Summary
The romance genre is arguably the most popular niche within the manga landscape, as these simple yet wholesome narratives offer an entertaining and pleasant read. However, romance storylines aren’t all sunshine and rainbows as many manga deviate from this narrative, leading to a sorrowfuland despair-ridden conclusion.
Despite their somber premise,tragedy romance mangahave garnered a sizable audience. The appeal of these storylines lies in the aspect of eternalizing one’s love through death, hoping to meet once more in another life. However, others find solace and relatability in stories that lead to an unrequited love, a common element in romance plotlines. While these manga embody all sorts of romantic themes and subtexts, one element remains unaltered – a tragic end.
No. Of Volumes
15
Shounen no Abysstrudges towards the mature side of things with its complicated narrative and distressing subtexts. Reiji Kurose’s life had always been a tragic mess, from being stuck in his barren hometown to taking care of his downtrodden family. His only respite was his favoriteidol group called ‘Acrylic’and its member Nagi Aoe.
Reiji’s life was already filled with hopelessness, but things took a turn for the worse when he coincidentally met Nagi Aoe at a convenience store in his hometown. Their acquaintanceship starts off with Nagi suggesting the two take their own lives, setting a precedent for what’s to come for Reiji. With a setting such as this,Shonen no Abyss’narrative is set for a tragic ending right from the get-go.
2
Half & Halfembodies the essence of tragic romance, with gloom and despair following the primary characters at every step. After an untimely death in an accident,Shinichi and Yuukifind themselves revived once more, though there’s a catch: the two have only seven more days to live, and one of them must die in the end.
With such a tragic start to the storyline, it comes as no surprise that the conclusion of the manga is just as tragic. The two are also forced to share all sensations and feelings with one another during these seven days, forging an even more intimate bond. With a grim fate cemented right from the beginning,Half & Half’snarrative is truly despair-ridden, as there’s no escaping the tragic end that awaits the two lovers.
11
Your Lie in Aprilis the quintessential romantic tragedy that has long remained a fan-favorite. From being supportive musicians to finding comfort in each other’s presence, Kaori and Kousei’s journey is truly heartfelt, hitting all the right notes for a perfect romance story.
However, the story’s true appeallies in the tragic ending, one that eternalizes Kosei and Kaori’s love. While the romance genre isn’t short of tragic endings,Your Lie in April’swholesome narrative forces readers to fall in love with the characters, making the heartbreaking conclusion’s impact all the more intense.
5
Dokuhime’sstoryline is rather dark and grim from the beginning, as it features the concept of ‘Poison Princesses,’ a group of young girls fed poison from a young age to make them immune to toxins. These women are used asweapons to assassinate nobles, though they are relegated to mere tools and nothing more.
Lycoris Radiata is one of these Poison Princesses, and her duty is to assassinate the nobles of an enemy land. However, her heart starts to waver as she makes herself at home within enemy borders. Even if she finds love, her fate has already been sealed as a Poison Princess, meaning only tragedy and despair await her.
Natsu no Zenjitsuis a mellow romance manga that follows the story of Tetsuo and Akira, two lovers who undergo many trials and tribulations to make their relationship work. Tetsuo is a man obsessed with art, with his life solely revolving around this aspect of his personality.
Luckily for him, Akira falls in love with this very dedication and creativity, though she remains unaware of the challenges that await them. WhileNatsu no Zenjutsu’snarrative isn’t too grim, the conclusion is ratherbittersweet and heartbreaking, leaving the two lovers star-crossed forever.
School Daysinitially presents itself as a seeminglynormal high school harem manga, though this initial premise turns out to be a false narrative. As the story progresses, the manga turns into a hotbed of dark twists and raunchy scenes. Makoto Ito is torn between his two romantic interests, and the tussle between the two potential lovers turns into a melodramatic mess.
With such a chaotic narrative, a tragic ending is truly no surprise. However, the tragedy itself is rather rattling, as Makoto’s harem becomes the reason for his untimely demise.School Dayspresents an obscure premise, yet the twists and turns add an odd intrigue to the manga.
7
Instead of just being a romantic tragedy,Saishuu Heiki Kanojodabbles in the dystopian sci-fi side of things, making the narrative all the more absurd and tragic. The manga follows Shuji and Chise, two high schoolers who have just entered a relationship. However, this relationship is rattled by a new development – an all-out war.
The sudden onset of the war was the first of many revelations, as Chise reveals herself to be acyborg capable of mass destruction. While the narrative may be odd, Shuji and Chise’s romantic sentiments are genuine. The story has a tragic conclusion as Shuji is the last human left alive, and Chise eventually loses all of her humanity, giving in to her android side.
