Aku No Hana, or The Flowers of Evil, is a manga that plunges into the darker realms of obsession, identity, and the stifling burden of societal expectations.
Manga that explore the human psyche often take readers on a tumultuous journey through the complexities of mental health, trauma, and existential dread.
Titles like ‘Oyasumi Punpun’ and ‘Berserk’ deal with deep emotional struggles.
Portraying characters that are not only flawed but also deeply relatable.
These narratives dissect the darker aspects of life, much like ‘Aku No Hana’.
Which then allows readers to reflect on their own experiences and emotions.
If the unnerving and introspective journey of “Aku No Hana” left a lasting impact, then your search for equally compelling reads is far from over.
Manga within this vein often navigate the darker recesses of the human psyche, confronting themes like obsessive behavior, identity disarray, and the looming presence of existential dread.
Here’s a curated guide to assist you in discovering manga that mirror the profound and often somber themes woven throughout “Aku No Hana”.
08 Manga Like Aku No Hana (Flowers Of Evil) For You To Read!!
Manga Like Aku No Hana (Flowers of Evil)
Bitter Virgin
Bitter Virgin is a very misleading title for a really beautiful, eerie, and adult storytelling.
Daisuke is an ordinary guy who assists his mother in her restaurant.
All he wants is to be accepted into a distant institution and, unlike his sister, never look back. He plans to prep for his exam and hit up as many girls as he can in between.
He might be considered a bit of a player because he changes socks more often than people do.
However, he won’t even touch one girl, and he’s not sure why. Perhaps because she flinches at the mere thought of any guy glancing at her. Hinako Aikawa.
That is, until Suwa is lounging in a chapel that he has heard ghost stories from, and he hides when someone walks in, believing it might be one of the girls he just ran away from.
But then everything completely changes. He is shocked, though, when he tries to make a move on Hinako, a classmate, and she bolts.
He poses as a priest but receives a confession—a startling one at that.
The characters are all well-developed, and even though the plot is dark, there is some humor included as well.
The artwork is rather good, combining Shojo and Seinen elements.
Overall, Bitter Virgin is one of those heartbreaking tales that, despite its charming romance, will let you cry but also heal.
Boy’s Abyss
Boy’s Abyss centers on Reiji Kurose, a young guy stuck in a depressing small town.
Reiji, who is troubled by family obligations, mainly turns to watching the idol group Acrylic for comfort.
But a chance meeting with his idol from his favorite band, Nagi Aoe, sparks a series of controversial incidents that flip his entire world upside down, including repeated attempts at suicide and extramarital affairs, especially one with his teacher.
As a result, Reiji finds himself entangled in a maze of lies, obsession, and treachery.
As Reiji makes his way through the depths of evil that he has fallen into, the manga takes a harsh tone.
Just like the town has a grasp on the main individuals, the plot will engage you from the first page on and leave you feeling helpless.
Also, the artwork is warm and beautiful. You can feel the tragedy that comes from it—the emptiness the protagonist experiences throughout the course of the story.
Boy’s Abyss and Aku no Hana share a hauntingly similar atmosphere, even if their plots and settings are very different.
No Longer Human
The manga series No Longer Human delves into the challenges of interpersonal relationships through a melancholy and dramatic aesthetic.
The series is highly recommended for fans of Aku no Hana since it explores themes of cultural satire and existential dread.
This intriguing tale examines the intricacies of human nature and the repercussions of one’s actions.
Within the psychological thriller genre, the manga stands out due to its distinct artwork and storytelling approach.
For lovers of psychological thrillers and Flowers Of Evil, No Longer Human is a must-read.
Onanie Master Kurosawa: After the Juvenile
Kurosawa, your main character, is a man who has no interest in social interaction.
He is single and has never experienced romantic love. Kurosawa talks as little as possible just to keep things going.
He is unaware that the fairly unnoticed routine he performs is going to take on a greater weight than he could have ever imagined.
