Black Clover closes after more than eleven years with a self-contained ending to the journey of Asta, a magicless boy in a world of magic. Yūki Tabata serialized it in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2015 to August 2023, then moved to Jump Giga and concluded on May 1, 2026.
The series comprises 38 volumes and over 24.5 million copies worldwide, with a 170-episode Studio Pierrot anime and a 2023 film.
Quick Facts
- Author: Yūki Tabata
- Publisher: Shueisha: Weekly Shonen Jump (February 2015–August 2023), then Jump Giga (concluded May 1, 2026)
- Scale: 38 volumes; over 24.5 million copies worldwide
- Adaptations: Studio Pierrot anime of 170 episodes (2017–2021); film Sword of the Wizard King (June 2023); anime season 2 premieres October 3, 2026
- Sales: Over 2 million copies in France, over 430,000 in Germany
Story
Asta is a magicless orphan who obtains a rare five-leaf grimoire granting anti-magic abilities. His rival Yuno wields a legendary four-leaf grimoire with wind magic. Both join Magic Knight squads competing for the title of Wizard King.
Along the way they face threats including the Eye of the Midnight Sun and the Dark Triad, and grow through friendship and rivalry.
Behind The Scenes
Black Clover began in 2015 with the motif of a magicless protagonist in a world of magic, and sales grew steadily: from 4.8 million copies in December 2017 to over 24 million by 2026, with strong international markets, especially France.
Studio Pierrot's anime ran 170 episodes from 2017 to 2021, the film Sword of the Wizard King released in June 2023 and anime season 2 premieres on October 3, 2026.
Experience
Characters and spirit
Reviewers praised the energetic protagonist and character development. One critic described the series as what if Harry Potter was a knight and also kinda dumb. Its fast, engaging pacing and balanced representation of female characters were also recognized.
Magic system and battles
The system of grimoires, magic and anti-magic underpins battles between Magic Knight squads and larger forces. The traditional shonen formula of friendship, rivalry and growth is executed with a lot of energy.
The ending
After moving to Jump Giga, the series concluded on May 1, 2026 having closed its main storylines. For long-time readers the series' completion is what matters most, even if the later pacing is less even than the early run.
Strengths
- An energetic protagonist
- Fast, engaging pacing
- Complete, with all 38 volumes readable
- An anime and film, with season 2 coming
Weaknesses
- A familiar shonen formula with few surprises in concept
- Later pacing is uneven
- Moving to Jump Giga slowed the release cadence
What Critics Say
Critics praised the energetic protagonist, character development, fast pacing and balanced female character representation. The series has steady sales, reaching over 24.5 million copies with strong international markets: over 2 million in France and over 430,000 in Germany.
The trade-off is a familiar shonen formula that suits readers who like classic coming-of-age journeys over groundbreaking ideas.
Who Is It For
For fans of classic magical shonen about friendship, rivalry and growth. Since the series is complete, this is a good time to read it in full.
OtaHub Score
Verdict
Black Clover is an energetic magical shonen that has reached a full ending after more than eleven years. OtaHub scores it 8.4/10.
FAQ
How many volumes does Black Clover have?
38 volumes.
When did the manga end?
On May 1, 2026 on Jump Giga.
When does anime season 2 start?
On October 3, 2026.