Since Astro Boy flew onto the scene, the Manga industry took off which today sees some of the most iconic characters being read by enthusiastic collectors from all over the world. And with The Rose Of Versailles celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, many series and publishers have been celebrating for decades.
But with many years' worth of Japanese publications, some volumes and series have become some of the most expensive, even if they're no longer being printed. Whether it's manga that remained on the black and white pages or previous prints of successful series, readers might want to break the piggy banks to get their hands on these volumes that AC Manga lists as some of the most expensive books of all time.
Knights Of The Zodiac - $99.99
Some may be more familiar with the Netflix computer-animated series Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya, the original 1980s Manga followed a teenager named Seiya tries to find his missing sister while dealing with his newfound powers and responsibilities as the Pegasus Saint. Blending Greek mythology with Masami Kurumada's penmanship, the series was unlike anything seen at the time of its publication.
Currently, it's only available to purchase either digitally for Kindle or through Comixology. But for people to get their hands on a physical copy, the first volume alone will set you back by $99.99. Perhaps someday Shonen Jump will be able to print out the series again, but until then, the digital versions are at least another viable option.
Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion - $108.99
Anime fans will have heard of Code Geass and know about an exiled prince from one of the most dysfunctional royal families who gain the power to get people to follow his commands without question. Leading a rebellious army and giant mechs, the anime has become one of the most celebrated shows during the 2010s.
Released after the show, the first Manga adaptation saw a faithful retelling with some alterations in the story in the form of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. It's no longer easy to purchase and one of the volumes will set readers back $108.99, making the anime series itself more accessible and budget-friendly in comparison.
Fist Of The North Star: Southern Cross - $149.99
One of the most celebrated and recognizable titles in anime and Manga industries alike, Fist of the North Star was an action-packed post-apocalyptic story unlike anything ever seen since. Protecting the innocent and fighting rival fighters, Kenshiro uses a deadly form of martial arts to make the page and screen get splattered with blood.
Viz Communication was responsible for translating and publishing the series for English readers. During their second run of the series, they released it in three volumes, one of which was Southern Cross which today costs approximately $150 alone.
Rave Master - $149.99
Before everyone will know his name after being responsible for written and drawing Fairy Tail and Edens Zero, Hiro Mashima started his career with Rave Master. In an attempt to bring peace to the world, Haru Glory attempts to find five fragments of Rave from the criminals from the land that was the first of many of his stories to feature some of the youngest Shonen protagonists.
Even with some minor creases on the front cover, a volume can fetch for $150. It may not be Mashima's most recognizable work compared to the other series he would create, it's a piece of early 2000s history that makes it a worthy title for his fans.
City Hunter - $149.99
Published between 1985 and 1991, the comedy series follows the exploits of a detective named Ryo who is joined by a new partner who is the sister of his old one after his death. It received several anime adaptations during and after the Manga ended as well as some foreign-language live-action television shows too.
It will be a hard one for anyone looking to buy the entire collection as the first volume can go for $149.99 alone. eBay seems to have multiple volumes and collections on sale, but hopefully, the series will return for future publications for a new generation.
A Certain Scientific Railgun - $149.99
A spin-off unlike any other, A Certain Scientific Railgun is set in the same world as the light novel series A Certain Magical Index. Set in the dystopian Academy City, students with psychic powers learn to use their gifts while building friendships among their classmates in one of the best high schools in anime.
Having been published by Seven Seas Entertainment since 2007, the earlier volumes are not so easily available and those who enjoyed the anime can expect to spend a lot of money to read the Manga series. AC Manga has even listed the fourth volume as the most expensive, going as much as roughly $150.
Lovely Complex - $149.99
The early 2000s introduced a lot of new franchises and while some were not as big as others, they had a dedicated fan base. Lovely Complex was a shojo manga that ran for 5 years that told the story of the love between a tall girl and a short boy in their class.
Despite receiving a live-action movie and an anime season that ran for one season, the manga series has grown a large price tag. The first volume in the collection saw it raise to $150 and is not also one of the most expensive out-of-print books, but one of the rarest shojo Manga of all time.
Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star - $149.99
Despite the live-action Netflix adaptation, the original Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime from the 1990s and one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time. For the uninitiated, the series tells the story of a crew of bounty hunters in the future who travel across space to put a stop to and capture some of the greatest criminals in the galaxy.
The series was adapted to a manga series titled Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star and was collected in two volumes. Despite the anime's continued popularity ever since its initial release, this particular manga was never republished. No longer available to purchase in a fresh print, each volume costs $150 each, resulting in a $300 price tag for those who want both books for the complete set.
King Of The Wolves - $199.99
Unlike most other Manga published, King of the Wolves never received an anime adaptation despite its interesting premise. A young scholar of history named Iba and his girlfriend are transported to 13th Century Mongolia where he becomes a warrior enslaved by Genghis Kahn.
With only a few chapters, Dark Horse Comics published them into one volume for the US in 2005. Despite its lack of name recognition compared to the likes of Berserk, it is an expensive book at approximately $200 that a majority of auction sites and stores will sell at a similar or higher figure.
Zatch Bell - $199.99
An oddball partnering between a teenage human and a Mamado named Zatch Bell, the two compete in a tournament that takes place once in a millennium for the next king of the Mamado's world. Some may be more familiar with the 150-episode-long anime series and the video games it inspired, but the manga lasted for six years before it ended in 2007.
Featuring 33 volumes in total, the 23rd volume was by far the most expensive single one on AC Manga's listing, going for $199.99. Those who have a nostalgic feeling towards the franchise may want to start saving up if they want to read the source material for an anime that was dear to those who grew up in the 2000s.