How Many Volumes Does the Another Manga Have?
Short answer: the Another manga volumes total 4 volumes. That’s it. The main series is complete and finished — no waiting for new releases, no cliffhangers left dangling forever. You can read the entire thing in a weekend, and each volume takes roughly an hour.
There’s also a short prequel called Another 0 (2 chapters, compiled into one volume), which brings the total to 5 volumes if you want every bit of Another manga content that exists. A prequel is a story set before the events of the main series — Another 0 tells an earlier chapter of the same curse.
If you’re coming from the anime or just heard about this series and want to know what you’re getting into, this page breaks down every volume, the reading order, and how the manga connects to the novel and anime.
All Another Manga Volumes at a Glance
| Volume | Chapters | Japan Release | English Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | Ch. 1–4 | Oct. 4, 2010 | Oct. 29, 2013 |
| Vol. 2 | Ch. 5–9.5 | Mar. 2, 2011 | Jan. 21, 2014 |
| Vol. 3 | Ch. 10–14 | Sept. 1, 2011 | May 20, 2014 |
| Vol. 4 | Ch. 15–20 | Dec. 29, 2011 | Sept. 23, 2014 |
All four English volumes are published by Yen Press and are readily available. Yen Press also released the series as a single omnibus edition (all four volumes collected into one book). The series was originally published chapter-by-chapter in Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace magazine from May 2010 to January 2012, then collected into these four volumes.
Another (manga)
What About Another 0?
Another 0 is a prequel manga — just 1 volume with 2 chapters. It was also illustrated by Hiro Kiyohara. The two chapters were published in Young Ace in December 2011 and February 2012, then compiled into a single volume released on May 26, 2012.
This volume covers events in Class 3-3 back in 1983 — set during Aunt Reiko’s year in the class, showing an earlier “calamity” incident that the main series only hints at. If you’ve finished the main 4 volumes and want more, Another 0 fills in backstory that makes the main story’s world feel deeper.
One thing to note: in English, Another 0 was not released as a standalone manga volume. Yen Press bundled it together with the novel Another Episode S in a combined volume called Another: Episode S/0. Episode S is a separate side story set during the same time period as the main novel (1998), not a retelling of Another 0 — they’re two distinct works packaged in the same book.
Who Made the Another Manga?
Worth being clear about the credits here, because it comes up a lot:
- Story: Yukito Ayatsuji — he wrote the original Another novel (2009). The manga adapts his story.
- Art: Hiro Kiyohara — she illustrated both the main manga and Another 0.
Ayatsuji is well known in Japan as a mystery novelist. Another was originally a single, self-contained horror-mystery novel — meaning the book tells a complete story in one volume, not part of a series — and it was popular enough to lead to the manga adaptation, an anime series, and a 2012 live-action film. Kiyohara’s art style suits the material well — there’s a creeping unease in her character designs, particularly in the way she draws Mei Misaki’s unsettling calm.
What’s the Story About? (Spoiler-Free)
In 1998, Koichi Sakakibara transfers to Yomiyama North Middle School. He’s placed in Class 3-3, where he notices something strange: there’s a girl named Mei Misaki who wears an eyepatch, and everyone — students and teachers alike — acts as if she doesn’t exist.
Koichi refuses to ignore her. He talks to her. And then people around him start dying.
Class 3-3 has a secret. A curse that has been killing students and their family members for decades. The class follows specific rules to try to prevent the deaths each year, and by acknowledging Mei, Koichi may have broken those rules.
The central mystery: Who is the “extra” person? Each year, someone who is already dead is mixed into the class, and nobody can tell who it is — not even the dead person themselves. Finding out who the extra is might be the only way to stop the deaths.
It’s a tight, well-paced horror mystery. At only 4 volumes, there’s no filler — the story moves from unsettling atmosphere to genuine dread to a tense, violent climax without wasting a single chapter.
Volume-by-Volume Breakdown (No Spoilers)
Volume 1 (Chapters 1–4)
Setup and atmosphere. Koichi arrives at school, meets Mei, and realizes something is deeply wrong with Class 3-3. This volume is all about building dread. You’ll feel the wrongness before anyone explains it. The pacing is slow and deliberate — this is mood-setting at its best.
Volume 2 (Chapters 5–9.5)
The deaths begin. The rules of the curse are explained. Koichi and Mei start working together to understand what’s happening. The horror shifts from “something feels wrong” to “people are actually dying.” The death scenes are sudden and graphic — including bloody accidents and body horror — and Kiyohara depicts them with unflinching detail.
Volume 3 (Chapters 10–14)
The investigation deepens. Koichi digs into the history of Class 3-3, and the body count keeps climbing. The tension ratchets up as the class turns on itself — paranoia and fear start driving people apart. This volume is where the mystery elements really take center stage.
