Black Clover follows Asta, the only orphan without magic in a kingdom where everyone uses it, and Yuno, the childhood friend with natural talent. Both vow to compete to become the Wizard King, the head of the Magic Knights (the kingdom's mage-knight squads). Author Yūki Tabata ran the series in Weekly Shonen Jump from 16 February 2015, moved it to Jump Giga, a quarterly magazine, in late 2023, and ended it on 1 May 2026 at chapter 392, with the final volume released on 4 August 2026.
The idea is not new. From the first volumes, many readers spotted traces of Naruto, Bleach and Fairy Tail in how the characters and rivals are built. What sets Black Clover apart is its energy and pace. It runs fast, it is funny, and its final stretch heads straight to the confrontation readers waited for since chapter one. The catch is that after the move to a quarterly magazine the pace thinned and a few side threads were skimmed. This review scores the whole series on the occasion of the final volume, not just volume 38.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Author | Yūki Tabata (story and art) |
| Publisher / magazine | Shueisha: Weekly Shonen Jump (16 February 2015 to 21 August 2023), then Jump Giga (25 December 2023 to 1 May 2026) |
| Status | Completed (1 May 2026) |
| Volumes / chapters | 38 volumes, 392 chapters (volume 1 on 4 June 2015, volume 38 on 4 August 2026); more than 25 million copies in print worldwide by September 2026 |
| Editions | Japanese original from Shueisha; English from VIZ Media; Vietnamese Thế Giới Phép Thuật from Kim Đồng (up to volume 36, cover price 30,000 VND, as of 9 October 2026) |
| Where to read | VIZ's Shonen Jump app (since 6 April 2015) and MANGA Plus (since February 2019); print from VIZ Media and Kim Đồng |
| Community / critic scores | Anime Corner gave chapters 374 to 376 a 10/10 (see the critics section) |
| Adaptations | Studio Pierrot anime, 170 episodes (3 October 2017 to 30 March 2021); film Sword of the Wizard King (16 June 2023); new anime season from 3 October 2026 |
| Sales | France over 2 million copies (December 2023), Germany over 430,000 (November 2023) |
Review scope: what is OtaHub's judgement built on?
This review scores Black Clover as a whole, from volume 1 to volume 38 and chapter 392 (published 1 May 2026), and although the headline mentions the final volume, the score applies to the entire series. Data runs to 5 October 2026 from Wikipedia, news about the final chapters, critics' chapter reviews and published sales figures. OtaHub has not read all 392 chapters, so this is an editorial analysis checked against sources. The opening and the headings avoid spoilers; only the "Memorable moment" box covers the final boss fight and carries a warning.
Story and structure: where does the series start and end?
The series is built on a simple idea: two kids join Magic Knight squads to fight for the Wizard King title. Asta receives a rare five-leaf grimoire (spellbook) with anti-magic, while Yuno has a legendary four-leaf one. From there each arc brings out a new force, and most have a clear goal, so the story rarely drags.
The decisive stretch is the Final Saga, which began in August 2022 after Tabata took a three-month break from April 2022 to prepare. The last villain is Lucius Zogratis, and the series spends many chapters having the Magic Knights deal with his allies one by one. Noelle wins her fight, Mereoleona defeats Moris, and Nacht and Yami face Morgen. This setup makes the final fight feel prepared rather than sudden. In return, because it runs on "everyone handles their own opponent", a few fights are settled in just a few panels.
Characters and themes: do Asta and Yuno still hold up?
The Asta and Yuno pairing is the spine of the series. Asta is loud, has no magic and relies on perseverance, while Yuno is talented and quiet. The series does not change this formula in 11 years, but it gives both clear chances to grow, especially when the Final Saga forces them to fight side by side rather than just compete. In the most praised chapters, Asta throws his Demon Slayer sword so fast that Lucius struggles to react, and, after a flash of anger, stays calm when Lucius tries to strike at something personal.
The theme running through is willpower beating an inborn disadvantage. It is familiar, but told sincerely. Supporting characters are looked after too. Nacht and Yami facing Morgen in chapters 374 to 376 is a fight with real emotion, which readers might not expect from a series that leans toward comedy. What does not work as well is Asta's romance with Noelle and Mimosa, hinted at for years and left open at the end.
