Overlord Manga Has 19 Volumes — Here’s the Full List
If you’re here to get a quick answer: the Overlord manga volumes total 19 books in both the Japanese and English editions. That’s the complete count as of the latest release.
The English edition is published by Yen Press, and the Japanese edition comes from KADOKAWA under their Kadokawa Comics Ace imprint — a label within the larger KADOKAWA publishing company that focuses on manga. The series was serialized in Comp Ace magazine. The manga began serialization in Japan in November 2014, and the first compiled volume released in June 2015. Volume 19 — the most recent volume — released in English on October 15, 2024.
Here’s an important detail: Volume 19 wraps up Part 1 of the Overlord manga. Think of “Part 1” and “Part 2” the way you’d think of seasons of a show — Part 1 is a complete story segment that reaches a natural conclusion, and Part 2 will pick up the story from there. The series is listed as ongoing because a Part 2 sequel — Overlord New World, illustrated by Matsuki — began serialization in Japan in April 2024, but the first major section of the manga adaptation is now complete. So if you’re starting fresh, you’re looking at a self-contained 19-volume run for Part 1 — a satisfying chunk of story with a clear endpoint.
The manga is an adaptation of the Overlord light novel series — a type of Japanese novel, typically shorter and more illustrated than a standard novel — by Kugane Maruyama (丸山くがね), with manga script by Satoshi Ōshio (大塩哲史), art by Hugin Miyama (深山フギン), and character designs by so-bin, the illustrator whose artwork defines the look of the Overlord franchise. If you’ve seen the anime and want more detail, or you’re brand new and prefer reading to watching, the manga is a great way into this world.
Complete Overlord Manga Volumes List
Here’s every one of the Overlord manga volumes laid out in order. The Japanese editions released between June 2015 and December 2023, with English editions from Yen Press following afterward.
| Volume | JP Release | EN Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | Jun 2015 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 2 | Jul 2015 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 3 | Dec 2015 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 4 | Jun 2016 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 5 | Aug 2016 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 6 | Dec 2016 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 7 | May 2017 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 8 | Dec 2017 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 9 | Apr 2018 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 10 | Jul 2018 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 11 | Feb 2019 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 12 | Sep 2019 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 13 | Mar 2020 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 14 | Nov 2020 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 15 | Jul 2021 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 16 | Jan 2022 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 17 | Jun 2022 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 18 | Mar 2023 | Yen Press |
| Vol. 19 | Dec 2023 | Yen Press |
Note: Individual English release dates for Volumes 1–18 are not confirmed in the source data beyond the publisher. Volume 19’s English release is confirmed as October 15, 2024.
Pacing and Release Schedule
New volumes came out roughly every 3 to 9 months over the series’ run, which is a fairly typical pace for a manga adaptation — meaning a manga that retells the story of an existing source, in this case the Overlord light novels. The Japanese edition wrapped up Part 1 with Volume 19 in December 2023, and the English Volume 19 followed on October 15, 2024.
That means English readers can now read the complete Part 1 story without waiting for future releases. No cliffhangers, no “Volume 20 coming soon” anxiety — you can read the whole thing start to finish right now.
A Note on Volume 19
Volume 19 is a significant release because it concludes Part 1 of the manga adaptation. This isn’t just another volume in a long run — it’s an intentional stopping point that brings the story to a meaningful conclusion. If you’re picking up the series, know that you’ll get a complete story across these 19 books.
Overlord, Vol. 19 (manga)
What Is Overlord About — The Isekai Premise
Isekai is a genre of Japanese fiction where a character is transported to another world — and Overlord starts with one of the most compelling hooks in that genre: a player in a dying MMORPG (a massively multiplayer online role-playing game — think World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV) decides to stay logged in until the servers shut down — and when they do, instead of being kicked back to reality, he’s trapped inside the game world as his character.
That character is Ainz Ooal Gown (formerly Momonga), an undead overlord who was one of the most powerful beings in the game. Now he’s that powerful being in a world that has become very, very real. The NPCs — non-player characters, the computer-controlled inhabitants of the game — that he and his guild (a team of players who played together) created are alive, loyal, and genuinely terrifying. And Ainz — still an ordinary office worker on the inside — has to figure out how to lead them while pretending he has some grand master plan.
Dark Fantasy, Not Your Typical Hero Story
What makes the Overlord manga volumes stand apart from a lot of isekai series is the tone. This isn’t a warm adventure where the hero saves villages and makes friends. Ainz is a morally gray protagonist at best. He makes ruthless decisions, sometimes horrifying ones, and the story doesn’t flinch from showing the consequences.
The manga leans into dark fantasy — political scheming, empire-building, power struggles within Ainz’s stronghold, and world conquest. Ainz isn’t trying to get home. He’s trying to build something, to protect the legacy of the guild he once shared with friends, and to understand this new world. Along the way, the series shows the perspectives of the people and nations caught in his path, and it doesn’t always go well for them.
