Your Favorite Anime Just Ended? A Beginner's Guide on How (and Where) to Start Reading Manga

You've finished the latest season of your favorite anime. The solution is simple: read the manga. The manga is the original source material for most anime, and in almost every case, the story is much further ahead than the animated adaptation.

But this raises three key questions for a beginner:

1. How do you read manga? (It's different from Western comics).

2. What chapter should I start on?

3. Where can I read it legally?

Here are the answers.

Step 1: How to Read Manga (The Format)

The biggest barrier for new readers is the format. Unlike Western comics, Japanese manga is read from right to left.

1. Panel Direction: You start at the panel in the top-right corner of the page. You read that panel, then move to the panel on its left.

2. Page Flow: Once you finish the top row (from right to left), you move to the next row down and repeat the process, right to left.

3. Dialogue Balloons: The text inside the panels is also read from right to left.

4. Black & White: Unlike webtoons, 99% of manga is published in black and white. This is the traditional art style.

You will get used to this format after 10 or 15 pages.

Step 2: Where to Find the Right Chapter to Start

This is the most important step. You don't want to re-read 100 chapters you've already seen in the anime.

One anime episode (22 minutes) usually adapts about 2-3 manga chapters.

The easiest way to find your starting point is to use a "Fan Wiki" (like those on Fandom) or MyAnimeList/AniList.

The Wiki Method (Recommended)

1. Go to Google and search for: "[Your Anime Name] Wiki" (Example: "Spy x Family Wiki").

2. Inside the wiki, look for a section called "Episode List" or "Story Arcs."

3. Find the last episode you watched (e.g., "Season 3, Episode 12").

4. The wiki's table will tell you exactly which manga chapters that episode adapted.

5. Example: The table says Episode 12 adapted Manga Chapters 90, 91, and 92.

6. Your starting point is Chapter 93.

Step 3: Where to Read Manga Legally in 2025

Once you have your chapter number, you need a place to read it. In 2025, legal access to manga is easier and cheaper than ever.

Option 1 (The Best): Manga Plus / Shonen Jump

• Platform: Shueisha (the publisher of One Piece, Spy x Family, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kagurabachi, Chainsaw Man, and Dragon Ball) has an official platform.

• Service: It is called Manga Plus.

• How it Works:

  • Free: You can read the 3 newest chapters and the 3 oldest chapters of any series for free (this is called "simulpub," as they release at the same time as Japan).

  • Subscription (approx. $2.99/mo): A low-cost subscription gives you unlimited access to the entire back-catalog of all their series.

• Verdict: If the anime you watched is from Shonen Jump (most popular action anime are), this is your best and cheapest option.

Option 2: K Manga

• Platform: Kodansha (the publisher of Attack on Titan, Sanda, May I Ask for One Final Thing?, Blue Lock, and Fairy Tail).

• Service: It is called K Manga.

• How it Works: This service uses a "coins" and "daily tickets" model, which allows you to read a number of free chapters per day. You can also buy coins to read without restrictions.

• Verdict: If your anime is from Kodansha, this is the official platform.

Option 3: Buying Digital Volumes

If you prefer to "own" the manga instead of subscribing, you can buy full volumes (called Tankobon) from digital stores like Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, or BookWalker.

An Important Note: What About Webtoons?

If the "anime" you finished is Korean (Manhwa), like Solo Leveling, Tower of God, or Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, the process is different.

These are not found on Japanese manga platforms. They are found on Webtoon platforms.

• Platforms: Webtoon, Tapas, Tappytoon.

• Format: They are read top-to-bottom (vertical scroll), are in full color, and are read left-to-right.

• How it Works: Most chapters are free, and you can pay to read the newest chapters ("Fast Pass").

Conclusion

Transitioning from anime to manga is the best way to continue a story you love without waiting years.

1. Learn to read from right to left.

2. Use a wiki to find the exact chapter where the anime left off.

3. Go to the correct legal platform (likely Manga Plus or K Manga) to start reading.

It has never been easier or cheaper to be a manga fan.