Air Gear Manga Reading Order — All 37 Volumes

Air Gear Manga Reading Order at a Glance

Air Gear is a single, completed series. You read it in publication order from start to finish. That’s it — no branching paths, no companion manga, no side stories published in a different magazine. One series, one order.

Here’s the full volume sequence:

Volume Range	Publisher	Notes
Vol 1–17	Del Rey	Original English publisher
Vol 18–37	Kodansha Comics	Took over after Del Rey closed its manga line

One important thing to know: the English release had a publisher switch partway through. Del Rey originally published Volumes 1 through 17. When Del Rey shut down its manga publishing operation — something that occasionally happens in the industry when a publisher restructures — Kodansha Comics picked up the series and released Volumes 18 through 37. Despite the publisher change, these editions are fully compatible — the translation continues seamlessly, and you won’t notice any jarring shift when you cross from Volume 17 to Volume 18. They’re the same series, same continuity, just a different logo on the spine.

There are no spin-off manga, prequel stories, or sequel series. The reading order is purely linear: start at Volume 1, finish at Volume 37, and you’ve experienced the entire story.

What Each Story Phase Covers

Air Gear’s 37 volumes cover a lot of ground — literally and figuratively. The story is divided into several major story arcs (self-contained phases of the plot, each with its own conflicts and goals, that build on each other). Here’s a spoiler-light breakdown so you know what you’re getting into without ruining any surprises.

Early Arcs — Discovering Air Trecks

The series opens with Ikki Minami, a tough middle schooler who discovers Air Trecks (motorized inline skates) and gets pulled into the underground world of Storm Riders — people who use these high-tech skates to battle for territory and reputation in unsanctioned street competitions.

These early volumes focus on Ikki learning the ropes, encountering rival riders, and getting a taste of the competitive scene. The tone here is energetic and grounded in street-level action. Oh! Great’s dynamic art style shines in the skating sequences, and you’ll get introduced to the basic battle system that drives much of the series.

If you’re coming in expecting a story about competitive skating, these opening volumes will feel the most familiar. The series stays in this lane for a while before the scope starts expanding, which we’ll get to below.

Mid-Series — Team Kogarasumaru and Parts War

As Ikki grows as a rider, he forms his own team: Kogarasumaru. This phase of the story revolves around organized territory battles called Parts Wars — structured, rules-based competitions where teams clash head-to-head for control of turf and standing in the Storm Rider hierarchy. These are a clear step up from the informal street encounters of the early volumes, with defined rules, bigger audiences, and higher consequences.

The stakes rise significantly here. The Regalia system gets introduced — special, enhanced Air Trecks tied to different “roads,” which are distinct riding styles and philosophies that shape how a rider fights and moves. Think of roads as something like martial arts disciplines — each one has its own techniques and strengths. Larger factions and organizations enter the picture, and the world of Air Gear expands well beyond neighborhood rivalries. The cast grows too, with a memorable lineup of allies, rivals, and wild cards.

This is where the series really finds its groove as a battle manga — a type of manga where the plot is driven primarily by combat encounters and escalating power matchups, as opposed to the athletic competition focus of a sports manga. Air Gear blends both flavors, but the battle manga side becomes more prominent from here on.

Late Arcs — The Gram Scale Tournament and Beyond

The final stretch of Air Gear centers on large-scale tournament arcs, culminating in the Gram Scale Tournament — the series’ ultimate high-stakes competition that brings together the most powerful riders and teams. Without spoiling specifics, the story shifts toward increasingly fantastical and science fiction elements in these later volumes.

This tonal evolution is worth mentioning because it catches some readers off guard. What started as a street-level skating story gradually incorporates much bigger, more cosmic ideas. This shift is entirely intentional on Oh! Great’s part — it’s the direction the story was always heading. Whether you love it or find it jarring is a matter of personal taste, but going in aware of it helps set the right expectations.

The series wraps up in Volume 37 with a definitive ending. No cliffhangers, no “read the sequel” bait. The story is complete.

Coming from the Anime? Start Here

Air Gear received a TV anime adaptation in 2006, and an OVA series (Original Video Animation — episodes released directly to home video in Japan rather than broadcast on TV) was also produced covering later manga content. If you watched either and want to continue in the manga, here’s what you need to know.

The 2006 TV anime adapted only the early portion of the manga, covering approximately the first 12 volumes’ worth of story. More importantly, the anime diverged from the source material in several places. It’s not a one-to-one adaptation, and some events play out differently or are rearranged.

The recommendation: start from Volume 1. Even if you’ve seen the anime, the manga contains significant differences that will affect your understanding of later events. Skipping ahead based on where the anime ended means missing context, character development, and plot threads that only exist in the manga version.

