Tomie Manga Release Date: Quick Answer
The Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition — which is the current, in-print English version — was released by VIZ Media on December 20, 2016. VIZ Media is the main publisher that brings Japanese manga to English-speaking readers. This edition collects all 20 chapters in a single volume.
Before that, the first English edition was published by Dark Horse Comics under the Museum of Terror label from 2001 to 2002. That edition is long out of print, meaning it’s no longer manufactured or sold new by the publisher.
And if you’re curious about the very beginning: Tomie first appeared in Japan in 1987 in Monthly Halloween magazine, a Japanese manga anthology magazine. It was Junji Ito’s very first published manga.
Here’s a quick-reference table:
| Edition | Release Date | Publisher | Format | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Japanese collected volumes | 1987–2000 (chapters published over this period) | Asahi Sonorama | 3 volumes | Out of print |
| Museum of Terror (English) | Sept 2001 – Sept 2002 | ComicsOne | 3 volumes | Out of print |
| Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition (English) | December 20, 2016 | VIZ Media | 1 volume (all chapters in one book) | In print |
If you just want to read Tomie in English right now, the Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition is the one to get. That’s the only edition currently available new.
Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition
Original Japanese Publication Timeline
Tomie has an interesting origin story that ties directly into Junji Ito’s career beginnings.
- 1986 — Junji Ito submits the first Tomie story to the Kazuo Umezu Prize, a manga award named after one of Japan’s most famous horror manga creators. Ito’s submission receives an Honorable Mention. This is the moment that launched one of horror manga’s most iconic creators.
- 1987 — The first Tomie chapter is published in Monthly Halloween, a Japanese manga anthology magazine that specialized in horror stories (not a Western Halloween-themed publication). This is Ito’s debut as a published manga artist.
- 1987–2000 — Tomie chapters are published one at a time in Monthly Halloween over this period. The series wasn’t published on a strict weekly or monthly schedule — Ito would return to the character over many years, adding new chapters as he went.
- The chapters were collected into 3 volumes published by Asahi Sonorama.
It’s worth noting that Tomie predates many of Ito’s other famous works. Uzumaki didn’t start until 1998, and Gyo began in 2001. Tomie is where it all began.
English Edition Release Dates
Museum of Terror (ComicsOne, 2001–2002)
The Museum of Terror series was the first time English-speaking readers could get their hands on Tomie. Published by ComicsOne:
- Volume 1 — September 4, 2001
- Volume 2 — April 2, 2002
- Volume 3 — September 25, 2002
These volumes are now out of print and have become sought-after collector’s pieces. If you spot them at a used bookstore or online marketplace, expect to pay well above the original cover price — listings often range from $50 to over $200 per volume depending on condition. They’re cool to own if you’re a Junji Ito collector, but the content is the same as what’s in the newer edition.
Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition (VIZ Media, 2016)
This is the edition most people are looking for, and it’s the one you’ll find in bookstores today.
- Release date: December 20, 2016
- Publisher: VIZ Media
- Format: Single volume collecting all 20 chapters plus additional material
- ISBN: 978-1421590561 (this is the book’s unique product number — useful if you want to make sure you’re ordering the right edition)
- Series status: Complete — this one volume contains the entire Tomie story
The Complete Deluxe Edition is part of VIZ Media’s effort to bring Junji Ito’s full catalog to English readers. They’ve done similar collected editions for other Ito works like Uzumaki and Gyo, making his work much more accessible than it was in the early 2000s.
Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition)
This edition is a really nice package. All 20 chapters in one book means you don’t have to hunt down multiple volumes — you just grab the single book and you’re set.
Full Chapter List by Volume
Here’s every Tomie chapter, organized by their original Japanese volume groupings. If you’re buying the Complete Deluxe Edition (the one currently in print), all of these chapters are included in that single book. The volume groupings below just show how they were originally organized in Japan.
Volume 1 (Japan)
| Chapter # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tomie |
| 2 | Photo |
| 3 | Kiss |
| 4 | Waterfall Basin |
Volume 2 (Japan)
| Chapter # | Title |
|---|---|
| 5 | Moromi |
| 6 | Painter |
| 7 | Assassins |
| 8 | Mansion |
| 9 | Babysitter |
Volume 3 (Japan)
| Chapter # | Title |
|---|---|
| 10 | Hair |
| 11 | Revenge |
| 12 | Adopted Daughter |
| 13 | Boy |
Additional Chapters (Collected in Complete Deluxe Edition)
| Chapter # | Title |
|---|---|
| 14 | Top Model |
| 15 | Gathering |
| 16 | Old and Ugly |
| 17 | Tomie Little Finger |
| 18 | Passing Demon |
That’s 20 chapters total. The Complete Deluxe Edition collects everything — including chapters 14–18, which came after the original three-volume run in Japan.
