Updated May 12, 2024 by testing

Villains have been growing in popularity and catching people’s hearts recently, and we all seem to lean more towards people with strong, dark, and mysterious personalities (psst, if you’re looking for hot-looking MCs with or without the dark streak, you can click here! ). I mean, who wouldn’t? In these trying times, they just somehow started making sense.

A villain arc is always an exciting part of a good manga, now imagine a whole series dedicated to them! Yup, we have a collection of manga where the MC is a villain recommended especially for you. If you love morally gray or even morally corrupt characters, then this is the perfect list for you.

 

MANGA WITH VILLANOUS MC

 

18. Prison Lab| Kangoku Jikken

Information
Title	Prison Lab
Alternative Titles	Kangoku Jikken/ 監獄実験〈プリズンラボ〉
Genre	Horror, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Mizuse, Chiho (Art), Kantetsu (Story)
Status	Finished
Volume	10
Chapters	80

I think everyone agrees when I say bullying sucks, even the best of us would want to give bullies a taste of their own medicine. Imagine if you can and not just that, you’d be provided funds to realize all your plans. That is what Prison Lab is all about.

Aito Eiyama was a weak-willed student, picked on by his classmates. He wanted an opportunity to turn things around and was given that chance when a mysterious invitation for “Captivity Game” came in the mail.

The game rules were simple: keep someone captive for a month without your identity being found out, you may also do anything you want to your prisoner— except kill them. At the end of the month, if you remain anonymous to your captive, you win 10 Million Yen, if they figure out who you are, however, they win the money instead.

More interested in the idea of revenge than the money, there was only one target for Aito: his bully and the cause of his despair, Aya Kirishima.
(And if you’re ever hungry for more of sweet, sweet revenge you can check out our recommendations for the best revenge mangas!)

Even if we all do agree that bullying sucks, there’s just some line we shouldn’t cross even in the name of revenge, which Aito was willing to. But like they say you better watch out when a nice person gets angry, maybe a nice guy once broken makes one very effective villain.

17. Peephole| Ana Satsujin

Information
Title	Peephole
Alternative Titles	穴殺人
Genre	Horror, Romance
Type	Manga
Author	Larsson (Story & Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	8
Chapters	135

Have you ever felt so burnt out and defeated by life you just want to take a nap for an hour… or 20 (or maybe even better still, forever)? If you have then, congratulations! You’re halfway into being the main character of Peephole.

Etsurou Korosu just sucks at life so much that he even fudged unaliving himself. But that might just be the turning point for him—or not.

A hole in the wall resulted from his failed attempt to hang himself via a hook. From here, he gets to spy on his neighbor, the beautiful Rio Miyachi. She proves to be more than just a pretty face as she goes through her peculiar hobby- murder. Rio realizes Etsurou has discovered her secret and in a bizarre twist doesn’t ‘silence’ him but offers to date him instead. Etsurou accepts and is now on an adventure of a lifetime.

Although our MC does not do anything more heinous (other than being a voyeur), he doesn’t really do anything to stop the evil deeds done in front of him either. Which sets him apart from the other types of villainous main characters in this list.

 

16. Revenge Classroom| Fukishuu Kyoushitsu

Information
Title	Revenge Classroom
Alternative Titles	Fukushuu Kyoushitsu/復讐教室
Genre	Horror, Mystery
Type	Manga
Author	Yamazaki, Karasu (Story), Kaname, Ryuu (Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	7
Chapters	25

You will be seeing a lot of bullying in this list, it’s a global problem after all, and apparently, the best way to make a villain out of someone.

Ayana Fujisawa does not have any despicable traits though, despite that, she still faced a lot of harassment from her classmates. Not wanting to ruffle any feathers, she was ready to keep quiet and keep a low profile—that is until the harassment escalated and someone pushed her into oncoming traffic. While recovering from her injuries she realizes it’s not going to stop unless she does something about it.

People who bullied her, those who just stood and laughed, and those who turned a blind eye, she vows to ruin them all.

Giving off the same vibe as Prison Lab, Ayana gives a fresh take on revenge as she plans everything from the shadows. She’s not directly involved as she ruins her bullies, may it be their reputation, their morale, or their bodies.

 

15. Dead Tube

Information
Title	Dead Tube
Alternative Titles	DEAD Tube ～デッドチューブ～
Genre	Erotica, Gore
Type	Manga
Author	Kitakawa, Touta (Art), Yamaguchi, Mikoto (Story)
Status	Publishing
Volume	19
Chapters	81

A couple of years ago, snuff films and crush videos flooded the internet and people were apparently paid generously for it. Dead Tube is similar, except no cute animals were harmed making their videos.

