Is Crimson Hero Manga Finished? Status & Where to Buy

Is Crimson Hero Manga Finished? Yes — Here’s What You Need to Know

Crimson Hero is a completed manga. The series wrapped up at 20 volumes in Japanese, published by Shueisha — one of Japan’s largest manga publishers — under their Margaret Comics label. The first volume came out in June 2003, and the final volume was released in June 2011. The story is done — no cliffhanger, no cancellation, no hiatus. It ran its full course.

But here’s the catch that trips up a lot of English-speaking fans: the English edition, published by Viz Media, only reached volume 14 out of 20. That means the final six volumes — including the entire ending — were never officially translated into English. Viz discontinued the English release before the series was fully brought over.

A few other quick facts worth knowing up front:

• Author: Mitsuba Takanashi (高梨みつば)
• Publisher (Japan): Shueisha, Margaret Comics label
• English Publisher: Viz Media (discontinued after Vol. 14)
• Volumes: 20 (Japanese) / 14 (English)
• Genre: Shojo — manga aimed primarily at a teen girl audience, typically featuring character-driven stories with romance and personal growth alongside the main plot
• Anime adaptation: None — there has never been a Crimson Hero anime
• Status: Complete since 2011, with no sequel or continuation announced

So if you’ve been holding out hope that more volumes might come or that an anime might pick it up — unfortunately, there’s nothing on the horizon. The manga is the full and only version of this story.

Crimson Hero’s Full Publication Timeline

Crimson Hero had a solid run spanning about eight years. Here’s how the timeline breaks down:

Japanese publication:

• Volume 1 released: June 30, 2003
• Final volume (Vol. 20) released: June 2011
• Published under Shueisha’s Margaret Comics label, home to many well-known shojo manga

The series was a consistent presence throughout the 2000s, telling the story of Nobara Sumiyoshi and her fight to play volleyball despite her family’s expectations that she take over their traditional restaurant. It’s a classic underdog sports story wrapped in character drama — team-building, rivalries, romance, and personal growth all woven around competitive volleyball.

English publication:

• The English edition was published by Viz Media, one of the largest manga publishers in North America
• Viz brought over 14 of the 20 Japanese volumes
• The English release was then discontinued, leaving volumes 15 through 20 untranslated in any official capacity

This wasn’t unusual for the era. During the mid-to-late 2000s, manga experienced a major popularity surge in North America — publishers were licensing and translating titles at a rapid pace. When that wave receded, many series saw their English releases halted partway through, especially titles that weren’t massive bestsellers. Crimson Hero was one of those casualties.

Since 2011, the series has been fully complete in Japan with no continuation, spin-off, or sequel. Mitsuba Takanashi moved on to other work, and there’s been no indication that the story would be revisited.

Does Crimson Hero Have a Proper Ending?

This is probably the most important question for anyone deciding whether to start the series, so let’s be straightforward: yes, Crimson Hero has a definitive ending in the Japanese version.

Volume 20 wraps up the story. Without getting into spoiler territory, readers can expect the volleyball tournament storyline and the major character threads — Nobara’s growth as both a player and a person, her relationships with teammates and rivals — to reach a conclusion. The manga doesn’t end on a cliffhanger or get cut short partway through a storyline. Takanashi brought the story to the finish line she intended.

The problem, of course, is access. If you’re an English-only reader, volumes 15 through 20 were never officially translated. That means the ending — and a significant chunk of the story’s climax — isn’t available through official English channels. This is genuinely frustrating, and it’s the single biggest drawback of picking up this series as an English reader.

Options for English Readers Who Want the Full Story

This is a tough spot, and there’s no perfect solution. Here are the realistic options:

• Learn Japanese (or be learning). If you’re already studying Japanese, Crimson Hero could be a good reading challenge. Shojo manga often includes furigana — small pronunciation guides printed above the more complex Japanese characters — which makes it more accessible for learners than some other genres. The Japanese volumes are still available.
• Read fan summaries. Detailed chapter-by-chapter summaries exist on fan communities and wikis, written by readers of the Japanese editions. They won’t give you the full experience of reading the manga, but they’ll at least let you know how the story ends.
• Read the 14 English volumes and decide from there. Some readers find that 14 volumes of a great sports manga is still worth the read, even knowing the official English version is incomplete. The journey itself has a lot to offer.

It’s worth being honest: the incomplete English release is a real downside. But the manga itself tells a complete story — it’s just that the official English bridge doesn’t go all the way across.

