Shuzo Oshimi - Blood on the Tracks Manga

Seiichi Osabe is an ordinary, soft-spoken middle school boy—quiet, polite, and sheltered. His mother, Seiko, dotes on him obsessively, controlling every aspect of his life with gentle smiles, lingering touches, and an affection that feels both comforting and suffocating. Everyone sees Seiko as a perfect parent… everyone except Seiichi, who senses something lurking beneath her serene exterior.

During a family hike, a single horrific moment shatters Seiichi’s world. A moment so shocking, so unnatural, that it exposes the true depths of his mother’s emotional domination. As Seiko tightens her psychological grip, Seiichi becomes trapped in a silent nightmare—torn between fear, love, and the crushing weight of guilt she forces onto him.

What follows is a slow, agonizing descent into psychological horror as Seiichi attempts to navigate adolescence under the influence of a mother whose love is as destructive as it is absolute.

Blood on the Tracks blends domestic horror, emotional manipulation, trauma, and Oshimi’s signature psychological intensity, creating one of the most unsettling and critically acclaimed seinen dramas of the decade. Where does affection end and damage begin? This manga trades jump scares for the kind of creeping unease that settles in your chest—a psychological slow-burn that explores the messy, complicated spaces between devotion and destruction. Oshimi's storytelling wraps around you like a vice, building tension through intimate moments rather than shock value.

Other Notable Works

• The Flowers of Evil — Oshimi’s seminal psychological romance-drama.

• Inside Mari — A body-switch story exploring identity and guilt.

• Happiness — A dark supernatural take on vampirism and emotional pain.

• Welcome Back, Alice — A raw exploration of sexuality and self-perception.

• Devil’s Ecstasy — Erotic horror blending fear and desire.

Japanese Name: 血の轍
English Title: Blood on the Tracks
Story & Art: Shuzo Oshimi
Original Publisher: Shogakukan (Big Comic Superior)
English Publisher: Vertical (Kodansha USA imprint)
Release Years: 2017–2024
Volumes: 17 (completed)
Age Rating: Mature (18+)
Genre: Psychological Horror, Drama, Family Trauma, Seinen

Comics & manga are assumed VG+ or better unless otherwise noted. No broken spines, no writing, no stickers, and may have light shelf wear. Mid-2000s or earlier manga may have slight yellowing due to the age of the paper. All manga and comics are assumed to be pre-owned.