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Where to Start
Manga can be a daunting medium to get into. It's not just the sheer amount of different titles available, it's also the cost of obtaining manga to be able to read it. Whether you prefer physical or digital, there has never been a better (or less expensive) time to break into manga! The great thing is you can basically start anywhere. Just find a book that seems like it interests you, and you're unlikely to need any additional background to jump in. Look through the Monthly Community Manga Recommendations in post #1 if you want some more specific recommendations, but keep reading for ideas on where to grab those books, or other books available through different services.
Where to Get Physical Manga
Alright, so this section is going to be US-focused. I'll admit to having little knowledge on where to obtain physical manga easily in other countries. If you would like to share and contribute, please send me a PM and I'll try to include as much detail as possible for different countries/regions.
Local Libraries
While there is no better feeling than filling up your shelves with a manga collection, the means may not always be there to do so. It's pretty straightforward - just check in with your local library and see what they've got on their shelves! You may be surprised by how much they have, and you can always make requests to order more. What's more, it's all free!
Local Bookstores
It's always good to check out what your local bookstores have in stock, especially those that carry used books. It's a great way to support local businesses and get something at a discount.
Buy Online
Of course, for everything else, there is buying physical books online. While Amazon might be your go-to for ease of use and speed, I would recommend checking out a few different places to not only get better discounts, but support other businesses that are smaller than Amazon and provide higher quality service.
Where to Get Digital Manga
While this still has a US-focused slant to it, the services described below are available in several countries. If you have anything to contribute or something I got wrong, please let me know via PM and I'll try to incorporate it. Also, for a more comprehensive look at simulpub information, check out this post from BassForever.
Shonen Jump App
The Shonen Jump App is hands down the best deal in manga. For $2 USD a month, you gain access to a host of Viz's ongoing and completed manga series. The app is available on iOS and Android. Below are a selection of series available with the subscription. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
Manga PLUS
Manga PLUS by Shuiesha is a place where you can read a sizable amount of ongoing Jump books for free. The service updates with new chapters on ongoing books, and retains them for a few weeks. It does not have the same back-catalog as the Shonen Jump App, but it's a suitable substitute to paying the subscription if you're only keeping up with chapter updates. There are also a handful of series that have not been licensed by Viz yet which are available on the app totally free. Also, the service provides what it calls "Re-Editions" where it cycles in a set of chapters from a series for a week at a time, then cycles them out; although slightly inconvenient, it's a way to read series for free. Available on Android and iOS Availability may vary by country.
Comixology/Kindle Unlimited
Comixology/Kindle Unlimited is a solid subscription for manga (even better if you read comics or books, too). For $6/$10 USD a month, you get access to a large amount of manga from publishers like Kodansha and Dark Horse. In addition, you get a discount towards purchases made from certain publishers (i.e. Seven Seas). It is not comprehensive in the way the Shonen Jump App is, but it is a very large amount of manga for the price. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
Crunchyroll Manga
Crunchyroll has an oft overlooked manga section that comes with any subscription to the video streaming side. It has some Kodansha published books (including some simulpub offerings) and a few other oddities, but it's a decent enough offering to comment on, especially if you're already subscribed to Crunchyroll. Available on Android and iOS. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
Mangamo
While I don't know much personally about Mangamo, it seems to have a sizable offering of Kodansha published books and some from lesser known publishers. I hope to look into it myself at some point and provide more helpful details. The subscription is $5 USD a month, and is available on iOS and Android.
Comixology/Kindle and Book Walker Sales
It's often worth checking Comixology/Kindle and Bookwalker a couple of times a week to see what's on sale for the manga side. Viz typically puts up a weekly sale starting Tuesdays at 3:00am UTC (Comixology/Kindle only). Kodansha typically puts up a weekly sale starting Wednesdays at 3:00am UTC. Bookwalker also has many promotions where you can get additional coins back for purchases to buy more things. It's all worth checking out. Links to the respective sites are noted below. Availability and pricing may vary by region.
Buying Digital Manga
There are several places to buy digital manga. Availability of manga may vary by storefront, so it's good to check all the storefronts if you're looking for a specific book. Availability and pricing may vary by region.
Aside from what is strictly considered manga, there are many communities and genres directly inspired by manga out there. One of the more prominent communities is Webtoon, a website for burgeoning artists and creators to published serialized work on the internet. Webtoon offers a number of free series to read by a variety of creators. Here is a selection, as recommended by community Webtoon expert Black Bishop.
Webtoon Originals
Webtoon Originals are series by creators in direct partnership with Webtoon. They are assigned an editor, have a structured release schedule, and receive marketing support directly from Webtoon. Webtoon essentially serves as a publisher for its Originals.
Webtoon Canvas series are independently published by the creators. They retain full control over their series, including where and when it is published. If a series is popular enough, creators can also participate in a revenue sharing program to receive financial and marketing support.
