Akame ga Kill! is a Japanese manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro. The story focuses on Tatsumi who is a young villager that travels to the Capital to raise money for his home only to discover a strong corruption in the area. He meets a group of assassins called Night Raid who recruit him to help them in their fight against the Empire's corruption.
The series began serialization in the April 2010 issue of Square Enix's Gangan Joker, first published on March 20, 2010. The first tankōbon volume was published on August 21, 2010,[1] and fifteen volumes in total have been released as of February 22, 2017.[2] The series was licensed by Yen Press in June 2014 and the first volume was released on January 20, 2015.[3][4]
A prequel titled Akame ga Kill! Zero (アカメが斬る!零, Akame ga Kiru! Rei) was serialized on 11th issue of Monthly Big Gangan magazine on October 25, 2013 and ended on January 25, 2019. The series was written by Takahiro and illustrated by Kei Toru.[5] The story focuses on Akame's past during the days she worked as an assassin for the Empire. It was compiled into ten tankōbon volumes.[6] It was licensed by Yen Press in September 2015[7] and the first volume was released March 22, 2016.
Takahiro published a spin-off manga titled Hinowa ga Crush! (ヒノワが征く!, Hinowa ga Yuku!) with art by strelka in Monthly Big Gangan from June 24, 2017,[8][9] to June 24, 2022.[10] The story and characters are completely unrelated to Akame ga Kill!, with the only shared element being the inclusion of Akame as a side character. Yen Press has licensed the manga and released new chapters simultaneously with Japan.[11]
4. "Kill the Antagonism" (蟠りを斬る, Wadakamari o Kiru)
Tatsumi travels to the imperial capital to make money to save his village. In the capital city, he is befriended by a buxom woman named Leone who offers to find him some work, but ends up taking his savings. A noble girl named Aria offers shelter for him, but later on, Aria's mansion is attacked by an assassin group called Night Raid. Tatsumi battles Akame to protect Aria, but when Leone arrives and reveals that Aria and her family had been killing and torturing a number of people including Tatsumi's comrades, he kills Aria, and is recruited by Leone to join Night Raid. Their leader Najenda and another member named Bulat motivate Tatsumi to eliminate the capital's corruption and he joins the group. One of their first tasks is to defend their keep from some attackers. Tatsumi then works with Akame to go after Ogre and Gamal, who have committed numerous crimes and framed innocent people for them. He goes with Night Raid member Mine to shop in the city and then on a mission to kill the prime minister's relative, who had been abducting women and beating them to death.
6. "Kill the Teigu Wielder" (帝具使いを斬る, Teigu tsukai o Kiru)
7. "Kill the Fantasy" (夢物語を斬る, Yume monogatari o Kiru)
8. "Kill the Evildoers" (溝鼠をを斬る, Dobunezumi o Kiru)
9. "Kill the Absolute Justice" (絶対正義を斬る, Zettai Seigi o Kiru)
Tatsumi and Akame go after Executioner Zanku, a mass murderer who beheads his victims. Tatsumi learns about Teigu, unique weapons and items that were fashioned for the old Emperor and infused with various powers; almost every Night Raid member has one, and so do many of their enemies. Zanku uses illusions to trick Tatsumi, but is ultimately defeated by Akame when he tries to project an illusion of Kurome and Akame strikes at him. Tatsumi becomes depressed when he realizes there is no Teigu that can bring back his friends, but is comforted by Sheele, who later trains him. Tatsumi and Leone go to a red light district to kill a man who had been enslaving women with drugs and prostitution. Tatsumi meets a garrison soldier named Seryu, who is hunting Night Raid members for killing her mentor Ogre. Seryu later fights Mine and Sheele using her Teigu, a creature named Koro. When Sheele dies in combat, An injured Mine to forced to escape when a dying Sheele uses her Teigu's Trump card, with Seryu laughing manically over Sheele's death
13. "Kill Esdeath's Army (Part 1)" (エスデス軍を斬る(前編), Esudesu-gun o Kiru (Zenpen))
14. "Kill Esdeath's Army (Part 2)" (エスデス軍を斬る(後編), Esudesu-gun o Kiru (Kōhen))
The Empire's strongest soldier, Esdeath, returns to the capital alongside her elite soldiers, the Three Beasts: Daidara, Nyau, and Liver. Tatsumi trains with Akame and Bulat. The Three Beasts go on a rash of killings of civil servants that were neutral to the empire, leaving fliers that credit Night Raid for the attacks. Tatsumi and Bulat board a ship to search for the assassins, while Leone abandons a possible attack on Esdeath in public when she senses the latter's aura. Tatsumi is then confronted by the Three Beasts, one of whom was Bulat's former superior. In the ensuing fight, Liver injects poison into his blood and uses it to kill himself and Bulat, who passes his Teigu, Incursio, to Tatsumi. Akame's sister Kurome is summoned to the capital.
