Is Baki the Grappler Manga Finished? (2026)

Is Baki the Grappler Manga Finished? The Short Answer

Yes, the original Grappler Baki manga is finished. It ran its course, told its story, and reached a definitive conclusion. If all you want is to read the first series from start to finish, you can do that right now without worrying about waiting for new chapters.

But — and this is a big but — the Baki franchise didn’t stop there. Not even close. Creator Keisuke Itagaki has continued the saga across multiple sequel manga series, each picking up where the last one left off. The franchise has been running for decades at this point, making it one of the longest-running combat manga sagas in history.

So here’s the key distinction:

• “Baki the Grappler” (the first series) = finished, complete, done
• The larger Baki franchise = has continued through several sequel series, with the most recent installment being Baki Rahen

What does this mean for you as a reader? If you want a contained story with a beginning, middle, and end, the original Grappler Baki delivers that. If you fall in love with the characters and want more — and many readers do — there are hundreds and hundreds of additional chapters waiting for you across the sequels.

It’s honestly a great position to be in as a new reader. You can commit to just the first series and walk away satisfied, or you can treat it as the entry point into a massive martial arts epic. Your call.

The Complete Baki Manga Timeline — Every Series in Order

The Baki franchise spans six distinct manga series, all written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. They were all published as ongoing installments — what the manga world calls “serialized” — in Weekly Shonen Champion, a manga anthology magazine published by the Japanese company Akita Shoten. (“Shonen” refers to manga aimed at a teenage male audience, though readers of all kinds enjoy these series.)

Here’s every series in chronological reading order.

A quick note on terminology before we start: when manga fans say “arc,” they mean a self-contained storyline within a larger series — think of it like a season of a TV show with its own beginning, middle, and end. You’ll see that term a lot below.

1. Grappler Baki (The Original Series)

This is where it all begins. The original Grappler Baki introduces us to Baki Hanma, a teenage martial artist driven by one overwhelming goal: to surpass his father, Yujiro Hanma — widely considered the strongest creature on Earth.

The series follows Baki through brutal underground fighting tournaments and intense one-on-one battles as he trains, grows, and inches closer to the monster that is his father. It’s raw, over-the-top, and packed with creative fight choreography that pulls from dozens of real martial arts disciplines.

The tone is established right here: Baki is a series that takes fighting absurdly seriously while being completely absurd about it. Muscles have muscles. Techniques defy physics. And somehow, it all works because Itagaki commits to the spectacle with total conviction.

Status: Completed.

2. Baki (Also Known as New Grappler Baki)

The second series picks up directly after the original and shifts focus to a new threat: five of the world’s most dangerous death row inmates who escape from prisons across the globe and converge on Tokyo, all seeking the thrill of defeat.

This arc is a fan favorite for good reason — the death row convicts are some of the most memorable villains in the franchise, and the fights get even more creative and brutal. Baki continues to grow stronger, but the series also expands its cast significantly, giving spotlight fights to characters like Doppo Orochi, Retsu Kaioh, and Katsumi Orochi.

Status: Completed.

3. Baki Hanma (Son of Ogre)

The third series, Baki Hanma (also known as Hanma Baki: Son of Ogre), ran in Weekly Shonen Champion from 2005 to 2012 across 37 volumes. This is the stretch the whole franchise has been building toward — Baki’s preparation for, and finally his long-promised showdown with, his father Yujiro. It’s also the portion of the story adapted by Netflix’s Baki Hanma anime seasons.

Status: Completed.

4. Baki-Dou (First Run)

The fourth series, Baki-Dou, goes in a wild direction — even by Baki standards. The central concept involves the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi being resurrected in the modern era and pitted against the franchise’s established roster of fighters.

If you thought Baki was already over-the-top, this series cranks the dial further. The clash between historical martial arts legend and modern-day fighters gives Itagaki room to explore new kinds of matchups and fight dynamics. It also continues to develop the overarching father-son tension between Baki and Yujiro.

Status: Completed.

5. Baki-Dou (2018 — Second Run)

Yes, there are two manga both called “Baki-Dou.” If you’re browsing a bookstore or a digital platform, look for the publication year to tell them apart — the first ran earlier, while this second run began in 2018. Fans often call this one “Baki-Dou 2018” or simply “the second Baki-Dou.”

This series introduces sumo wrestling as a major element, pitting sumo wrestlers against the series’ established martial artists. It builds toward significant developments in the Baki-Yujiro dynamic and features some of the most talked-about moments in the franchise’s history.

Status: Completed.

6. Baki Rahen (The Latest Series)

Baki Rahen, the sixth series, is the most recent installment in the franchise. It represents the next chapter of the saga following the conclusion of Baki-Dou (2018).

