So you’ve heard about the series where a girl asks to be reborn with “average” abilities — and ends up wildly overpowered instead. Now you want to collect the Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average manga volumes, but the volume count and multiple editions have you confused. Here’s the quick answer up front: there are two different manga versions of this story, and which one you’re collecting determines how many volumes you need. Let’s break down both so you know exactly what to buy.
How Many Manga Volumes Does “Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!” Have?
The answer depends on which edition you’re looking at, because there are actually two separate manga adaptations of FUNA’s original light novel series. (A light novel is a short Japanese novel, often illustrated, that serves as source material for manga and anime adaptations. A manga adaptation takes that novel’s story and retells it as a comic drawn by a different artist.)
Here are the two editions:
- The Earth Star Comics edition — illustrated by Nekomint (ねこみんと). In Japan, this version reached 4 print volumes before going on hiatus, meaning publication paused with no announced plans to continue. The English release from Seven Seas Entertainment matches that at 4 volumes.
- The Square Enix edition — a newer adaptation, 5 volumes, completed, 20 chapters total. This version is published in Japan and has a definitive beginning, middle, and ending. There is no confirmed English release of the Square Enix edition at this time.
These are different manga with different artists, different publishers, and different identifying codes. They adapt the same source material but are not interchangeable.
Here’s the key for English readers: Seven Seas Entertainment — an American publisher that releases manga in English — publishes the Earth Star version. You may run into retailer listings for an English “Volume 5,” but the official series listings stop at Volume 4 — the Japanese Earth Star edition never got a fifth volume, so there’s nothing for an English Volume 5 to translate.
The premise is the same across both versions and is pure comedy fun: after dying, the heroine Misato Kurihara asks to be reborn with abilities that are “average” for her new world. The problem? “Average” is calculated as the midpoint between the weakest creature and the strongest — which means she’s absurdly powerful. The story follows her attempts to live a normal, low-key life as “Mile,” which naturally goes sideways at every turn. If you’re new to this type of story — sometimes called “isekai,” a Japanese genre where a character is transported or reborn into a fantasy world — this is one of the most lighthearted and accessible examples out there.
There’s also a spin-off manga called “Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! Everyday Misadventures!” — a separate series featuring the same characters in standalone, low-stakes stories rather than continuing the main plot. The spin-off is available in English from Seven Seas Entertainment, complete at 4 volumes.
The Easiest Way to Collect the Complete Series
How you approach collecting depends on which edition you’re after and whether you need English or are comfortable with Japanese.
If you read English and want the Seven Seas edition:
The English Seven Seas edition has 4 volumes in all. Just go in knowing that the adaptation is on hiatus, so Volume 4 isn’t a true ending. Volume 1 is where to start — in print if you can find it, or digitally (see below):
Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! (Manga) Vol. 1
Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the English edition in both print and digital formats. However — and this is important — the English print editions are currently flagged as out of print, meaning the publisher is not actively manufacturing new copies right now. If you spot print copies available at retailers, they may not stay in stock for long.
Digital is the easiest route right now. Digital editions aren’t tied to print runs and are sold through various e-book platforms that carry Seven Seas titles.
If you want the Square Enix edition (Japan only):
The Square Enix edition is complete at 5 volumes with 20 chapters and a full ending, but it is currently available only in Japanese. If you can read Japanese or are comfortable collecting untranslated volumes, this is an alternative adaptation with a different artist.
For either edition, the series is short enough to be one of the most affordable and shelf-friendly collections you can own.
The 12-episode TV anime that aired in October 2019 is a fun companion piece if you enjoy the manga, but the manga stands perfectly well on its own. You don’t need to watch the anime to follow the story.
Volume-by-Volume Guide
Here’s what the Square Enix manga edition looks like volume by volume. This is the completed 5-volume Japanese run spanning 20 chapters total. (In manga, multiple chapters are collected into a single volume — think of chapters as individual episodes and volumes as the collected books you buy.)
These are Japanese release dates for the Square Enix edition. English-language volumes from Seven Seas follow a different release schedule and correspond to the Earth Star adaptation, not this one.
| Volume | JP Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | July 2022 | Series start — introduces Mile’s reincarnation and her wildly “average” abilities |
| Vol. 2 | October 2022 | Mile’s school life and early adventures with the Crimson Vow, her misfit adventurer party |
| Vol. 3 | March 2023 | The group’s adventures deepen as Mile struggles to hide her true power |
| Vol. 4 | August 2023 | Stakes rise heading toward the series climax |
| Vol. 5 | March 2024 | Final volume — wraps up the story across the series’ 20 total chapters |
For English readers collecting the Seven Seas edition, Volume 1 of that release is your natural entry point — it sets up the entire comedic premise and introduces Mile’s adventurer party. If the anime grabbed you first, the manga covers similar story ground in its early volumes but tells its own version of the tale.
