10 Best Manga Like Bungō Stray Dogs

Bungo Stray Dogs might never end up in the history books among the “Big Three” anime series, but it’s definitely a title to look out for. This seinen title follows the members of the “Armed Detective Agency” as they try to protect Yokohama from the mafia. A popular title with a respectable fandom, Bungo Stray Dogs has been adapted into several media and with more material on the way, we have decided to talk about the series a bit. This list is going to include a total of the 10 best manga works like Bungō Stray Dogs you need to watch. The works are going to be listed in no particular order, since our only goal here is to bring you a list of 10 titles that you can read if you like Bungō Stray Dogs, so be sure to check them all out.

1. Durarara!!

Original Run: April 25, 2004 – January 10, 2014
Number of Volumes: 13 + gaiden

What it’s about: For a long time, young Mikado Ryūgamine lived only in the small town where he was born and could not even come to class trips. At the start of high school, he wants to participate in the exciting life of a big city and accepts when his childhood friend Masaomi Kida invites him to a school in Ikebukuro.

Masaomi shows his friend the city and introduces him to some of his friends, and finally, he warns of people and gangs that Mikado should better avoid. These include the violent Shizuo Heiwajima, the information seller Izaya Orihara and a mysterious gang called the Dollars. On his very first day, he also manages to see an urban legend: a headless motorcyclist who works as a courier for the Ikebukuro underground.

The motorcyclist lives with Shinra Kishitani, a doctor who works for the criminal in Ikebukuro. 20 years ago, the Dullahan named Celty Sturluson came to Japan from Ireland in search of her lost head. Here she hopes to get more information about her head, which she feels close to her while carrying out assignments for the Tokyo underworld. She met her roommate, who is interested in her nature but also in her as a woman, on her trip when he was still a child.

Why you should read it: This light novel series by Ryōgo Narita is definitely something that fans of Bungō Stray Dogs. It is stylistically similar, it has a very intriguing plot with supernatural elements, and characters that will remind you of the ones you’ve read about in the pages of Bungō Stray Dogs, so this is definitely a title you should check out, regardless of the fact that it is a light novel and not a manga.

2. Baccano!

Original Run: February 10, 2003 – present
Number of Volumes: 22

What it’s about: Thematically, a large part of the action takes place in the 1930s at the time of Prohibition and the beginning of the Great Depression after the 1929 stock market crash in the United States. Large parts of the city are in the hands of criminal organizations that are involved in small wars and assassinations. The plot itself is discussed in a conversation between the Deputy Chief of the Daily Days and young Carol.

The girl tries to commit to Firo as the charismatic protagonist but is immediately asked by her strict companion not only to concentrate on parts of the events but to look at them as a whole. This results in a wild narrative structure that frequently switches between places and times without prior notice. It is up to the viewer to put the individual pieces of the story together to form a whole.

Why you should read it: Yet another light novel series by Ryōgo Narita, Baccano! is work that Bungō Stray Dog fans will definitely enjoy. Not only does Narita know how to write a great story (Bleach fans can also attest to that), but he was also able to hit the jackpot as far as Bungō Stray Dog fans are concerned, as Baccano! is basically Bungō Stray Dog in a steampunk setting. It is also ongoing, which is great for fans of longer series.

3. Darker than Black

Original Release: March 24, 2007 – November 24, 2007
Number of Volumes: 2

What it’s about: Ten years ago, a mysterious area known as Hell’s Gate appeared in Tokyo, devastating the landscape and altering the sky. The celestial bodies disappeared and were replaced by false bodies. Shortly after, we discover the existence of human beings endowed with supernatural powers called “pactisants”. Today, a vast wall has been built to prevent anyone from approaching Hell’s Gate. Each false star corresponds to a contracting party, vibrates when it uses its power, and disappears if it dies. Pactisants are, therefore, generally designated using an identifier from an astronomical catalog. Many nations use pactisants as secret agents or assassins.

Why you should read it: Darker than Black has only two volumes of the manga and you might think that the title is not worth your time, but the resulting anime was one of the best of its generation and it is a truly brilliant work. It is a bit darker and a bit more fantasy than Bungō Stray Dogs, but if you’ve loved the latter, Darker than Black is definitely going to be a great pick for you.

