Yes — Devilman Manga Is Finished (and Has Been Since 1973)
Devilman is a completed manga. It has been finished for over fifty years.
Created by Go Nagai and his production studio Dynamic Pro, the original Devilman manga ran for 53 chapters across 5 volumes in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine — a manga magazine originally aimed at younger male readers. Serialization (meaning the story was published chapter-by-chapter in that magazine over time) began in June 1972 and wrapped up in June 1973 — just over a year of publication for a story that permanently changed dark fantasy manga. Dark fantasy, for those new to the term, is a genre that blends supernatural or fantastical elements with horror, tragedy, and morally bleak storytelling — and Devilman is one of the works that defined what that looks like in manga.
The ending is definitive. There are no cliffhangers, no unresolved plot threads, and no “read the sequel to find out what happens” bait. The story begins, builds, and concludes with absolute finality. You will not be left waiting for a continuation that never comes.
For beginners looking to get into dark fantasy manga, this is one of the shortest and most impactful entry points available. Five volumes is all it takes. You can realistically read the entire series in a weekend — though you’ll probably be thinking about it for a lot longer than that.
The Full Picture — Devilman’s Publication Run
Here’s a quick breakdown of the essential publication details:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Creator | Go Nagai / Dynamic Pro (his production studio) |
| Magazine | Weekly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) |
| Serialization | June 1972 – June 1973 |
| Total Chapters | 53 |
| Japanese Volumes | 5 |
| English Volumes | 5 (collected in 2 omnibus editions — single books that bundle multiple volumes together) |
| Status | Completed |
One thing worth knowing: the Devilman manga was created alongside a TV anime adaptation (an animated series based on the same source material) that aired around the same time, but the two tell very different stories. The anime was a more conventional show where each episode featured a new standalone villain for the hero to fight. The manga, on the other hand, went in a drastically darker and more mature direction — one that Go Nagai had full creative control over. If you’ve only seen the older anime, the manga will feel like a completely different work, because it essentially is.
All 5 volumes were published within roughly nine months. That’s an incredibly concentrated creative burst, and it shows in the story’s momentum. There’s no padding, no meandering detours, no stretching things out. The pacing is relentless from start to finish.
A Note on Spinoffs
You might see other manga with “Devilman” in the title — works like Devilman Grimoire, AMON: The Darkside of the Devilman, or various crossover projects (stories where characters from different series appear together). These are separate series set in their own alternate versions of the Devilman story. They are not continuations of the original manga. If you read just the original 5-volume Devilman, you have the complete story as Go Nagai wrote it. Nothing else is required.
Does the Story Actually Conclude — Or Are There Loose Threads?
This is the question behind the question. Plenty of manga are technically “finished” but end on ambiguous notes, rushed conclusions, or sequel hooks that never get followed up. Devilman is not one of those.
Devilman has one of the most iconic endings in manga history. Without spoiling specifics, the finale is notorious for being uncompromising, emotionally devastating, and completely conclusive. The story’s overarching journey — the full arc from beginning to end — reaches a deliberate resolution. Go Nagai knew exactly how this story ended, and he committed to that vision without flinching.
The ending is dark. That’s worth stating plainly. This is the manga that essentially defined what “dark fantasy” means in the medium. The tone escalates significantly in the final act, and the conclusion matches that intensity. The series deals with extreme violence and weighty thematic material — loss, betrayal, the nature of humanity — and the ending doesn’t soften any of it.
Readers widely consider Devilman’s conclusion to be one of the most impactful in all of manga, and it’s frequently cited as a direct influence on later works across the medium. When people talk about the legacy of this series, the ending is a huge part of why.
The spinoffs and reimaginings that came later exist in their own separate versions of the story. None of them undo, continue, or modify the original story’s ending. The original Devilman stands entirely alone as a complete work.
What to Read After Devilman
Finishing Devilman often leaves readers hungry for more — which is a great problem to have, because the series is essentially the foundation that modern dark fantasy manga was built on. Many beloved series in the genre trace their roots directly back to what Go Nagai did here.
If You Want More Dark Fantasy
The dark fantasy manga landscape has expanded enormously since 1973. If you loved Devilman’s willingness to go to genuinely grim places with its story and characters, series like Berserk by Kentaro Miura and Claymore by Norihiro Yagi carry that torch forward with their own takes on dark, violent supernatural storytelling. Parasyte by Hitoshi Iwaaki shares Devilman’s core tension between humanity and monstrosity. These are some of the most celebrated titles in the genre, and they all owe a creative debt to this series.
