Uzumaki Manga Is 3 Volumes — Or 1 If You Get the Deluxe Edition
If you’re wondering how many volumes the Uzumaki manga has, here’s the short answer: 3 volumes total. That’s the complete story — beginning, middle, and end. Uzumaki is a finished series and there are no additional volumes coming.
For anyone brand new to manga (Japanese comic books, read right-to-left), Uzumaki is one of the most common starting points — and the volume count is refreshingly simple compared to longer series.
Now here’s where it gets slightly confusing for new buyers. Viz Media — the American publisher that translates and releases manga in English — put out a Deluxe Edition in 2013 that collects all 3 volumes into a single 648-page hardcover. So depending on which edition you pick up, the Uzumaki manga book is either 3 books or 1 book — but the story inside is the same either way.
The Deluxe Edition is the version you’ll find in most bookstores today. The original 3-volume paperbacks are out of print (meaning the publisher no longer produces new copies), so they’re harder to track down. More on that in a moment.
The Three Original Uzumaki Manga Volumes Explained
Uzumaki was written and illustrated by Junji Ito. It was originally serialized — published one chapter at a time in a Japanese magazine — in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Spirits from 1998 to 1999. Those chapters were then collected into three tankōbon, which are standard Japanese manga paperbacks roughly the size of a small trade paperback.
Here’s how the volumes break down:
- Volume 1 — Released in Japan in August 1998. English edition published by Viz Media in October 2001.
- Volume 2 — Released in Japan in 1999. English edition published in 2002.
- Volume 3 — Released in Japan in September 1999. English edition published in October 2002.
Across all three volumes, there are 19 chapters plus a bonus story called “Galaxies” (some sources count it as 20 chapters total). Each original paperback runs roughly 200 pages.
The story follows the residents of a fictional coastal town called Kurouzu-cho as it becomes consumed by an inexplicable curse involving spirals. Each chapter tends to work as a semi-standalone horror episode while building toward a larger, increasingly nightmarish conclusion. It’s genuinely unsettling stuff — Ito’s artwork does things to spirals that you will never be able to un-see.
One important note: the original 3-volume English paperbacks are out of print. You can still find used copies floating around, but they often sell for more than the Deluxe Edition costs new. Unless you’re a collector specifically hunting the original printings, the Deluxe Edition is the way to go.
3-Volume Set vs. Deluxe Edition — Which Should You Buy?
This is the main decision new readers face, so let’s lay it out clearly:
| Original 3-Volume Set | Deluxe Edition (3-in-1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 3 paperbacks | 1 hardcover (all 3 volumes in one book) |
| Total Pages | ~600 pages across 3 books | 648 pages |
| Price | Out of print — resale prices vary widely | $27.99 USD (list price) |
| Availability | Used/secondhand only | In print — widely available |
| Bonus Content | None | 12 pages of new full-color artwork, new cover design |
| Story Content | Complete (all 19 chapters + bonus) | Complete (all 19 chapters + bonus) |
The verdict here is pretty straightforward: the Deluxe Edition is the recommended buy for new readers in 2025. It’s cheaper than tracking down the out-of-print paperbacks, it’s a beautiful hardcover that holds up well on a shelf, and it includes color pages you won’t find anywhere else. The complete story is identical in both formats.
The only reason to hunt down the original 3-volume set is if you’re a collector who wants the earlier printings specifically. For everyone else, the Deluxe Edition is the one to grab.
Where to Buy the Uzumaki Manga Deluxe Edition
The Uzumaki 3-in-1 Deluxe Edition is published by Viz Media and remains in print, so it’s easy to find. Here are the details:
- Title: Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition)
- Author/Artist: Junji Ito
- Publisher: Viz Media
- Format: Hardcover, 648 pages
- List Price: $27.99 USD
- ISBN: 9781421561325
An ISBN is a unique identifying number for a specific edition of a book — you’ll find it printed on the back cover near the barcode. It’s useful for making sure you’re getting the exact edition you want.
Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition)
You can also find it at Barnes & Noble, your local comic shop, or directly from the Viz Media website.
Quick tip when buying online: double-check the ISBN (9781421561325) before you purchase, especially on marketplace listings. This helps you avoid bootleg or counterfeit copies, which unfortunately do pop up for popular manga like Uzumaki.
Uzumaki Manga Release Date and Publication History
For anyone who wants the full timeline in one place, here’s Uzumaki’s publication history with every key release date:
- 1998–1999: Serialized chapter-by-chapter in Big Comic Spirits magazine in Japan
- August 1998 – September 1999: Collected into 3 Japanese tankōbon (compiled manga paperback) volumes
- October 2001 – October 2002: English 3-volume release by Viz Media
- October 15, 2013: Viz Media releases the Deluxe Edition hardcover (all 3 volumes in one book)
Junji Ito both wrote and illustrated Uzumaki — there’s no separate writer and artist credit. This is his most famous work, and it’s the manga book that introduced a huge number of Western readers to horror manga as a genre. The story is complete and has been since 1999. There are no sequel volumes, no spin-offs, and no additional chapters planned.
If you enjoy Uzumaki and want more Junji Ito, his other well-known works include Tomie (a horror series about an unkillable girl), Gyo (a body horror story involving sea creatures), and the short story collection Shiver (standalone horror tales). But Uzumaki is where most people start, and it’s hard to beat as an entry point into horror manga.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uzumaki finished?
Yes. Uzumaki is a completed series. The manga wrapped up in 1999 and consists of 3 volumes total. There are no new volumes in development.
How many chapters are in Uzumaki?
There are 19 chapters plus a bonus story called “Galaxies.” Some sources count it as 20 chapters total.
Is there an Uzumaki Volume 4?
No. The story ends with Volume 3. If you see a “Volume 4” listed anywhere, it’s either mislabeled or not legitimate.
What’s the difference between the Deluxe Edition and the original volumes?
The Deluxe Edition is a single hardcover that contains all 3 volumes in one book. It also includes 12 pages of new full-color artwork and a redesigned cover. The story content is identical — you’re not missing anything either way.
Can I read Uzumaki digitally?
Yes. The manga is available digitally through Viz Media’s platform, Amazon Kindle, and other digital manga retailers. If you prefer physical books, the Deluxe Edition hardcover is the current in-print option.
Should I read the manga before watching the 2024 anime?
The Uzumaki anime — the 2024 Adult Swim animated series — is based on Ito’s manga, which is the original source material (the original work the adaptation is drawn from). Reading the manga first gives you the full experience as Ito intended it. That said, there’s no wrong order — if you watched the anime first and now want the original manga, it will still hit hard.
How long does it take to read Uzumaki?
Most people finish the whole thing in 3 to 5 hours. It’s 648 pages, but manga reads faster than prose. One thing to know if this is your first manga: the pages read right-to-left and panels flow from top-right to bottom-left. It feels natural within a few pages. And honestly, once you start Uzumaki, you probably won’t want to put it down. It’s that kind of book.
Does Uzumaki read right-to-left?
Yes. Like most manga published in English, Uzumaki preserves the original Japanese reading direction — right-to-left. You start at what would be the “back” of a Western book and read each page from the right side to the left. The Deluxe Edition includes a note on this, and most readers adjust within the first few pages.