Tomohiro Machiya, a Film Research Club member, was asked by Mai Mashiro to be her cameraman for the next two days. Mai, the ace of the school’s swim team proceeded to do mundane things on camera, going out with friends, cooking, going out on a date, and absolutely gutting her date—-why are the pretty ones always the craziest in these manga?!

Our protagonist is stuck smack dab in the middle of Dead Tube, a site where gore generates the most views. Organized by an unknown but influential group, people who participate compete for the most clicks and 10 Million Yen per round, and losers get…well, charged for all the crimes committed by the other participants in the name of clout.

Yikes! It’s one thing to keep quiet about crimes done right in front of you but it’s another thing to film, get paid, AND find excitement in them. Sheesh, are you even human Tomohiro?

 

14. When Night Falls| Yoru ni Naru to Boku Wa

Information
Title	Yoru ni Naru to Boku wa (At night I move)
Alternative Titles	When Night Falls/ 夜になると僕は
Genre	Action, Drama, Supernatural
Type	Manga
Author	Masuko, Yuu (Story), Ninomae, Kakeru (Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	4
Chapters	34

If someone were to take the life of someone you cherished would you forgive them? If not, what would you do? When Night Falls discusses the answer to what could happen if you chose the former.

Wakuru Mochizuki is the younger brother of a murder victim, Saya Mochizuki. Her assailants were minors and were protected by law, they were dealt with lightly and even had their privacy upheld. Now, 8 years later, our main character seeks them out, making sure they remember and regret what they’ve done to his sister.

After finding and attempting revenge on one of his sister’s attackers, he failed and sustained injuries that caused him to be admitted to a hospital. In the midst of this tragic defeat, he realized he had the ability he called “Golden Slumber,” an ability that lets him enter people’s dreams and affect them in real-life.

I, for one, understand Wakuru’s desire to harm these people but I guess that doesn’t really excuse the intent to torture and murder these people… right?

 

13. Hell Girl| Jigoku Shoujo

Information
Title	Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl)
Alternative Titles	Girl from Hell/地獄少女
Genre	Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Kodaka, Nao (Story), Etou, Miyuki (Story & Art), Hatano, Hiyoko (Story)
Status	Finished
Volume	9
Chapters	40

Have you heard of the saying, “An eye for an eye makes the world blind”? Would you want to take action against someone who wronged you? What if you don’t even have to lift a finger and all you have to do is type their name? No, this isn’t a digital remake of Death Note, it’s Hell Girl.

Ai Enma is a simple young girl in a small sleepy village. Or at least she used to be before the villagers decided to sacrifice her in a ritual killing, with the person who she trusted the most shoveling the first mound of dirt into her grave. She comes back to life and exacts her revenge on the village by setting everything ablaze.

Now Ai, spends her afterlife running the Hell Girl website, doling out vengeance by request. Damning two souls each time: the aggressor being ferried to hell immediately and the person who requested it once they died.

Ironic isn’t it? Ai which means love ended up being a vengeful spirit. Then again, did you know Ai can also be read as ‘accomplice’? But her name is never written in kanji so I guess we’ll never know!

 

12. Lupin III | Lupin Sansei

Information
Title	Lupin the 3rd
Alternative Titles	Lupin Sansei/ルパン三世
Genre	Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Type	Manga
Author	Monkey Punch (Story & Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	14
Chapters	109

Soooooooo much revenge, anger, and darkness! Fortunately, this manga doesn’t have most of that, it’s all about grand larceny and a good old heist, it’s Lupin III.

Arsene Lupin came from a family filled with high-stakes bandits lining their pockets with the elite’s riches. Different from those who came before him, Lupin pillages the questionably rich to fund his lifestyle.

But burglary is not a heist if you don’t have a good team, fortunately, he has just that. Joined by Daisuke Jigen, a great marksman who never misses, Goemon Ishikawa, a master swordsman who can cut through anything, and Fujiko Mine, the group’s femme fatale they pilfer the most valuable items right under the nose of Interpol. 

We have seen so many dark villains in this list that sometimes it’s refreshing to read about one with a good sense of humor and penchant for wacky antics. Goes to show sometimes a bad guy doesn’t need a reason to be a bad guy, he can just simply be one for the heck of it! (Do you enjoy manga like this? Try our Action-comedy recommendations!)