Art and paneling: how does the action look?
Tabata draws action in classic shonen style: magic fills the page, characters burst out of the frame, effects fill the background. What stands out is that the art visibly improved after the move to Jump Giga. In a review of chapters 374 to 376, one reviewer praises crisp, detailed art, gorgeous double spreads and a colour page, says the Weekly Shonen Jump era was sometimes hard to follow in action scenes, and links the improvement to the move to Jump Giga.
That is why OtaHub scores this criterion 8.2, which is solid enough to follow crowded fights, but not at the level of surprising paneling. The notable thing is that the series looked best at the most important stretch, which makes it hard to judge from the first few volumes alone.
Pacing and emotion: fast or slow?
A fast, funny pace is what Black Clover is most praised for. Several critics praised both pacing and action from the early volumes. Each arc usually has a clear goal, so emotion comes from friendship and the clash between Asta and Yuno more than from plot twists.
On the other hand, from late 2023 the series ran only in Jump Giga, a magazine published every three months, so each issue carried about three chapters. Tabata could polish the art more, but readers following along had long waits between peaks. Chapters 390 to 392 were also announced only a few days before release, leaving readers almost no time to prepare for the ending.
Two rivals on the same side
Spoilers for the Final Saga (before the last chapters).
The whole series is built on Asta and Yuno racing each other, so seeing them fight Lucius together is a reward long in waiting. Asta throws his Demon Slayer sword so fast that Lucius struggles to react, and Yuno keeps pace beat for beat. When Lucius is outmatched, he switches to psychological attacks, claiming that Sister Lily's tears after her rescue are Asta's fault.
Asta flashes with anger but stays level-headed. The scene sticks because it shows both have grown: after 11 years, two who once only wanted to outdo each other now fight in step. Then Lucius runs, which signals that the battle is not over.
Consistency and ending: is the ending worthy?
Finishing a shonen series after more than 11 years is already an achievement. According to ComicBook, after Lucius falls the Wizard King throne is still unclaimed, and the last three chapters settle the series' central rivalry between Asta and Yuno. In that respect it closes exactly what it promised from chapter one. One critic found the ending disappointing because the romance goes unresolved, while still acknowledging that it finally settles the main race.
OtaHub scores this part fairly high because the main race is settled cleanly, and because the series added a 15-page chapter found only in the Perfect Grimoire guidebook (4 August 2026). Still, some side threads are resolved in a few panels, so it falls short of perfect.
Edition and where to read: Vietnamese and English editions
The Japanese original from Shueisha runs to 38 tankobon (collected volumes), from 4 June 2015 to 4 August 2026. VIZ Media publishes the English edition, and VIZ's Shonen Jump app has carried the series since 6 April 2015 and MANGA Plus since February 2019. In Vietnam, Kim Đồng publishes the print edition as Thế Giới Phép Thuật. Volume 38 also came with Perfect Grimoire, a guidebook profiling more than 250 characters and more than 400 spells. On Kim Đồng's site the Vietnamese edition has reached volume 36 (cover price 30,000 VND, as of 9 October 2026), while Japan has 38, so check the publisher before buying a full set.
For readers in Vietnam
- Vietnamese edition
- Yes, from Kim Đồng as Thế Giới Phép Thuật. Up to volume 36, cover price 30,000 VND (as of 9 October 2026).
- Legal reading
- VIZ's Shonen Jump app and MANGA Plus (English); VIZ and Kim Đồng print editions.
- After the anime
- The 170-episode anime ended in March 2021; the new season airs from 3 October 2026 on Crunchyroll. To learn the ending, read the manga.
- Note
- Lots of gags and fighting; best for readers from middle school up.
What critics say, and where OtaHub differs
From the early volumes the series drew mixed but mostly positive reactions. Comic Book Bin gave it an A, IGN Southeast Asia praised the pacing and action, and School Library Journal spotted traces of Bleach, Naruto, Fairy Tail and One Piece but called volume 1 a decent entry point for newcomers to shonen. A panel of comic writers at San Diego Comic-Con once listed it among the worst manga of 2016, a verdict the series went on to disprove with more than 25 million copies in print by September 2026. Near the end, Anime Corner gave chapters 374 to 376 a 10/10 and suggested chapters 377 and 378 may be the best two since the series moved to Giga.
