WHERE TO START READING MANGA: 8 PERFECT FIRST VOLUMES

New to manga? The hardest part is picking a first book that fits how you like stories told. Every pick below is a genuine volume one (no homework required), ships free anywhere in the US, and leaves you somewhere satisfying even if you never read another volume. Here's where we point people who walk up to the counter and say "I've never read manga — what should I start with?"

If you want action with bite: Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1

Denji is broke, desperate, and fused with his pet chainsaw devil. Tatsuki Fujimoto's series is violent, weirdly tender, and completely unpredictable — the current gold standard for "I couldn't put it down."

If you want something quiet and beautiful: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 1

An elf mage outlives the hero's party she adventured with and slowly learns what their time together meant. Melancholy, funny, and gorgeous — the rare fantasy that's actually about time and grief.

If you want the big one: One Piece Omnibus, Vol. 1

Yes, it's over 100 volumes. No, that shouldn't stop you. The omnibus edition packs the first three volumes into one book, which is exactly enough to understand why this is the best-selling comic on Earth.

If you want a modern classic: Demon Slayer, Vol. 1

Tanjiro's family is slaughtered and his sister turned into a demon; he picks up a sword. Simple setup, phenomenal execution, and gorgeous fight choreography that made this a global phenomenon.

If you want a battle of wits: Death Note Black Edition, Vol. 1

A notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it falls to a bored genius. The cat-and-mouse game between Light and L is still the best thriller manga ever drawn.

If you want cozy with depth: Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1

A girl who can't do magic discovers the secret: anyone can, if they can draw. Kamome Shirahama's linework alone is worth the price — this is one of the most beautiful books on our wall.

If you're ready for mature epics: Berserk, Vol. 1

Dark fantasy's towering achievement. Brutal, philosophical, and drawn with obsessive detail. Emphatically for adults — and for many readers, the reason they never stopped reading manga.

If you want to be unsettled: Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition)

Junji Ito's masterpiece about a town haunted by spirals. Horror manga's most famous work, in a hardcover that collects the whole story.

Still browsing? The whole wall is over at our manga collection — 5,000+ volumes, every one shipped securely packaged with free US shipping.