So you want to read The Misfit of Demon King Academy manga and you’re wondering about the reading order — is there a special sequence? Side stories to slot in? Spin-offs you’ll miss?
Good news: this one’s straightforward. The manga has 4 English volumes, you read them 1 through 4, and there are no English spin-offs or companion volumes to slot into the reading order. But there’s more to know — especially about how the manga connects to the light novel and anime — so let’s walk through everything.
The Misfit of Demon King Academy Manga Reading Order at a Glance
The manga is a comic adaptation of the light novel by Shu (秋), with art by Kayaharuka (かやはるか). If you’re not familiar with light novels, they’re a Japanese publishing format — essentially short, illustrated novels, heavier on text than manga but lighter than a standard Western novel. The manga takes that text-based story and retells it in a visual, panel-by-panel comic format.
The manga was first published chapter-by-chapter (serialized) starting in July 2018 on Square Enix’s Manga UP! website. The story starts from the very beginning: the Demon King Anos Voldigoad reincarnates 2,000 years after his death, only to discover that history has completely forgotten who he really is.
Here’s how the three main versions of the story relate to each other:
| Format | Source | Story Coverage | Volumes in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Novel | Original source material | Most complete — full story | Multiple volumes available |
| Manga | Adapts the light novel | Early story arcs only (4 volumes) | 4 |
| Anime | Adapts the light novel | Covers more story than the manga | Multiple seasons aired |
A quick note on the table above: “arcs” just means self-contained story sections within the larger series — think of them as chapters in a bigger narrative, each with its own beginning, middle, and climax.
The reading order itself is dead simple:
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
- Volume 3
- Volume 4
That’s it. No alternate manga series available in English. No English spin-off manga to track down. No special tie-in to read between volumes 2 and 3. One straight, sequential read from start to finish.
The one thing worth knowing upfront: the manga only covers the early portion of the light novel, and the series was cancelled after 4 volumes following the passing of artist Kayaharuka in 2021. If you fall in love with the story, you’ll want to pick up the light novel or watch the anime to continue. But the 4 volumes tell a satisfying early arc on their own — you won’t be left mid-sentence.
What Each Volume Covers and Why It Goes in That Spot
Each volume builds directly on the last. There is no volume here you can skip without losing important story threads. Here’s what you’re getting in each one.
Volume 1 — The Demon King Returns
This is where everything begins. Anos Voldigoad — the original Demon King — reincarnates 2,000 years later and enrolls at the Demon King Academy, a school built to identify his reborn self. The problem? The academy doesn’t recognize him. History has been rewritten, and someone else is credited as the original Demon King.
Volume 1 establishes the core tension that drives the entire series: Anos is absurdly powerful (we’re talking “destroys things by blinking” levels of overpowered), but the world he built has erased him from its own history. It’s equal parts action spectacle and mystery — why was his identity suppressed?
You also get introduced to the Necron sisters — a pair of siblings who become central characters in the story going forward. The character dynamics here are warm and surprisingly fun for a series with such a dramatic premise.
Volume 2 — Academy Conflicts Deepen
Volume 2 expands the scope beyond Anos’s immediate circle. You’ll see the political tensions among demon nobility start to surface — the academy isn’t just a school, it’s a stage for power struggles between demon clans. Key allies are introduced, and the social hierarchy that Anos refuses to play along with becomes a bigger source of conflict.
The action sequences here are where Kayaharuka’s art really starts to shine. Because manga tells stories through illustrated panels rather than text descriptions, these battles have a visual impact that the light novel’s prose can only describe in words.
Volume 3 — The Mystery Tightens
This volume digs deeper into the central question: who rewrote history, and why is the truth about Anos being actively suppressed? It’s not just that people forgot — someone wanted them to forget.
Volume 3 shifts the tone slightly toward the political and conspiratorial, while still delivering the satisfying moments where Anos casually outclasses opponents who underestimate him. If you liked the setup of the first two volumes, this is where the payoff starts building.
Volume 4 — The Latest Chapter
Volume 4 is the most recently published volume in both Japanese and English. It continues the academy arc and pushes the ongoing mysteries forward. The Japanese edition released in March 2021, and the English edition followed.
This is currently where the manga leaves you. The manga was officially cancelled in July 2021 following the death of artist Kayaharuka — these 4 volumes are the complete and final set. Readers who want to know what happens next will need to look to the light novel or the anime, both of which cover significantly more of the story.
Important: all 4 volumes follow strict chronological order. The manga doesn’t use flashback volumes, side-story volumes, or any restructuring. Volume 1 leads to 2, 2 leads to 3, 3 leads to 4. Simple.
Light Novel vs. Manga — Choosing Your Starting Point
Here’s a question that comes up a lot: should you start with the manga or the light novel?
Both are valid entry points. They start from the same place in the story. But they offer very different experiences, and which one suits you depends on what you’re looking for.
Why Start with the Manga
- Visual spectacle. Anos’s absurd power level is genuinely fun to see drawn out. When he destroys a castle by snapping his fingers, the manga makes that land in a way that text alone can’t.
- Shorter time commitment. Four volumes is a quick read — you can finish in an afternoon and know whether the story hooks you.
- Easier entry if you’re new to light novels. If you haven’t read Japanese light novels before or find text-heavy formats less appealing, the manga is a more accessible way to experience the story first.
Why Start with the Light Novel
- Way more story. The manga’s 4 volumes cover only the early portion of the light novel. If you want the full experience — the deeper world-building, the expanded political intrigue, the later arcs — the light novel is where that lives.
