What Is Zombie 100: Bucket List of the Dead Manga?
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is an ongoing seinen manga — “seinen” meaning it’s aimed at older teens and adult readers, as opposed to younger-skewing shonen titles. It’s written by Haro Aso and illustrated by Kotaro Takata. It has been running in Monthly Sunday Gene-X — a manga magazine published by Shogakukan, one of Japan’s largest publishers — since October 2018. In English, it’s released by Viz Media, the biggest English-language manga publisher.
The series stands at 22 volumes so far, and it has been building toward a complete story with strong pacing throughout.
Here’s the setup: Akira Tendou is a 24-year-old who has been ground into dust by his exploitative “black company” job — a Japanese term for a workplace that overworks and abuses its employees. He works insane hours, gets no sleep, has no social life, and has basically forgotten what it feels like to enjoy being alive. Then one morning he wakes up and discovers the zombie apocalypse has arrived.
His reaction? Pure joy.
No more deadlines. No more abusive boss. No more unpaid overtime. For the first time in years, Akira feels alive. So instead of barricading himself in a bunker, he does something wild — he writes a bucket list. 100 things he wants to do before he becomes a zombie.
And that’s the entire engine of the manga. Each storyline revolves around Akira (and the friends he picks up along the way) tackling items on the list: going camping, visiting an aquarium, traveling across Japan, falling in love — all while navigating a world overrun with the undead.
The genre blend is what makes it special. It’s zombie horror meets comedy meets action meets genuine feel-good life-affirmation. Despite the gore and the monsters, the overall tone is overwhelmingly positive and colorful. This is NOT survival horror. It’s a celebration of living.
Plot Overview (Spoiler-Free)
The manga opens with Akira’s miserable daily grind. Takata’s art does a brilliant job contrasting the dull, oppressive corporate world with the bright, chaotic freedom of the post-apocalypse. When the outbreak hits, the color palette literally shifts — and so does Akira’s entire personality.
The bucket list concept gives the series a natural episodic structure. Want to see Akira try to become a superhero? There’s a storyline for that. Want to see him take on a zombie shark at an aquarium? That’s in there too. Each item on the list drives a new adventure, which keeps things fresh across all 22 volumes and counting.
The Core Group
Akira doesn’t go it alone. He gradually builds a tight-knit group of survivors who become like family:
- Kencho — Akira’s college best friend. A former host club worker (host clubs are Japanese nightlife venues where men are paid to entertain and charm female customers). He brings charisma, humor, and an unshakable bro-bond with Akira. He’s the comedy relief, but also has real emotional depth when it counts.
- Shizuka — A pragmatic, risk-averse survivalist who initially clashes with Akira’s reckless optimism. She represents the “logical” approach to the apocalypse, and watching her warm up to the group is one of the manga’s most satisfying character journeys.
- Beatrix — A German backpacker and martial arts enthusiast who adds international flavor and some of the series’ best action scenes.
Together, they road-trip across Japan, tackling bucket list items, fighting zombies, and running into both helpful survivors and dangerous human threats.
What the Manga Does Well
The balance is the key. Zom 100 can shift from a slapstick comedy scene to a genuinely emotional moment about burnout, exploitation, and finding purpose — and it doesn’t feel jarring. The anti-exploitative-workplace theme resonates universally. Even if you’ve never worked in Japan, you’ll recognize the exhaustion, the feeling of losing yourself to a job that doesn’t care about you.
And throughout it all, the manga maintains its central message: life is too short not to live it. Zombies or not.
How Many Volumes Does Zom 100 Have?
Here’s the full breakdown:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Total volumes (Japan) | 22 (ongoing, as of April 2026) |
| English volumes (Viz Media) | 20 released (Volume 20 arrived June 23, 2026) |
| Magazine | Monthly Sunday Gene-X (Shogakukan) |
| Serialization start | October 2018 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Demographic | Seinen (older teens and adults) |
At roughly 160–170 pages per volume, the full series comes in at approximately 3,500–3,700 pages. If you’re a steady reader, you can get through the whole thing in a few dedicated weekends. The pacing is fast — this is not a manga that wastes your time with padding or unnecessary detours.
