Ask John: What’s America’s Longest Running Manga?

Question:
Other than Dark Horse’s Oh! My Goddess manga, what other series can be said to have the longest run in America?

Answer:
Because I’m not certain of the precise nature of your inquiry, I’ll provide two different answers: one that addresses the longest running American release by volume, and one that identifies the lengthiest presence. In terms of sheer number of volumes, Oh! My Goddess currently has 30 volumes available in America. TOKYOPOP’s Samurai Deeper Kyo also has 30 volumes while Rave Master (Groove Adventure Rave) has 31 volumes currently available domestically. Viz Media’s Naruto currently has 33 volumes available domestically while Inuyasha has 35 volumes currently available. The longest manga series available in America, though, may be Dragon Ball, which has a total of 42 domestic volumes.

In terms of oldest vintage manga still in print in America, Keiji Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen was first published in America by New Society Publishing in 1983. The series is currently published in America by Last Gasp. Takao Saito’s Golgo 13 manga series premiered in English, courtesy of Lead Publishing, in 1986. The series is currently distributed in English by Viz Media. First Comics brought Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima’s Lone Wolf & Cub manga series to America in 1987. The series is currently distributed by Dark Horse. The Ah! My Goddess manga series premiered in English in 1994.