DearS Manga Volumes: Collecting All 8 Books in 2026

DearS: A Complete Collection in 8 Volumes

Here’s the good news right up front: DearS is a completed manga series, and the English edition consists of exactly 8 volumes. No cliffhangers waiting for a continuation that never comes. No situations where the publisher stopped releasing the series partway through. The whole story is here.

DearS was created by PEACH-PIT, the manga duo behind titles like Rozen Maiden and Shugo Chara!. The series ran in Dengeki Comic Gao! magazine and was published by MediaWorks (now part of KADOKAWA) under the Dengeki Comics label in Japan. The first collected volume was released in April 2002, with the remaining volumes following over the next several years, and the final volume hit shelves on January 15, 2006.

The English edition was brought over by Tokyopop — the publisher that handled translating the series into English and releasing it for Western readers — with 8 volumes covering the complete story.

So what’s the story actually about? DearS follows the comedic misadventures that unfold when an alien girl ends up living with a high school boy. It’s a lighthearted romantic comedy built on the classic “sudden cohabitation” setup, but with a sci-fi twist — the aliens (called DearS) have arrived on Earth and are integrating into human society. The romance is sweet and goofy, with plenty of misunderstandings, an expanding cast of characters, and the kind of warm fuzzy feelings that make short-run romantic comedies so satisfying to collect.

A quick heads-up on tone: DearS includes some suggestive humor and mild sexual comedy woven into the story. It also leans into a setup where multiple characters develop feelings for the main character — a common romantic comedy structure in manga from this era. If those elements aren’t your thing, it’s worth knowing going in. For everyone else, it’s part of the series’ playful charm.

At only 8 volumes, the entire English series fits neatly on a single shelf. That’s one of its biggest appeals — you get a beginning, middle, and end without committing to a 30+ volume marathon.

How to Collect DearS Today — Formats and What to Expect

This is where things get a little tricky. Collecting DearS in 2026 is a different experience than picking up a currently-in-print series from your local bookstore.

The Out-of-Print Situation

The English volumes were published by Tokyopop, which shut down its North American publishing operations in 2011. While Tokyopop has since relaunched as an active publisher, it has not re-licensed or reprinted DearS. In practical terms, that means no company is currently printing new copies of the English-language DearS volumes. You won’t find fresh copies sitting on shelves at major bookstores, and there’s no indication that another English publisher has picked up the license for a reprint.

This isn’t unusual for manga from the mid-2000s — a lot of great series from that era share the same fate. It just means you’ll need to adjust your collecting approach.

Where to Look

Your main path to a complete English set is through used copies and resellers. That includes:

• Used bookstores — both local shops and online used-book retailers
• Online marketplace sellers — individual sellers listing used or old-stock copies
• Library sales and book fairs — you’d be surprised how often mid-2000s Tokyopop volumes show up at library book sales
• Manga-specific buy/sell/trade communities — fellow collectors are often your best resource for tracking down specific volumes

The Japanese volumes, published under the Dengeki Comics label, are generally easier to find through import sellers and Japanese bookstores that ship internationally. If you read Japanese or are collecting for display, that’s worth considering.

Digital Availability

As of this writing, DearS does not appear to be widely available on major English-language digital manga platforms. Older Tokyopop titles have inconsistent digital availability — some have been picked up for digital distribution by other companies, and many have not. If digital is your preference, it’s worth doing a quick search on platforms like BookWalker, Kindle, or Kobo to check whether anything has changed, but be prepared for the possibility that physical copies remain the only option for English readers.

Price Expectations

Out-of-print Tokyopop titles from the mid-2000s can range pretty widely in price. Individual used volumes for a series like DearS often fall somewhere in the single digits to the low teens at typical retail price, though specific volumes with lower print runs or higher collector demand can go higher. Condition also plays a big role — a pristine copy of a 20-year-old paperback is naturally going to cost more than one with shelf wear and yellowed pages.

The key is patience. If you’re not in a rush, you can usually build a complete set at reasonable prices by watching for listings over time.

DearS Manga Volume Guide — Key Volumes at a Glance

All 8 volumes contribute to the complete romantic storyline, but here’s a quick sense of what each stretch of the series brings to the table. This is especially useful if you’re buying volumes one at a time and want to know what you’re getting into.

Volume 1 — Where It All Begins

This is your essential starting point. Volume 1 establishes the core premise: the arrival of the DearS aliens, the main character’s encounter with the alien girl Ren, and the comedic romantic setup that drives the entire series. If you only have budget for one volume to test whether you’ll enjoy DearS, this is the one. It sets the tone — expect humor, warmth, some suggestive comedy, and the beginnings of a genuinely charming relationship.

Volume 2 — Expanding the World

The second volume deepens the relationship dynamics between the leads and starts introducing more characters into the mix. You’ll get a better sense of the alien society’s rules and customs, which adds layers to what starts as a straightforward romantic comedy premise. The comedy picks up as the cast grows.

Volumes 3–4 — The Midpoint Turn

These middle volumes are where DearS starts balancing its romantic tension with the broader alien-society plotline. The stakes get a little higher, the misunderstandings get a little more complicated, and the story moves beyond “cute aliens are funny” into territory that gives the romance more weight. Volume 3 leans into rivalries and jealousy among the expanding cast, while Volume 4 pushes the main relationship into new emotional territory. If you were on the fence after volumes 1–2, volumes 3–4 are where the series tends to hook readers for good.

