BAKEMONOGATARI Manga Volumes: Full 22-Volume Guide

All 22 BAKEMONOGATARI Manga Volumes: The Complete Series

The BAKEMONOGATARI manga adapts NISIOISIN’s light novel of the same name. A light novel is a style of Japanese prose fiction, typically shorter and faster-paced than a traditional novel, often illustrated. The manga version features art by Oh!Great, the artist known for series like Air Gear and Tenjho Tenge — both action-heavy manga celebrated for their detailed, dynamic artwork.

The series was serialized in Japan by Kodansha from March 2018 through March 2023. (The final compiled volume, Vol. 22, was released in May 2023.) Serialization means the chapters were originally published on a regular schedule in a magazine before being collected into the 22 bound volumes available today.

All 22 volumes have been released in English by Vertical Comics, so there’s no waiting for translations to catch up. The entire story is here.

For anyone unfamiliar with the broader franchise — Monogatari is a connected universe of stories by author NISIOISIN, centered on supernatural encounters in modern Japan. It started as a light novel series, became a hugely popular anime, and eventually got this manga adaptation. What makes the manga version special is Oh!Great’s artwork. The level of detail, the way panels are arranged on each page, and the sheer visual energy he brings to BAKEMONOGATARI is staggering. Moments that were single lines of dialogue in the novel become full cinematic spreads in the manga.

Because the series is fully completed, it’s perfect for reading many volumes back-to-back or for a collecting project you can finish. No cliffhangers with uncertain continuation dates. No indefinite hiatuses. You can read from the first encounter with Hitagi Senjougahara all the way to the final page of volume 22 without stopping.

If you watched the anime first: The manga covers the core story of the original Bakemonogatari anime season — with one notable addition: Oh!Great incorporated a Kizumonogatari-derived storyline not present in the original Bakemonogatari anime. Beyond that, his visual interpretation is dramatically different from the Shaft studio adaptation. Where the anime used rapid text cuts, abstract backgrounds, and minimalist staging, the manga goes in the opposite direction — lush, hyper-detailed artwork with elaborate page compositions. It’s the same story told through a completely different visual language, and many anime fans find it worth experiencing for that reason alone.

All 22 Volumes at a Glance

The manga follows the structure of the original Bakemonogatari novel, which is divided into several story arcs. An arc is a self-contained storyline within the larger narrative — think of each arc as its own chapter of the overall story, with its own conflict and resolution, while also advancing the bigger picture. Each arc focuses on a different girl dealing with a supernatural affliction, with protagonist Koyomi Araragi getting pulled into their problems one after another.

Here’s a general breakdown of how the arcs map across the 22 BAKEMONOGATARI manga volumes:

Arc	Approximate Volumes	Focus
Hitagi Crab	Volumes 1–3	Hitagi Senjougahara — a girl who lost her weight to a mysterious crab spirit
Mayoi Snail	Volumes ~3–4	Mayoi Hachikuji — a lost girl wandering streets that don’t lead anywhere
Suruga Monkey	Volumes ~4–6	Suruga Kanbaru — an athlete whose left arm grants violent wishes
Nadeko Snake	Volumes ~7–8	Nadeko Sengoku — a quiet girl cursed by snake spirits
Tsubasa Cat	Volumes 14–22	Tsubasa Hanekawa — Araragi’s classmate whose stress manifests as a dangerous cat spirit

The exact volume-to-arc boundaries are approximate and shift considerably from the source novel’s structure. Notably, Oh!Great received permission to incorporate a Kizumonogatari-derived storyline between the Nadeko Snake and Tsubasa Cat arcs — content that was not part of the original Bakemonogatari anime — which redistributes volume counts across the later arcs. Oh!Great also frequently expands scenes well beyond what appeared in the source novel. Moments that were brief exchanges in the written story become lavish multi-page sequences in the manga, packed with visual storytelling and striking panel arrangements. This is one of the key reasons the manga runs 22 volumes despite adapting a single novel — the art gives every scene room to breathe.

Worth noting: while five arcs might sound short, each one builds on the last. The Hitagi Crab arc establishes the supernatural rules and Araragi’s relationship with the sharp-tongued Senjougahara. By the time you reach Tsubasa Cat in the later volumes, those early encounters pay off with real emotional weight. The supernatural elements — spirits, curses, and otherworldly beings — are central to every arc, so expect a story that blends sharp character dialogue with genuinely eerie and fantastical moments. It’s a story that rewards reading in order.

What a Complete Set Costs

With 22 individual volumes to collect, the total cost for a full physical set depends on where and how you buy. Standard manga volumes from Vertical Comics carry a retail list price in the range typical for English-language manga — generally around $12–$13 per volume at cover price. At 22 volumes, that puts a full set somewhere in the neighborhood of $260–$290 at list price before any discounts.

