How to read My Hero Academia in English: where to start

What My Hero Academia is about

My Hero Academia is a manga by Kouhei Horikoshi. It started in Japan in 2014. In its world most people get a superpower called a Quirk as small children. Heroes are licensed professionals. The biggest name of all is All Might. He is a national icon.

Izuku Midoriya is the odd one out. He never got a Quirk. He studies heroes obsessively anyway and fills notebooks with notes on their powers. His childhood friend Katsuki Bakugo has an explosive Quirk. Bakugo mocks him constantly.

Everything shifts when Izuku rushes in to save someone with no power at all. All Might sees it happen. That single reckless move convinces him to hand his own power to Izuku. Next up is the entrance exam for U.A. High School. It is the top school for future heroes.

At heart this is an underdog story with a superhero coat of paint. The genres run from action and adventure to comedy, drama and fantasy. Its themes include superheroes, super powers, urban fantasy and boarding school life. It suits readers who like school life and training. A big class of rivals is part of the appeal too.

How far the series is in Japan and in English

The story is complete. My Hero Academia ended in Japan in 2024 with 42 volumes. English readers are fully caught up. As of October 2026 all 42 volumes are out in English from VIZ Media. The last one is Volume 42. It came out on 21 October 2025.

So there is no waiting between books. You can read from the opening chapter to the ending in one go.

Where to start

Start with Volume 1. Mangainfo lists one way in for English readers:

• Volume 1 from VIZ Media. It came out on 4 August 2015.

This is the single volume edition. Our listing shows no omnibus or other edition for the series. That keeps the choice simple. Pick up Volume 1 and read the books in number order up to Volume 42.

What comes next in English

Nothing new is on the schedule for the main series. The English run wrapped with Volume 42 on 21 October 2025. Our data lists no next English volume. The whole story is already out in English.

Quick answers

How many volumes does My Hero Academia have? It has 42 volumes in Japan. The story is complete.

Is My Hero Academia finished? Yes. It ended in Japan in 2024. Every volume is out in English too.

How many volumes are out in English? All 42 of them. VIZ Media publishes the series in English. Volume 42 arrived on 21 October 2025.

Every volume in one place

Want the release date for a specific volume? The My Hero Academia series page lists all 42 English volumes with their dates. Use it to find the volume you need next.