 

11. Angels of Death| Satsuriku no Tenshi

Information
Title	Satsuriku no Tenshi (Angels of Death)
Alternative Titles	Angel of Massacre/殺戮の天使
Genre	Suspense
Type	Manga
Author	Sanada, Makoto (Story), Nazuka, Kudan (Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	12
Chapters	54

So think about this, you’re a young child who just witnessed a murder and on your way to therapy, you’re knocked out. When you come to, you’re in a place you don’t recognize and the only thing you can remember is your name. Angels of Death is a manga adapted from the JRPG of the same title and tells the story of what could possibly be a young girl’s worst day.

Rachel Gardner, 13, is unlike many girls her age. She’s religious, soft-spoken, and suicidal. After waking up in an unknown location where she has been deemed a ‘sacrifice’ to a game she doesn’t even understand, she meets Zack, a serial killer and a participant in the game. This is when Ray, as she is also known, promptly asked Zach to kill her for the sole reason of her wanting to die.

Zach, in a weird twist of fate, also becomes a sacrifice in the game and ends up forming an alliance with Rachel with the promise to fulfill her wish to die once they’re free.

Ray is such a nice girl if not for her suicidal tendency, isn’t she? Wait. This is a list of villain MCs right? So why exactly is she here?

 

10. Squid Girl | Shinryaku! Ika Musume

Information
Title	Shinryaku! Ika Musume
Alternative Titles	Squid Girl, The invader comes from the bottom of the sea!/侵略!イカ娘
Genre	Comedy, Slice of Life
Type	Manga
Author	Anbe, Masahiro (Story & Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	22
Chapters	419

With the ocean making up 70% of the planet, are we not worried that somewhere out there is some Lovecraftian nightmare waiting to punish us for all the pollution we dump in our waters? And that is exactly what Squid Girl is about.

Ika leaves her home from the depths to enslave humanity, angered from having her home be turned into a dump. With tentacles that can lift heavy objects and can even chop a fully grown tree in half, can humanity even stand a chance?

Upon getting on land, however, she meets Eiko, Chizuru, and Takeru Aizawa whose house she ended up staying in. The three learn to keep her under control (usually by bribing her with food) and teach her human customs.

I bet you never thought you’d read about a villain main character from a comedy manga but Ika did want to enslave and punish humanity so she does count…even if she is not very good at it.

9. Jormungand

Information
Title	Jormungand
Alternative Titles	ヨルムンガンド
Genre	Action, Drama
Type	Manga
Author	Takahashi, Keitarou (Story & Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	11
Chapters	70

What would you be willing to do for money? Would you be willing to pit nations against each other?  Jormungand follows the story of an arms dealer during a war-riddled time.

Koko Hekmatyar is an arms dealer selling in the guise of being an international shipping corporation.
She peddles them to different countries with her group of bodyguards in tow. After all, a business like hers always has the potential to go sideways.

Her team consists of a lot of military veterans and the recent addition, Jonah, a child soldier who ironically hates arms dealers.

Unlike most main characters, Koko is neither a fighter nor a gunslinger, we watch her realize her plans with cunning tactics and cutthroat practices. With a team of questionable people, I don’t think it’s fair to call Koko the only villain here.

8. Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator| Brutal: Satsujin Keisatsukan no Kokuhaku

Information
Title	Brutal: Satsujin Keisatsukan no Kokuhaku
Alternative Titles	Brutal: Satsujin Kansatsukan no Kokuhaku, Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator/ブルータル 殺人警察官の告白
Genre	Drama, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Koga, Kei (Story), Izawa, Ryou (Art)
Status	Publishing
Volume	5
Chapters	19

I think by now we have come across that Tumblr post about killing murderers. For those who are not familiar, it says that if you ever killed a killer remains the same—so you should kill two (or more if you’re so inclined). Well  Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator might have seen that and decided to follow the advice.

Hiroki Dan is the son of a former police superintendent General and probably every woman’s dream guy, a successful detective, talented and handsome. What more would you want in a man?

Collecting karmic debt, he goes around doling out punishment to criminals the law can’t punish. He does not simply kill his targets to punish them, he tortures and makes them suffer, usually making them go through what they make others go through. By his own words, he claims he does this to collect good deeds and see his deceased friend in heaven.

What. A. Man. Am I right? I heard he’s pretty good with children too! The fact that he’s a serial killer isn’t too much of a deal breaker right?

7. Elfen Lied

Information
Genre	Action, Drama, Horror, Romance, Supernatural, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Okamoto, Lynn (Story & Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	12
Chapters	113

Every time I wish to have superpowers, I almost immediately take it back because manga like Elfen Lied reminds me that we are not ready for things we do not understand.

