Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation season 2 is in its final stretch, and now, some fans are keen on reading the source material to find out more. For those interested in reading the series, the question on their minds is if the Mushoku Tensei manga or light novel is better to read.
While both versions of the story should be worth reading for fans of the anime, it’s important to first understand the history of the manga and novel versions.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for Mushoku Tensei, so proceed with caution.
Mushoku Tensei Manga vs Light Novel: Which Was Released First?
Technically, Mushoku Tensei began as a web novel series that was serialized from November 2012 to April 2015.
Thanks to its success, the series was picked up by MF Books, and the official light novel began its run in January 2014. Soon after, the manga adaptation was released in May 2014.
The manga has since continued to get new chapters, though it has a monthly release schedule, meaning it only has a bit under 100 chapters despite being ongoing for a decade.
On the flip side, the light novel series is complete, as its 26th and final volume was released in November 2022.
While the door is still open for a sequel, the light novel’s ending has a satisfying ending for Rudeus Greyrat's story.
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Mushoku Tensei: Should You Read the Manga or the Light Novel?
Given that the light novel is already complete, anime-only fans should definitely read the novel instead of the manga if they want to find out what happens next.
This is supported by the fact that the Mushoku Tensei manga's latest chapter has only covered the events in volume 11 of the light novel.
As the second anime season is expected to end at the events of volume 12 of the novels, it will have effectively passed the manga’s story by its final episode.
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Story Differences Between the Mushoku Tensei Manga and LN, Explained
The manga and light novel share the same core story, but there are some differences in how events are presented.
Even though the light novel may be as visually striking as the manga, it features a lot more detail, not to mention that it delves deeper into the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
Thus, the light novel offers a more detailed and definitive version of the story, though fans are recommended to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the events.
Fans in the US can read the Mushoku Tensei light novel via Seven Seas Entertainment’s official volume releases in English. Seven Seas is also publishing the manga in English in North America.
Are you planning to read Mushoku Tensei after the second season’s ending? Let us know in the comments.
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