Which do you prefer? Manga Volume vs Manga Omnibus
I was recently undecided on which version of books to buy, for a manga series I read a while ago. The series has a total of 37 volumes and I had discovered that the publisher had also released the series in omnibus form. I've bought regular volumes before, but to my knowledge, an omnibus includes about 2 or more volumes worth (depending on the amount of content of each volume). The paper it is printed on is different, the artwork might be a slightly altered, and it only has 1 cover artwork (compared to getting 1 different cover artwork for each volume). It is however, slightly cheaper compared to buying each original volume.
What do you guys prefer when buying manga? I'd also appreciate more insight on what other differences an omnibus has compared to an original volume (if you've bought an omnibus).
8 Comments • Newest first
if you're a collector, original
if you just want to read an enjoy it, go for the cheaper one.
single volumes. single volumes all the way
I have about 30 volumes of one piece omnibuses (that's 10 omnibuses) and they're such a pain and frankly, regretful
I'd return them all to purchase as many single volumes I can
aesthetically, they're the most unpleasing thing ever. they're bulky, there's less mini comics and personal author questionnaires, and overall feels unsatisfying
I can't tell you how many times I stare at my bookshelf in distraught wishing that I had just bought 15 single one piece volumes instead of 30 omnibuses. it becomes less about collecting and more about the number of volumes you have
For the sake of collecting, definitely the actual volumes.
It depends on the size. If it's a big omnibus, it feels like I'm damaging the glue holding it together opening it all the way.
For me, it's a matter of convenience. As I rarely have time to gorge an entire story in one sitting, I much prefer the original volumes as I can just read them in small increments without having to lug around an extremely bulky piece of text.
I don't collect much but I guess it depends. I can dig an omnbus though. I actually like the way Witch Hunter (Buster) does it where they put two volumes into one. So in the end it has a good length to it and the price is a bit less than if it volume by volume.
Honestly to me depends on the publisher
At times I do prefer smaller volumes because of two main reasons
- Keeps original takoban format/splash art like the mangaka/editing team intended
- Most omnibuses (esp those published by VIZ media) are HUGE depending on your hand size and such it can annoying to handle such a large book (lol) and to flip pages and so on.
But omnibuses come with their own benefits:
- Better value; you can probably get 3 volumes worth of manga at the price of 2 therefore omnibuses are cheaper
- Larger manga to read
- At times (I rarely see VIZ do it) better quality paper, not that yellowy type but the clay based semi-glose white pages
- Sometimes color pages! (depends on the publisher). The 4 panel comics and splash art in manga volumes are [i]usually[/i] reporoduced
Honestly I prefer manga volumes tho when possible unless the publisher does a really good job releasing their omnibuses (I really dislike Viz media's omnibus editions of Naruto, Bleach and Full Metal Alchemist )
volume /endthread
it's what every manga collector gets when they read a lil sumthin sumthin