Volumes and Chapters

The chapters of the manga series Fairy Tail are written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima. The first chapter was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine on August 2, 2006, which is where the series has continued its serialization since then. The individual chapters are being collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Kodansha, with the first one being released on December 15, 2006.

As of December 2016, 59 volumes has been released in Japan. Of all the volumes, 17 of them, namely volumes 5, 16, 24, 26, 27, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 50, 51, 55, 57, 58 and 59 have an alternative special edition. With the exception of volume 5, all special edition volumes have an alternate cover (although 5 & 16's special editions use the same volume cover in the same package). They are typically bundled with special booklets, DVD's and/or other items. Volume 5 included a special booklet containing the Fairies at the Beach omake. Volume 16 included a special booklet containing the Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan omake. Volume 24 included a DVD containing a recapitulation OVA titled 'Fairy Tail TV Anime Clip Show'. Volume 26 included a special booklet containing the Welcome to Fairy Hills!! omake, a DVD containing it's anime adaptation, as well as a Happy collectible strap accessory. Volume 27 included a special booklet containing the Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan omake, as well as a DVD containing it's anime adaptation. Volume 31 included a DVD containing a OVA titled Memory Days, as well as a special booklet containing the storyboard (which was done by Hiro Mashima). Volume 33 included a DVD titled Fairy Tail: Priestess of the Phoenix - Special DVD, which contains behind-the-scenes content about the movie (including interviews and a digital production artbook). Volume 35 included a special booklet containing the Welcome to Natsu's House omake, a DVD containing it's anime adaptation, as well as a 2013 Fairy Tail Calendar. Volume 36 included the DVD release of the film, Fairy Tail: Priestess of the Phoenix, which also includes the anime adaptation of The First Morning omake, as well as 16 post cards related to the film. Volume 38 included a DVD containing a OVA titled The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land, a bonus book containing information about it's production, as well as a 2013 Fairy Tail schedule book which covers June–December 2013. Volume 39 included a special booklet containing the Fairy Tail x Rave omake, a DVD containing it's anime adaptation, as well as sealed Fairy Tail x Rave illustrations. Volume 50 includes 50 postcards drawn personally by Hiro Mashima. Volume 51 includes 55 stickers (54 small and 1 large) drawn personally by Hiro Mashima. Volume 55 included a special booklet containing the Fairies' Penalty Game omake, as well a DVD containing it's anime adaptation. Volume 57 included a variety box containing 1 memo-pad, 7 coasters and 8 postcards drawn personally by Hiro Mashima, all commemorating the 10th anniversary of Fairy Tail series. Volume 58 included a special booklet containing the Natsu vs. Mavis omake, as well as a DVD containing it's anime adaptation, as well as a post card. Volume 59 included a special booklet containing the Fairies' Christmas omake, as well as a DVD containing it's anime adaptation.

The series was first licensed for an English language release in North America by Del Rey Manga (a child company of Kodansha & Random House) on July 28, 2007. From March 2008 to September 2010, they released the first twelve volumes, with the first volume being released on March 25 of 2008. On October 4, 2012, Kodansha and Random House announced that they will shutting down Del Rey Manga, and that Kodansha USA will be licensing and taking over publishing of certain ongoing titles. Kodansha USA took over and released the manga commencing from the 13th volume starting from May 10 of 2011. Despite the change of publishers, William Flanagan, who had translated the first twelve volumes for Del Rey Manga, remained as the translator for Fairy Tail. All volumes currently released in English are also available for digital purchase and download on any Kindle device. Crunchyroll has also started simulpublishing the Manga on their site every Tuesday at approximately 8 o'clock PM (UTC -8), with the most recent chapter being free, and back chapters requiring a paid memberships to read. However, as of the release of Chapter 492, no chapters of the manga are free, and readers are now required to purchase a premium membership to view any of them.

Chapters Not Yet In Tankōbon Format

 * 510. The Heart of Natsu
 * 511. The Hell of Hunger
 * 512. Sting, the White Shadow Dragon
 * 513. Hanamaru
 * 514. Dragon Seed
 * 515. I Am You...You Are Me
 * 516. The Truth of Enchantment
 * 517. Wendy Belserion

Omake Chapters Not Yet In Tankōbon Format

 * Cross-Over: Megane-Fairy (11/2008)
 * Omake: Mira-Sensei's Transforming Magic Class (12/2008)
 * Omake: Welcome to Fairy Fountain (06/2009)
 * Omake: Happy in Boots (05/2010)
 * Omake: Whose Clothes Are These? (03/2012)
 * One-shot: The First Morning (08/2012)
 * Cross-Over: Fairy Tail x The Seven Deadly Sins (12/2013)
 * Cross-Over: Cherry Blossoms Bloom New Life!! (04/2015)