Here’s what to keep in mind when budgeting:

• No box set exists (as of this writing): Unlike some long-running series that get collected box set editions, BAKEMONOGATARI’s English release is individual volumes only. That means no bundled discount through a box set purchase.
• Physical vs. digital: Digital editions are generally priced lower than physical copies at list price. If budget is the main concern, going digital saves a meaningful amount across 22 volumes.
• Used market: Since the series is complete and has been out for a while, used copies do circulate. Condition varies, but for readers who don’t mind pre-owned books, this can bring the total down.
• Buying in batches: You don’t have to grab all 22 at once. Picking up a few volumes at a time during sales at major retailers spreads the cost and lets you confirm you enjoy the series before committing to the full run.

The investment is real, but for a completed series with art this striking, many readers find it worth building the full set over time.

How Oh!Great’s Art Elevates the Story

One of the most common questions about any completed manga is: does the ending deliver? For BAKEMONOGATARI, the answer is a strong yes — and Oh!Great’s art is a huge reason why.

The Monogatari franchise has always been dialogue-heavy. The novels are famous for their wordplay, banter, and philosophical tangents. The anime adapted this with a distinctive visual style — quick cuts, text screens, stylized backgrounds. The manga takes a completely different approach: Oh!Great translates all that verbal energy into pure visual spectacle.

In the final arcs, this pays off enormously. The emotional climax of Araragi and Senjougahara’s relationship — the thread running through the entire series — gets the full visual treatment. Without spoiling specifics, the closing volumes deliver on the promises made in those early Hitagi Crab chapters. Character expressions, body language, and the way panels are arranged on the page carry feelings that dialogue alone couldn’t convey as powerfully.

Oh!Great is known for incredibly detailed figure work and dynamic action sequences. In BAKEMONOGATARI’s later volumes, he channels that skill into quieter emotional moments too — a lingering look, a held hand, a silent panel that says everything. The contrast between his explosive supernatural sequences and these tender beats gives the finale real impact.

The manga covers the full scope of the original Bakemonogatari novel’s story, so the narrative feels complete. You’re not getting a truncated adaptation or an anime-only ending. This is the whole story, start to finish, with a definitive conclusion.

Which Edition to Buy for a Full Set

If you’re collecting the English-language version, your options are straightforward:

Vertical Comics Trade Paperbacks

This is the standard (and currently only) English edition. A trade paperback is the standard-sized softcover book format used for most manga releases — the kind you see on shelves at any bookstore. All 22 volumes are published by Vertical Comics in a consistent format. They line up nicely on a shelf — uniform spine design across the full run, which collectors appreciate.

The print quality is solid. Oh!Great’s detailed artwork reproduces well, and the volumes have a good weight and feel in hand. For a series where the art is arguably the main attraction, that print quality matters.

No Deluxe, Omnibus, or Hardcover Editions

As of this writing, there are no omnibus collections (editions that combine multiple volumes into one larger book), hardcover editions, or deluxe format releases for BAKEMONOGATARI in English. The 22 individual trade paperbacks are the only way to get the physical manga.

This is worth knowing upfront so you don’t hold off buying hoping for a collected edition that may never arrive. If you want physical copies, the standard singles are your path.

Digital Editions

Digital versions are available through major platforms. The advantage here — beyond lower per-volume pricing — is instant access and no shelf space required. For a 22-volume series, that shelf space consideration is real. The downside is that Oh!Great’s artwork truly shines in physical form. Some of his artwork spans two facing pages at once, and those spreads lose impact on smaller screens where you can only see one page at a time.

Manga vs. Light Novel — A Quick Note

Some readers wonder whether to get the manga or the original light novels. They’re genuinely different experiences. The light novels (also available in English) are NISIOISIN’s signature writing — witty, dense, and full of references that loop back on themselves. The manga trims some of that verbal complexity in favor of Oh!Great’s visual storytelling. Neither is better — they complement each other. But if you’re specifically after the visual experience, the manga is what you want.

Where to Buy BAKEMONOGATARI Manga in English

Since all 22 volumes are readily available, finding them isn’t difficult. Here are your main options:

• Online retailers: Major booksellers carry the full run. When buying a large set, keep an eye out for any available promotions or bundled shipping options.
• Local bookstores and comic shops: Many carry Vertical Comics titles in stock. If they don’t have a specific volume, most can order it for you. Supporting local shops is always a good move.
• Digital storefronts: For immediate reading, digital platforms offer instant downloads. This is the fastest way to start reading today.
• Used and secondhand: Since the series has been complete for a while, secondhand copies are out there. Check seller ratings and confirm you’re getting the right volumes — with a 22-volume series, accidentally getting a duplicate is an easy mistake.

If you’re starting fresh and want to see whether the series clicks for you before committing to all 22 volumes, grabbing the first volume is the obvious move. Volume 1 covers the beginning of the Hitagi Crab arc and gives you a clear taste of Oh!Great’s art style and the manga’s tone.

Building a complete set of 22 BAKEMONOGATARI manga volumes takes some patience and some budget, but the series rewards the commitment. The art is exceptional, the story is fully told, and every volume is available right now in English. For fans of the Monogatari franchise, anime viewers curious about a different visual take on the story, or anyone who appreciates stunning manga artwork, this set is well worth collecting.