10 Best Demon Slayer Manga Covers, Ranked (2024)

It's no secret that the Demon Slayer anime features some of the best animation in the industry thanks to Studio UFOtable's hard work, especially in the battle scenes, such as Tanjiro vs Rui. Still, the original manga doesn't lag far behind, and author Koyoharu Gotouge's art style has plenty of adoring fans. Demon Slayer's excellent manga art also extends to the volume covers, which are gorgeous to look at.

Like any book, a manga volume's cover must be visually attractive and draw new readers, giving them an idea of what lies inside while leaving plenty more to be discovered. The manga industry features countless covers that are works of art unto themselves while also hooking browsing readers, and Demon Slayer does its part with ten of its best manga covers. They can be evaluated according to presentation, colors, the story relevance of the cover's scene, and originality.

10 Volume 19's Cover Features Obanai Iguro Leaping Into Action

Chapters 161-169

Among the ten best manga volume covers for Demon Slayer, the illustration on Volume 19 may be the least impressive (hence its low rank), but it's still a fine example of author Koyoharu Gotouge's artistic skills on display. Like most Demon Slayer covers, this volume features the series' logo in a circle, a circular window in the background, and a prominent charactre striking a pose.

This cover stars Obanai Iguro, who recently rose to prominence in the Hashira Training story arc in the anime version. Obanai was never very friendly to Tanjiro's team, but he did teach Tanjiro much about Serpent Breathing, and then Obanai leaped into action against Muzan's team as the final battle unfolded. Obanai kept talking big until then, so it was fun to actually see him take on demons for real.

9 Volume 20's Cover Showcases a Historical Hero in Yoriichi Tsugikuni

Chapters 170-178

Most of Demon Slayer's manga covers feature characters who are alive and well during the main story, but Volume 20 made an exception. Itshows Yoriichi Tsugikuni, one of two brothers from a few centuries in Demon Slayer's backstory. Yoriichi was the strongest demon slayer of all time, and his brother Michkatsu went on to become one of the strongest demons to ever live, later going by the name Kokushibo.

Yoriichi was long dead by the time Tanjiro Kamado took up the sword, but he still had an impact on Tanjiro's career. To begin with, it was Yoriichi who invented Sun Breathing, the fighting style that led to Hinokami Kagura, the signature move of Tanjiro Kamado. Also, Yoriichi inspired a training dummy modeled in his likeness, the same one that Tanjiro and Muichiro trained with at the swordsmith village.

8 Volume 10's Cover Shows Tanjiro Kamado in the Heat of Battle

Chapters 80-88

Several of Demon Slayer's manga covers feature protagonist Tanjiro Kamado himself, including Volume 10. By that point, Tanjiro was hitting his stride as a powerful demon slayer, and he learned to be braver and more daring in battle than ever before with his black blade and ever-evolving fighting style, including the fearsome Hinokami Kagura.

Volume 10's cover is simple but effective, depicting Tanjiro baring his teeth with exertion as he brings down his black Nichirin sword to slay an off-screen demon. This cover has a great sense of motion and neergy to it, reinforced by Tanjiro's expression and his reddish hair fluttering as he moves.

7 Volume 6's Cover Stars the Deceptively Charming Shinobu Kocho

Chapters 44-52

Plenty of volume covers in Demon Slayer depict the nine Hashira in all their glory, and it didn't take long for Shinobu Kocho to take her turn. On Volume 6's cover, manga readers get a charming color image of Shinobu the Insect Hahira, and she's flaring out her outfit's butterfly-like fabric to reinforce her insect theme.

This cover alludes to Shinobu's contracting nature. On the outside, she is charming and gentle, and in this case, she is making a small smile while keeping her sword sheathed. However, she is also filled with rage and hatred for demons on the inside, and she's always ready to leap into action to slay them. Fans can subtly see that with Shinobu's prominent sword handle anad her flared-out robes, suggesting motion.

6 Volume 14's Cover Puts Mitsuri Kanroji's Playful Energy on Full Display

Chapters 116-124

The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, graces the cover of Volume 14. By then, Demon Slayer manga readers got to know her properly, admiring Mitsuri as a tough and loyal demon slayer who has long since overcome her insecurities to become a confident master of the sword. The cover is a fine balance of Mitsuri's power and cheerful personality.

Mitsuri's playful energy is evident with her wide smile and innocent expression, along with her unusual kneeling position, as opposed to characters standing upright on these manga covers. As for her action half, Mitsuri is seen whipping her long sword around herself, hinting at her Love Breathing action as she fights the Upper Moon 4, Hantengu.

