Summary
- Good short manga offer a refreshing break from lengthy series, offering thought-provoking narratives in one sitting.
- Short manga like Nijigahara Holograph explore deep themes like trauma, guilt, and human nature in a compelling manner
- Planetes is an ambitious sci-fi manga that delves into humanity’s quest for meaning in just 4 volumes, a must-read for fans.
While there is something rewarding about catching up on a manga series like One Piece or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, many long-running series begin as one-shots, making short manga a vital part of the industry. Still, even on their own, one-shots and short manga are great ways to introduce readers to complex, immersive stories without a lengthy time commitment.

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From horror to comedy to sci-fi, fans of all genres can enjoy well-crafted short manga series with compelling art styles, characters, and plots in under six volumes. While there are many noteworthy short manga and one-shots readers can enjoy in one sitting, these are some of the hardest to set down.
Updated on January 24th, 2025, by Mirza Aaqib Beg: In today’s fast-paced world, people rarely have time to read. The manga industry is filled with stories that span hundreds of chapters with no hint of a clear ending in sight. Therefore, good short manga offer a refreshing change, especially those that can be read in one sitting. This updated article includes some great manga with thought-provoking narratives, that will leave a lasting impression on their readers, but can be read in a single sitting.
26
Nijigahara Holograph
1 Volume, 13 Chapters
Genre(s) |
Horror |
---|---|
Published by |
Ohta Publishing |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Inio Asano |
A fifth-grade student named Arie Kimura is fascinated by the tale of a girl blessed by God who foretells the destruction of a village to warn the inhabitants. Eventually, she takes that fascination a step further and argues that the Nijigahara tunnel is haunted by a monster. Her classmates are in turn haunted and disturbed by her story. In order to save themselves from the horror of suffering and torture, a group of students take a page from the same fairy tale and use Arie as a sacrifice, hoping that it will appease the mysterious beast prowling in the tunnel.

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Nijigahara Holograph is a psychological horror manga that keeps readers engaged with its nonlinear storytelling and fascinating premise. Forcing readers to think critically, Inio Asano’s manga explores themes of trauma, guilt, the darker aspects of human nature, and interconnected fates that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.
25
Planetes
4 Volumes, 26 Chapters
Genre(s) |
Science Fiction |
---|---|
Published by |
Kodansha |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Makoto Yukimura |
Makoto Yukimura’s award-winning hard science-fiction manga Planetes is a psychologically stimulating story set in the second half of the 21st Century. It revolves around a crew of space debris cleaners who take on dangerous missions to keep spacecraft, space stations, and satellites safe. The story also highlights the hardships faced by characters in their personal lives and the challenges of working in space.