4. Banana Fish

Original Run: May 1985 – April 1994
Number of Volumes: 19

What it’s about: In 1973, some young Americans are stationed in Vietnam. More and more Americans are mysteriously dying. Displaying symptoms similar to those of the deceased, Griffin Callenreese shoots several of his friends who died in a killing spree before collapsing and muttering the words “Banana Fish.” In 1985, Griffin’s seventeen-year-old brother Aslan, known to everyone as Ash Lynx, leads street gangs in New York City. Highly intelligent and skilled with weapons, Ash was kidnapped as a child and forced into prostitution.

Among other things, he was the lover of mafia boss Dino Golzine, who gave Ash the power he has on the streets. Ash takes care of his brother, who has become dependent on care due to the incident in Vietnam, and continues to only utter the words “Banana Fish”. Japanese photographer and journalist Junichi Ibe arrives in America with nineteen-year-old Eiji Okumura; they know cops who investigate mysterious suicides and see a connection to Ash in them. Ash received a pill containing the drug “Banana Fish”, which is linked to his brother’s suicide and rampage, on a side street from a man who later died from his injuries. The cops introduce Ibe and Eiji to Ash, who quickly develops affection for Eiji.

Why you should read it: Banana Fish is actually a manga classic that received an anime adaptation much later. Still, the original manga is considered to be a classic of the genre by some, and although it doesn’t rely heavily on the supernatural like Bungō Stray Dog, its mysteries and thrills are more than enough to satisfy manga readers, especially if they like classics.

5. Noragami

Original Run: December 6, 2010 – present
Number of Volumes: 25 + 2 specials

Why you should watch it: Before she was struck by a bus while attempting to stop someone from being driven over, Hiyori Iki was an ordinary middle school student. Later revealed to be God Yato, the stranger is dressed in a sports suit and a scarf. She turns into half an ayakashi, a monster, as a result of this tragedy. She asks Yato to help her return to normal when she runs into him again and discovers that he is a deity. However, Yato recently misplaced his sacred sword (shinki), a different magical creature that aids a deity and increases his might.

He is likewise a weak god who is only very little recognized. When an Ayakashi attacks both of them, Yato names the spirit of a boy Yukine and chooses him to be the next Shinki. This turns out to be a good weapon, but because of his quick passing, he was quite insecure and impetuous. Yato initially is unable to assist Hiyori, not even with Yukine’s aid. He sees that Mayu, his previous weapon, is now working for him as he goes to Tenjin, the deity of instruction.

Why you should read it: Noragami combines a lot of traditional shonen elements into its urban fantasy plot, which is why it might not be the first pick for hardcore fans of the Bungō Stray Dogs manga, but it is still a great title that will definitely entertain you. Noragami is still ongoing, so there is a lot of material to read, but it’s worth your time, definitely.

6. Karneval 

Original Run: August 28, 2007 – October 28, 2021
Number of Volumes: 28

What it’s about: The roughly 13-year-old Nai lived with 18-year-old Karoku for as long as he can remember. But one day, he disappeared. Looking for him, Nai only finds his bracelet among puddles of blood. As he continues to search, he meets the 15-year-old thief Gareki in an old property who is just about to plunder it. Nai joins forces with the intelligent Gareki, but soon the two are targeted by two organizations. On the one hand, they are being pursued by Circus, a state organization that takes action against particularly dangerous criminals. On the other hand, there is Kafka, whose members secretly carry out forbidden genetic experiments.

Why you should read it: Karneval is more of a fantasy title than else, but it is still an interesting read if you like a bit of diversity, which you should if you’re a Bungō Stray Dogs fan. Still, Karneval has a lot of great aspects on its own, it doesn’t have too many volumes and is a truly entertaining read, and fans of Bungō Stray Dogs should like it as well.

7. Kemono Jihen

Original Run: December 2, 2016 – present
Number of Volumes: 17

What it’s about: The Kemono Agency for Supernatural Phenomena sends detective Kohachi Inugami to a remote village. For some time now, dead animals have been found there on the new moon, whose innards have been eaten. In the village, Inugami meets the neglected boy Kabane, who is avoided by all villagers and, instead of going to school, works in the fields.

