If you’ve been eyeing Gleipnir — or just binged the anime and want to know what happens next — here’s the short answer: yes, Gleipnir manga is finished. The series is fully complete, and you won’t be left hanging. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the manga’s status, how the ending holds up, what the anime covers, and how to get your hands on the full series.
Yes, Gleipnir Is Finished — The Manga Ended in 2023 at 14 Volumes
Gleipnir is a completed series. The manga wrapped up with a definitive ending, not a prolonged publishing pause (known as a hiatus in manga circles) or a cancellation. The final volume — Volume 14 — was released in Japan on July 20, 2023, bringing the total run to 88 chapters across those 14 volumes.
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick sense of what the story is actually about: Gleipnir follows a high school student named Shuichi who discovers he can transform into a monster — specifically, a large stuffed-animal-like creature that another person can climb inside and control. When a girl named Clair learns his secret, the two are pulled into a violent, psychologically intense battle involving others who have gained their own monstrous abilities, all tied to a deeper mystery about where these powers come from and what they’re really for. It’s a dark, uncomfortable series that blends transformation horror with action and a genuinely unsettling atmosphere.
The series was written and illustrated by Sun Takeda (武田すん). It originally began its magazine run — meaning chapters were published individually in a periodical before being collected into book volumes — in Young Magazine the 3rd (a Japanese manga anthology magazine) in October 2015, then moved over to Monthly Young Magazine in May 2021 for its concluding stretch, finishing up in April 2023.
For English readers, the complete series is fully available from Kodansha USA (one of the major publishers that licenses and translates Japanese manga for Western audiences), also in 14 volumes. The final English volume was released on March 19, 2024, so every single volume is out and ready to read right now. There’s no waiting for future releases — the entire story is on shelves.
That makes Gleipnir a strong pick if you specifically want a horror manga you can read from start to finish without worrying about an incomplete run or an indefinite wait between volumes. Many manga series end up cancelled before their stories conclude, or go on extended breaks that leave readers in limbo for years — Gleipnir avoids both of those problems entirely.
How Gleipnir Wraps Up (Spoiler-Free)
One of the biggest concerns with any manga — especially in the horror genre — is whether the ending actually delivers. Plenty of series get cancelled early by their publishers or trail off into an unsatisfying non-conclusion. Gleipnir doesn’t have that problem.
The story reaches a definitive conclusion. The central mystery — what’s behind these transformations and who is pulling the strings — gets resolved. Character storylines reach their endpoints, and the final chapters are clearly written as an intentional wrap-up rather than a rushed cancellation. Reader opinions on the ending are genuinely divided: some feel it sticks the landing, while others wanted more from the resolution. But structurally, this is a complete narrative with a real finale, and that alone puts it ahead of many horror manga that never get the chance to finish on their own terms.
The body horror — a subgenre focused on disturbing transformations, mutations, and violations of the human body — and the psychological tension that define the series escalate through the final storyline. If anything, the later volumes lean harder into the dark, unsettling imagery and moral complexity that make Gleipnir what it is. The series is rated 18+ in its English release, and that mature content is sustained right through the last chapter — this isn’t a story that softens up at the end.
For readers who want a contained horror manga experience with no dangling plot threads, Gleipnir fits the bill. Fourteen volumes is a manageable commitment, and knowing that the ending was planned rather than forced makes the reading experience much more rewarding.
Does the Gleipnir Anime Cover the Full Manga?
The Gleipnir anime — an animated television series based on the manga — aired 13 episodes beginning in April 2020. If you watched it and thought “wait, there has to be more” — you’re right. The anime covers only a portion of the manga’s story.
The manga continued for roughly three more years after the anime aired, adding a significant amount of story content that has never been animated. The anime essentially serves as an introduction to the world and characters, but the major revelations, the escalating horror, and the actual conclusion are all manga-only.