16. "Kill the Combat Mania" (戦闘狂を斬る, Sentōkyō o Kiru)
17. "Kill the Bandits" (山賊を斬る, Sanzoku o Kiru)
18. "Kill the Seduction" (誘惑を斬る, Yūwaku o Kiru)
19. "Kill the Danger" (危機を斬る, Kiki o Kiru)
A young man named Wave moves to the Capital, where he meets several individuals including: Akame's sister Kurome; a masked man, Bols, a friendly angel named Run, a weird, quirky scientist known as Dr. Stylish, Seryu and Esdeath, who dubs the group the Jaegers. Esdeath, who has been searching for a man, falls in love with Tatsumi at a fighting tournament and captures him. Tatsumi tries to convince her to turn against the Empire, but she refuses. During a mission with the Jaegers, Tatsumi escapes, but Wave follows and comes across Incursio. Although he is defeated, Tatsumi escapes and returns to Night Raid where he reports his findings. Dr. Stylish tracks Night Raid's hideout and prepares an attack.
20. "Kill the Invaders" (侵入者を斬る, Shinnyūsha o Kiru)
21. "Kill the Mad Scientist" (マッドサイエンティストを斬る, Maddo Saientisuto o Kiru)
22. "Kill the Unexplored Territory" (秘境を斬る, Hikyō o Kiru)
23. "Kill the Newbies" (新入りを斬る, Shiniri o Kiru)
Akame ga Kill! Special Arc
Dr. Stylish's subordinates storm Night Raid's hideout, but are eventually defeated when Najenda returns with two new Night Raid members: an minotaur-like humanoid Teigu called Susanoo, and the plaid-skirted master of disguise Chelsea. Dr. Stylish transforms into his true form (which is a giant Danger Beast), but is ultimately killed by Akame. With their base compromised, Night Raid hides out in the Marg Highlands to train and to get to know their new companions. In the special arc, three young girls are sold to the Capital, only to be ravaged and mutilated; their sole survivor asks for Night Raid's help to enact revenge.
24. "Kill the Danger Beasts" (危険種を斬る, Kikenshu o Kiru)
25. "Kill the Hindrances" (邪魔者を斬る, Jamamono o Kiru)
26. "Kill the Colossal Danger Beast" (巨大危険種を斬る, Kyodai Kikenshu o Kiru)
27. "Kill the Strong One" (強者を斬る, Kyōsha o Kiru)
28. "Kill the Religious Organization" (教団を斬る, Kyōdan o Kiru)
After settling at their new hideout, Night Raid is ordered to dispose of the Danger Beasts, but the Jaegers are also dispatched with the same purpose. During this occasion, Tatsumi and Esdeath meet once again and they are teleported to a deserted island by a mysterious Teigu user. During their time alone, Tatsumi learns the nature of Esdeath's Teigu and realizes that it is impossible to dissuade her. He manages to escape from her clutches once more after they find a way back. Some time later, Tatsumi and the others depart east to the city of Kyoroch, with orders to assassinate Bolic, a member of the religious cult "Path of Peace" that intends to seize its leadership for the Prime Minister's sake.
30. "Kill the Puppets (Part 1)" (人形を斬る(前編), Ningyō o Kiru (Zenpen))
31. "Kill the Puppets (Part 2)" (人形を斬る(後編), Ningyō o Kiru (Kōhen))
32. "Kill the Curse" (呪縛を斬る, Jubaku o Kiru)
33. "Kill the Strengthened Human" (強化人間を斬る, Kyōka Ningen o Kiru)
On their way to Kyoroch, Night Raid ambush some members of the Jaegers and manage to kill Bols. Chelsea attempts to deceive and kill Kurome as well, but she fails to deliver a fatal blow and is killed by the Jaeger instead, with her Teigu destroyed.