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Planetes is an ambitious exploration of humanity’s quest to investigate the secrets of the universe and expand its horizons beyond Earth. With just 4 volumes, Yikmura’s manga is undoubtedly one of the best short manga one can ever read.
24
Wolf Children
3 Volumes, 17 Chapters
Genre(s) |
Romance, Slice-of-Life |
---|---|
Published by |
Kodakawa Shoten |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Mamoru Hosoda |
Hana is an ordinary young adult whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and falls in love with a wolf man named Ookami. Their relationship is everything she has ever dreamed of, filled with love and joy. The couple soon get married and have two wolf children, Yuki and Ame. Determined to give their children a normal upbringing, Hana and Ookami live a quiet life in a corner of a city.
I have lived knowing nothing of the forest, so there is nothing I can teach you. Go into the wild. Know the world…
Unfortunately, their happiness turns into mourning as Ookami dies suddenly, leaving Hana to raise their children alone. Overcome with grief, she moves to a rural town far from the city where she first met her husband. Wolf Children follows Hana as she deals with the trauma inflicted by losing the love of her life while simultaneously trying to give her children everything they deserve. Although melancholic and heart-wrenching at times, the story beautifully explores the challenges of parenthood, overcoming trauma, and finding peace.
23
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
2 Volumes, 10 Chapters
Genre(s) |
Romance, Drama |
---|---|
Published by |
Futubasha |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Yoru Sumino |
Yoru Sumino’s I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is a heartbreaking love story that explores themes of loss and the fleeting nature of life. The manga follows an aloof and emotionally distant high school boy named Haruki “Boku” Shiga, who one day comes across his classmate Sakura Yamauchi’s private diary. As he learns that she is secretly suffering from a terminal illness, Yamauchi requests that he keep her condition a secret to respect her privacy.
If we were alone, we wouldn’t know we exist. It’s because of the relationships I have with people that I am living.
Although Haruki initially shows barely any sympathy to Sakura, as fate keeps bringing the duo together, he ends up becoming an important part of her life during her last days. The experiences reshape Boku’s perspective on life and death, leading to a profound enlightenment that challenges his indifference to human connection.
22
Dissolving Classroom
1 Volume, 5 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Horror |
---|---|
Published by |
Comic Motto! |
Demographic |
Josei |
Mangaka |
Junji Ito |
Dissolving Classroom is one of the many unique horror works penned by Junji Ito, a name that modern manga fans can’t get enough of. This horror mangaka has become a worldwide sensation, with his works tackling cosmic horror in a way that Lovecraftian fans will love. The fear of the unknown and the macabre is something that Junji Ito touches upon time and time again with his works, and Dissolving Classroom is a great example of the same.
It’s one of the best short manga that readers can get their hands on, even if some people feel that the element of horror is not as prominent in this title as some of Ito’s other works. Still, the amazing and nightmarish artwork that Ito has become known for rears its ugly head in this manga that is brief, to the point, and leaves a strong impression in the minds of readers.
21
Shino Can’t Say Her Name
1 Volume, 11 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Slice-of-Life, Drama |
---|---|
Published by |
pocopoco |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Shuzo Oshimi |
Social anxiety is something that a lot of people can understand, with Oshimi himself being pretty candid about his life before becoming a successful mangaka and how the anxiety of talking to people caused him to develop a stuttering problem that he found hard to get rid of. By channeling these experiences, this talented mangaka penned a short but riveting tale about a girl who has crippling social anxiety and finds it hard to talk.
The mockery she faces makes the problem worse, but one high schooler looks out for her when things look the bleakest. Becoming friends with a kind person only to see one of her supposed bullies join the group poses a dilemma that she tries to get over by making the Herculean effort of introducing herself in the climax of a simple and heartwarming tale. This makes Shino Can’t Say Her Name one of the best short manga people can get their hands on.
20
Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu
1 Volume, 10 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Slice-of-Life, Comedy |
---|---|
Published by |
Monthly Magazine Z |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Junji Ito |
Given how Junji Ito is mostly known for his horror work, it’s refreshing to see the mangaka channel his goofy side from time to time by drawing an autobiographical tale of his experience with two cats. However, he makes sure to retain the art style that made him such a phenomenon, resulting in these cats looking like some of the creepiest creatures in manga history.

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Once readers get past the unnerving nature of these drawings, they’ll be laughing in no time as Ito narrates the struggles he’s faced with these felines time and time again. Junji Ito’s Cat Diary is one of the best short manga for Junji Ito fans who want to see the diverse range of his skills and whether he can branch out of the horror genre from time to time.
19
Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man
2 Volumes, 8 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Action, Comedy, Drama, Romance |
---|---|
Published by |
Shonen Jump+ |
Demographic |
Shonen |
Mangaka |
Tatsuki Fujimoto |
Chainsaw Man has become such a major hit that the name of Tatsuki Fujimoto is on the tips of most people’s tongues. The amazing panel work and unique artistic flair of the mangaka have garnered mainstream interest, making it easy to see why people would want to see his earlier work.
The title of this manga makes it immediately clear what the subject matter is. Fujimoto’s work is displayed across eight volumes, tackling bizarre concepts and fun short stories that show flashes of the brilliance that went into Chainsaw Man.
18
No Longer Human
3 Volumes, 24 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Psychological horror |
---|---|
Published by |
Shogakukan |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Junji Ito |
No Longer Human is a novel written by Osamu Dazai, serving as a semi-autobiography of sorts. The protagonist is a despicable human being who ends up unable to reveal his true self to the world, slowly losing himself to a haze of drugs, alcohol, and debauchery until his life is nothing but a hollow shell.
I am convinced that human life is filled with many pure, happy, serene examples of insincerity, truly splendid of their kind of people to deceive one another without (strangely enough) any wounds being inflicted, of people who seem unaware even that they are deceiving one another.
It’s a tough read, especially knowing that the author took his own life soon after writing it. This haunting tale was adapted into a manga format by Junji Ito with unique additions of his own to make the story worth checking out for both fans of the novel and anyone who has yet to experience one of the most uncomfortable pieces of literature ever made.
17
Goodbye, Eri
1 Volume
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Drama, mystery |
---|---|
Published by |
Shueisha |
Demographic |
Shonen |
Mangaka |
Tatsuki Fujimoto |
Tatsuki Fujimoto has become one of the biggest and most beloved names in the manga community, with many people loving this man for his surreal and bizarre work that is accompanied by some of the best framing ever seen in manga. His work on Chainsaw Man is the reason why Fujimoto became so successful, but there are more stories by this mangaka that are great in their own right.