An Overpowered Protagonist Done Right
If you enjoy stories where the main character is absurdly strong from the start, Overlord is one of the series that helped define that approach in isekai. Ainz is overwhelmingly powerful — the tension doesn’t come from whether he can win fights but from the political, emotional, and moral complications around him. Can he maintain his facade as an all-knowing ruler? What happens when his subordinates take his offhand comments as gospel? What does power do to someone who used to be an ordinary person?
For readers new to isekai, Overlord is an excellent pick if you want something darker and more strategic than the average “reborn in a fantasy world” story. It’s especially good for readers who enjoy stories told from the perspective of someone who would be the villain in any other series — the “hero” here is the scariest thing in the room, and the story embraces that tension fully.
Is the Overlord Manga Finished?
The answer depends on which part of the series you mean.
Part 1 of the Overlord manga is complete at 19 volumes. If you read from Volume 1 through Volume 19, you’ll get a finished story with a conclusion.
However, the series overall is listed as ongoing. A Part 2 sequel — Overlord New World (オーバーロード〈新〉世界編), illustrated by Matsuki — began serialization in Comp Ace in April 2024 and is ongoing in Japan. An English license has not been confirmed as of this writing — if you want to track updates, checking Yen Press announcements is your best bet. So while Part 1 is done, the broader Overlord manga is not finished — there’s more coming.
The Light Novel Goes Further
The Overlord manga is an adaptation of the light novel, and the light novel source material extends further than what the manga has covered so far. This is a common situation with manga adaptations — the manga tells the story at its own pace and adapts the novels section by section, but the original text is typically ahead.
If you finish the manga and want more story right away, the light novels are an option. Just keep in mind that the manga, light novel, and anime are three separate products at different progress points. Each tells the story in its own format with its own pacing:
- Manga: Part 1 complete at 19 volumes, Part 2 (Overlord New World) serializing in Japan
- Light Novel: The original source, further ahead in the story
- Anime: Multiple seasons produced, covering different portions of the novels
You can enjoy any of these on their own or use them to complement each other. All three entry points — manga, light novel, or anime — are legitimate starting points.
Why This Matters for New Readers
The fact that Part 1 is complete is actually great news if you’re thinking about starting. You won’t hit a mid-story pause or an indefinite hiatus. Nineteen volumes is a substantial read — enough to really sink into the world — and it wraps up in a satisfying way. When Part 2 begins, you’ll be caught up and ready for it.
Where to Buy Overlord Manga Volumes in English
All 19 Overlord manga volumes are available from Yen Press in standard paperback format. There are no confirmed omnibus editions (multi-volume collections that bundle several volumes into one thicker book), deluxe editions, or hardcover versions for the Overlord manga — what you see is the standard single-volume releases.
Physical Copies
You can find the Overlord manga volumes at major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and independent bookstores. Most well-stocked manga sections in bookstores will carry at least the first few volumes, and the full run is readily available to order.
Since there are 19 volumes, buying the complete set does add up. Each volume carries a typical manga retail price — check the current list price on Yen Press or your preferred retailer for exact numbers. There is no official Yen Press box set, though Amazon offers bundled multi-volume paperback sets. You can also pick up volumes individually. A good approach if you’re budget-conscious: grab the first two or three volumes to see if you’re hooked, then fill in the rest over time. There’s no rush — Part 1 is finished, so the books aren’t going anywhere.
Digital Editions
If you prefer reading digitally, the Overlord manga is available as digital editions on Kindle, Kobo, BookWalker (a digital storefront that specializes in manga and light novels), and other digital platforms. Digital editions are a solid option if you’re short on shelf space or want to start reading immediately.
Digital volumes often have a slightly lower list price compared to their physical counterparts, and they go on sale from time to time across various platforms. If you’re patient and keep an eye out, you can build up your digital collection gradually during sale periods.
Which Format Should You Choose?
There’s no wrong answer here — it comes down to personal preference:
- Physical paperback: Great if you like having manga on your shelf. The Overlord covers feature so-bin’s distinctive character designs and look fantastic lined up together. Nineteen volumes on a bookshelf make a statement.
- Digital: Great if you want instant access, portability, or want to save on shelf space. Also a smart choice if you’re trying out the series and not sure yet whether you’ll commit to the full run.
Either way, you’re getting the same story, the same art, and the same translation from Yen Press. Pick whichever format fits your reading habits and budget.
All 19 Overlord manga volumes for Part 1 are available in English now, so you can start from Volume 1 and read straight through without waiting. The world gets richer, the political layers get deeper, and Ainz’s balancing act between ordinary person and terrifying ruler only gets more compelling as the volumes go on. Whether you pick up physical copies or go digital, you’ve got a complete story waiting for you.