Glossary
Tankōbon (collected volume)
A tankōbon is a collected volume of a manga: the chapters that first ran in a magazine or app, gathered into one book with its own number, cover and often extra pages.
From chapters to volumes
Most manga first appear one chapter at a time, in a weekly or monthly magazine or in an app. When enough chapters exist, the publisher collects them into a tankōbon, usually about 180 to 200 pages. Volumes are numbered, so readers often say how far they are in a series by volume.
What changes in a volume
- Pages may be redrawn or corrected after the magazine run.
- Colour pages from the magazine are often printed in black and white.
- Extras such as cover art, author notes and short bonus comics are added.
- Official translations are usually published by volume, not by chapter.
Translating a volume
A volume is a long job, so translate it in parts that fit your plan's page limit, one chapter at a time. Keep the pages in order, and use the largest scans you have: printed lettering in a volume is small.
How many chapters are in a tankōbon?
Usually 8 to 12, depending on the length of the chapters and the publisher.
Is a manhwa published in tankōbon too?
Korean webtoons are made for scrolling, but popular ones are also printed as books, which follow the same idea.