One Piece, Vol. 1
Eiichiro Oda
A straw-hatted boy sets out to become Pirate King.
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Japan, Korea, China
Manga, manhwa and manhua
Manga is Japanese comics, manhwa is Korean and manhua is Chinese. Here is how to start reading and which first volumes are worth trying.
Manga are comics from Japan, manhwa are from Korea and manhua are from China. Most are published in English as numbered paperback volumes, and each volume collects several chapters that first ran in a magazine or on a website. Series run from a few volumes to dozens, so check the length before you start.
Manga is traditionally read from right to left. That means the cover you think of as the back is the front, and you read each page, and each speech bubble, starting from the right. It feels odd for a page or two and then becomes natural. Manhwa from webtoon platforms is often designed for vertical scrolling and full color, and some of it is also printed in books.
Pick a genre you already enjoy and start at volume 1. Adventure and sports series are easy starting points, and there are comedies, mysteries, romances and horror for older readers. Manga publishers print an age rating on each book, so check it. The Comic Finder below can filter by style and age, and the best manga box sets are a simple way to get a long run in one go.
Tip
Start with volume 1. If you are enjoying it by the end of the volume, buy the next two or three before you commit to the whole run.
Find a book
Open the full FinderPick a filter, or type a title they liked. Each result opens the book on Amazon.
Popular first volumes
See more in the Finder
Spy x Family, Vol. 1
Tatsuya Endo
A spy, an assassin and a telepath pose as a family.
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My Hero Academia, Vol. 1
Kohei Horikoshi
A powerless boy gets a chance at a superhero school.
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Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1
Hiromu Arakawa
Two brothers seek a way to restore their bodies.
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Solo Leveling, Vol. 1
Chugong, DUBU
A weak hunter gets a second chance to level up.
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Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom
Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
A student finds a notebook that kills.
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Guides in this hub
All guides
Guide
Best Graphic Novels for New and Experienced Readers
A curated path through graphic novels that hold up on their own as complete stories, split by what kind of reading experience you're looking for.
GuideHow to Start Reading Comics
A practical starting path for adults picking up comics for the first time, covering formats, where to buy, how to read panels, and which titles to try first.
Questions people ask
Which way do I read manga?
From right to left. Open the book from what Western readers think of as the back cover. On each page, start at the top right panel and move left, then down. Speech bubbles are read the same way. English editions keep this layout so the art is not mirrored.
Why does a manga book seem to be backwards?
Japanese is written and read from right to left, so the books are bound and read that way. Publishers keep the original orientation so the artists’ panel layouts work as drawn. The cover you would call the back is the front, and the last page is the first.
What is the difference between a manga volume and a chapter?
A chapter is one installment that first appeared in a magazine or on a website. A volume (tankobon) is a paperback that collects several chapters. The number of chapters in a volume and the number of volumes in a series vary from series to series.
What is the difference between manga, manhwa and manhua?
The names come from the country of origin: manga from Japan, manhwa from Korea, manhua from China. Manga is usually black and white in print and read right to left. Many manhwa began as full-color vertical-scroll webcomics, and manhua is often adapted from web novels.
Can I buy manhwa in print in English?
Yes. A growing number of manhwa and webtoon series have English print volumes, such as Solo Leveling (Yen Press) and Tower of God (WEBTOON Unscrolled). Not every series is printed in English, so check a bookseller’s listing for the print edition before you buy.
Is a box set cheaper than single volumes?
Sometimes, but it varies. A box set bundles consecutive volumes, often in a slipcase, and can cost less than buying each volume. Prices change often, and we do not show prices, so compare the box set with the individual volumes on Amazon on the day you buy.