Takehiko Inoue's epic samurai series Vagabond is widely celebrated as one of the greatest masterpieces in manga history. Readers diving into Miyamoto Musashi's historical journey often wonder about the total length of the series and how many printed volumes exist today.
Total Original Tankōbon Volumes
Vagabond has a total of 37 collected tankōbon volumes released in Japan and internationally. Published by Kodansha in Japan and licensed by Viz Media in English, the 37th volume was released back in 2015. Although the story remains unfinished due to an ongoing extended hiatus, these 37 volumes cover 322 of the 327 total chapters published.
3-in-1 VIZBIG Omnibus Editions
For collectors seeking an accessible format, Viz Media published 12 VIZBIG omnibus editions. Each VIZBIG volume combines three individual graphic novels into a single larger release with upgraded paper quality. Because 12 VIZBIG volumes cover up to original Volume 36, fans collecting this format will still need to acquire Volume 37 separately to complete their physical bookshelf collection.
Uncollected Chapters and Hiatus Status
Following the publication of Volume 37, five additional chapters were serialized in Weekly Morning magazine before the series went on break. Chapter 327 stands as the latest chapter released before Takehiko Inoue placed the series on extended hiatus in May 2015. These final five chapters have never been compiled into an official 38th volume.
Finding the Best Reading Format
New readers looking to collect the physical series have options ranging from individual single volumes to omnibuses or upcoming definitive editions. While completing the single volume set offers the full original experience, omnibus editions provide a more cost-effective alternative for most manga enthusiasts.
