Complete Manga Reading Order for I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!
Here’s the short version: the light novel is the source material, and the manga is a visual adaptation of that same story. You have two clean paths depending on how you like to read.
Track 1: Light Novel First (Recommended for the Full Experience)
Read the light novel volumes in order, starting from Volume 1, and continue through the latest available English release. This gives you the most complete version of the story — all the world-building, political scheming, internal monologues, and character development that author Yomu Mishima packed into the series.
After catching up on the light novel (or alongside it), you can pick up the manga — illustrated by Kai Nadashima — to see the story brought to life visually. The manga covers the same narrative but at a condensed pace, so it works beautifully as a companion piece.
Track 2: Manga Only (Quick Visual Entry Point)
Start with the manga from Volume 1 and read straight through. This is a perfectly valid way to enjoy the series, especially if you prefer artwork and visual storytelling over text-heavy novels. Just know that the manga has not yet covered all the story content found in the light novel, so if you get hooked and want more, the light novel is there waiting for you.
Bottom line: Either track works. The light novel gives you more depth and more story. The manga gives you a faster, more visual experience. You really can’t go wrong starting with whichever format appeals to you.
Why the Reading Order Matters
I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! has gone through several adaptation layers, and each one handles the story a bit differently.
From Web Novel to Light Novel to Manga
The series started life as a web novel — a free version of the story published online in installments. Yomu Mishima then reworked it into a published light novel, which expanded and refined the narrative with additional scenes, polished prose, and deeper character work. The manga adaptation then took the light novel’s story and condensed it into a visual format, trimming some detail to fit the medium.
Each step in that chain changes what you get as a reader. The light novel adds material the web novel didn’t have. The manga trims material the light novel included. Neither adaptation is “wrong” — they’re just different lenses on the same story.
What Changes Between Versions
The heart of this series is a brilliantly simple comedy premise: Liam wants to be an evil lord, but everything he does accidentally makes him a hero. He exploits his citizens — and they prosper. He trains to become a tyrant — and becomes a beloved leader. The gap between his villainous intentions and his benevolent outcomes is the engine that drives the whole story.
In the light novel, you get to sit inside Liam’s head. His internal monologue is where a lot of the comedy lives — you hear him scheming about how evil he’s being while the narration makes it clear he’s doing something genuinely good. The political intrigue of the intergalactic empire, the economics of noble house management, and the side characters’ perspectives all get more room to breathe.
The manga captures the visual comedy and action sequences wonderfully, but naturally can’t fit every inner thought or world-building aside onto the page. That’s not a flaw — it’s just the nature of adapting prose to a visual medium.
Why this matters for reading order: If you start with the light novel, you’ll have a richer understanding of the universe and Liam’s thought process. When you then read the manga, the art amplifies moments you already understand deeply. If you start with the manga, you’ll enjoy a tighter, punchier version of events, but some of the political and comedic layers will only click when (and if) you go back to the novels.
Can You Skip the Light Novel and Read Only the Manga?
Yes, absolutely. The manga tells a complete, enjoyable story on its own. You don’t need to read a single page of the light novel to follow what’s happening or appreciate the humor.
What You Gain from the Light Novel
- Deeper world-building: The intergalactic empire is a sprawling setting with noble houses, military politics, economic systems, and interstellar conflicts. The light novel has space to explore all of that.
- More story: The light novel is further along in the narrative than the manga adaptation. If you want to know what happens next after catching up on the manga, the novels are the way forward.
- Side character development: Characters who appear briefly in the manga often get fuller backstories and motivations in the novels. This makes the ensemble cast feel more alive.
- Liam’s inner voice: So much of the comedy depends on knowing exactly what Liam thinks he’s doing versus what he’s actually doing. The light novel gives you constant access to that gap.
What You Miss Going Manga-Only
The biggest thing is story content the manga hasn’t reached yet. Because the manga adapts the light novel and releases on a different schedule, there are later light novel volumes that simply don’t exist in manga form yet.
You’ll also miss some of the subtler political maneuvering and Liam’s more detailed scheming — things that work well in prose but get simplified in visual adaptation.
The Recommended Manga-Only Approach
If manga is your thing and novels aren’t, just start at Volume 1 and enjoy the ride. Don’t worry about what you’re “missing.” If a moment confuses you or you want more context, the light novel is always there as optional supplementary reading. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this series.
Which Edition Should You Buy
Let’s talk about what’s actually available in English and where to find it.