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One such story is Goodbye, Eri, a tragic and heartfelt tale that can be hilarious when the situation demands it. It’s a great one-shot that is long enough to get readers invested in the characters and the events that they go through.
16
Remina
1 Volume, 7 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Horror |
---|---|
Published by |
Big Comic Spirits Casual |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Junji Ito |
Featuring shades of Lovecraftian horror (something that Ito is famous for) coupled with the dangers of mob mentality, Remina is another fascinating work from one of the best modern horror mangaka of all time. The complex themes explored in Remina make it a thought-provoking read that can unnerve readers at a moment’s notice.
The idea of a planet-sized organism wiping out anything in its path is nightmare fuel in and of itself. And to know that this creature is coming to Earth and there’s nothing one can do is even more horrifying. Humanity’s response to this approaching threat is horrifying in its own way. Most readers would agree that such reactions are very possible in real life if such a scenario came to pass.
15
Duranki
1 Volume, 6 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Fantasy |
---|---|
Published by |
Hakusensha |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Kentaro Miura |
The legacy of Kentaro Miura will forever be cherished. His work on Berserk shaped the dark fantasy genre, influencing it in many ways. Of course, given Miura’s impressive talent, it’s only a given that he also tried his hand at other manga as well, with Duranki being a great example of how detailed and evocative his artwork is.
Each and every panel of this manga is brimming with passion. It’s a shame that Miura’s untimely death led to this series ending prematurely. However, there’s still something to be said about reading through the pages of an artist, even if his work may remain unfinished.
14
Gyo
2 Volumes, 21 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Horror, supernatural |
---|---|
Published by |
Shogakukan |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Junji Ito |
Gyo is a chilling manga with a ridiculous premise that could make people laugh. After all, it’s hard to imagine fish walking on robotic legs to be scary in the slightest. However, the story is a testament to Junji Ito’s brilliance as a mangaka. He manages to not only immerse people in this weird concept but genuinely make readers feel chills down their spine as they flip through every page.

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The horror in Gyo builds up a slow burn before paying off in dividends. It’s a huge part of what makes Ito so special, and why his work is so difficult to adapt in anime. Even the great Ufotable couldn’t do justice to Gyo in their OVA, which is saying something given how they’ve single-handedly turned Demon Slayer into one of the greatest shonen shows of all time.
13
Look Back
1 Volume
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Coming-of-age, drama, horror thriller |
---|---|
Published by |
Shueisha |
Demographic |
Shonen |
Mangaka |
Tatsuki Fujimoto |
Fujimoto is a mangaka who really knows how to reel his audiences in, serving up great stories that are a joy to uncover. His artistic brilliance can be seen in Look Back, a genuinely heartfelt tale with an incredible gut punch that will grip readers with its narrative.
Don’t look back in anger.
The friendship between Ayumu and Kyomoto is a beautiful thing, and readers will want the very best for both characters. It’s a simple yet great manga that is perfect for readers who are seeking out a brief one-shot to spend some time with.
12
Giganto Maxia
1 Volume, 7 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Adventure, post-apocalyptic, science fantasy |
---|---|
Published by |
Hakusensha |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Kentaro Miura |
Kentaro Miura is one of the greatest mangaka of all time, with his work on Berserk being legendary. The man established many elements of dark fantasy that have become commonplace, with Guts’ story being the stuff of legends.
Aside from Berserk, the late great artist has also worked on other shorter manga. Giganto Maxia is a great example. The unique world and fun fights present in this short manga series make for a fun time that readers can get through in one sitting.
11
Sensor
1 Volume, 7 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Horror |
---|---|
Published by |
Nemuki+ |
Demographic |
Shoujo |
Mangaka |
Junji Ito |
Another Lovecraftian masterpiece from the hands of Junji Ito, Sensor focuses more on the mystery of the setting instead of trying to outright scare the reader. The results are phenomenal and make for a fresh change of pace from Ito’s usual deluge of horror.