The OVA series covers some later manga content but is similarly incomplete. Neither the TV anime nor the OVAs come close to covering the full scope of the 37-volume manga. The vast majority of Air Gear’s story — including all the major tournament arcs and the entire series climax — is manga-only. If you only watched the anime, you’ve barely scratched the surface.

Starting from Volume 1 is a short time investment compared to what you gain. The early volumes are a quick, fun read, and you’ll pick up on details the anime left out that become important later.

Where to Buy Air Gear in English

All 37 volumes of Air Gear are available in English, so you can read the complete series without hitting any untranslated gaps. Here’s what to know about finding copies.

As mentioned earlier, the English release was split between two publishers:

• Del Rey — Volumes 1–17
• Kodansha Comics — Volumes 18–37

Both publishers’ editions are part of the same continuous English release. You don’t need to worry about translation differences or story gaps when transitioning between them.

A note on cost: Committing to 37 volumes is a significant purchase. Buying secondhand or going digital can reduce the total cost substantially compared to picking up every volume new at full retail price. It’s worth thinking about which format suits your budget before you start collecting.

Physical copies: The Kodansha Comics volumes (18–37) are generally easier to find as new copies. The older Del Rey volumes (1–17) may be trickier to track down in new condition, since Del Rey exited the manga publishing business years ago. You might find them through secondhand sellers, used bookstores, or manga resale communities on platforms like Reddit or dedicated buy/sell apps. Prices for out-of-print physical volumes can vary quite a bit depending on availability.

Digital editions: If hunting down physical copies of the early volumes proves difficult, digital is a practical alternative. Platforms like Kindle, BookWalker, and Kobo carry digital manga and sidestep the out-of-print issue entirely, letting you start reading immediately.

A content note for gift-buyers and sensitive readers: Air Gear contains significant fan service and some mature visual content throughout its run. Oh! Great is known for detailed, sometimes provocative artwork. If you’re buying this series as a gift or are sensitive to that type of content, it’s worth flipping through a preview before committing.

Volume 37 — the final volume of the series — is a satisfying place to end your collection, and it’s readily available.

Common Mistakes New Readers Make

A few pitfalls trip up newcomers to Air Gear. Here’s what to watch out for:

• Thinking the Del Rey and Kodansha Comics editions are different series. They’re not. The publisher changed partway through the English release, but it’s the same manga, same translation lineage, same story. Volume 17 (Del Rey) leads directly into Volume 18 (Kodansha Comics). Don’t let the different publisher logos confuse you — just read them in numbered order.

• Stopping where the anime ended. The 2006 anime covers a fraction of the full story. If you stop there, you’re missing the vast majority of what Air Gear has to offer — the team battles, the tournament arcs, the escalating stakes, and the entire conclusion. The anime is essentially an appetizer for a much larger meal.

• Skipping early manga volumes after watching the anime. This is tempting but risky. The anime made changes to the source material, so jumping ahead means working with an incomplete and partially inaccurate picture of events. The early manga volumes read quickly, and you’ll catch things the anime omitted or altered.

• Being caught off guard by the tonal shift. Air Gear starts as a relatively grounded story about street skating and gang territory. By the later volumes, it incorporates much larger sci-fi and fantastical elements. This evolution is gradual and deliberate, but readers who expect the whole series to stay in “street skating” mode sometimes feel blindsided. Knowing the shift is coming helps you appreciate it as part of the story’s intended trajectory rather than a jarring surprise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Air Gear a sports manga?

It starts as one. The early volumes are firmly rooted in competitive skating culture, and the athleticism and physicality of Air Trecks give it strong sports manga energy — the thrill of competition, training to improve, and rivalries defined by skill. As the series progresses, it leans more into battle manga and science fiction territory. If you’re coming in looking for pure sports action, you’ll find it in the early and mid portions — just be prepared for the story to evolve beyond that.

How many volumes is Air Gear?

Air Gear is 37 volumes long, containing 358 chapters total. The series is complete — no ongoing publication, no additional volumes to wait for.

Is Air Gear fully translated in English?

Yes. All 37 volumes have been published in English. Volumes 1–17 were released by Del Rey, and Volumes 18–37 by Kodansha Comics.

Is there a sequel manga?

No. Air Gear is a standalone, completed series. Oh! Great has not released any sequel or continuation manga. The story concludes in Volume 37.

Who created Air Gear?

Oh! Great (大暮維人) wrote and illustrated the series. It was serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine from November 2002 to May 2012.

Do I need to watch the anime before reading the manga?

Not at all. The manga is the complete, original version of the story. The anime adapted only a small portion and made changes along the way. You can enjoy the manga with zero anime knowledge — and frankly, that’s a perfectly great way to experience Air Gear for the first time.