English Light Novel
The light novel series has been officially translated and published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. Both digital and physical editions are available through major retailers and digital reading platforms. The official English translation is well-localized, easy to read, and supports the author and publisher directly.
English Manga
The manga adaptation, illustrated by Kai Nadashima, has also been officially released in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. Like the light novel, it’s available in both physical and digital formats.
If you’re looking to get started with the series, picking up the first manga volume is a low-commitment way to see if the series clicks with you.
I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!
Digital Platforms
Both the light novel and manga are available on popular digital reading platforms. If you prefer reading on a tablet or phone, digital editions are typically available the same day as physical releases and are easy to access.
A Note on Fan Translations vs. Official Releases
You might come across fan translations of the web novel online. While fan translators have done great work making series accessible before official releases existed, now that official English editions are available, those are the best choice. They’re more accurate, better formatted, and — most importantly — they directly support Yomu Mishima and the artists and editors who bring this series to life. If you want more volumes to get published, buying the official releases is the single best thing you can do.
Tips for First-Time Readers
Going into I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! for the first time? Here are some things that’ll help you get the most out of it.
Lean Into the Irony
The entire series runs on one joke — and it never gets old. Liam genuinely believes he’s being a terrible, exploitative ruler. He’s not pretending. He sincerely thinks he’s villainous. But through a combination of misunderstandings, his own competence, and a universe that seems determined to reward him, every “evil” act turns out to benefit everyone around him.
The comedy works because it’s played completely straight. Liam isn’t winking at the camera. He’s furious that his evil plans keep producing good results. Once you tune into that wavelength, every chapter becomes a delight.
Expect a Unique Setting
Most stories in this genre — where a character is reborn into another world — drop the protagonist into a medieval fantasy land with swords and sorcery. Evil Lord does something different. This is a sci-fi story — Liam is reincarnated into a futuristic universe with spaceships, interstellar empires, noble houses, large-scale robot combat, and galactic politics.
The reincarnation element is still there (Liam lived a miserable past life and is determined to live selfishly in his new one), but the setting swaps out dungeons and dragons for star systems and fleet battles. It’s a sweeping, dramatic sci-fi saga with reincarnation-genre sensibilities, and the combination works incredibly well.
You Don’t Need the Web Novel
Some fans wonder if they should track down the original web novel. Short answer: no need. The light novel is the definitive version of the story — it expands on the web novel, fixes pacing issues, and adds material that wasn’t in the original online version. Unless you specifically want to see how the story evolved from its earliest draft, the light novel gives you everything you need and more.
The Manga Art Is Worth Experiencing
Even if you read the light novel first, don’t skip the manga entirely. The artwork brings the space battles, character designs, and comedic reaction shots to life in a way that text alone can’t capture. Seeing Liam’s earnestly evil expressions while everyone around him is grateful and impressed adds a whole visual layer to the comedy. The manga is a great complement to the novels, not just a replacement for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the manga finished or still ongoing?
The manga adaptation is an ongoing series. New volumes continue to be released, so there’s more to look forward to if you catch up and want additional content.
How far does the manga adapt the light novel?
The manga covers the earlier portions of the light novel’s story. Because the manga releases at a slower pace than the novels, it hasn’t caught up to the full light novel series yet. If you read all available manga volumes and want to continue the story, you can jump to the light novel to keep going — though starting the light novel from Volume 1 is recommended so you don’t miss expanded content that the manga trimmed.
Is there an anime adaptation?
Yes — a 12-episode TV anime adaptation aired from April to June 2025, produced by studio Quad. It gives you an animated taste of Liam’s misunderstood villainy, while the manga and light novel both continue well beyond what the anime covers.
Is this series actually isekai?
Yes! “Isekai” is a Japanese genre label meaning “another world” — it describes stories where a character is transported or reborn into a different world from the one they started in. Liam is a reincarnated protagonist — he lived a previous life, died, and was reborn into the intergalactic empire setting. That makes this a reincarnation-style isekai, even though the setting is sci-fi rather than the typical fantasy world. If you’re looking for something that breaks the mold while keeping the core “reborn into a new world with memories of your past life” premise, this series is a fantastic pick. It’s just that the new world happens to have starships instead of castles.
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That’s everything you need to get started with I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! Whether you go with the light novel for the full deep experience or grab the manga for a quicker visual entry, you’re in for a genuinely fun ride. A protagonist who tries so hard to be evil and keeps accidentally being good? It’s the kind of premise that just makes you smile. Enjoy!