Do you ever feel like the world is trying to break you down? Do you ever want to just snap and go berserk? Have you ever had your body physically morph into a monstrous otherworldly being capable of superhuman levels of carnage and destruction? Then you might understand what all the boys on this list are going through. Some of them were born this way while others are simply the results of human (and non-human) experiments gone wrong (or right depending on how you look at it).

Follow their journey as they learn how to tame the beasts within them before they themselves succumb to the overwhelming rage and power!

 

Ajin: Demi-Human Story: Tsuina Miura written and drawn by Gamon Sakurai; translation by Ko Ransom

Kei Nagai, a high-school student, should have died when the truck hit him. Instead, he comes back to life and his world is changed forever. Kei learns he is an Ajin or demi-human, a mysterious creature that cannot die. Frightened by the prospect of what might happen to him, Kei, helped by his friend, Kai, flee from civilization only to encounter a group of demi-humans who are hostile to humans. Who should Kei side with?

 

 

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama; translated and adapted by Sheldon Drzka; lettered by Steve Wands

For the past century, what's left of mankind has hidden in a giant, three-walled city, trapped in fear of the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming human-kind, but the sudden appearance of an enormous Titan is about change everything.

 

 

 

Blood Lad by Yuuki Kodama; translated by Melissa Tanaka; lettering by Alexis Eckerman

The vampire Staz is one of the most powerful district bosses in the demon world, fending off everyone who dares challenge him. But secretly, the fearsome Staz is obsessed with human culture, especially video games, manga, and everything that comes from Japan! When a Japanese girl wanders into the demon world, Staz can't wait to meet the human and learn everything he can about her world. Unfortunately, before he's able to ask her anything, the girl is killed by one of his would-be usurpers, leaving just her bare soul behind. Staz vows to help the girl restore her body and return to her former life—especially since it means taking a trip to the human world himself!

Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato; translation and English adaptation by John Werry

Fight hellfire with hellfire! Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth—the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!

 

 

Chainsaw Man story and art byTatsuki Fujimoto; translation byAmanda Haley; touch-up art and lettering by Sabrina Heep

Broke young man + chainsaw dog demon = Chainsaw Man! Denji was a small-time devil hunter just trying to survive in a harsh world. After being killed on a job, he is revived by his pet devil-dog Pochita and becomes something new and dangerous--Chainsaw Man! Denji's a poor young man who'll do anything for money, even hunting down devils with his pet devil-dog Pochita. He's a simple man with simple dreams, drowning under a mountain of debt. But his sad life gets turned upside down one day when he's betrayed by someone he trusts. Now with the power of a devil inside him, Denji's become a whole new man—Chainsaw Man!

 

Gleipnir by Sun Takeda; translation by ZephyrRZ; lettering by Daniel CY

Shuichi Kagaya, an ordinary high school kid in a boring little town. But when a beautiful classmate is caught in a warehouse fire, he discovers a mysterious power: He can transform into a furry dog with an oversized revolver and a zipper down his back. He saves the girl's life, sharing his secret with her. But she's searching for the sister who killed her family, and she doesn't care how degrading it gets: She will use Shuichi to accomplish her mission…

 

 

 

Jujutsu Kaisen story and art by Gege Akutami; translation by Stefan Koza

Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…

 

 

 

Naruto story and art by Masashi Kishimoto; English adaptation by Jo Duffy

In another world, ninja are the ultimate powe—and in the village of Konohagakure live the stealthiest ninja in the world. But twelve years ago Konohagakure was attached by a fearsome threat—a nine-tailed fox demon which claimed the life of the Hokage, the village champion. Today, peace has returned, and a troublemaking orphan named Uzumaki Naruto is struggling to graduate from the ninja Academy. His goal: to become the next Hokage. But unknown to Naruto and his classmates, within him is a terrifying force...

 

 

Tokyo Ghoul story and art by Sui Ishida; translation by Joe Yamazaki

Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way—except their craving for human flesh. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary college student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human half-ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers.

 

 

 

 

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Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.