The English release from Viz Media has been consistent, and with 20 of the 22 Japanese volumes already out in English, you can binge almost the entire series right now, with new volumes steadily catching up.
Zom 100 Anime vs. Manga — What Does the Anime Cover?
The anime adaptation is a great entry point, but it only covers a fraction of the full story. Here’s what you’re working with:
| Anime Season 1 | Full Manga | |
|---|---|---|
| Episodes/Volumes | 12 episodes | 22 volumes (ongoing) |
| Story coverage | ~Volumes 1–6 | Full story so far (22 volumes, ongoing) |
| Studio | Bug Films | — |
| Air dates | July–December 2023 | October 2018–ongoing |
| Available on | Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu | Viz Media (print & digital) |
What Season 1 Covers
Season 1 adapts roughly the first six volumes of the manga, ending at Chapter 22 — the final story chapter of Volume 6, just after the hometown storyline wraps up. That means the anime covers roughly a quarter of the full story. There’s a LOT more manga left.
Where to Start Reading After the Anime
If you finished Season 1 and want to jump into the manga, Volume 7 is where the new content begins — the anime finishes out Volume 6’s story chapters. That said, starting from Volume 1 is genuinely worth it. The manga includes more bucket-list items, additional side stories, and details that the anime condensed or rearranged. The anime restructured some events and tightened certain storylines for pacing, so reading from the start gives you the complete picture.
Either route works — it comes down to how much time you have. You’re in for a good time either way.
Season 2
A second season has not been officially announced (as of July 2026). If a sequel does get greenlit, the news will hit the official site and Crunchyroll first — until then, the manga is the only way to continue past where Season 1 left off.
Is Zom 100 Worth Reading?
Short answer: if the premise sounds even slightly appealing to you, yes. Grab Volume 1 and see for yourself.
Longer answer — here’s who this manga is perfect for and who might want to look elsewhere:
Who Will Love It
- Readers who want zombie manga without relentless grimdark. Zom 100 has zombies, gore, and real danger, but the vibe is energetic and hopeful rather than bleak.
- Comedy-action fans. The humor lands consistently, and the action set pieces are creative and well-drawn.
- Anyone who’s ever felt burned out by work. The anti-corporate, anti-exploitation theme hits hard regardless of your background.
- Anime fans who want the full story. The anime only covers about a quarter of the manga — there’s so much more here.
Strengths
- Kotaro Takata’s art is gorgeous. Vibrant, dynamic, and full of energy. The occasional color pages are a particular standout — most manga is printed in black and white, so when Zom 100 gets color pages, they pop off the page in a way that feels special.
- Pacing stays strong throughout. Twenty-two volumes and counting is a solid length — enough room for real character development, and the pacing never drags.
- The emotional core works. For all its comedy, Zom 100 has genuinely moving moments about what it means to be alive and what we owe ourselves.
- Most of it is already available. With 20 of the 22 volumes out in English, you can read almost the whole story now without long waits between releases.
How It Compares to Other Zombie Manga
If you’ve already read other zombie manga, here’s how Zom 100 stacks up. If these titles are new to you, the brief descriptions should give you a sense of where Zom 100 fits in the landscape:
- More comedic than I Am a Hero. Kengo Hanazawa’s I Am a Hero is a slow-burn psychological thriller about an unreliable narrator dealing with a zombie outbreak in a grounded, realistic way. Zom 100 is bright, fast, and funny by comparison.
- More upbeat than Highschool of the Dead. Highschool of the Dead is an action-horror series with heavy sexual content aimed at a male audience. Zom 100 has some mild suggestive humor but stays focused on the feel-good bucket list concept.
