Omnibus Manga | The Good, the bad, and the Ugly 

The thing is the Soul Eater and Cardcaptor Sakura hardcover releases aren't omnibuses and weren't marketed as such. They are higher quality collectors editions that fit a different niche. Omnibuses are meant to be faster ways of catching up on a series for less money as well as taking up less shelf space. They tend to appeal to those looking to save space, who don't want to spend more on the singles or who missed the singles before they went out of print. Collectors editions appeal more to fans already familiar with the series who are willing to spend more to get a higher quality release. Yes, the two will overlap but they are appealing to different types of collectors. Also, the Cardcaptor Sakura collector's editions and Soul Eater perfect editions are basically copies of their Japanese counterparts. Because Japan got a newer high quality release that only cover 1.5 volumes per book than it's US would have to do the same. There probably wasn't much they could do to change that, particularly in Kodansha's case, as they are just the US branch of the Japanese publisher.

I think the only reason why there's nine volumes for the Carcaptor Sakura manga is because they each have a "trading card" and to make a full poster page in a binder, you need nine. That's my guess anyways!

For Attack on Titan Germany, via the publisher Carlsen Verlag, has released all 34 volumes of the main story in 12 Hardcover Deluxe Editions. The first 10 Volumes are 3-in-1 and the last 2 Volumes are 2-in-1. No Regrets also gets a Deluxe Edition in March next year.

Cool video! It was interesting to see the different range and variety when it comes to omnibus editions from English publishers. Oof those gigantic 3-4 volume omnibuses are really rough. Publishers should probably skip doing 3+ volumes in one book if they're not willing to make it a hard cover. The 1.5 volume releases are typically the direct localized editions of Japanese Kanzenban volumes, which most of the time will go with the weird 1.5 volume per book format. The Japanese kanzenban editions do not have hard covers so the English publishers are bringing these books over in this specific format and basically slapping hardcovers on top of everything. Also, kanzenban releases are meant to be somewhat more deluxe or premium and they usually will include all of the color pages from the manga + the mangaka will draw completely new covers so the English publishers can't change the format to 2 volumes without discarding some of the new volume cover art. It is what it is I guess.

I personally don't mind hardcovers being thin because that way they are actually easier to read in bed and such. Thin hardcovers just have that prestigious feel to it as a hardcover should but it also has the reading comfort of a single volume.

Some notable Omni's are the vertical gundam origin releases which are excellent, the Poe clan from fantagraphic is a really nice book, Vizs' new drifting classroom releases and udons release of the rose of Versailles

I wanted to get the FMA hardcovers, but then some people I know and some reviews I saw mentioned the binding was like a mouse trap and the foil embossing started to flake off even with limited use. So, I stuck to my single volumes. Also, with Fist Of The North Star, since the series was never completed in English years ago, the hardcovers are the only way to go as far as a physical release. Those vols are nice, I think.

Very educational video for newbie/amateur manga collectors.

I don't have any Viz Bigs but I was surprised to hear you say they were the gold standard because the only time I hear them mentioned is negatively. People complaining about them falling apart with the binding coming loose and pages coming out.

* show highschool of the dead * Now this is Attack on Titan!

I think the Attack On Titan Colossal Editions are nice. They seem to be good quality, to me. Also, the Fairy Tail Master’s Editions stopped with vol 4. I think a vol 5 was announced but it was never released. As far as the Colossal Editions, vol 7 is the final one and that is scheduled for release in September. Those weren’t discontinued and seem to be readily available.

I dunno how common this is, but I can see from the video your To Love Ru 1-2 has typical paper you'd find in a manga release while mine (along with my 3-4 and one of my copies of TLR Darkness Vol 1) have glossy pages. Both of my Darkness Vol 1 releases however are listed as the first press and all the rest of the volumes are on regular paper. I find it very odd.

i got longer fingers so those larger 3 volume omnibuses like the Vizbigs and the Dark Horse are my favorite format. larger picture, great paper quality, and for only $20-25 (rip $20 price point). i'm honestly pissed Dark Horse gave Gantz the small/short omnibus treatment...

I really hope they (very unlikely) make soul eater 3in1s because I dont have the money to buy 17 hard covers

I've noticed that manga publishers do this in America to make it affordable for kids. An example of this is Sailor Moon's Eternal Editions released with higher quality paper and ink but paperback cover and the Sailor Moon Naoko Takeuchi Collection which is your typical manga quality. They also released Sailor Moon manga costing $5 for Five Below as well so it looks like they are trying to reach every demographic at different price points.

Vinland saga deluxe also seems unnecessary to me, it's like 1.5 of the current English ones

The kodansha omnibus volumes are pretty good but over sized ones should have been hard cover, the soul eater perfect editions are just perfect in my opinion

Those inside cover flaps are called French flaps. Assuming it became popular or originated in France.

Great video, I am personally sucker for HCs and Berserk with Hellsing looks amazing on shelf. My biggest let down is Fairy Tail Master's Edition, the format is great, I even think they are 5in1, but that softcover😓 why? No wonder they discontinued them, but I would really appreciate Fairy Tail (and og DB + DBZ) in HC, that would be sooo cool.

tiene toda la razon el de fairy tail tenia que ser de tapa dura no si panini o otra editorial podrá hacerlo posible ?

That spine crack at 3:24 had me wincing

Three in one is my minimum. As an industry, making 600-page books is a solved problem, and mangas read too quickly to feel like you have a full book with less

I can guarantee you that the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions finished being released, I have all 7 of them. I do enjoy being able to read the series in a way that takes up less shelf space, and the page and art quality are both chef’s kiss, but it really should have been hardcover

Omnibuses are super convenient if you can't find one particular volume

Dark Horse Deluxe Editions are legendary.