Tomie Adaptations Timeline
Tomie has been adapted A LOT — especially into live-action films. Here’s the full timeline:
Live-Action Films (1999–2011)
Nine live-action Tomie films were produced in Japan between 1999 and 2011. These are Japanese-language films, and most are only available with subtitles through import discs or specialty streaming services — they haven’t had wide English-language releases. The sheer number of adaptations speaks to how popular and recognizable the character is in Japan.
Anime: Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023)
Tomie chapters were adapted as part of Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre, which premiered on Netflix on January 19, 2023. This series adapted stories from across Ito’s work, and Tomie featured prominently.
Here’s which Tomie chapters appear in which episodes:
| Episode | Tomie Chapter Adapted |
|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Photo |
| Episode 2 | Kiss |
| Episode 7 | Painter |
| Episode 8 | Mansion |
| Episode 10 | Photo (continued) |
| Episode 11 | Boy |
| Episode 12 | Gathering |
Six Tomie chapters across seven episodes — that’s a significant portion of the series. If you watched the anime and want to read the original manga versions, the Complete Deluxe Edition has all of these and more.
Where to Buy Tomie Today
The Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition (ISBN: 978-1421590561) is the only in-print English edition. Here’s what you want to know:
- It’s widely available through major retailers like Amazon and at local bookstores
- Your local library may also carry it — worth checking before you buy
- It’s a single volume, so there’s no need to worry about tracking down a series
A note if you’re new to manga: manga is Japanese comics, and the pages are read right-to-left (the opposite direction from Western books). When you open the book, you’ll start at what looks like the “back” of the book by Western standards. Most English editions include a note on the first page explaining this, so don’t worry — you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
About the Museum of Terror volumes: These are out of print. You might find them through secondhand sellers, but prices can be steep — individual volumes often sell for $50 to $200 or more. Unless you’re specifically collecting vintage Junji Ito editions, there’s no reason to hunt these down — the Complete Deluxe Edition contains all the same chapters (and more).
If You’re New to Junji Ito
Tomie is a fantastic starting point. It’s where Ito’s career began, and you can see his style and themes developing across the chapters. That said, each chapter tells its own self-contained Tomie story — they can mostly be read independently of each other — so it also works as something you can pick up and read in short sessions.
If you enjoy Tomie and want to explore more Junji Ito, his other major works are also available from VIZ Media. Uzumaki is probably his most famous single work, and VIZ publishes it as a 3-in-1 Deluxe Edition. His short story collections — like Stitches, Alley, and Dissolving Classroom — are also great if you like the short-story horror approach that Tomie delivers, where each tale is its own standalone piece.
Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition)
Stitches (Junji Ito)
Alley: Junji Ito Story Collection
Dissolving Classroom (Junji Ito)
FAQ
Is Tomie manga finished?
Yes. Tomie is a completed series. The final chapter was published in 2000, and no new Tomie chapters have been released since. The Complete Deluxe Edition contains the full, finished story.
How many volumes is Tomie?
It depends on the edition:
- Japanese original: 3 collected volumes
- English (Museum of Terror): 3 volumes (out of print)
- English (Complete Deluxe Edition): 1 volume containing everything (in print)
If you’re buying today, it’s just the one book.
Is the Complete Deluxe Edition hardcover?
The Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition is a hardcover. Like most VIZ deluxe editions, it is published in hardcover format.
Do I need to read Tomie chapters in order?
Not strictly. Each chapter is largely a self-contained story featuring the character Tomie — meaning each one tells a complete tale with its own beginning and ending. There are some loose connections between chapters, and reading in order gives you the best sense of how the character’s lore builds, but you won’t be lost if you jump around.
That said, starting with Chapter 1 (Tomie) is a good idea since it establishes the core concept. After that, feel free to read straight through or skip to chapters that interest you.
How is Tomie connected to Junji Ito’s other works?
Tomie is a standalone series — it doesn’t cross over with Uzumaki, Gyo, or Ito’s other titles. However, if you’ve seen Junji Ito Maniac on Netflix, several Tomie chapters were adapted there alongside stories from his other collections.
Is Tomie scary?
Tomie leans more into psychological horror and body horror (horror that focuses on disturbing physical transformations and the human body being altered in unnatural ways) than jump scares. It’s unsettling, creepy, and occasionally grotesque — classic Junji Ito. The horror comes from the concept itself and Ito’s incredibly detailed artwork. If you’re new to horror manga, Tomie is a solid entry point because each chapter is its own complete story, so you’re never locked into a long, intense narrative that you can’t put down. You can take breaks between chapters easily.