- Unique in tone. There really aren’t many manga that use the zombie apocalypse as a backdrop for personal liberation and joy. Zom 100 owns that niche.
Potential Turn-Offs
- If you want pure horror or survival tension, this is not that manga. The zombies are a setting element more than a source of dread. There are tense moments, but the overall tone is celebratory.
- Some storylines lean heavily into comedy. If you prefer a more serious approach to the apocalypse, the tone might feel too light for your taste.
- The “power of positivity” message is constant. It’s earned and genuine, but if you find that kind of optimism grating, fair warning.
Honestly though, even readers who normally gravitate toward darker manga tend to enjoy Zom 100. It’s that kind of series — it wins you over.
Where to Buy the Manga
Zom 100 is published in English by Viz Media and widely available in both print and digital formats. As of mid-2026, individual volumes list around $14.99 in print, with digital editions cheaper.
Starting Point
Volume 1 is where everyone begins. There’s no special reading order, no prequel you need first, no spin-off (a separate series set in the same world) that’s required context. Just pick up Volume 1 and go.
The standard Viz Media paperback editions are available at most major bookstores and online retailers. Volumes 1 through 20 are out in English — Volume 20 arrived June 23, 2026.
There is no box set currently available for Zom 100. If you want to test the waters before committing to the full series, grabbing the first two or three volumes is a low-risk way to find out if the tone clicks for you.
Digital
If you prefer reading digitally, the series is available through:
- Viz Manga app — Viz Media’s own reading platform
- Kindle — Amazon’s digital storefront
- BookWalker — a digital bookstore that specializes in manga and light novels
Digital volumes are typically a few dollars cheaper than print and available immediately.
Recommended Starting Purchase
If you’re brand new, grab Volume 1 to see if the art style and humor work for you. If you’re coming from the anime and want to continue the story, Volume 7 is your entry point — but honestly, consider starting from Volume 1 anyway. The manga has enough extra content to make a full reread worthwhile.
Zom 100 Vol.1
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 2
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 20
FAQ
Is Zom 100 manga finished?
Not yet — it’s still ongoing. In Japan it has 22 volumes as of April 2026 and is still being serialized. Viz Media’s English edition has 20 volumes out — Volume 20 arrived June 23, 2026. You can read nearly the entire story right now.
Is Zom 100 a horror manga?
It has zombies, occasional gore, and some intense action scenes, but the overall tone is comedic and uplifting. If you’re looking for something that will keep you up at night, this probably isn’t it. If you want a zombie manga that makes you feel good about being alive, this is exactly it. It fits more comfortably in the comedy-action category aimed at older readers than in horror.
Do I need to watch the anime before reading?
No. The manga is the original and complete source material. The anime (Season 1) covers approximately 6 of the 22 volumes released so far, so the manga offers significantly more story. You can read the manga with no anime knowledge at all, or watch the anime first and continue in the manga from Volume 7. Both approaches work great.
How is Zom 100 different from other zombie manga?
The biggest difference: the protagonist is happy about the apocalypse. Most zombie stories focus on despair, survival, and the collapse of society. Zom 100 focuses on a guy who was already dead inside from corporate exploitation and finally feels free when the actual dead start walking. The series is about living your best life — the zombies are just the backdrop that makes it possible.
Is Zom 100 appropriate for younger readers?
It’s a seinen manga (aimed at older teens and adults), and it contains violence, gore, some sexual humor, and mature themes about workplace exploitation and depression. The suggestive content is occasional and relatively mild — brief jokes and visual gags rather than anything prolonged — but it’s present. It’s not extremely graphic compared to the most violent manga out there, but it’s definitely not for young kids. Teens and up is a reasonable guideline, but use your own judgment if you’re buying it as a gift.
How long does it take to read the full series?
At 22 volumes of roughly 160–170 pages each, the full series is approximately 3,500–3,700 pages. A steady reader can finish it in 15–25 hours depending on reading speed. The pacing is fast and engaging, so it goes by quicker than you might expect.