As of now, no second season has been announced. Given the time that has passed since the first season aired, readers who want the full Gleipnir experience will need to pick up the manga. The good news is that the complete story is available in English, so there’s no barrier to getting the whole picture.
If you’re coming from the anime and want to continue the story in manga form, you’ll want to pick up around Volume 5 of the manga. The anime’s 13 episodes roughly correspond to the first several volumes, with Volume 5 being the general area where the show’s coverage ends and new material begins. That said, the manga includes characterization and details that the anime condensed or skipped, so starting from Volume 1 gives you the fullest experience. Either way, the later storylines — where the mystery deepens considerably and the horror intensifies — represent a lot of compelling material waiting beyond where the show left off.
Where to Buy or Read the Complete Series
The English edition of Gleipnir is published by Kodansha USA across 14 volumes. All 14 are currently available — nothing is out of print (meaning every volume is still being manufactured and sold new) or pending release.
You can pick up the series in two formats:
- Paperback — the standard physical edition
- Digital — available through platforms like Kindle, BookWalker, and other major digital manga storefronts
The paperback volumes are a solid choice if you like building a physical collection. At 14 volumes, the series takes up a reasonable amount of shelf space without being an overwhelming commitment.
Gleipnir, Vol. 14 (final volume)
For digital readers, the complete series is accessible immediately — no waiting for shipping, and no shelf space required. Digital can be a convenient option if you want to start reading right away or prefer keeping your collection on a device.
Since the English release is fully complete, you can buy volumes at whatever pace works for you — read the whole thing in a week, or space it out over a few months. Either way, every volume is waiting for you.
One thing to keep in mind: Gleipnir carries an 18+ rating from its English publisher. The series contains body horror, violence, and mature themes throughout. If you’re buying for someone else or are sensitive to that kind of content, it’s worth knowing going in.
Buying Tips
- The series is categorized under Horror and Action & Adventure by Kodansha USA, so if you enjoy either genre, it’s well worth a look
- Since all 14 volumes are already released, completed series sometimes get promotional pricing on digital platforms — worth checking before you buy
- If you’re unsure whether the tone will work for you, picking up the first volume is a low-commitment way to find out before investing in the full set
FAQ
How many volumes does Gleipnir have?
Gleipnir has 14 volumes in both the Japanese and English editions. The series contains 88 chapters total across those 14 volumes. In manga, chapters are first published individually in magazines, then collected into numbered book volumes — so 88 chapters spread across 14 books. Both editions are fully released with no additional volumes planned.
Is Gleipnir a horror manga?
Yes. Kodansha USA categorizes Gleipnir under Horror and Action & Adventure. The series is rated 18+ for its body horror (disturbing physical transformations and mutations), violent content, and mature themes. It blends transformation horror with psychological tension and action — if you’re a fan of dark, intense manga that doesn’t hold back on disturbing imagery, it fits squarely in that space.
Will there be a Gleipnir Season 2?
No second season of the Gleipnir anime has been announced. The original 13-episode run aired in 2020 and covered only a portion of the manga’s story. With the manga now finished at 14 volumes and no announcement forthcoming, the full story is currently available only through the manga. If a second season is ever confirmed, it would have a significant amount of the original manga to draw from — but for now, the manga is the way to experience the complete narrative.
Is Gleipnir worth reading after watching the anime?
Yes — and it’s not even close. The anime only scratches the surface of the full story. The manga goes much deeper into the mystery at the heart of the series, introduces major developments that the anime never reached, and delivers an actual conclusion. If the anime’s premise hooked you, the manga is where that premise fully pays off. You can pick up around Volume 5 to continue roughly where the anime left off, or start from Volume 1 for the complete experience.
Is the Gleipnir manga appropriate for younger readers?
No. The series carries an 18+ rating from Kodansha USA. It contains graphic body horror, violence, and mature thematic content throughout all 14 volumes. This is firmly an adult horror manga and is not suitable for younger readers.