Volume 4 (Chapters 15–20)
The climax. The class trip. Everything comes to a head. The identity of the “extra” person is revealed, and the finale is both violent and emotionally charged. This volume answers all the major questions and doesn’t leave loose threads.
Another Manga Reading Order — Where to Start
For most people, the reading order is simple:
- Another Vol. 1 → Vol. 2 → Vol. 3 → Vol. 4
- Another 0 (optional, read after the main series)
That’s it. Read the main 4 volumes first. Another 0 is a prequel by chronology, but it’s written to be read after the main story — it adds context to things you’ve already learned rather than setting up the main plot.
What About the Novels?
If you really get into the Another universe, there’s more to explore beyond the manga:
- Another (novel) — the original source material by Yukito Ayatsuji. The manga adapts this faithfully, so you’re getting the same core story either way. The novel has more of the characters’ inner thoughts written out on the page and builds atmosphere through prose rather than visuals.
- Another Episode S (novel) — a side story set in 1998, following Mei Misaki during summer vacation. This is packaged together with Another 0 in the English release as Another: Episode S/0, so if you’ve read that combined volume you’ve already seen both.
- Another 2001 (novel) — a full sequel set three years after the original story. Published in Japan in 2020, released in English by Yen Press in 2022. There is no manga adaptation of this novel.
Another (light novel)
Manga vs. Anime — Which Tells the Story Better?
The 12-episode anime (by P.A. Works — a Japanese animation studio — aired January–March 2012) and the manga both adapt the same novel. Here’s how they compare:
| Manga (4 vols) | Anime (12 eps + OVA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pacing | Tight and focused. No wasted pages. | Slightly more drawn out, with additional atmospheric scenes. |
| Horror style | Creeping dread with strong visual framing. Deaths hit hard on the page. | More explicitly gory — the death scenes are more visceral with movement and sound. |
| Climax | Follows the novel closely. | Expands the inn fire sequence with more dramatic, chaotic scenes. |
| Core mystery | Same reveal, same answer. | Same reveal, same answer. |
| Bonus content | Another 0 manga covers prequel. | Episode 0 OVA — a standalone bonus episode called “The Other – Karma,” released separately from the main broadcast — covers prequel material. |
The core story and the mystery’s answer are the same across both. If you’ve seen the anime, the manga won’t surprise you with a different ending — but Kiyohara’s artwork gives the horror a different texture. The manga also moves faster. If you prefer atmosphere you can sit with and re-examine on the page, go manga. If you prefer animated horror with sound design and color, the anime is excellent too.
They’re complementary rather than redundant. Plenty of people enjoy both.
(There’s also a 2012 live-action film, but it takes significant liberties with the story and is a separate thing entirely from the manga and anime. If you’re wondering whether to watch it before or after reading — it won’t affect your manga experience either way.)
Is 4 Volumes Worth It?
Honestly? A 4-volume horror manga with a clear beginning, middle, and end is kind of a gift. There’s no “it gets good at volume 8” here. The story hooks you in volume 1 and wraps up in volume 4 with no padding.
Here’s what makes the short length work in its favor:
- Low commitment: Four volumes is a small buy-in compared to longer-running series.
- Great pacing: Every chapter advances either the mystery or the horror. Nothing feels like filler.
- Satisfying ending: The mystery resolves completely. You won’t be left guessing.
- Easy to re-read: Once you know the answer, going back and catching the clues is a lot of fun.
If you’re new to horror manga, Another is one of the best starting points — it’s short enough to finish quickly but compelling enough to stay with you after.
Quick FAQ
How many Another manga volumes are there total?
The main series has 4 volumes. Including the Another 0 prequel, there are 5 volumes total.
Is the Another manga finished?
Yes. Both the main series and Another 0 are complete. No new manga volumes are being released.
Do I need to read the novel first?
No. The manga adapts the novel faithfully. You can start with whichever format appeals to you. The novel has more detail and more of the characters’ inner thoughts written out on the page; the manga is more visual and faster-paced.
Can I read Another 0 before the main series?
You can, but it’s better to read the main 4 volumes first. Another 0 was published after the main series and works best as backstory — it fills in details that are more meaningful once you’ve already finished the main story.
Is the Another manga in print in English?
Yes. All volumes are published in English by Yen Press and are available in print and digital. Another 0 is available in English as part of the combined volume Another: Episode S/0.
Is the manga different from the anime?
Both adapt the same novel, so the core story and mystery are identical. The anime expands certain scenes (especially the climax) and has a more visceral horror style. The manga is tighter and more atmospheric on the page.