If You Want More Go Nagai
Go Nagai is one of the most prolific manga creators in history, and the Devilman universe has been revisited and expanded by various creators over the decades. Just keep in mind that spinoff works tell their own alternate versions of the story rather than continuing the original manga. They can be enjoyable on their own terms, but they’re additions to the broader franchise rather than required reading.
Setting Expectations
One thing to keep in mind: Devilman is a product of the early 1970s. The art style, story structure, and techniques reflect that era. Later series that were influenced by Devilman had the benefit of decades of evolution in the medium to build on. Reading the original gives you essential context for the genre’s roots, but if you jump straight from Devilman to a modern dark fantasy manga, you’ll notice significant differences in presentation. That’s not a flaw — it’s just the natural evolution of manga storytelling over fifty-plus years.
Where to Buy Devilman in English
The current standard English edition of Devilman is the Seven Seas Classic Collection, which packages the original 5-volume manga into 2 omnibus volumes (each omnibus bundles multiple volumes into one larger book). This is the edition you want — it collects the complete story and is the most readily available version on the market today.
Devilman: The Classic Collection Vol. 1 covers the first half of the series and is the place to start.
Devilman: The Classic Collection Vol. 2 covers the back half of the series and completes the story.
Devilman, Vol. 5 (final volume)
Older English editions of Devilman do exist from previous publishers, but many are out of print and can be difficult (and expensive) to track down. Unless you’re a collector specifically looking for vintage editions, the Classic Collection is the way to go. It’s the most accessible, most affordable, and most complete option currently available.
Buying Tips
- Check multiple retailers. Availability and pricing can vary between bookstores, so it’s worth comparing a few options before purchasing.
- Physical vs. digital. The Classic Collection is a print release. If you prefer reading on a device, check whether a digital edition is available on your preferred platform, but be aware that availability may be limited for this particular series.
- Library availability. Many public library systems carry manga, and some may have the Classic Collection. It’s worth checking your local library catalog if you want to try before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Devilman Crybaby the same story as the manga?
Not exactly. Devilman Crybaby is an anime adaptation — an animated series that reimagines the source material rather than directly translating it page-by-page. It follows the broad strokes of the original manga’s story — the core premise, major characters, and general direction — but it takes significant creative liberties with setting, character designs, pacing, and specific plot details. The show transplants the story into a modern setting and adds entirely new scenes and subplots.
If you’ve watched Crybaby, reading the manga will feel both familiar and surprising. The emotional core and thematic weight are shared between the two, but the details differ enough that the manga doesn’t feel like a retread. They’re best thought of as two distinct versions of the same story, each with their own strengths. The manga is absolutely worth reading even if you’ve already seen Crybaby — you’ll experience the original vision that inspired it.
How long does it take to read Devilman?
With 53 chapters across 5 volumes (or 2 omnibus editions in the English Classic Collection), Devilman is a genuinely quick read by manga standards. Most readers can finish the entire series in a single sitting or over a weekend. Individual reading speed varies, but you’re looking at maybe 4-6 hours total for the whole thing.
Don’t let the short length fool you, though. The story packs an enormous amount of narrative and emotional weight into those 53 chapters. It’s dense and fast-moving in a way that longer series rarely achieve.
Is Devilman appropriate for younger readers?
No. Devilman contains extreme violence, disturbing imagery, and mature thematic content throughout. The series escalates significantly in its later chapters, and the content is firmly aimed at older readers. This is a manga that originally ran in a shonen magazine (shonen typically refers to manga aimed at younger male readers), but it pushed well beyond what most people associate with that demographic. It is not suitable for children or younger teens.
If you’re a parent or guardian trying to gauge appropriateness, think of it as comparable in content intensity to a graphic, adults-only horror film.
Are the Devilman spinoffs required reading?
No. The original Devilman manga is a complete, standalone story. You do not need to read any spinoffs, sequels, or alternate versions to understand or appreciate it. The 5-volume original (2 omnibus English editions) is the full story, beginning to end.
Spinoffs like Devilman Grimoire, various crossover manga, and other franchise entries can be enjoyable in their own right if you become a fan and want more. But they are optional — extras for readers who want to spend more time with the broader Devilman franchise, not missing pieces of the original narrative.