou was living out an ordinary high school life in Japan with his sister and best friend always by his side, an enormous number of people started to commit suicide worldwide, most choosing to plunge to their deaths from high-rise buildings. The phenomenon occurs across a period known as Nightmare Week, and the few who survive the compulsive thoughts seem to develop new abilities.
+Volumes: 21
+Chapters: 83
+Published: 2003 to 2010
+Genres: Adventure - Sci-Fi - Supernatural
+Authors: Kawashima Tadashi [Story] Adachitoka [Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Magazine (Monthly)
17.I am a hero
アイアムアヒーロー
If you're tired of good-looking protagonists with hero-like characters and traits, this manga, with its misleading title, will refresh you. 35-year old Hideo Suzuki lives a pointless life, struggling to make ends meet and sustain his relationship with a girlfriend he thinks might be cheating on him. The mundanity of his existence changes when an apocalyptic virus whips out half of the earth's population, transforming humans into horrifying zombies. As he survives and realizes the new state of the world he now lives in, his life's aimlessness and absurdity only heightens.
+Volumes: 22
+Chapters: 264
+Published: 2009 to 2017
+Genres: Drama - Horror - Psychological - Seinen
+Author: Hiroaki Hanazawa Kengo [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Big Comic Spirits
18.Kiba no Tabishounin: The Arms Peddler
牙の旅商人
In this manga, modern weaponry blends in with magic and DNA manipulation. Medieval warfare takes place between both demons and humans, and at some point, even zombies and necromancers join in the fun. The only common denominator is the background: a desolate post-apocalyptic wild west. Though the elements of this story seem excessive, they somehow blend in perfectly together, managing to both entertain and raise moral issues within its reader's mind.
+Volumes: +7
+Chapters: +60
+Published: 2010 to Present
+Genres: Action - Adventure - Drama - Horror - Supernatural
+Authors: Night Owl [Art] + Nanatsuki Kyoichi [Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Young Gangan
19.King of Thorns
As a viral infection overtakes the Human world, slowly turning its victims into stone, Kasumi is selected to partake in an experiment set to find a cure and accepts to get cryogenically frozen for the cause. But when she wakes up, instead of getting greeted by applause and the promise of a certain future, she finds herself in a world filled with violent creatures whose cities have been invaded by vines and thorns.
+Volumes: 6
+Chapters: 31
+Published: 2012 to 2017
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Sci-Fi
+Authors: Takano Ichigo [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Monthly Action
20.The Drifting Classroom
漂流教室 - HYOURYUU KYOUSHITSU
"Mother, I learned then how terrifying true darkness was." The Drifting Classroom is often compared to the Lord of the Flies because it portrays a society of children transported to a wasteland where they live out their worst nightmares. This is a classic tale of horror and survival where giant centipedes, bleak darkness, and even aliens and mummies invade the pannels of the story. Told through the eyes of a flawed child, it is often over the top in its emotions and depictions but makes for a great read nonetheless.
+Volumes: 11
+Chapters: 44
+Published: 1972 to 1974
+Genres: Mystery - Horror - Sci-Fi - Shounen
+Author: Umezu Kazuo [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Sunday
21.Heart Gear
Roue lives on a farm with her uncle Zett, who is a highly developed robot whose base program encrypts his function purpose of serving her. One day, as she continues to explore the ruins of the cities near her home, she stumbles upon another robot named Chrome, devoid of a purpose function. Chrome begins to live with her and Zett, but one day, the three encounter a disturbed unit set on killing them. Heart Gear's plot balances both action and philosophy, shedding light on questions surrounding human emotions and the ability of artificial intelligence to become fully conscious and perhaps even transcend the range of feelings we go through.
+Volumes: +2
+Chapters: +50
+Published: 2019 to Present
+Genres: Action - Adventure - Sci-Fi
+Authors: Takaki Tsuyoshi [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Shounen Jump+
22.the legend of mother sarah
アポカリプスの砦 - Apokaripusu no toride
In 'The Legend Of Mother Sarah,' Earth has become a poisoned world contaminated by old nuclear wars, whose oceans have turned to sandy hills. Human civilization withstood the test of time in the form of space colonies orbiting the ancient world, but one day, a terrorist attack forces the colonist to flee to the planet, separating Sarah from her family in the chaos. As she finds herself in a barren dystopian landscape where acts of violence are constant, Sarah embarks on a journey to find her children.
+Volumes: 7
+Chapters: 60
+Published: 1990 to 2004
+Genres: Action - Adventure - Drama - Sci-Fi
+Authors: Otomo Katsuhiro [Story] Nagayasu Takumi [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Young Magazine (Monthly)
23.Highschool of the Dead
学園黙示録 - Gakuen Mokushiroku
This apocalypse manga has you covered if you're looking for a zombie ecchi bloodfest full of guns and non-stopping adrenaline-pumping action. As flesh-eating zombies emerge and ravage the world, a handful of high school students witness their teachers and friends dying around them but manage to escape on board their school bus. The escapees, composed of a school nurse, a kendo professional, a wealthy genius, a firearm-loving otaku, and two seemingly ordinary students, must try to survive in a new world ruled by the undead.
+Volumes: 7
+Chapters: 33
+Published: 2006 to 2013
+Genres: Action - Drama - Horror - Romance - Ecchi
+Authors: Satou Daisuke [Story] Satou Shouji [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Dragon Age