Lucy is a newly mutated species of human, called Diclonus. They look very similar to normal humans except for two tiny horns on their head and something called “Vectors,” telepathic invisible limbs. For years, she has been kept hidden, and when an opportunity presented, she tried to escape the facility. It was during this that she received a head injury that caused her to develop a second child-like personality named Nyuu.

Heavily injured, she still managed to get away far enough to be discovered by Kouta, a university student. Little did he know this act of kindness is going to flip his life upside-down as he becomes a target of other Diclonus and a special assault team meant to recapture Lucy.

I guess people would fight tooth and nail for their freedom. I can almost excuse her homicidal behavior—almost.

 

 

6. Akumetsu

Information
Title	Akumetsu
Alternative Titles	アクメツ
Genre	Action, Drama, Suspense, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Tabata, Yoshiaki (Story), Yugo, Yuuki (Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	18
Chapters	162

Imagine if you could clone yourself and each clone had your memories, and any talent or skill that you’ve learned, what would you do? If you haven’t any idea yet and want to take note, you may want to read Akumetsu.

Shou seems to be a typical, easy-going, and funny high school student. That is until Shiina Nagasawa, his best friend, decided to sell herself to rich businessmen and politicians due to her family’s financial problems. To her horror, on her first night on the job, Shou came wearing a mask and killed the man that was supposed to be her client! And as if things can’t get any worse, the man she thought was Shou blew up his own head afterwards. After everything that has happened, you can imagine her surprise when she meets Shou in school the next day!

We find out there are endless Shous out there. A product of an experiment the Shous found each other and hatched a plan. To get rid of anyone they deem to be  ‘evil-doers’. Presenting themselves as a terrorist group, Akumetsu. They go around Japan assassinating their targets.

So we still agree that if you murder only the corrupt and the evil-doers you’re STILL a bad guy, right?  As we go down this list I’m starting to understand them—just a little though!

5. Homunculi

Information
Title	Homunculus
Alternative Titles	ホムンクルス
Genre	Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Yamamoto, Hideo (Story & Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	15
Chapters	166

I’m kind of relieved to be born in this century. We can all be as weird or as normal as we want without fear of the town doctor drilling a hole into our heads. Did you know that until the 16th century, a doctor may drill a hole in your skull if you were behaving badly? Why? Because they think you’re being possessed and boring a hole in your head will free that evil spirit. Why am I discussing these grisly details? Because Homunculi started because of trepanning of course!

Susumu Nakoshi is either a mysterious man, a compulsive liar, or both who seemed to have recently lost his job and home. Residing in his car, he socializes with the local homeless people while claiming they’re not in the same situation. One day, his car got towed, forcing him to choose, find the money to pay for it, or be literally without a home.

Enter Manabu Ito, a medical student who offered our MC 700,000 Yen if he agrees to undergo trepanation in the name of science. According to Manabu, the procedure is supposed to unlock one’s sixth sense and he wanted to disprove it. Contrary to his belief the procedure actually works and starts showing Susumu people as monster-like creatures called Homunculi. Now the pair goes around town trying to ‘help’ people rid of their monsters. Sometimes through dubious means, whether they like it or not.

 

I don’t appreciate people trying to take my free will—even if it means getting rid of my monsters. I especially don’t like being duped into doing something. I am not the only one, right?

 

4. Saga of Tanya The Evil| Youjo Senki

Information
Title	Youjo Senki (The Saga of Tanya the Evil)
Alternative Titles	幼女戦記
Genre	Isekai, Military, Reincarnation
Type	Manga
Author	Isekai, Military, Reincarnation
Status	Publishing
Volume	12
Chapters	70

Imagine being an atheist who has recently died and found out there is an afterlife. How brave are you to blame your lack of fate on the god before you? For the main character of Saga of Tanya the Evil, the answer would be, very brave.

Tanya Degurechaff is the reincarnated form of a recently dead, unnamed Japanese office worker. Upon facing god, or Being X as he was called, our MC decided to blame him for his being an atheist. Claiming that he as a person who lived in a scientific society can’t just believe in baseless things like magic and faith. Being X, highly offended, decided to reincarnate him in an alternate world where magic is everything.

Now living in alternate-Germany during World War I, Tanya has two choices: die a natural death or worship being X otherwise, her soul will be sent to hell to be punished for all her past life’s wrongdoing. Using her past life’s knowledge and ruthlessness she plans on climbing the ranks in the military and living a safe, cushy life as an office worker far from the front lines.

I must admit there is something irresistibly adorable about a little girl commanding a group of grown-ups, even if she is quite merciless with them. I guess this is one villain I have to root for, I just can’t resist her!

