Bleach is a complete manga series by Tite Kubo, published by Shueisha from 2001 to 2016. Its 686 chapters span 74 volumes. The story follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who accidentally obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper — a death deity who guides souls to the afterlife and fights evil spirits called Hollows. Bleach is one of the three best-selling manga of all time (the “Big Three” alongside One Piece and Naruto) and is celebrated for its distinctive character designs, fashion-forward aesthetic, and the iconic Soul Society arc. All 74 volumes are available in English from Viz Media.

Quick Answer See the arc breakdown below — read all volumes in publication order from Vol. 1 to the latest.

Use the sections below for the full reading order, volume list, and follow-up recommendations.

All 74 Bleach Volumes in Order

Complete series — all 74 volumes available from Viz Media.

  1. Bleach, Vol. 1
  2. Bleach, Vol. 2
  3. Bleach, Vol. 3
  4. Bleach, Vol. 4
  5. Bleach, Vol. 5
  6. Bleach, Vol. 6
  7. Bleach, Vol. 7
  8. Bleach, Vol. 8
  9. Bleach, Vol. 9
  10. Bleach, Volume 10
  11. Bleach, Vol. 11
  12. Bleach, Vol. 12
  13. Bleach, Vol. 13
  14. Bleach, Vol. 14
  15. Bleach, Vol. 15
  16. Bleach, Vol. 16
  17. Bleach, Vol. 17
  18. Bleach, Vol. 18
  19. Bleach, Vol. 19
  20. Bleach, Vol. 20
  21. Bleach, Vol. 21
  22. Bleach, Vol. 22
  23. Bleach, Vol. 23
  24. Bleach, Vol. 24
  25. Bleach, Vol. 25
  26. Bleach, Vol. 26
  27. Bleach, Vol. 27
  28. Bleach, Vol. 28
  29. Bleach, Vol. 29
  30. Bleach, Vol. 30
  31. Bleach, Vol. 31
  32. Bleach, Vol. 32
  33. Bleach, Vol. 33: The Bad Joke
  34. Bleach, Vol. 34
  35. Bleach, Vol. 35
  36. Bleach, Vol. 36
  37. Bleach, Vol. 37
  38. Bleach, Vol. 38: Fear for Fight
  39. Bleach, Vol. 39
  40. Bleach, Vol. 40
  41. Bleach, Vol. 41
  42. Bleach, Vol. 42
  43. Bleach, Vol. 43
  44. Bleach, Vol. 44
  45. Bleach, Vol. 45
  46. Bleach, Vol. 46: Back from Blind
  47. Bleach, Vol. 47
  48. Bleach, Vol. 48
  49. Bleach, Vol. 49: The Lost Agent
  50. Bleach, Vol. 50: The Six Fullbringers
  51. Bleach, Vol. 51: Love Me Bitterly, Loth Me Sweetly
  52. Bleach, Vol. 52
  53. Bleach, Vol. 53
  54. Bleach, Vol. 54
  55. Bleach, Vol. 55
  56. Bleach, Vol. 56: March of the Starcross
  57. Bleach, Vol. 57: Out of Bloom
  58. Bleach, Vol. 58: The Fire
  59. Bleach, Vol. 59: The Battle
  60. Bleach, Vol. 60: Everything But the Rain
  61. Bleach, Vol. 61: The Last 9 Days
  62. Bleach, Vol. 62: Heart of Wolf
  63. Bleach, Vol. 63: Hear, Fear, Here
  64. Bleach, Vol. 64: Death In Vision
  65. Bleach, Vol. 65: Marching Out the Zombies
  66. Bleach, Vol. 66: Sorry I Am Strong
  67. Bleach, Vol. 67: Black
  68. Bleach, Vol. 68: The Ordinary Peace
  69. Bleach, Vol. 69: Against the Judgement
  70. Bleach, Vol. 70: Friend
  71. Bleach, Vol. 71: Baby, Hold Your Hand
  72. Bleach, Vol. 72: My Last Words
  73. Bleach, Vol. 73: Battlefield Burning
  74. Bleach, Vol. 74: The Death and the Strawberry

Bleach Manga Reading Order

1. Agent of the Shinigami Arc (Volumes 1–8)

Ichigo Kurosaki gains Soul Reaper powers from the mysterious Rukia Kuchiki and begins fighting Hollows to protect his town of Karakura. A strong, accessible opening that establishes the world’s rules and introduces the key cast. Ends with Rukia’s arrest and the setup for the saga that made Bleach famous.

2. Soul Society Arc (Volumes 9–20)

Rukia is sentenced to death in the Soul Reaper afterlife realm. Ichigo and his friends invade the Soul Society — a military organization with 13 captain-led divisions — to rescue her. This arc introduced the Gotei 13 captains, the Bankai power-up system, and the Aizen twist, which is one of the greatest villain reveals in shonen manga history. The Soul Society arc remains Bleach’s creative peak and one of manga’s best action arcs.

3. Arrancar / Hueco Mundo Arc (Volumes 21–48)

Aizen creates an army of Hollows evolved to near-Soul-Reaper level power called Arrancar. The crew invades Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime while simultaneously defending Karakura Town. The longest arc in the series, featuring an enormous roster of antagonists with distinctive Zanpakuto abilities. The Espada are some of the most memorable villain designs in manga.

4. Fullbring Arc (Volumes 49–54)

Ichigo has lost his Soul Reaper powers and trains with Fullbringers — humans who have absorbed Hollow power — to regain his strength. A shorter, transitional arc that develops Ichigo’s human connections before the final saga.

5. Thousand-Year Blood War Arc (Volumes 55–74)

The Quincy army called the Wandenreich invades the Soul Society with devastating force, destroying multiple captains. The final arc of Bleach is the most ambitious and action-packed — featuring new transformations, the true history of Soul Society, and the full revelation of Ichigo’s heritage. The arc received a celebrated anime adaptation in 2022 by Pierrot, finally completing the series.

Bleach Spinoffs and Extras

These are optional companion works. The main series is self-contained.

Bleach: Can’t Fear Your Own World

A three-volume light novel set after the main series, focused on the aftermath of the Thousand-Year Blood War. Written by Ryōgo Narita (of Baccano! fame). Recommended for fans who want more story after the ending — read after Vol. 74.

Should You Read Bleach or Watch the Anime First?

The original Bleach anime (2004–2012) is well-regarded for its first two arcs but became notorious for filler — particularly the anime-original arcs between major manga storylines. The Thousand-Year Blood War anime adaptation (2022–present) by Pierrot is a completely different production — significantly higher quality with stunning animation, and considered by many fans to be among the best anime ever made. For the most efficient experience: read the manga (no filler) or watch the 2022 TYBW anime adaptation specifically for that arc.

Where to Read Bleach Manga

Manga Plus and Viz Media both offer the first and latest chapters free. Viz subscription unlocks the full 74-volume catalog. All physical volumes are available from Viz Media; VIZBIG omnibus editions (3 volumes each) are popular for physical readers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bleach

What to Read After Bleach