Made in Abyss Review: Beautiful, Brutal, Unforgettable
A review of Made in Abyss — Akihito Tsukushi's gorgeous, genuinely disturbing dark-fantasy descent, and an honest warning about what you are getting into.
By Web Admin
We need to start this review with a warning, because Made in Abyss is the most misleading-looking manga we have ever recommended. Written and drawn by Akihito Tsukushi and published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment at roughly US$14 a volume, it wraps some of the most disturbing content in modern manga inside an art style so cute and whimsical it could pass for a children’s adventure. It is not one. It is a masterpiece, and it is genuinely upsetting, and you should know exactly what you are walking into before you buy volume 1.
With that said: for readers who can handle it, this is one of the most imaginative and emotionally shattering fantasy works in any medium. Here is our full, honest review.
Content warning: Made in Abyss contains graphic body horror, child endangerment and suffering, disturbing medical and biological imagery, and deeply upsetting themes. It is emphatically not for children despite its art. Please take this seriously.
What is Made in Abyss?
Made in Abyss takes place in a town built around the rim of the Abyss: a colossal, seemingly bottomless chasm filled with ancient relics, bizarre creatures, and layers of escalating danger. “Cave Raiders” descend to plunder its treasures, but the Abyss exacts a terrible price — the deeper you go, the worse the “Curse of the Abyss” that punishes anyone who tries to climb back up. Riko, an orphaned girl who dreams of following her lost mother to the bottom, meets Reg, a mysterious robot boy, and together they begin a one-way descent into the dark.
The series began serialization in 2012 and is ongoing, with roughly a dozen volumes released in English so far. It builds its world with astonishing patience and specificity, and Tsukushi supplements the main story with dense marginal notes, cross-sections, and creature sketches that make the Abyss feel like a place someone actually surveyed rather than invented.
Crucially, the descent is a one-way trip. Every layer they clear is a layer they can never safely return through, and that structural cruelty gives the adventure a mounting, claustrophobic dread that very few fantasy stories manage. The further Riko and Reg go, the higher the stakes and the smaller their chances, and Tsukushi never lets you forget it.
The worldbuilding: the real reason to read it
Tsukushi is, first and foremost, a world-builder of rare obsession. The Abyss is divided into distinct layers, each with its own ecology, physics, and horrors, and the “curse” that intensifies with depth turns the simple act of climbing into escalating dread. Relics, creatures, and the rules of the descent are revealed with the care of a designer who has clearly imagined far more than he shows. It is the kind of setting that lingers in your head for weeks — a genuine feat of imagination that rewards close, repeated reading.
The art: cute as a trap
Tsukushi’s linework is soft, rounded, and adorable — big-eyed kids, whimsical machines, storybook landscapes. That gentleness is a deliberate weapon. The contrast between the charming style and the brutality of what happens inside it makes the horror hit far harder than a grim art style ever could. When the Abyss turns cruel, the sweetness of the drawing makes it almost unbearable. It is one of the most effective uses of art-versus-content dissonance in the medium.
The content warning, in detail
We will not spoil specifics, but you deserve real information before spending money. Made in Abyss contains graphic body horror and transformation, sustained depiction of children in extreme physical and emotional distress, disturbing biological and medical imagery, and moments many readers find deeply traumatic. Some content has drawn significant controversy, and reasonable people choose not to read it for exactly that reason. If you are sensitive to harm depicted against children, this is very likely not the book for you, and that is a completely valid call.
Who is it actually for?
This one divides readers sharply, so be honest with yourself.
- Read it if you love deep, original worldbuilding and can handle intense, upsetting content in service of a serious story.
- Skip it if disturbing imagery, especially involving children, is something you would rather not encounter.
- Be cautious if the cute art is what drew you in — it is not representative of the experience.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Breathtaking, wholly original worldbuilding
- A gorgeous art style used to devastating effect
- Genuine emotional and thematic weight
- An adventure that feels truly dangerous and consequential
Cons
- Extremely disturbing content, including toward children
- Not for the squeamish or sensitive under any circumstances
- Ongoing, with long waits between volumes
How Made in Abyss compares to other dark fantasy
If you are drawn to fantasy that does not flinch, here is where it sits.
| Series | Tone | Status | Content intensity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made in Abyss | Whimsy-turned-horror | Ongoing | Extreme | Worldbuilding obsessives |
| Berserk | Grimdark tragedy | Ongoing | Extreme | Epic dark fantasy fans |
| Dorohedoro | Grimy, funny, surreal | Complete | High | Weird-fantasy lovers |
| Attack on Titan | Bleak sci-fi horror | Complete | High | Mystery-box readers |
For more, see our best fantasy manga and best horror manga guides — this book earns a spot on both.
Which edition should you buy?
Seven Seas publishes the series in handsome single volumes; there is no omnibus line, so you buy them one at a time.
| Format | Collects | Approx. price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume 1 paperback | The opening descent | ~US$14 | Testing your tolerance |
| Single volumes | The ongoing story | ~US$14 each | Following as it releases |
| Digital volumes | Any volume | ~US$10 each | Reading the detailed art zoomed in |
The verdict
Made in Abyss is a genuine work of art and one of the most imaginative fantasy worlds ever put to paper — and it is also one of the hardest reads we can recommend. We do not recommend it to everyone, and we mean that. But for readers who go in fully informed and can withstand its cruelty, it is unforgettable. It belongs in any serious discussion of the best sci-fi manga, the best seinen manga, and even the best manga of all time — with every content warning we have given firmly attached.
Frequently asked questions
Is Made in Abyss appropriate for kids?
Absolutely not. Despite its cute art style, it contains extreme body horror and disturbing content involving children. It is strictly for mature readers who know what they are getting into.
Is Made in Abyss finished?
No. It is an ongoing series with roughly a dozen volumes in English so far, and new volumes release slowly. The story is not yet complete.
Is the anime as disturbing as the manga?
Yes. The acclaimed anime and its films adapt the same content faithfully, including the most upsetting sequences. Neither version softens the material.
Why do people praise it despite the disturbing content?
Because the worldbuilding, art, and emotional depth are exceptional, and the darkness is purposeful rather than exploitative in most readers’ eyes. Still, it is entirely reasonable to decide it is not for you.
Prefer your darkness with a lighter touch? Try our best fantasy manga guide, or read our Golden Kamuy review for adventure with more comic relief.
