GRAPHIC NOVEL

If you’re looking for the chainsaw man books in order, this guide lays out every volume, arc, and saga in the right reading sequence — no spoilers beyond what you need to find your place. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man has exploded back into the spotlight: MAPPA’s Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc opened in Japan on September 19, 2025, and per Wikipedia it went on to gross $191.4 million worldwide, making it one of the biggest anime films of recent years. The movie streamed on Crunchyroll starting April 30, 2026, and an Assassins Arc anime series has been announced and is in production. Whether you watched the film and want to read from the start, or you’re catching up before the next arc, here’s exactly how to read the manga.

Chainsaw Man Books in Order: The Short Version

The manga is split into two parts, and the reading order is simple: start at volume 1 and read forward. Part 1, the Public Safety saga, runs from volume 1 through volume 11 and tells a complete story. Part 2, the Academy saga, picks up after that and is still ongoing. English editions are published by VIZ Media. Here’s the arc-by-arc breakdown:

• Volumes 1–2: Introduction / Bat Devil arc — Denji becomes the Chainsaw Devil hybrid and joins Public Safety’s Devil Hunters.
• Volumes 2–4: Eternity Devil arc — the squad’s harrowing hotel trap.
• Volumes 4–5: Katana Man arc — the anime’s Season 1 finale covered this stretch.
• Volumes 5–6: Bomb Devil arc — the Reze story, adapted in MAPPA’s Reze Arc movie.
• Volumes 7–9: International Assassins arc — the setup for the announced anime series.
• Volumes 9–11: Gun Devil / Control Devil arc — the explosive conclusion of Part 1.
• Volumes 12 and up: Part 2, the Academy saga — a new setting with new stakes, still ongoing.

How to Read Chainsaw Man in Order: Part 1 vs. Part 2

Part 1 of the manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump and closes out at volume 11. It follows Denji, Aki, Power, and Makima through a complete rise-and-fall narrative, and it reads perfectly as a standalone eleven-volume run. Part 2 shifted to Shonen Jump+, the digital platform, and follows a new protagonist’s story at Fourth East High alongside returning faces. You should read Part 1 first — Part 2 constantly builds on its events and character history, and several emotional beats only land if you’ve finished the Public Safety saga.

The two parts have noticeably different pacing. Part 1 is a sprint: devils, betrayals, and reversals arrive at a blistering pace, which is exactly why the Reze Arc movie works so well as a film. Part 2 is a slow burn, more character-driven, with Fujimoto experimenting with tone and structure. Both are worth your time, but don’t skip ahead.

What to Read Before the Reze Arc Movie

If the movie sent you to the manga, start with volumes 1 through 6. The anime’s first season covered roughly volumes 1–5 (through the Katana Man arc), and the Reze/Bomb Devil arc lives in volumes 5–6. Reading from volume 1 is strongly recommended — Fujimoto’s visual storytelling in the early chapters is extraordinary, and the manga’s rhythm gives the Reze story extra weight. After volumes 5–6, keep going into volume 7 and beyond if you want the Assassins Arc story that the announced anime series will adapt.

Where to Start and How the English Editions Work

English readers have it easy. VIZ Media publishes Chainsaw Man in standard tankobon volumes, and the early arcs also appeared in collected “Box Set”-style and digital editions on the Shonen Jump app. If you’re a newcomer tempted to jump straight to the Reze arc in volumes 5–6, resist the urge: Fujimoto front-loads the series with character work that pays off enormously later, and the visual gags in volumes 1–2 establish Denji’s voice better than any summary can. A complete Part 1 read-through of volumes 1–11 is a long weekend of reading at most — and it puts you in perfect position for the Academy saga, the Assassins Arc anime, and whatever Fujimoto does next.

Chainsaw Man Reading Guide FAQ

Do I need to read the manga before the Reze Arc movie?

Not necessarily — the film is designed to be accessible — but volumes 1–6 make the experience richer. The movie adapts the Bomb Devil arc, so if you want the full emotional setup, read the first six volumes first.

Is Chainsaw Man finished?

Part 1 (volumes 1–11) is a complete story. Part 2 is ongoing in Shonen Jump+, with VIZ Media releasing the English volumes as they arrive.

How many volumes does Chainsaw Man have?

Part 1 is complete at 11 volumes. Part 2 is still running, so the total keeps growing — check VIZ Media’s current catalog for the latest English release.

Where does the anime leave off?

Season 1 ended around the close of the Katana Man arc, roughly the end of volume 5. The Reze Arc movie picks up the Bomb Devil arc in volumes 5–6.