 

3. Moriarty the Patriot| Yuukoku no Moriarty

Information
Title	Moriarty the Patriot
Alternative Titles	Yuukoku no Moriarty / 憂国のモリアーティ
Genre	Mystery, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Takeuchi, Ryousuke (Story), Miyoshi, Hikaru (Art)
Status	Publishing
Volume	18
Chapters	72

Have you ever read Sherlock Holmes, or maybe even watched BBC’s Sherlock and immediately locked in on Moriarty? Sherlock’s archenemy, so equally intelligent that they just seem to be one step behind the other? Have you ever wanted to know more about him? You’re in luck because Moriarty the Patriot shines the light on the person you have been raving to know about!

William James Moriarty is the second-born son of the Moriarty family, or at least that’s what he seems to be. William was originally raised as an orphan together with a boy named Louis before the two were adopted into Albert Moriarty’s family. Now a part of a reputable family and made aware of the corruption of the British Nobility at such a young age, he developed a disdain for them and vowed to one day destroy, from the inside, the class system that made life difficult for them.

In his quest to correct the failing system, he plans elaborate schemes to kill nobles. In one such scheme, he comes across Sherlock who came to the conclusion that he must have been involved in the murder. Intrigued, Moriarty decided to frame him to further test his skills.

Sherlock and Moriarty’s battle of wits has always been my guilty pleasure. There’s just something about intelligence that I find alluring, don’t you? For this iteration of the story though, I have to say Moriarty is starting to make a lot of sense to me.

2. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion| Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch

Information
Title	Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch)
Alternative Titles	コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ
Genre	Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
Type	Manga
Author	Taniguchi, Gorou (Story), Ookouchi, Ichirou (Story), Majiko! (Art)
Status	Finished
Volume	8
Chapters	40

If you were given the chance to control people’s minds would you do it and if you would, what would you do? If you’re not yet familiar, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion shows us just what someone might use it for.

Lelouch Lamperouge is an exiled prince of the Britannian Empire, the alternate world equivalent of the Americas, to Japan as a bargaining chip to lure the government into a false sense of security with his sister, Nunally vi Brittania. After the siblings’ arrival, Britannia launched an attack and successfully defeated Japan. Due to his history with the Empire, however, instead of leaping for joy, Lelouch chooses to stay in Japan (renamed Area 11) and vowed vengeance against his father and the rest of the Britannian Empire.

Years pass and he has assimilated into his life in Area 11, he eventually gets involved in a terrorist attack that caused the crashing of a Britannia military plane. Inside the plane, he finds a mysterious girl named CC who grants him the power to control minds, also known as the Geass.

Remember when I said people liked gravitating towards villains nowadays? If I remember correctly, Lelouche and this manga were one of the few that started this ‘movement’. The other one (and the one I personally credit as the start of this movement) is none other than….

1. Death Note

Information
Title	Death Note
Alternative Titles	DEATH NOTE
Genre	Supernatural, Suspense, Psychological
Type	Manga
Author	Obata, Takeshi (Art), Ohba, Tsugumi (Story)
Status	Finished
Volume	12
Chapters	108

They said the road to hell is paved with good intentions. No matter how good your intentions are, sometimes it devolves and spirals out of control. And before you know it, you’ve changed! From wanting a better world to wanting to be the GOD of a world that will be made to your liking, just like the MC of Death Note.

Light Yagami is just about everything you’d want. Perfect student, perfect son, and even a perfect boyfriend. He’s so perfect he is bored of his life, everything is monotonous and nothing is ever challenging enough to motivate him. That is until a mysterious black notebook falls from the sky. The notebook claims to be able to kill anyone as long as you write their name and picture their face as you do so. A person can be afflicted with a heart attack if you don’t write a cause of death or, if you’re feeling creative, you can provide the cause of death and the details within the next 6 mins and 40 secs.

Did you ever hear the saying, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And that’s exactly what Light set off to do. Given the life of people in the palm of his hands he proceeded to kill criminals at first then, the people he deemed as sinners. Before long, he moved on to people getting in the way of his vision of a perfect world.

Ah, I remember when I first came across this manga, at first I also agreed with Light, there are just some people you could do without! But then he started killing morally gray people. By then I knew at least I hadn’t lost my marbles and my moral compass isn’t as wrecked as I originally thought it was.

Conclusion

And there we go a list filled with the most questionable character there is! Did you sympathize with any of them? Is there a villain MC you’d have liked to see? Let us know in the comments down below! Tired of seeing these bozos try to play God? Check out our lists where the MCs are actual Gods too!