Finding dark romance that isn’t you know, romanticising the darkness, is a hassle and a half. If you’re not willing or able to go in the trenches looking for a BL manga that’s dark in themes, but still a great read (for adults) we’ve got you!
The End of the World with You
- Genre: BL: Yaoi, Post-Apocalyptic, Mystery, Romance
- Mangaka: Marukido Maki
- Publisher: On Blue Comics
- Published: February 2022
- 2 Volumes
In 10 Days, the world will end. Masumi who has had nothing but bad luck his whole life is working a dead-end job in a black company when he hears the news. He decides to game the rest of his life away when the servers get overloaded and he has to go out for entertainment. He goes to a nearby library where he finds his ex that ruined his life. Can they make it to the end of the world?
Though this 2-parter has a bit of a slow beginning, when it starts, it runs! The premise is interesting and if you think the end of the world is the worst thing that could happen, just you wait because The End of the World with You delivers.
The Summer Hikaru Died | Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- Genre: BL: Shonen Ai, Cosmic Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Slice of Life, Romance
- Mangaka: Mokumoku Ren
- Publisher: Young Ace Up, Kadokawa
- Published: August 2021 – ongoing
- 3 Volumes
The Summer Hikaru Died is about Yoshiki and the thing wearing his best friend’s face, “Hikaru”. They live in a cosy village with a forest nearby. Everything is peaceful until “Hikaru” comes back from the forest… a little wrong.
I sped through this manga; it was so good! The cosmic horror is just enough to leave you unsettled while the romance makes you wince because nothing is right here. Though this manga is ongoing, you should definitely give it a try.
Yatamomo
- Genre: BL: Yaoi, Slice of Life, Tragedy, Drama, Romance
- Mangaka: Harada
- Publisher: Take Shobo
- 2 Volumes
Though the blurb calls it a rom-com, it’s a rom-com the way Hannibal is a rom-com. As in, not at all, and also very much so. In this manga, we follow Momo who has a really messed up life but just coasts by on vibes and abuse. He meets Yata who on the surface just seems like a sweet, caring guy. Momo sees the perfect chance to use him for an easy life.
Like much of Harada’s work, this comes with so many warnings, the most glaring one being sexual assault. If you can stomach that, at least you will be rewarded by it not being romanticized. The art is very much Harada-like, that is, funny and swooping and as dark as the topics.
Twittering Birds Never Fly | Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai
- Genre: BL: Yaoi, Organized Crime, Drama, Romance
- Mangaka: Yoneda Kou
- Publisher: Hertz
- Published: January 2013 – ongoing
- 8 Volumes
Yashiro is a middling leader in a crime syndicate and the president of his own enterprise. Doumeki is an ex-con and an ex-cop. Fresh out of prison, he’s looking for work. Doumeki piques Yashiro’s interest. And around them, there’s corruption and violence and betrayal.
On our channel, I keep hyping up this manga and series of anime movies because… anime movies! It’s a series that has had me by the throat for so many years. If you want to cry over grown men being treated terribly by life for years—decades—definitely give this a read and a watch!
Coyote
- Genre: BL: Yaoi, Urban Fantasy, Organized Crime, Romance
- Mangaka: Ranmaru Zariya
- Publisher: Daria Comics
- Published: December 2016 – ongoing
- 3 Volumes
A werewolf and a human fall in love but worlds and secrets separate them. Marlene, the human, learns of his lycanthropy but is only more interested. Coyote, the werewolf, rebuffs him—but for how long?
This manga is a true pageturner! The art is striking, the details subtle. If you want to read about messy relationships being made worse by lies, corruption, and literal lycanthropy, definitely give this one a chance.
What are some of your favourite dark romances?
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