OtaHub agrees the final stretch is the best of the series, and agrees the art improved with the magazine change. Where it differs is on the complaint about the ending. The unresolved romance really does disappoint long-time readers, but the series was never built around it, so OtaHub does not treat it as a serious flaw. OtaHub accepts the complaint that the idea is not new, and that is why Story stays at 7.8, together with lower confidence in the early and middle stretches because OtaHub has not read all 392 chapters.
Who should read Black Clover?
Read it if you like classic magic shonen about friendship, rivals and growing up. The series is complete and a new anime season has just started, so this is the easiest time to read it in one run.
Think twice if you need an original idea or want every romance thread to have an answer. In that case, try the first few volumes and decide whether to follow all 38.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Fast, funny, high energy
- The Asta and Yuno pair progresses across 11 years
- The Final Saga is carefully prepared and settles the main race
- Art visibly improves in the later years
Weaknesses
- A familiar shonen formula, few surprises in the idea
- The quarterly schedule thins the pace
- Some side threads and the romance are skimmed or left open
OtaHub score
The total is the weighted average of the six manga criteria; editors may adjust it by up to ±0.2. See our review standards.
- Story & Structure · 7.8A boy without magic in a world of magic is not a new idea, but every arc has a clear goal and the final arc runs straight to its destination. Confidence is lower for the early and middle stretches because OtaHub has not read all 392 chapters and cross-checked sources instead, so the score is more cautious.
- Characters & Themes · 8.1The Asta and Yuno rivalry keeps its weight across 11 years, and supporting characters like Nacht and Yami are looked after, though the romance is left open. Confidence is lower for the early and middle stretches because OtaHub has not read all 392 chapters, so the score is more cautious.
- Art & Paneling · 8.2The art visibly improved after the move to Jump Giga, with crisper art, double-page spreads that look great and fights that are easier to follow than in the weekly run.
- Pacing & Emotion · 8.6Fast and funny is its strongest card, but in the later years only three chapters came out each quarter, so the thread sometimes thins.
- Consistency & Ending · 8.6It closes the series' central rivalry after 392 chapters, though a few side threads are settled in just a few panels.
- Edition & Reading Value · 8.4A Vietnamese edition from Kim Đồng, a full English edition and a guidebook with the final volume, but its rereading value comes mostly from pace, not new layers of meaning.
OtaHub recommendation: Worth reading
FAQ
How many volumes and chapters does Black Clover have?
38 volumes and 392 chapters. Volume 38 (chapters 381 to 392) came out in Japan on 4 August 2026 with the Perfect Grimoire guidebook.
When did the Black Clover manga end?
The last three chapters (390 to 392) ran in the Spring 2026 issue of Jump Giga, released on 1 May 2026. Shueisha announced it on 27 April 2026.
When does Black Clover anime Season 2 air?
The new season, continuing Studio Pierrot's 170-episode anime (which ended in March 2021), starts on 3 October 2026 on Crunchyroll.
Is there a Vietnamese edition of Black Clover?
Yes, from Kim Đồng under the title Thế Giới Phép Thuật. On Kim Đồng's site the Vietnamese edition has reached volume 36 (cover price 30,000 VND, as of 9 October 2026), while Japan has 38, so check the publisher before buying a full set.
Where can I read Black Clover legally?
VIZ's Shonen Jump app (since 6 April 2015) and Shueisha's MANGA Plus (English since February 2019); print from VIZ Media and Kim Đồng.
Sources: Wikipedia (Black Clover), The Popverse (final chapters, Jump Giga), Anime Corner (chapters 374 to 376), Anime Corner (chapters 377 and 378), Soap Central (chapters 387 to 389), Anime Corner (volume 38 and Perfect Grimoire), ComicBook (on the ending, read 5 October 2026), School Library Journal (volume 1 review). The score is OtaHub's editorial judgement under our review standards.
