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 January 2016, 53 volumes has been released in Japan.[1] Of all volumes, 13 of them, namely volume 5, 16, 24, 26, 27, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 50 and 51 have an alternative special edition. With the exception of volume 5, all special edition volumes have an alternate cover. 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.[2] Volume 16 included a special booklet containing the Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan omake.[3] Volume 24 included a DVD containing a recapitulation OVA titled 'Fairy Tail TV Anime Clip Show'.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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).[7] 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).[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] Volume 50 includes 50 postcards drawn personally by Hiro Mashima.[13] Volume 51 includes 55 stickers (54 small and 1 large) drawn personally by Hiro Mashima.[14]
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.[15] Crunchyroll has also started simulpublishing the Manga on their site every Wednesday; with the most recent chapter being free, and back chapters requiring a paid memberships to read.[16] It has been published in France by Pika Édition who have released 38 volumes as of July 2, 2014.[17] In Spain it is published by Norma Editorial from March 15, 2008 - now there are 37 volumes released in Spain and it's one of the top-selling manga series.[18] It has also been published in Taiwan by Tong Li, which has released 34 volumes as of October 2012. It has also been published in China Mainland by Hubei Children's Press, which has released 16 volumes as of February 2010. It has also been published in Germany by Carlsen Verlag Gmbh, which has released 19 volumes as of January 2012.
In addition it has been published in Brazilian Portuguese by JBC, which has released 49 volumes thus far. It also has been published in the Philippines by VIVA-PSICOM Publishing, which has released 2 volumes as of June 2015.