Manga can be a daunting medium to get into. It's not just the sheer amount of different titles available, it's also the cost of obtaining manga to be able to read it. Whether you prefer physical or digital, there has never been a better (or less expensive) time to break into manga! The great thing is you can basically start anywhere. Just find a book that seems like it interests you, and you're unlikely to need any additional background to jump in. Look through the Monthly Community Manga Recommendations in post #1 if you want some more specific recommendations, but keep reading for ideas on where to grab those books, or other books available through different services.
Where to Get Physical Manga
Alright, so this section is going to be US-focused. I'll admit to having little knowledge on where to obtain physical manga easily in other countries. If you would like to share and contribute, please send me a PM and I'll try to include as much detail as possible for different countries/regions.
Local Libraries
While there is no better feeling than filling up your shelves with a manga collection, the means may not always be there to do so. It's pretty straightforward - just check in with your local library and see what they've got on their shelves! You may be surprised by how much they have, and you can always make requests to order more. What's more, it's all free!
Local Bookstores
It's always good to check out what your local bookstores have in stock, especially those that carry used books. It's a great way to support local businesses and get something at a discount.
Buy Online
Of course, for everything else, there is buying physical books online. While Amazon might be your go-to for ease of use and speed, I would recommend checking out a few different places to not only get better discounts, but support other businesses that are smaller than Amazon and provide higher quality service.
- RightStuf
- InStockTrades
- Barnes and Noble
- Books-a-Million
- Book Depository (has a selection of international books, also!)
- Kinokuniya USA (great for getting Japanese language manga!)
- YesAsia (also great for Japanese language manga!)
- Amazon
Where to Get Digital Manga
While this still has a US-focused slant to it, the services described below are available in several countries. If you have anything to contribute or something I got wrong, please let me know via PM and I'll try to incorporate it. Also, for a more comprehensive look at simulpub information, check out this post from BassForever.
Shonen Jump App
The Shonen Jump App is hands down the best deal in manga. For $2 USD a month, you gain access to a host of Viz's ongoing and completed manga series. The app is available on iOS and Android. Below are a selection of series available with the subscription. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
- One Piece (ongoing) battle-filled pirate adventure
- Mashle: Magic and Muscles (ongoing) magic school hijinks
- Sakamoto Days (ongoing) retired hitman getting dragged back in
- Spy x Family (ongoing) fake family spy misadventures
- Jujutsu Kaisen (ongoing) sorcery fight
- The Promised Neverland (complete, 20 volumes) children trying to escape an orphanage of horrors
- Chainsaw Man (complete, 11 volumes) devil hunting filled with mindscrew
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (complete, 23 volumes) Demon. Slayer.
- Haikyuu!! (complete, 45 volumes) unlikely duo form a killer volleyball pair
- Bakuman (complete, 20 volumes) manga creators fighting to create a Shonen Jump success
- Kuroko's Basketball (complete, 30 volumes) over the top basketball action
- Tokyo Ghoul (complete, 15 volumes) vampire battle manga
- Golden Kamuy (ongoing, only available on web app) historical treasure hunt
- Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku (complete, 12 volumes, only available on web app) samurai and criminals fight horrifying tree monsters
- Fire Punch (complete, 8 volumes, only available on web app) superpowered people fight in a frozen wasteland
Manga PLUS
Manga PLUS by Shuiesha is a place where you can read a sizable amount of ongoing Jump books for free. The service updates with new chapters on ongoing books, and retains them for a few weeks. It does not have the same back-catalog as the Shonen Jump App, but it's a suitable substitute to paying the subscription if you're only keeping up with chapter updates. There are also a handful of series that have not been licensed by Viz yet which are available on the app totally free. Also, the service provides what it calls "Re-Editions" where it cycles in a set of chapters from a series for a week at a time, then cycles them out; although slightly inconvenient, it's a way to read series for free. Available on Android and iOS Availability may vary by country.
