The Best Manga With Ghost Protagonists

Key Takeaways

• Ghosts in manga are often versatile protagonists in various genres, from horror to romance.
• Unlikely relationships between humans and ghosts spark intriguing storylines in supernatural manga.
• Ghostly protagonists in manga offer comedic elements while showcasing character growth and depth.

In most manga, a character’s death is considered the end of their role in the narrative. For some, however, death is only the beginning of their character arc, a notion that is quite often witnessed in fantasy and supernatural manga. Whether it’s a ghost brought back from the dead or a soul lingering on in a state of limbo, ghosts make for some exceptional protagonists.

While plenty of manga feature ghosts and supernatural entities, rarely do any manga make these characters the focal point of the story. Despite their somewhat unorthodox nature, these protagonists can be quite versatile. This is evident from the range of narratives they can be found in, whether it’s classic shonen, supernatural slice-of-life, or dark seinen manga.

7 Miss Okiku Wants To Possess

An Unlikely Pairing Between Ghost And Exorcist

Ghosts and spirits are known for returning to the world of the living for all manner of heinous and evil reasons. However, one ghost in particular has a slightly unorthodox reason for walking among the living: Flirting. Okiku, a centuries-old spirit known for evil and carnage, returns solely to flirt with the strongest exorcist in current times.

With an absurd yet wholesome premise, Miss Okiku Wants to Possess is an intriguing manga that mixes Girls Love subtexts with slice-of-life supernatural themes. While the manga delves into a few racy scenes, the overall premise remains largely wholesome.

6 Possessed By A Ghost

BL Romance With A Ghastly Touch

Possessed by a Ghost presents a wholesome BL premise with an interspecies relationship between a ghost and a human. Ghost-human relations might be a common theme in the anime landscape, though a BL take on this niche is certainly a rare sight.

Gyou Ryouta finds his apartment haunted by a playful spirit named Taiga Yamakawa. Despite being polar opposites, Gyou eventually opens up to Taiga and his ghastly antics, which gives way to an oddly adorable BL affair between a delinquent ghost and a college student.

5 The Most Powerful Haunted House And The Guy With No Spiritual Sense

Horror-Comedy With A Ghost Protagonist

Comedic premises are a common sight 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 the Guy With No Spiritual Sense capitalizes on this very aspect, with a ghost protagonist bent on scaring a man who can’t see ghosts.

Despite its largely comedic premise, The Most Powerful Haunted House and the Guy With No Spiritual Sense goes beyond simply being a superficial ghost story. With ample character growth and insight into each character, this manga manages to present a roster of fleshed-out ghost characters with intriguing backstories.

4 Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia

Uncovering Paranormal Mysteries With The Occult

Dusk Maiden of Amnesia centers around a ghastly spirit who lingers on in the abandoned building of Seikyou Academy. Yuko Kanoe was left to die in the old campus building, and her spirit is discovered by freshman Teichi Niya, who vows to accompany her and uncover the mystery behind her death.

Despite her ghostly status, Yuko forms an intimate bond with Teichi, which becomes one of the focal points of the manga. While romance between humans and supernatural entities isn’t exactly a new concept, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia presents a compelling version of this common trope.

3 Yuuna And The Haunted Hot Springs

A Roster Of Playful Ghosts

Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs primarily revolves around the exorcist Kogarashi’s new life at a haunted hotspring manor. However, Yuuna soon takes center stage after Kogarashi agrees to help Yuuna satisfy her desires in a bid to allow her to move on, instead of merely exorcizing the spirit haunting his new manor.

While the premise might not be anything unique within the supernatural landscape, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs largely stands out due to its silver-haired spirit. With her charming antics and playful persona, Yuuna becomes the selling point of this somewhat risque manga.

2 Yu-Gi-Oh!

A Genius Ghost At The Helm

Yu-Gi-Oh!, the quintessential card battle manga of the late 90s, is largely famed for its fierce card battles. However, the manga also qualifies as a supernatural story due to Yugi’s alternate persona, Yami Yugi. Originally a Pharaoh in Ancient Egypt, Yami Yugi possesses 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 that has consequences worse than death. While Yami eventually parts ways with Yugi, the Pharaoh’s ghost remains an integral part of Yu-Gi-Oh!’s premise for a significant chunk of the manga.

1 Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun

A Human-Ghost Duo Linked By Fate

Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is a classic ghost manga, one that brings together urban horror with a decent mix of comedy. As the name suggests, Hanako is a ghost bound to a toilet in Kamome Academy, though he is one of seven paranormal mysteries that haunt the school.

Hanako becomes embroiled with first-year Nene Yashiro, who is forced to seek the ghost’s help after an accident with a magical item. Nene takes on the role of Hanako’s assistant, which leads to a series of supernatural escapades as the ghastly duo explore the paranormal mysteries of Kamome Academy.