The best manga with ghost protagonists

Key conclusions

• Ghosts in manga are often versatile characters in a variety of genres, from horror to romance.
• The unlikely relationship between humans and ghosts makes for intriguing storylines in the supernatural manga.
• Ghostly manga characters offer comedic elements while showing character growth and depth.

In the majority mangothe death of a character is considered the end of his role in the story. For some, however, death is only the beginning of their character, a concept that is quite common in fantasy and supernatural manga. Whether it's a ghost brought back from the dead or a soul in limbo, ghosts make exceptional heroes.

Although many manga feature ghosts and supernatural entities, it is rare for a manga to make these characters the center of the story. Despite their somewhat unorthodox nature, these heroes can be quite versatile. This is evident from the number of stories they can be found in, whether it's classic shonen, supernatural slice of life, or dark seinen manga.

7 Miss Okiku wants to own

An unlikely combination of a ghost and an exorcist

Ghosts and spirits are known to return to the world of the living for all sorts of hideous and evil reasons. However, one ghost in particular has a slightly unconventional reason for walking among the living: flirting. Okiku, an age-old spirit known for evil and carnage, returns solely to flirt with the most powerful exorcist of our time.

With an absurd but useful premise, Miss Okiku wants to own is an intriguing manga that combines Girls Love undertones with slice-of-life supernatural themes. While the manga does delve into a few racy scenes, the overall premise remains largely serviceable.

6 Possessed by a ghost

BL Romance With A Ghastly Touch

Possessed by a ghost presents a healthy BL premise with an interspecies relationship between a ghost and a human. Ghost/human relationships can be a common theme in the anime landscape, although BL capturing this niche is certainly rare.

Gyo Ryota finds that his apartment is inhabited by the playful spirit of Taiga Yamakawa. Although Gyo is polar opposites, he eventually discovers Taiga and his creepy antics, which gives way to a surprisingly adorable BL romance between a ghost criminal and a college student.

5 The most powerful haunted house and a guy with no spiritual sense

A horror comedy with a ghost protagonist

Comedic premises are common in supernatural manga, as the odd dynamic between unassuming humans and playful ghosts can lead to all sorts of hilarious moments. The most powerful haunted house and a guy with no spiritual sense uses this very aspect, the main ghost character aims to scare a person who can't see ghosts.

Despite the largely comedic premise, The most powerful haunted house and a guy with no spiritual sense goes beyond a simple superficial ghost story. With extensive character development and insight into each character, this manga manages to present a roster of specific ghost characters with intriguing backstories.

4 Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia

Unraveling Paranormal Mysteries Through the Occult

Twilight Maiden Amnesia around a creepy spirit that lives in an abandoned Seikyo Academy building. Yuko Kanoe is left to die in an old campus building, and her spirit is found by freshman Teiichi Nia, who vows to accompany her and solve the mystery of her death.

Despite her ghostly status, Yuko forms an intimate bond with Teiichi, which becomes one of the manga's focal points. Although romance between humans and supernatural beings is not an entirely new concept, Twilight Maiden Amnesia presents a compelling version of this common trope.

3 Yuna and the Haunted Hot Springs

List of playful ghosts

Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs mainly tells the story of exorcist Kagarashi's new life in a haunted mansion. However, Yuuna soon takes center stage after Kagarashi agrees to help Yuuna grant her wishes to allow her to move on, instead of simply exorcising the spirit that haunts his new homestead.

While the premise may not be anything unique in the supernatural landscape, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs stands out in many ways for its silver spirit. With her adorable antics and playful nature, Yuna is the selling point of this slightly risque manga.

2 Yu-Gi-Oh!

A genius ghost at the helm

Yu-Gi-Oh!the quintessential card battle manga of the late 90s, mostly famous for its brutal card battles. However, the manga also qualifies as a supernatural story because of Yugi's alternate personality, Yami Yugi. Originally a pharaoh in ancient Egypt, Yami Yugi is possessed by Yugi after he manages to solve the Millennium Puzzle.

Together, the human-ghost duo embark on an ambitious journey that revolves around a card game with consequences worse than death. While Yami eventually breaks up with Yugi, Pharaoh's ghost remains an integral part of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s the premise for much of the manga.

1 Handcuffed to the toilet is Hanako-kun

A duet of a man and a ghost bound by fate

Handcuffed to the toilet is Hanako-kun is a classic ghost manga that combines urban horror with a decent mix of comedy. As the name suggests, Hanako is a ghost tied to the toilet at Kamome Academy, although he is one of the seven paranormal mysteries that haunt the school.

Hanako becomes involved with freshman Nene Yasira, who is forced to turn to a ghost for help after an accident with a magical item. Nene takes on the role of Hanako's assistant, leading to a series of supernatural escapades as the creepy duo investigate the paranormal mysteries of Kamome Academy.