On a normal day, mindless, flesh-eating zombies suddenly appear and send society into anarchy. In Fujimi Academy, second-year high school student Takashi Komuro witnesses these beasts' murderous nature firsthand. He flees to the roof with friends Rei Miyamoto and Hisashi Igou, only to discover the harrowing reality of their zombie-overrun world.

In High School of the Dead, Takashi and Rei must now rely on a band of eccentric individuals composed of: Saeko Busujima, the kendo club president; Saya Takagi, a wealthy genius; Shizuka Marikawa, their voluptuous school nurse; and Kouta Hirano, a firearm-obsessed otaku. Together they must defy all odds and survive against the horrifying undead.

Highschool of the Dead was published in English by Yen Press from January 25, 2011 to July 24, 2012. Yen Press has also released two hardcover omnibuses containing the color volumes from November 22, 2011 to December 17, 2013. The series was also published in Polish by Waneko from April 2011 to June 2012.

Due to the death of author Daisuke Satou in 2017, the series was discontinued.