Volumes 5–6 — Building Toward the Finish

The back half of the series starts pulling threads together. Relationships that have been slowly developing get more screen time, and the overarching plot about the DearS’ place on Earth comes into sharper focus. These volumes reward readers who’ve been paying attention to the smaller character moments earlier in the series.

Volumes 7–8 — The Payoff

The final two volumes deliver the romantic resolution and wrap up the alien-society storyline. Volume 8 in particular is the one collectors care about most alongside Volume 1 — it’s where everything comes together. For a short-run romantic comedy, DearS does a solid job of giving its characters a satisfying ending rather than just stopping abruptly. If you’ve made it this far, volumes 7 and 8 are the reward.

As a general rule: all 8 DearS manga volumes matter for the complete experience, but if you absolutely had to prioritize, Volumes 1 and 8 are the two you don’t want to skip.

Out-of-Print Reality — Tracking Down Missing Volumes

Let’s be straightforward about what “out of print” means for DearS collectors in 2026.

No Reprints on the Horizon

When a manga publisher stops operating, there’s no one left to order new print runs of the books they published. That’s the situation with Tokyopop and DearS. As of the information available, no other English-language publisher has re-licensed the series for a new edition. This isn’t a situation where you can wait for a reprint announcement — there’s nothing to wait for right now.

That said, the manga licensing landscape does change. Series get rescued and re-released sometimes. But planning your collection around a hypothetical future reprint isn’t practical. If you want the DearS manga volumes, the time to start looking is now.

Practical Hunting Tips

Here’s what actually works for tracking down out-of-print manga volumes:

• Set up saved searches and alerts on online marketplaces. When a volume you need gets listed, you’ll know about it quickly. Speed matters for in-demand out-of-print volumes.
• Check used bookstores regularly, especially ones with rotating manga stock. New donations and trade-ins happen constantly.
• Don’t overlook library sales. Libraries regularly cycle out manga that isn’t circulating anymore, and mid-2000s Tokyopop titles are prime candidates.
• Connect with other collectors. Online manga communities often have buy/sell/trade threads where collectors offload duplicates or series they’ve finished reading.
• Be patient but decisive. The best prices come from checking consistently over weeks or months — but when you spot a volume you need at a fair price, don’t hesitate. Out-of-print volumes can disappear from listings fast.

Condition Expectations

DearS volumes are roughly 20 years old at this point. Expect some signs of age on most copies you find:

• Yellowing pages — extremely common for paperbacks from this era, and it doesn’t affect readability
• Spine creasing — indicates the book was actually read, which is normal
• Cover wear — scuffing, minor dents, price sticker residue
• Library stamps or stickers — ex-library copies are often among the most affordable

If you’re collecting to read and enjoy (rather than for pristine display), a little wear is completely fine. The story inside is the same regardless of whether the cover has a crease.

Is DearS Finished — Will Your Collection Stay Complete?

This is one of the most satisfying things about collecting DearS: the English manga edition is fully completed at 8 volumes. The final Japanese volume was released on January 15, 2006, and the story reaches a proper conclusion. No ambiguous endings that require you to track down a different format to find out what happens. No cancelled-before-the-ending frustrations.

PEACH-PIT moved on to other projects after completing DearS. There is no sequel series, no spin-off manga, and no continuation in any format. The 8-volume English edition is the complete DearS story for English-language readers.

An anime adaptation of DearS does exist — that’s a television series based on the manga, which is a separate thing from the books themselves. It’s worth knowing about as a fan, but it doesn’t add any volumes to your manga collection. Your 8-volume manga set stands on its own as the definitive version of the story.

What this means for collectors: your complete set stays complete. There’s no risk of a surprise Volume 9 announcement making your collection feel unfinished. Once you have all 8 English DearS manga volumes on your shelf, you’re done. That’s a genuinely great feeling, especially if you’ve spent time hunting down each volume individually.

Who Should Collect DearS

DearS isn’t for everyone — and that’s fine. Here’s who will get the most out of tracking down these 8 volumes:

You’ll probably love DearS if you enjoy:

• Lighthearted alien-romance comedies — the series doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the sci-fi elements are played mostly for laughs and romantic setups
• Mid-2000s manga aesthetics — there’s a specific charm to manga art and humor from this era, and DearS is a great example of it
• Short, complete series — 8 volumes means you can read the whole thing in a weekend and have a tidy set on your shelf
• PEACH-PIT’s work — if you’re already a fan of the duo’s other series like Rozen Maiden or Shugo Chara!, DearS is a fun addition to your collection
• The thrill of the hunt — if you genuinely enjoy the process of tracking down out-of-print manga, DearS is a satisfying target. It’s challenging enough to feel rewarding but not so rare that it’s impossible

DearS might not be your thing if:

• You don’t enjoy stories where multiple characters compete for one person’s affection — the series leans into this romantic comedy structure, and if that setup doesn’t appeal to you, DearS won’t change your mind
• Suggestive humor bothers you — there’s playful sexual comedy woven into the story. It’s not the entire series, but it’s definitely present
• You prefer currently-in-print manga — the hunt for out-of-print volumes requires patience and effort that not everyone wants to invest
• You’re looking for heavy drama or complex romance — DearS is fun and sweet, but it’s a light read by design. If you want emotional devastation, look elsewhere

In the end, DearS is a warm, goofy little romantic comedy that tells its complete story in 8 compact volumes. For the right reader — especially one who appreciates the era it comes from and doesn’t mind a bit of a treasure hunt — it’s a really satisfying series to have on the shelf.