As of this writing, Baki Rahen has been publishing in Weekly Shonen Champion, though manga series sometimes go on temporary pauses (called hiatuses) between stretches of new chapters. For the most current chapter-by-chapter status, the Weekly Shonen Champion table of contents — available on Akita Shoten’s website — is the most reliable primary source. What’s clear is that Keisuke Itagaki has shown no signs of being done with the Baki universe, having dedicated decades of his career to this franchise.

How It All Connects

Each series flows directly into the next, but they’re structured in a way where individual arcs within each series reach their own conclusions. Think of it less like one continuous novel and more like seasons of a show — each has its own central conflict, its own set of villains, and its own climax, but the characters and world carry over.

One quick note on terminology for first-time manga buyers: manga are published as individual chapters in magazines, then collected into volumes — the physical or digital books you buy. A series is the complete run of one title (like “Grappler Baki”), and the franchise is the whole collection of series. The total page count across all six series in the Baki franchise is enormous. This is a franchise that rewards long-term commitment, but it also doesn’t punish you for stopping after any individual series.

Does the Story Actually Have a Satisfying Ending?

This is the question that really matters, right? Not just “is it finished” but “does it stick the landing?”

The Original Grappler Baki

The original series wraps up its central conflict — Baki’s quest to challenge his father — with a clear resolution to that particular arc. Without spoiling anything: the story reaches the confrontation the entire series has been building toward, and it delivers a conclusion that feels earned. It’s not ambiguous. It’s not a cliffhanger. You get closure on the emotional core of the father-son dynamic.

If you read only the original Grappler Baki and stop, you’ll walk away with a complete experience. That’s worth emphasizing because the sheer size of the franchise can feel intimidating. You do not need to commit to every sequel to get a satisfying story.

The Sequel Series

Each sequel series functions similarly — it introduces a new central conflict, escalates through increasingly intense fights, and reaches its own conclusion before the next series begins. The structure is almost episodic in that sense.

Fan reception varies across the sequels. The death row convicts arc in the second series (New Grappler Baki) is widely considered a high point. The Musashi arc in the first Baki-Dou divided some readers but is loved by others for its sheer audacity. The sumo-focused second Baki-Dou has its passionate defenders as well.

The general fan consensus tends to be:

• If you love the fighting and the spectacle, the sequels deliver more of what makes Baki special
• If you’re primarily invested in the Baki vs. Yujiro storyline, that thread weaves through the entire franchise and sees significant development across multiple series
• If you want tight, focused storytelling, the original series is the most contained and arguably the most satisfying as a standalone work

The beauty of the franchise’s structure is that you can read at your own pace and stop whenever you feel satisfied. There’s no single “ending” that everything builds toward in the way some other long-running manga work — instead, each series offers its own payoff.

Combat Manga Worth Reading After Baki

Finished Baki (or at least the original series) and craving more hand-to-hand combat on the page? Here are two series that scratch a similar itch while offering their own unique flavor.

Kengan Ashura

If you love Baki’s underground fighting tournament setup, Kengan Ashura is the most similar series in tone and structure. The premise: corporations settle business disputes through gladiatorial combat, hiring fighters to represent them in brutal one-on-one matches.

What it shares with Baki: absurd physicality, creative martial arts matchups, a huge cast of fighters with distinct styles, and fights that go way beyond what’s physically possible while still feeling grounded in martial arts logic.

Where it diverges: Kengan Ashura tends to have more structured tournament formats and a slightly more grounded tone (emphasis on “slightly”). The art style is different too — more modern and detailed in its anatomy. The series has also continued with a sequel, Kengan Omega, which carries the story forward.

Hajime no Ippo

Hajime no Ippo is a legendary boxing manga that has been running for decades. It follows Ippo Makunouchi, a shy teenager who discovers boxing and slowly transforms into a formidable fighter.

What it shares with Baki: incredible fight choreography, a protagonist who grows through combat, and fights that carry real emotional weight. The training sequences are detailed and satisfying.

Where it diverges: Hajime no Ippo is far more grounded in reality. The boxing matches follow real rules and real techniques. The character development is deeper and more gradual. It’s less spectacle and more drama, but the fights hit just as hard emotionally. The series is one of the longest-running manga of all time and has been ongoing for decades.

One note on availability: Hajime no Ippo is currently available in English only through Kodansha’s K Manga digital platform — physical English volumes are not available for purchase on Amazon US.

Holyland

Holyland takes a completely different approach to street fighting. The story follows Yuu Kamishiro, a withdrawn teenager who teaches himself boxing from a book and begins fighting on the streets at night. The series examines street violence with a surprisingly grounded and psychological lens.

What it shares with Baki: a focus on different fighting styles clashing against each other and the idea that fighting ability is deeply tied to personal identity.

Where it diverges: Holyland is realistic — sometimes painfully so. There are no superhuman feats here. Fights are messy, dangerous, and carry real consequences. The series has a strong emphasis on the emotional and social context of violence rather than just the spectacle of it.