The story shows several things, including what happens when you take on more than you can handle, the results of your choices, and discovering your life’s purpose.
You will find yourself constantly curious about what will happen next as the plot gets off.
The plot is never predictable, and the twists somehow feel legit. The story has the same kind of puppet-like influence over your emotions.
This is another fantastic manga like Aku No Hana that deserves to be on your reading list.
Homunculus
The story follows Nakoshi as he embarks on a surreal journey of self-discovery.
Living in his car between a luxurious hotel and a park where homeless people gather, he meets a strange man named Itoh.
Itoh makes him a tempting offer: for a significant sum of money, Nakoshi can undergo trepanation—having a hole drilled in his skull, supposedly to unlock hidden psychic potential.
This unsettling decision sets Nakoshi on an odd and transformative path toward awakening.
Homunculus produced incredibly detailed as well as stunning artwork. Every panel is considered important.
The story of Homunculus is unpredictable, which is one of its many compelling aspects.
Just when you thought the series’ ridiculousness could not get much more, the next chapter will disclose something even more abstract or repulsive.
There’s always a more shocking twist around the corner up until the last few pages. It never gets boring and will always make you want to read more.
Homunculus explores themes of identity, human nature, and the darkness within, making it a manga that is very similar to Aku No Hana.
Happy Sugar Life
Satou Matsuzaka, who is 16 years old, finds an 8-year-old girl named Shio Koube on the street.
She takes Shio to her home, and they start living together.
For the first time, Satou feels the love and happiness she has been looking for since she was a child.
Her aunt once told her about happiness, but Satou didn’t understand it back then. Now, she is finally starting to find her own idea of love.
We noticed a similarity between the two stories. Both have a lot of messed-up characters and talk about love in similar ways.
Aku no Hana is darker and feels very chaotic, while Happy Sugar Life is more like a fun ride with sparkles and violence.
Both are less popular anime, but we would only recommend Aku no Hana to fans of strange stories because it might not be for everyone.
Chi no Wadachi
For fans of Shuzo Oshimi, the first manga that comes to mind when thinking of something like Aku No Hana or Flowers of Evil is probably Chi No Wadachi.
Chi No Wadachi is a psychological thriller about a high school boy named Seiichi Osabe, who has a strange and unhealthy obsession with his mother.
As you read, you’ll see their relationship getting more and more twisted.
The manga talks about power, manipulation, and some really uncomfortable topics, showing how Seiichi’s mother controls his life in ways that aren’t healthy.
The manga shows many examples of power and control, manipulation, and uncomfortable topics between Seiichi and his mother.
She confuses him and shapes his life exactly how she wants.
We think Chi No Wadachi is like Aku No Hana because both manga show complicated relationships with unclear boundaries and have creepy artwork.
They also look deep into the minds of the characters.
Since they are made by the same author, both use unique storytelling styles that create strong, spooky feelings and pull readers into strange stories in similar ways.
Oyasumi Punpun
Oyasumi Punpun is one of the saddest and most real stories we have ever read.
It’s about a boy named Punpun Punyama, who later becomes Onodera Punpun.
The story follows him from elementary school until he is in his early 20s.
What makes this manga special is how deeply it looks at Punpun’s feelings and those of the people around him.
At first, Punpun and his family look like cartoon birds with long legs.
As the story goes on, their appearance changes to show how they feel inside.
But to everyone else in the story, Punpun looks like a regular human, not like a bird at all.
There is some magic in the story but also darker themes. It’s about being a teenager and how hard relationships are.
The art and storytelling are super special, so it’s a real page-turner.
If you liked Aku no Hana, you’ll probably like Oyasumi Punpun too. It goes deep into feelings and life, so if you like Aku no Hana, you’ll like this too.
Honorable Mentions More Manga Like Aku No Hana (Flowers Of Evil)
- Mitsuha no Mura
- Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou (Girls’ Last Tour)
- Shiki
