Almost 20 Years Later, One of The Best-Selling Series of All Time Makes Its Global Debut

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Yasuhisa Hara’s critically acclaimed manga series, Kingdom, began in 2006 and has become a massive success, selling over 120 million copies worldwide – all without an official English release until recently. With 77 volumes, it now stands alongside iconic manga like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto. Only 23 manga series have ever sold over 100 million copies, and most of those are aimed at a younger audience. Despite this, Kingdom has earned its place on the list, surpassing other popular adult-focused manga such as Vinland Saga, Berserk, and Vagabond. After nearly two decades, Viz Media finally released the English version of the first volume this November, with more translations planned.

The first six volumes will be released by April 2026, and Viz is planning to continue releasing more volumes next year. They have a lot of material to work through, as the manga has many volumes and a fantastic story. Fans waiting for new releases can now find the manga on the official Shonen Jump app—though only a few chapters are available at the moment, more will be added over time. Despite being a complex and highly-regarded series, Kingdom hasn’t always had a large international audience, remaining most popular in Japan and East Asia—but that’s starting to change.

What Is The Plot of Kingdom?

This story takes place during a time of war in ancient China. It centers on Xin, a young orphan who trains with his adoptive brother, Piao, hoping to become powerful generals. While being a general is a respected position, it’s also incredibly risky, and usually reserved for those born into privilege. Despite their skill, Xin and Piao face an almost insurmountable challenge: their humble origins make achieving their dream nearly impossible.

When a terrible event occurs, 14-year-old Xin is unexpectedly caught up in the dangerous world of palace intrigue. He finds himself trying to protect Ying Zheng, the true heir to the throne, who has been forced to flee. As the princes fight for power, the kingdom falls into turmoil. Though their first encounter is under difficult circumstances, Xin and Zheng must learn to work together. Despite his initial hesitation, Xin agrees to help Zheng fulfill a promise to his fallen brother, who sacrificed himself for the prince.

I’m absolutely hooked on Xin’s story! It’s incredible to watch him grow from a kid into this legendary general everyone knows throughout the kingdom. The anime adaptation had a rough start – the first three seasons weren’t great, honestly – but it really turned things around with Season 4. Now, Season 6 just came out as part of the Fall 2025 releases, and I’m watching it right now on Crunchyroll and Prime Video. It’s fantastic!

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2025-12-06 01:40