Where to Buy Crimson Hero in English

If you’re ready to give Crimson Hero a shot, finding the English volumes takes a bit more effort than picking up a current bestseller, but it’s definitely doable. Here’s what to know.

The 14 English Volumes

The English edition, published by Viz Media, covers volumes 1 through 14 of the Japanese run. These volumes translate roughly the first two-thirds of the story — you’ll get a lot of volleyball action, character development, and team drama before the translation cuts off.

Volume 1 is your natural starting point and the easiest volume to find. It introduces Nobara, her conflict with her family, and her determination to join (and essentially build) a girls’ volleyball team at Crimson Field High School. If the first volume hooks you, you’ll know whether this series is for you.

Availability Notes

Because the English release has been discontinued for some time, availability can vary. Here are some practical tips:

• New copies may be limited depending on the volume. Volume 1 tends to be the easiest to find since more copies were originally printed. Later volumes (especially those closer to 14) may require more hunting.
• Used bookstores and secondhand markets are often your best bet for building a complete set. Online secondhand sellers, local used bookshops, and library sales can all turn up copies at reasonable prices.
• Digital availability is worth checking before you commit to physical copies. Digital editions, if available, solve the out-of-print problem entirely for the volumes that were translated. Platforms like the Kindle store, Kobo, and Apple Books are good places to search, as well as manga-focused apps like the Viz Manga app.
• Libraries are an underrated option. Many library systems carry manga, and even if your local branch doesn’t have Crimson Hero on the shelf, interlibrary loan — a free service where your library borrows a book from another library system on your behalf — can sometimes pull copies from other locations.

One thing to keep in mind: don’t rush to buy all 14 volumes at once. Grab Volume 1, see if the story and art style click with you, and then decide how deep you want to go — especially knowing that the English edition stops at volume 14.

Volleyball Manga to Read After Crimson Hero

If Crimson Hero left you wanting more volleyball manga — or if the incomplete English translation has you looking for a fully available alternative — there’s one standout option waiting for you.

Haikyu!! by Haruichi Furudate

This is the big one. Haikyu!! is widely considered one of the best sports manga ever made, and it’s centered entirely on volleyball. It follows Shoyo Hinata, a short but incredibly athletic player, as he joins Karasuno High School’s volleyball team and works to become a top player despite his height disadvantage.

Where Crimson Hero focuses on the shojo side — family drama, romance, the struggle to even form a team — Haikyu!! is a shonen manga, meaning it’s aimed at a teen boy audience and leans harder into competition and action. The matches are electric, the character development runs deep across a huge cast, and the art during volleyball sequences is breathtaking. If you loved the volleyball in Crimson Hero and want more of it with even more detailed match strategy and on-court intensity, Haikyu!! delivers.

It’s also fully complete and fully translated into English, so you won’t run into the incomplete translation problem here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes of Crimson Hero are there?

20 volumes in Japanese, 14 in English. The manga is fully complete in Japanese. The English translation, published by Viz Media, was discontinued after volume 14, leaving the final six volumes (15–20) without an official English release.

Will the English translation ever be completed?

There has been no announcement about completing the English translation. The series has been finished in Japan since 2011, and the English release has been discontinued for years. While it’s impossible to say “never,” there are no signs pointing toward a revival of the English edition.

Is there a Crimson Hero anime?

No. Crimson Hero has never received an anime adaptation of any kind — no TV series, no original video animation, no film. The manga is the only way to experience the story.

Is Crimson Hero worth reading even though the English edition is incomplete?

This is a personal call, but here’s a fair way to think about it: the 14 English volumes contain a substantial, enjoyable story on their own. You’ll get compelling characters, exciting volleyball matches, and real emotional stakes. The downside is that you’ll reach volume 14 wanting more, and the official English path ends there.

If you’re the type of reader who needs closure and an incomplete series would drive you crazy, that’s a legitimate reason to hesitate. But if you can enjoy the journey and are content to catch up on how the story ends through plot summaries (or the Japanese volumes themselves), then Crimson Hero is absolutely a rewarding read. The quality of what’s available in English is high, and 14 volumes is a lot of great manga. If you’re on the fence, start with Volume 1 and see if it hooks you — that’s the lowest-risk way to find out.

Who is the author of Crimson Hero?

Crimson Hero was created by Mitsuba Takanashi (高梨みつば). The series was published in Shueisha’s Margaret Comics label, which is known for shojo manga — stories aimed at a teen girl audience.