The pacing across either edition is brisk. With short volume counts, each book moves the story forward without unnecessary padding. You’ll get a story that respects your time — something that’s surprisingly rare in longer-running manga series.
Out-of-Print Warnings and Buying Tips
This is where collecting this series gets a little stressful. The English print editions from Seven Seas are currently flagged as out of print, which means finding brand-new physical copies at typical retail prices can be hit or miss. (“Out of print” means the publisher is not currently producing new copies — once existing stock at retailers sells through, no more will appear unless a reprint is ordered.)
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Check retailer stock before purchasing. Availability varies — some volumes may still be sitting on shelves at certain retailers while others are completely gone. Don’t assume you can grab the full set in one order.
- A possible reprint has been noted, but availability is unconfirmed. If you’re patient, reprints may appear, but there’s no official timeline to count on.
- Digital editions remain the safest guaranteed path to owning all available English volumes. If finishing the series matters more to you than having physical books on your shelf, digital removes all the uncertainty. Look for Seven Seas titles on major e-book platforms that carry manga.
- Watch out for inflated prices on secondhand copies. When manga goes out of print, resale prices can climb quickly. If a listing seems unreasonably expensive compared to what a new manga volume typically costs, consider waiting or going digital instead.
Don’t Mix Up the Two Japanese Editions
This bears repeating because it’s an easy mistake: the Earth Star Comics version and the Square Enix version are different manga. They have different artists, different publishers, and different identifying codes. If you’re importing Japanese volumes or browsing listings that don’t clearly specify which edition they’re selling, double-check before you buy. Mixing volumes from two different adaptations into one collection means you’ll have mismatched art styles and potentially confusing story continuity.
To recap the key distinction: the English Seven Seas release corresponds to the Earth Star version (illustrated by Nekomint) at 4 volumes. The completed 5-volume Square Enix edition is a separate, newer adaptation that currently has no confirmed English release. When you see volume counts that don’t seem to match up online, this is almost always why.
Is the Manga Finished? Will Your Collection Stay Complete?
This depends on which edition you’re collecting.
- The English Seven Seas edition (Nekomint/Earth Star adaptation) has 4 volumes, but the adaptation it’s based on is on hiatus in Japan with no announced continuation, so it doesn’t reach an ending.
- The Square Enix adaptation is fully complete at 5 volumes (20 chapters), available in Japanese only. It tells its own version of the story with a different artist and a definitive conclusion.
- The source light novel by FUNA is a separate, broader franchise that extends well beyond what either manga covers. A light novel is a short Japanese novel, often with illustrations, and FUNA’s series goes much deeper into this world. If you fall in love with the characters and want more story, the light novels are there for you — but each manga adaptation tells its own version of the tale.
For collectors who want the security of a finished story with no loose ends, the completed Square Enix manga is the one — though you’ll need to read it in Japanese. For English-only readers, the four Seven Seas volumes are a fun, lighthearted read, with the caveat that the story stops without a proper conclusion.
Who Should Collect This Series?
This manga is a great fit if you’re looking for:
- A lighthearted comedy — Mile’s overpowered-but-trying-to-be-normal situation is consistently funny, and the tone stays cheerful throughout. No dark twists or bleak storytelling here.
- A short series — Four or five volumes (depending on edition) is about as compact as manga series get. You can read the whole thing in an afternoon or two without a massive time or money commitment.
- An accessible entry point into the genre — If you’re new to manga or to isekai-style reincarnation stories, this is an easy series to start with. The comedy is straightforward, the cast is likable, and you won’t get lost in complicated rules or dense backstory.
- A gateway into a larger franchise — Enjoyed the manga? The light novels go much deeper into FUNA’s world. The anime offers a different take on the same story. And the Everyday Misadventures! spin-off manga gives you more low-stakes fun with the same characters.
It fits on a single shelf without crowding anything out. It reads fast, it’s fun, and — if you go with the Square Enix edition — it has a definitive ending. For English readers, the Seven Seas edition gives you four volumes of comedy that stand well on their own, even though the adaptation is on hiatus. Grab Volume 1 — or start with the digital edition if print copies are scarce — and see if Mile’s hilariously “average” life clicks for you.