The Unwanted Undead Adventurer Manga Reading Order at a Glance
Here’s the short version: read Volumes 1 through 12 in numerical order. That’s the entire English release as of now.
The series is ongoing — there are currently 13 volumes published in Japan and 12 available in English through J-Novel Club, a digital-first publisher that releases manga and light novels both as individual digital purchases and in physical print editions. No subscription is required to buy individual volumes. There are no collected omnibus editions (multiple volumes bundled into one book), no deluxe hardcovers, and no alternate versions to choose between. One edition, one reading path.
A few key points before we get into details:
- Single continuous storyline — no branching paths, no side stories, no skippable filler content
- No light novel prerequisite — the manga stands completely on its own as a reading experience
- Ongoing series — more volumes will follow as the Japanese releases continue
If all you needed was confirmation that it’s a straight shot from Volume 1 to Volume 12, you’re set. But if you want to know how the light novel and anime factor in, keep reading.
Manga vs Light Novel — Which Format Should You Follow?
The Unwanted Undead Adventurer started as a light novel series — essentially a short, illustrated Japanese novel aimed at a similar audience as manga — published by Overlap in Japan, written by Yu Okano. The manga version, illustrated by Haiji Nakasone with character designs by Jaian, is serialized (released chapter by chapter) in Comic Gardo+, a Japanese digital manga magazine. The first collected manga volume came out in May 2018.
So which format is better for a new reader? It depends on what you want.
The Case for the Manga
The manga is a faithful retelling of the light novel with strong visual action sequences. If you enjoy watching Rentt’s undead transformations play out on the page — and the labyrinth exploration scenes really do shine in this format — the manga is the way to go. The volume-by-volume path is clear, and you don’t need any outside material to follow the story.
For most beginners, the manga is the recommended entry point. It’s visual, it’s approachable, and the pacing works well for someone discovering the series for the first time.
The Case for the Light Novel
The light novel is further ahead in the story than the manga. If you catch up to the latest English manga volume and want to know what happens next, the light novel continues beyond where the manga currently sits. It’s also the original source, so certain world-building details and internal character thoughts get more room to breathe.
You don’t need to pick one or the other permanently. Many readers start with the manga and then switch to the light novel once they’ve caught up. That’s a perfectly natural path.
Complete Manga Reading Order (Volumes 1–12)
Here’s your volume-by-volume breakdown. Every volume builds directly on the one before it — there’s no jumping around required.
Volume 1 — This is where the core premise drops. Rentt Faina, a low-rank adventurer who has spent years grinding through the labyrinth — a vast, monster-filled underground dungeon — without much success, encounters a dragon in the depths and is killed. He wakes up as a skeleton. The hook is immediate and specific: this isn’t a story where the main character starts out overpowered. Rentt is weaker than ever, trapped in an undead body, and has to figure out how to survive in a world that would destroy him on sight.
Volume 2 — Rentt begins navigating daily life as an undead while desperately trying to hide what he’s become. The evolution system kicks in here — his undead form isn’t static, and he can transform into progressively stronger types of undead (think skeleton to ghoul to something even more powerful) by gaining experience. The tension between his old identity and his new reality drives the story forward.
Volume 3 — The adventurer guild becomes a bigger part of the picture. Rentt has to deal with guild challenges and obligations while keeping his transformation a secret. The social dynamics add a layer that goes beyond exploring monster-filled depths — there are people who knew Rentt before, and maintaining those relationships while hiding behind a disguise creates genuine stakes.
Volume 4 — Deeper labyrinth exploration takes center stage, and Rentt continues evolving through increasingly powerful undead forms. The world’s magic system and the rules governing undead get fleshed out more here, giving the progression a clearer set of boundaries.
Volume 5 — The world expands. New allies enter the story, and the scope broadens beyond the immediate labyrinth-and-guild loop. This is where the series starts to show that it has a bigger picture in mind.
Volume 6 — Major story developments land here, with escalating threats that push Rentt and his allies harder than before. The stakes ratchet up in ways that change the direction of the story going forward.
Volume 7 — Rentt’s growing power brings new complications. His evolution continues, but with each transformation comes greater risk of exposure and new enemies who take notice.