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Sensor‘s focus on a character-driven plot makes this page-turning mystery satisfying to read every step of the way. The story’s payoff hits even more if readers pay attention to the small details Ito has interspersed across the story.
10
Solanin
2 Volumes, 28 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Coming-of-age, romance, slice of life |
---|---|
Published by |
Shogakukan |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Inio Asano |
Two years after graduating college, Meiko is an unsatisfied office worker who pays rent for her boyfriend and herself because his part-time work as an illustrator doesn’t make enough to support them. However, feeling that life has more to offer, Meiko resigns and begins looking for another job as her boyfriend, Taneda, leans into his passion for music to make the most of their changing circumstances.
The world is drowning in weirdness and lies… and here we are, so used to it that we’re actually bored!
Solanin by Inio Asano tells a realistic story about settling into adulthood and the struggles of balancing work and life in two volumes. Their story may not shy away from the harshest moments of reality, but it doesn’t ignore the value of joy and companionship either.
9
The Gods Lie
1 Volume, 5 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Coming-of-age |
---|---|
Published by |
Kodansha |
Demographic |
Seinen |
Mangaka |
Kaori Ozaki |
The Gods Lie by Kaori Ozaki tells the story of an unpopular yet outgoing sixth grader named Natsuru Nanao and his unlikely friendship with a classmate who has to raise herself and her younger brother in a worn-down home because their parents don’t live with them. Over summer vacation, Nanao skips his soccer club to visit his new friend, Rio Suzumura, and experience a young love filled with affection and dark secrets.
As Nanao does his best to make wholesome memories with Rio, their circumstances make the single-volume manga a quick and compelling read.
8
Paradise Kiss
5 Volumes, 48 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Coming-of-age, Romance |
---|---|
Published by |
Shodensha |
Demographic |
Josei |
Mangaka |
Ai Yazawa |
Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss follows Yukari Hayasaka, an average high schooler who tries to live up to her mother’s expectations until she meets a group of fashion designers from the nearby art school. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, Yukari decides to pursue modeling and agrees to perform at their upcoming show.

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While her modeling debut, school work, and arguments with her mother already complicate Yukari’s life, she also seeks the attention and hard-earned affection of one of the designers. Paradise Kiss has five volumes, but its drama, romance, and stunning designs make Yukari’s transition into a model engaging from its unlikely beginning to its emotional end.
7
Go For It, Nakamura!
1 Volume, 11 Chapters
Check it out on Amazon!
Genre(s) |
Comedy, boys’ love |
---|---|
Published by |
Akane Shinsha |
Demographic |
Josei |
Mangaka |
Syundei |
Nakamura is a quiet, gay high school student who loves his pet octopus and his classmate Aiki Hirose. However, no matter how hard he tries, Nakamura fears he won’t be able to hold a conversation with his crush. Friendship, much less a relationship, seems like a distant possibility for Nakamura and Hirose, but guided by his feelings, Nakamura tries his best to close the distance between them.
While Nakamura’s romantic pursuits seem like they will continue until he has an answer for his feelings, Go For It, Nakamura! and its sequel by Syundei are light-hearted boys’ love manga well worth every moment it takes to enjoy them.