- Don't Blush, Sekime-san! (ongoing) girl can't stop blushing around boyfriend
- Summer Time Rendering (complete, 12 volumes) young man unravels mysteries of his childhood island home
- Soloist in a Cage (ongoing) siblings trying to survive in a prison city
Comixology/Kindle Unlimited
Comixology/Kindle Unlimited is a solid subscription for manga (even better if you read comics or books, too). For $6/$10 USD a month, you get access to a large amount of manga from publishers like Kodansha and Dark Horse. In addition, you get a discount towards purchases made from certain publishers (i.e. Seven Seas). It is not comprehensive in the way the Shonen Jump App is, but it is a very large amount of manga for the price. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
- Attack on Titan (completed, 34 volumes) small people fight big people and conspiracies
- To Your Eternity (ongoing) shapeshifting alien orb wanders the world
- Space Brothers (ongoing) man in 30s chases dream of becoming an astronaut
- Vinland Saga (ongoing) historical viking fights
- Princess Jellyfish (complete, 9 volumes) a politician's cross-dressing son helps otaku women save their home
- Shaman King (complete, 35 volumes) spirits fighting
- Witch Hat Atelier (ongoing) young witch-in-training trying to undo a spell gone wrong
- Your Lie in April (complete, 11 volumes) grieving pianist tries to love music again
- Lone Wolf and Cub (complete, 28 volumes) disgraced samurai out for revenge with his son
- Battle Angel Alita (complete, 9 volumes) amnesiac cyborg becomes a bounty hunter in a cyberpunk world
- Descending Stories (complete, 10 volumes) man released from prison learns to perform rakugo
- BLAME! (complete, 6 volumes) cyberpunk dystopia
- Tsuredure Children (complete, 12 volumes) 4-koma comedy following several romantic pairings
- Ace of the Diamond (complete, 47 volumes) talented baseball rookie leads his team to victory
- Chihayafuru (ongoing) a love triangle formed around karuta
- Grand Blue Dreaming (ongoing) comedic diving + ecchi youth
- Nodame Cantabile (complete, 25 volumes) musical opposites attract
- Tokyo Tarareba Girls (complete, 9 volumes) women in their 30s try to find love
- Parasyte (complete, 8 volumes) alien and human sharing a body fight other aliens
Crunchyroll Manga
Crunchyroll has an oft overlooked manga section that comes with any subscription to the video streaming side. It has some Kodansha published books (including some simulpub offerings) and a few other oddities, but it's a decent enough offering to comment on, especially if you're already subscribed to Crunchyroll. Available on Android and iOS. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
Mangamo
While I don't know much personally about Mangamo, it seems to have a sizable offering of Kodansha published books and some from lesser known publishers. I hope to look into it myself at some point and provide more helpful details. The subscription is $5 USD a month, and is available on iOS and Android.
Comixology/Kindle and Book Walker Sales
It's often worth checking Comixology/Kindle and Bookwalker a couple of times a week to see what's on sale for the manga side. Viz typically puts up a weekly sale starting Tuesdays at 3:00am UTC (Comixology/Kindle only). Kodansha typically puts up a weekly sale starting Wednesdays at 3:00am UTC. Bookwalker also has many promotions where you can get additional coins back for purchases to buy more things. It's all worth checking out. Links to the respective sites are noted below. Availability and pricing may vary by region.
Buying Digital Manga
There are several places to buy digital manga. Availability of manga may vary by storefront, so it's good to check all the storefronts if you're looking for a specific book. Availability and pricing may vary by region.
- ComiXology - Android/iOS
- Amazon Kindle - Android/iOS
- Book Walker - Android/iOS
- Google Play - Android/iOS
- Viz - Android/iOS
Aside from what is strictly considered manga, there are many communities and genres directly inspired by manga out there. One of the more prominent communities is Webtoon, a website for burgeoning artists and creators to published serialized work on the internet. Webtoon offers a number of free series to read by a variety of creators. Here is a selection, as recommended by community Webtoon expert Black Bishop.
Webtoon Originals
Webtoon Originals are series by creators in direct partnership with Webtoon. They are assigned an editor, have a structured release schedule, and receive marketing support directly from Webtoon. Webtoon essentially serves as a publisher for its Originals.
- Lore Olympus
- Phase
- Neon Revenge
- See You in My 19th Life
- Like Wind on a Dry Branch
- The Newlywed Diary of a Witch and a Dragon
- Deor
- My Gently Raised Beast
- I'm the Grim Reaper
- Covenant
- Parallel City
- Dark Mortal
- The Wolfman of Wulvershire
- Lovebot
- Boyfriends.
- No Scope
- Brimstone and Roses
- Castle Swimmer
- Fluidum
- The Prince of Southland
- Asterion
- Cape of Spirits
- Four Leaf
- City of Blank
- Blades of Furry
- Stray Souls
- Yuna & Kawachan
- The Croaking
- Heir's Game
- Maid for Hire
- Of What Remains
- From a Knight to a Lady
- Wished You Were Dead
- Of Swamp & Sea
- The Double Agent
- The Spark in Your Eyes
- Her Mannequin
- The Shadow Prophet
- The Red King
- EMPYREA
- Morgana and Oz
- Of Dark Lords and Cabbages
- Shiloh
- Smity and Majesty
- Murim RPG Simulation
- The First Hunter
- Nevermore
- 21st Century Knights
- Woven
- The Last Dimension
- Here There Be Dragons
- Aza
- Blood Reverie
- Fray
- Time and Time Again
- SOULWINDER
- Just a Goblin
- Re-Possessed
Webtoon Canvas series are independently published by the creators. They retain full control over their series, including where and when it is published. If a series is popular enough, creators can also participate in a revenue sharing program to receive financial and marketing support.
- Diamond Dive
- Ghost Lights
- My Dragon Girlfriend (uncensored version available through Tapas)
- Atnomen
- Nevermore
- Goth Girl & The Jock
- How To Be A Dragon
- Daycare Comics
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