One note on availability: Holyland does not currently have an official English-language release — no licensed English print or digital edition is available as of this writing.

Tough (Koukou Tekken-den Tough)

Tough follows Kiichi Miyazawa, a high school student trained in a fictional family style of mixed martial arts called Nadashinkage-ryu. The series leans into over-the-top fight scenes and increasingly powerful opponents in a way that will feel very familiar to Baki fans.

What it shares with Baki: absurd displays of strength, detailed martial arts techniques (even if they’re exaggerated beyond reason), and a similar “anything goes” approach to combat.

Where it diverges: Tough has a different artistic style and places more emphasis on grappling and submission techniques. It also has a somewhat different tone in its character relationships.

Where to Buy Baki Manga in English

Getting your hands on Baki manga in English has historically been complicated, but options have improved in recent years. Here’s what you need to know.

One practical note for first-time manga buyers: manga volumes are read right to left, the opposite of Western comics. When you pick up a physical volume, what looks like the “back” of the book is actually the front. Don’t worry — most English editions include a note on the first page explaining this.

The Baki the Grappler Perfect Edition

For English-language readers looking to start from the very beginning, the Baki the Grappler Perfect Edition is the release to look for. This edition collects the original Grappler Baki series and represents the best way to experience where the entire franchise begins.

Starting with this edition gives you the foundation of the entire saga — Baki’s origin, his early fights, the introduction of Yujiro, and the central father-son conflict that drives the entire franchise. If you’re new to Baki and want to see what the fuss is about, this is your entry point. Manga volumes at major retailers typically fall in the standard range for collected editions — checking any retailer’s listing will show you the current price before you commit.

English Availability Across the Franchise

The English publication history of the Baki franchise has been uneven over the years. The original Grappler Baki has the most accessible English release through the Perfect Edition mentioned above. For the sequel series — New Grappler Baki, both Baki-Dou runs, and Baki Rahen — English availability has varied, with some content available digitally and print editions being less consistent.

For the most current information on which volumes are available in English — both print and digital — checking major retailers directly is the most reliable approach. English-language manga publishing has been expanding rapidly, and titles that were previously unavailable sometimes get new editions or digital releases.

Recommended Reading Order for English Readers

If you’re starting from scratch in English, the reading order is straightforward:

1. Grappler Baki (the original series) — start here, no exceptions
2. Baki / New Grappler Baki — the death row convicts arc
3. Baki Hanma / Son of Ogre — the Yujiro confrontation arc
4. Baki-Dou (first run) — the Musashi arc
5. Baki-Dou (2018) — the sumo arc (same name as #4; look for the 2018 date to tell them apart)
6. Baki Rahen — the latest installment

You read them in publication order. There are no spin-offs or side stories that you need to slot in. It’s a clean, linear progression.

That said — and this is important — you can absolutely read just the original Grappler Baki and stop there. If the sequel series aren’t available in English yet or if you just want a complete story without committing to hundreds of additional chapters, the first series gives you that.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Baki manga series are there?

There are six manga series in the Baki franchise: Grappler Baki (the original), Baki (New Grappler Baki), Baki Hanma (Son of Ogre), Baki-Dou (first run), Baki-Dou (2018 second run), and Baki Rahen (the most recent). All are written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki.

Is Keisuke Itagaki still writing Baki?

Itagaki has been working on the Baki franchise for decades, and Baki Rahen is the most recent series in the saga. For the latest updates on whether new chapters are currently being published, the most reliable source is the Weekly Shonen Champion table of contents on Akita Shoten’s official website — if Baki Rahen appears in the lineup, new chapters are actively running.

Do I need to start from the original Grappler Baki, or can I jump in later?

You can technically start with any series, but starting from the original Grappler Baki is strongly recommended. The emotional payoff of the franchise depends heavily on understanding Baki’s relationship with his father, Yujiro — who he is, why every fighter in the world fears him, and what drives Baki to challenge him. Character introductions, the way each fighter’s strength is measured against past opponents, and story context all build from the original. Jumping into a later series will leave you confused about who characters are and why their fights matter.

Is the Baki anime caught up with the manga?

The Baki anime adaptations — including Netflix’s Baki series, which adapts the second manga (New Grappler Baki), and Netflix’s Baki Hanma seasons, which adapt the third — cover portions of the manga but do not adapt the entire franchise. The manga is significantly ahead of where the anime has reached. If you’ve watched all available anime and want to continue the story, the manga has a lot more content waiting for you.

What is the best reading order for the Baki franchise?

Publication order is the way to go:

1. Grappler Baki
2. Baki (New Grappler Baki)
3. Baki Hanma (Son of Ogre)
4. Baki-Dou (first run)
5. Baki-Dou (2018)
6. Baki Rahen

There’s no need to hunt for a complicated reading order. The series flows in a straight line from one to the next. Just start at the beginning and keep going for as long as you’re having fun.