Volume 8 — The story digs deeper into the world’s history and the origins of the labyrinth itself. Background details that were hinted at in earlier volumes start coming into focus.
Volume 9 — Alliances are tested as the threats facing Rentt become more personal. The relationships built across earlier volumes carry real weight here.
Volume 10 — The scope of the conflict expands further. Rentt is pulled into situations that go well beyond his original goal of simply regaining his humanity.
Volume 11 — Consequences from earlier decisions catch up with the cast, and the story enters a stretch of sustained tension that carries through the volume.
Volume 12 — The most recent English volume advances Rentt’s journey significantly while setting the stage for what comes next. This is where English readers currently stand — caught up and waiting for more.
The Unwanted Undead Adventurer
What About Volume 13?
Volume 13 released in Japan on August 8, 2025. As of now, an English edition release date has not been confirmed. Given J-Novel Club’s typical publishing pace, it’s reasonable to expect an English version will follow, but there’s no announced date to point to yet.
For English readers, Volumes 1–12 form a complete and uninterrupted reading experience with no gaps or missing content between volumes. When Volume 13 arrives in English, it’ll pick up right where Volume 12 leaves off.
Where the Anime Fits In
A TV anime adaptation of The Unwanted Undead Adventurer aired in early 2024. The anime adapts the opening stretch of the story — Rentt’s death, rebirth as a skeleton, and early evolution through the initial labyrinth and guild storylines. It draws from the light novel, so its coverage doesn’t map neatly onto specific manga volume numbers.
Here’s how to think about it depending on where you’re coming from:
If You Watched the Anime First
You could technically try to pick up the manga partway through, but reading from Volume 1 is recommended even if you’ve seen the show. The manga includes details, pacing, and character moments that the anime condenses or cuts entirely. Starting from the beginning isn’t a slog — it’s a richer version of a story you already know you enjoy, and the early volumes read quickly.
If You Haven’t Watched the Anime
No problem. The manga is the fuller experience, and you won’t miss anything by skipping the anime entirely. If you enjoy the manga and want to see the world animated afterward, the anime works well as a supplementary watch — but it’s not required.
How the Anime Lines Up with the Manga
For readers who want specifics: the 12-episode anime season adapts the early portion of the story. Because the anime works from the light novel, exactly where it leaves off relative to the manga volumes isn’t officially mapped — so if you’re coming from the anime, starting the manga from Volume 1 is the safest way to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Getting Started — What New Readers Should Know
A few practical notes if you’re just getting started:
- The hook is fast. Volume 1 doesn’t waste time getting to the premise — Rentt dies and wakes up as a skeleton within the opening chapters. If the concept interests you, you’ll know very quickly whether the execution works for you.
- Completely linear reading. There are no branching storylines, required side stories, or companion material. You read Volume 1, then Volume 2, and so on. That’s it.
- Digital and physical editions are available. J-Novel Club offers individual digital volumes for purchase (no subscription needed), and physical copies are available through major retailers. Same content, same reading order regardless of format.
- The light novel is your continuation path. Once you’ve caught up to the latest English manga volume and want more, the light novel picks up where the manga leaves off in the broader story. It’s a natural next step rather than a requirement.
- The series rewards patience. Rentt’s evolution from skeleton through progressively stronger undead forms — ghoul, then beyond — is gradual and earned. Each transformation is visually satisfying and happens at a believable pace, making the progression one of the series’ strongest hooks across many volumes rather than a single dramatic power-up.
Start Here — The Recommended Reading Path
If you want the simplest possible answer:
- Pick up manga Volume 1 and read in numerical order through Volume 12
- No supplementary material required — no light novels, no side stories, no companion guides
- If you watched the anime, starting from Volume 1 is still the best call for the full experience
- The series is ongoing — more English volumes will follow as the Japanese releases continue to be translated
The Unwanted Undead Adventurer is one of those series where the premise does a lot of heavy lifting. “Low-rank adventurer dies and comes back as a skeleton who has to evolve his way back to humanity” is immediately compelling, and the manga follows through on that promise with a satisfying progression system, strong character dynamics, and labyrinth exploration that gets more layered with each volume. The reading order couldn’t be simpler, so the only real decision is whether to start — and Volume 1 makes that decision pretty easy.