5 Volume 4's Cover is All About the Rivalry Between Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira

Chapters 26-34

Volume 4's cover is only one of a few that shows multiple characters, and that cover made the most of that fact, so it ranks in the middle among the best Demon Slayer manga covers. At that point in the story, Tanjiro had only recently met Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira, who both went on to form the main shonen trio with Tanjiro.

Volume 4's cover is an intense one, with Inosuke and Tanjiro facing off in a fierce clash, their heads close to one another. That may be hinting at Tanjiro's famous headbutts, and sure enough, Tanjiro used such a headbutt to knock out Inosuke when they first clashed. To add even more martial energy, this volume cover has a scary-looking red and black background, mostly seen in the upper left.

4 Volume 1's Cover Focuses on the Brother/Sister Bond of a Slayer and a Demon

Chapters 1-7

The very first volume cover of Demon Slayer has the ultra-impotant task of giving browsing manga readers their first-ever impression of what this series is all about, and it does a fantastic job at that. Volume 1's cover has a solid black background, probably to put more focus on the two main characters.

On this cover, fans can see a fanged girl and a swordsman embracing, which may seem like an odd combo to fans of "monster hunter" manga like Bleach and Chainsaw Man. That's because Tanjiro is a tough yet kind swordsman with serious personal stakes, those stakes being the restoration of his demon sister's humanity. Each of the Kamados looks battle-ready but also loving on this cover, which is a fine way to summarize what they are like all throughout this series.

3 Volume 9's Cover Loudly and Proudly Shows Off Tengen Uzui's Style

Chapter 71-79

By Volume 9's events, Kyojuro Rengoku had already been killed off, so Tanjiro needed a new Hashira to serve as his shonen-style mentor of sorts. Before long, that mentor figure proved to be Tengen Uzui, a tall and flashy swordsman who was a highly trained ninja. It's no wonder he graced the cover of Volume 9 in all his colorful glory.

Tengen has a cool pose on this cover, crouched as though ready to leap into action while also getting ready to draw one of his two weapons. Most characteristically of all, Tengen looks confident and smug on this cover, a grin on his face as he gets ready to slay yet another demon.

2 Volume 23's Cover is a Relaxed, Cheerful Farewell to Readers

Chapters 197-205

The final volume of Demon Slayer's manga series has a meaningful cover whose message is immediately obvious to anyone who sees it. Most of the other 22 volumes alluded to action and violence, with swordsmen wielding their weapons, but Volume 23 shows the Kamados waving while wearing ordinary clothing, no weapons in sight.

That's how Tanjiro and Nezuko bid a fond farewell to all Demon Slayer readers, and it's just like them to do such a thing. They and their friends have come a long way since the debut chapter, and they're happy to leave behind a lifestyle of violence and pain to return to civilian life after a hard-won war.

1 Volume 8's Cover is a Colorful Display of Kyojuro Rengoku's Fiery Resolve

Chapters 62-70

The very best Demon Slayer manga cover stars Kyojuro Rengoku, one of the most memorable and popular characters in the series. By Volume 8's release, Demon Slayer was really starting to show all the Hashira in action, so naturally, Kyojuro Rengoku the Flame Hashira made it to Volume 8's cover while he was in the spotlight.

This cover is a tense balance between Kyojuro's fierce energy and his cool discipline. His fire patterns and serious, focused expression allude to violence, while his posture suggests patience and control while getting ready to fight. Kyojuro is a ferocious and bold fighter, but he is not a reckless or hotheaded one, contrasting with Inosuke. His is a sharp and purposeful flame that is finally extinguished in the heat of battle while facing the villainous Akaza.

Demon Slayer

Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy turned Demon Slayer, embarks on a perilous journey to avenge his family and find a cure for his demon-turned sister, Nezuko. Alongside his companions, Tanjiro faces powerful demons, confronts his lineage's hidden techniques, and ultimately clashes with Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons. Through sacrifices, battles, and self-discovery, Tanjiro and his allies emerge victorious, leading to the eradication of demons and the restoration of peace, with the story concluding as they embrace a tranquil life free from the threat of supernatural entities.

Author

Koyoharu Gotouge

Artist

Koyoharu Gotouge

Release Date

February 15, 2016

Genre

Adventure , Fantasy , Martial Arts

Chapters

207

Volumes

23

Adaptation

Demon Slayer

Publisher

Shueisha, Viz Media