- More character depth. Light novels have room to explore characters’ inner thoughts and side characters in ways the manga compresses or skips.
- You won’t hit a wall. With the manga permanently ended at 4 volumes, the light novel lets you keep going without stopping.
The Hybrid Approach
A lot of fans do this: read the manga first for the visual experience, then transition to the light novel to continue the story. If you go this route, expect some overlap — the early light novel content will cover the same ground you already read in manga form, but with more detail. It’s worth re-reading rather than trying to skip ahead to an exact chapter, because the light novel adds context the manga condensed.
The anime can also serve as a bridge here. It adapts the same light novel source material and covers more of the story than the manga does. You could reasonably read the manga, watch the anime for the next chunk of story, and then pick up the light novel where the anime leaves off.
Where to Buy Each Volume in English
All 4 English manga volumes of The Misfit of Demon King Academy are currently available. The English manga is published by Square Enix Manga. You can find the volumes through Amazon and other major book retailers in both physical and digital formats.
The most recent English volume — Volume 4 — is available now.
The Misfit of Demon King Academy, Vol. 4
The manga is available in standard paperback single volumes. There are no collected editions or box sets for this series at the time of writing, so buying volumes individually is your only option. All 4 volumes make for a quick read — you can reasonably finish them in a single afternoon.
The manga was cancelled in July 2021, so no additional volumes will be published. These 4 volumes are the complete and final set.
For readers who finish the manga and want to continue with the light novel, English translations are also available through major retailers. The light novels will take you well beyond where the manga’s 4 volumes leave off.
Common Mistakes New Readers Make
These come up regularly in online discussions. Save yourself some confusion:
- Assuming there will be more manga volumes. There won’t — the manga was cancelled in July 2021 after the passing of artist Kayaharuka. The 4 published volumes are the final set. You will reach the end of volume 4 and want more story. Plan for that by having the light novel or anime ready. The good news: those 4 volumes wrap up a satisfying early section of the story, so you won’t feel like you stopped in the middle of a scene.
- Confusing manga volume numbers with light novel volume numbers. They don’t match up 1:1 in story coverage. Manga volume 4 does not correspond to light novel volume 4. The manga compresses and condenses — it covers less total story per volume than the light novel does.
- Expecting the manga to cover the same ground as the anime. The anime adapts more of the light novel than the manga covered. If you’ve seen the anime and pick up the manga expecting it to go further, you’ll be surprised when it doesn’t.
- Skipping to a random light novel volume after the manga. If you finish manga volume 4 and want to continue in the light novel, don’t just grab light novel volume 5 and assume that’s where you should be. The story coverage doesn’t line up that neatly. The manga’s 4 volumes roughly cover material from the first couple of light novel volumes, so starting the light novel from volume 1 is the safest approach for the fullest experience.
- Expecting the manga alone to tell the whole story. The manga covers only the early arcs and was cancelled after 4 volumes. It will never give you the complete Misfit of Demon King Academy experience. The light novel is essential if you want the full story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Misfit of Demon King Academy manga finished?
Yes. The manga ended in July 2021 when artist Kayaharuka passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The 4 published volumes are the complete and final set. Although the manga only covers the early portion of the light novel’s story, the 4 volumes wrap up a satisfying section and don’t end on a harsh cliffhanger — so they’re well worth reading. If you want to continue the story, the light novel and anime both go much further.
Do I need to read the light novel before starting the manga?
Not at all. The manga starts from the very beginning of the story and works perfectly as a standalone entry point. You don’t need any prior knowledge to pick up volume 1 and follow what’s happening.
How does the anime fit into the reading order?
The anime adapts the same light novel source material as the manga. You can watch it before, after, or alongside the manga — there’s no required order between the two. The anime does cover more story than the manga’s 4 volumes, so it can serve as a way to continue the story after you finish reading.
Will there be more manga volumes?
No. The manga was officially cancelled in July 2021 following the passing of artist Kayaharuka. The 4 published volumes are the final set. To continue the story beyond the manga, look to the light novel (which covers the full story) or the anime (which adapts significantly more than the manga reached).
What does “isekai” mean, and is this series isekai?
“Isekai” is a Japanese genre term that literally means “another world.” It refers to stories where a character is transported to or reborn in a different world — or, in some cases, a radically different version of their own world. “Tensei” is a related term meaning “reincarnation,” referring specifically to stories where the character is reborn rather than physically transported.
The Misfit of Demon King Academy fits this genre. The core premise is reincarnation: the Demon King Anos Voldigoad is reborn 2,000 years in the future of his own world. He’s not transported to a different world — he’s reborn into the distant future of the one he already ruled. This makes it a reincarnation-style isekai.
Is the manga worth reading if I’ve already seen the anime?
It depends on what you’re after. The manga covers less story than the anime, so you won’t get new plot developments. What you will get is Kayaharuka’s artwork bringing those early scenes to life in a different way from the animated version. If you enjoyed the first arc of the anime and want to revisit it in manga form, it’s a fun read. If you’re primarily looking for story you haven’t experienced yet, the light novel is a better bet.
How overpowered is Anos, really?
Extremely. Part of the fun of this series is watching Anos casually demolish every challenge with barely any effort. If you enjoy overpowered protagonist stories where the appeal is the spectacle and the reactions of everyone around the main character, this series delivers that generously. The manga’s visual format makes these moments especially entertaining.