The Struggle of Manga Accessibility in the Age of Streaming

While streaming platforms have made anime widely available, manga enthusiasts still face hurdles. Collecting physical copies of manga series, especially the longer ones, can be prohibitively expensive. For instance, gathering all volumes of Berserk might cost over $500.

Digital options don’t fare much better. Many manga publisher apps are poorly designed and frustrating to use. Kodansha’s K Manga app is riddled with microtransactions, and Square Enix’s Manga UP! not only overcharges but also imposes peculiar censorship. On the other hand, Viz Media offers a more user-friendly experience with its Viz and Shonen Jump apps, providing extensive catalogs for modest monthly fees of $2 and $4, respectively.

Crunchyroll Manga Enters the Scene Again

Crunchyroll has reintroduced its manga service under the name Crunchyroll Manga, having previously offered a version from 2013 to 2023 which was more of a free bonus than a standalone service. The revamped app boasts over 200 series, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Viz and Shonen Jump offerings. Despite its impressive lineup and a monetization strategy similar to Shonen Jump’s, it falls short by not having complete chapters for many series.

However, the service does eliminate the bothersome microtransactions seen in other apps — a subscription grants you full access without ads, although there’s no option for free previews. Only existing Crunchyroll subscribers can add the manga service, which might limit its appeal to broader audiences.

The subscription tiers that include manga are priced at $11.99, $15.49, and $15.99 per month, with the manga add-on costing up to $4 more per month. While this could be a good deal for those already invested in the Crunchyroll ecosystem, it’s less enticing for others who might prefer not to bundle services.

The app itself functions much like its competitors, allowing for bookmarks, offline reading, and easy navigation. However, it occasionally mislabels volumes as chapters and sometimes has glitchy filtering options. Despite these issues, it performs well for its main purpose — reading manga.

Content and Limitations

The service features a robust selection of over 200 titles from publishers like VIZ, Yen Press, and Square Enix, including popular series such as One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and My Hero Academia. It also offers a notable collection of LGBTQ+ manga. However, the major drawback is that many series do not include all published chapters, which can be frustrating for users looking to catch up or complete series.

This lack of completeness is particularly noticeable with flagship VIZ titles, where back catalogs are significantly incomplete. For example, Jujutsu Kaisen is available up to chapter 135 out of 275. While new chapters may be added over time, the current gaps make it a less attractive option for comprehensive manga reading compared to dedicated apps like Shonen Jump.

The integration with Crunchyroll’s anime service is a plus, allowing users to switch between manga and their anime adaptations. However, this feature is less useful when the manga chapters necessary to continue the story after an anime ends aren’t available.

While there are legitimate licensing challenges that likely restrict access to the latest chapters, it’s fair for users to expect a paid service to offer more complete content. The limitations might drive users to alternate platforms, despite the potential cost savings of starting on Crunchyroll Manga.

Future Prospects and Final Thoughts

The future of Crunchyroll Manga largely depends on how frequently and extensively new chapters are added. If the service can eventually offer complete series, it might justify its cost. However, without such updates, it risks remaining a secondary choice for manga fans.

For now, while Crunchyroll Manga offers a solid selection and a user-friendly platform, its incomplete series make it a challenging sell, especially for those new to the Crunchyroll ecosystem.

Elijah Gonzalez is an associate editor for Endless Mode. In addition to playing the latest, he also loves anime, movies, and dreaming of the day he finally gets through all the Like a Dragon games. You can follow him on Bluesky @elijahgonzalez.bsky.social.