I love this review men

I think South Eater Perfect is about right. I suspect they wanted to keep the price down. Really, if they were priced how they were at the point Soul Eater was $12.99 so 50% extra pages would make it $18.50, but you're also getting far higher page and print quality, as well as page size and new color pages, and art never released in English.

My knowledge of business practices lead some to believe that the reason they would do the 1.5 per book is that they hired a factory to make it that makes hard covers of that size and instead of changing factories they were like "Screw it, fit 1.5 because 2 doesn't fit and 1 isn't enough"!

For the chobits one you can try relaxing the spin so you'll be able to open it fully without damage.

i am really glad that i have all the single volumes for souls eater XD

I bought the azumanga daioh omnibus and K-on omnibus from yen press I had to be careful not to open them too much so I dont damage the spines because there was text in the middle i couldn't see

My issue is that I just really like tankobon cover art, so I usually end up buying the singles.

I gotta disagree on the vizbigs. I tried to read the Inuyasha ones but they were just way too big and difficult to read. In addition, I was scared I would break the binding if I opened them very much.

I enjoyed hearing your opinions on all of these! I am currently reading Bleach in the VIZ 3 in 1 editions and I'm finding that very enjoyable. I am disappointed that the Soul Eater Perfect Editions are only 1.5 volumes in each too. For me, the worst omnibus release has to be the Death Note All in One Edition. We have it and are currently reading it, but it's not a great experience. It would've been better if it was the size of a 3 in 1 but because it's so short and thick, it makes reading it difficult.

I agree with the Soul Eater but as long as they keep coming idc I’ll buy em. Love Hina 3in1s which I have ehhhh so bad but not complaining though.

you should have mentioned the death note all in one edition 12 volumes in 1

Do you have any of the AoT omnibus (not the colossal ones)? They look interesting but I'm still kinda on the fence.

Hey could u tell me if u think the negima omnibus's are to thicc? i cant find anyone on YT tht has unboxed them to show them off

My main complaint about dark horse is the fact they decided to give gantz and kurosagi corpse delivery service the worlds smallest omnibus releases ive ever seen. (There may be more in the format incant remember all of them)

Great video

Berserk's three in ones are the best

Bro i feel you so much with the Soul Eater ones. Was about to collect them until i read its only 1,5 volumes in it. Same goes for Fist of north star i suppose and Fullmetal Alchemist its a way to make more money out of it i guess.... still gonna go for the FMA one i guess cuz i really like the series itself but i will not support other 1,5 releases.

Collector's/perfect edition ≠ an omnibus, I think we should be happy when publishers produce something high quality. The Soul Eater and the Cardcaptor volumes are nothing to complain about when they've been produced for collectors and fans of a series. We should get more of these types for other fan favourites.

I will never understand the complaint that books are too big. Are we really upset that the spines show evidence of being read?

Love your energy

Death Note Omnibus is amazing

Great content 👍

I like the fairy tail masters Editions for sitting on the shelf as a collectors thing but its AWFUL to read. It makes me kinda sad that they didn't finish them. I think itd be cool to have the series that way on my shelf

3 in 1 small size is my fav for under 20€ Is the only thing I buy at retail price. So many places sell used single volumes for 5€ and that isn't even a good deal. 3 in 1 used you even find them for 5€. So many series are at around 9-12 volumes range, so for 20€ to potentially own an entire series you can't beat that.

Fairy tail master edition stop printing a long time ago sadly

Soul Eater hardcover will have 18 if i remember correct

Berk tomes considered good? Is that a joke? They're full of printing errors and the paper quality is poor for the price

I srsly don’t get why Soul Eater Perfect editions couldn’t have two. Regardless I’m still collecting the perfect editions since I’m a sucker for some hardcovers

AOT also has omnibus ver not just the Colossal ones

I don’t think of soul eater as an omnibus edition. They call them “perfect edition” and that’s just that they are for me. The perfect size to hold comfortable with the extra weight of the hardback, nothing to cumbersome to flip through. incredible page quality and 50% more book per book makes them perfect in terms of individual volumes, not omnibus.

underrated boi

Vizbig is not good... I'm surprised that you find it as a fine omnibus release. Binding is bad and pages are falling apart. If singles are still available, I will buy them instead.

Wow

I need them money to buy them volumes.

The pages a thinner

Blame! Master Edition

Since when are vizbigs good? The Vagabond ones seem to be terrible with the pages constantly falling out for a lot of people. I really wanted to get the Vagabond vizbigs but all those bad reviews have scared me off because there seemed to be issues with it very often.

the soul eater perfect editions make me mad. you're paying more and getting less.

Reprint and rerelease of manga is acceptable when they release just one volume per book as a hardback version. It's definitely better than 2 or more volumes per book regardless of it being hardback or not.

Manga is manga collect it how ever you want 🤷‍♂️🤷

Then you have the nausicaa hard cover. Jesus

Gantz has to be worse omnibus ever. Can’t read it at all smh.

Ciao Bro! I think that the 1.5 hardcovers come from the japanese ''kanzenban'' edition. In Italy we have a lot of them, for example dragonball got released in 32 volumes and shaman king 22. Honestly, I like them a lot, even though they're expensive because they are easy to handle and the graphics are amazing. Also the quality tends to be better. They cost more but at least is the same edition the japanese got, translated. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank%C5%8Dbon