As it turns out, Kabane is a half-ghoul whose true nature is suppressed by a lifestone from his parents. But behind the incidents is another being that Inugami is able to kill with Kabane’s help. With the boy’s true identity revealed, he cannot remain in the village and is taken to Tokyo by Inugami.

Why you should read it: Kemono Jihen is an ongoing manga series that is more on the monster and supernatural side than Bungō Stray Dogs, but it has a lot of common elements and is a really interesting read. Bungō Stray Dogs fans should enjoy this title’s quirkiness and the fact that it manages to combine dark fantasy with a modern-day setting.

8. Tokyo Ghoul

Original Run: September 8, 2011 – September 18, 2014 / October 16, 2014 – July 5, 2018
Number of Volumes: 14 / 16

What it’s about: The story of Tokyo Ghoul revolves around the student Ken Kaneki, who falls in love with a young woman named Rize Kamishiro. After meeting her, she bites his shoulder in a secluded alley and reveals that she is a ghoul, which shocks Ken. As Rize is about to eat Ken, several large metal poles fall on her from the construction site of a building. Roze dies in the process, while Ken is rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

After recovering, he is released from the hospital. On the day of his release, he finds out that he is no longer human. He looks in the mirror, and shivers run down his spine because he now has one “red eye.” He realizes that Rize’s organs were transplanted into him in the hospital. Since he now owns Rize’s organs, he is a so-called and very rarely occurring “half-ghoul.”

Why you should read it: Sui Ishida’s modern masterpiece is still one of the most popular and talked-about manga of the modern era. The story of Ken Kaneki might not have as much in common with the Bungō Stray Dogs manga as you’d expect, but the overall combination of supernatural elements and dark, urban fantasy is why fans of Bungō Stray Dogs should read Tokyo Ghoul; also, we have to warn you that the style is very, very different.

9. Hamatora

Original Run: November 21, 2013 – December 11, 2014
Number of Volumes: 3

What it’s about: Young Nice works as a detective in his own office, called Hamatora (“Yokohama Troubleshooter”) in Yokohama. He has a reputation for taking on any case, especially extraordinary ones. When solving the assignments, not only his powers of deduction and perception help him, but also his minimum – a special ability that was cultivated in him. He was also at the Falcutas Academy, where those with a minimum of talent are trained to then hold high positions in the state. But Nice hated the training there and left the academy to set up his own business with his young partner Hajime.

While he has the ability to move five meters at the speed of sound, Hajime is unusually strong – and unusually voracious at the same time. To bring Nice back to the academy, the star student Murasaki is sent after him. He should convince him to return or kill Nice. At first, he is amazed by his way of working and dealing with him, and he refuses to recognize his talent as a detective. Then he is repeatedly surprised by Nice’s success and Murasaki’s image of his target changes. All attempts to persuade him to return also fail.

Why you should read it: With just three volumes, Hamatora is better known for its anime adaptation than the manga, but exactly because of that – the manga should be a great choice if you’re in a dilemma. Hamatora shares a lot of the same elements that you’ve loved in Bungō Stray Dogs, so this should be a quick and entertaining read for you.

10. Kekkai Sensen

Original Run: January 5, 2009 – February 19, 2015
Number of Volumes: 10

What it’s about: In New York City, a breach between the outside world and Earth first appeared three years ago. New York was completely annihilated and rebuilt during that horrible night, enclosing residents of the city as well as creatures from other dimensions in a bubble. The city, now known as Hellsalem’s Lot, is actually a paranormal melting pot where magic and lunacy coexist with the commonplace and where every kind of human scum works together to control the supernatural. The mysterious super-agents of Libra are engaged in a fierce battle to stop someone from breaching the Bull and unleashing the horrors of New Jerusalem.

Why you should read it: Kekkai Sansen is a manga series that is both similar to Bungō Stray Dogs and quite different. It has a lot of supernatural elements and very similar characters, but it also has a lot of humor and is much lighter in its tone than Bungō Stray Dogs. Still, the artistic style and the overall idea are similar, and the plus side is that it doesn’t have too many volumes so you’ll be able to read it quickly.