Extra Chapter. (33.5) "Kill the Reminiscences" (追憶を斬る, Tsuioku o Kiru)
34. "Kill the Demon (Part 1)" (鬼を斬る(前編), Oni o Kiru (Zenpen))
35. "Kill the Demon (Part 2)" (鬼を斬る(後編), Oni o Kiru (Kōhen))
36. "Kill the Fate (Part 1)" (因縁を斬る(前編), Innen o Kiru (Zenpen))
37. "Kill the Fate (Part 2)" (因縁を斬る(中編), Innen o Kiru (Chūhen))
38. "Kill the Fate (Part 3)" (因縁を斬る(後編), Innen o Kiru (Kōhen))
After having dreams of his fallen companions, Tatsumi and his friends finally arrive at their destination in order to accomplish their mission to assassinate Bolic, who sends his own special force, the Four Rakshasa Demons to hunt down Night Raid. They are all defeated by the assassins. Meanwhile, Seryu confronts Mine, she fatally wounds her and threatens to kill her with a suicide bomb, but she is saved by Tatsumi.
42. "Kill the Despair (Part 1)" (絶望を斬る(前編), Zetsubō o Kiru (Zenpen))
43. "Kill the Despair (Part 2)" (絶望を斬る(後編), Zetsubō o Kiru (Kōhen))
With the Four Rakshasa Demons defeated, Esdeath and the remaining Jaegers stand guard to protect Bolic from Night Raid's attack. Despite fighting together, Tatsumi and his friends are no match for Esdeath. After Akame finally succeeds in assassinating Bolic, Susanoo sacrifices himself to allow his companions to escape.
44. "Kill the Hesitation" (躊躇いを斬る, Tamerai o Kiru)
45. "Kill the Heresy (Part 1)" (外道を斬る(前編), Gedō o Kiru (Zenpen))
46. "Kill the Heresy (Part 2)" (外道を斬る(後編), Gedō o Kiru (Kōhen))
47. "Kill the Foe (Part 1)" (仇を斬る(前編), Kataki o Kiru (Zenpen))
48. "Kill the Foe (Part 2)" (仇を斬る(後編), Kataki o Kiru (Kōhen))
Back at the Capital, Lord Syura, the son of the Prime Minister, assembles another team of Teigu wielding assassins called "Wild Hunt", that starts committing several atrocities with the purpose of drawing Night Raid's attention. Meanwhile, Mine confesses her feelings to Tatsumi and they start dating. Having a score to settle with one of the members of Wild Hunt, Run draws him to a trap that leads to a stand off between members of Night Raid, Wild Hunt and the Jaegers. In the end, Run enacts his revenge, but dies from his injuries and is revived as one of Kurome's puppets, while Tatsumi and the others kill another member of Wild Hunt and severely wound a third one while retrieving their Teigu.
53. "Kill the Adversity (Part 1)" (逆境を斬る(前編), Gyakkyō o Kiru (Zenpen))
54. "Kill the Adversity (Part 2)" (逆境を斬る(後編), Gyakkyō o Kiru (Kōhen))
During a covert mission, Tatsumi and Lubbock are captured by Syura, who intends to make amends for his team's failures, but Wild Hunt is disbanded after Esdeath exposes his past crimes. While interrogating Lubbock, Syura is killed by him. While attempting to escape, Lubbock is killed by a member of Wild Hunt and Tatsumi is captured soon after. Shortly thereafter, Esdeath visited Tatsumi, and after refusing to join her side, Tatsumi is sentenced to death. When the time for his execution comes, his companions from Night Raid appear to rescue him.
56. "Kill the Great General" (大将軍を斬る, Daishōgun o Kiru)
57. "Kill the Alchemist" (錬金術師を斬る, Renkinjutsu-shi o Kiru)
58. "Kill the Skilled" (手練れを斬る, Tedare o Kiru)
59. "Kill Your Assumptions" (思い込みを斬る, Omoikomi o Kiru)
60. "Kill the Wild Hunt" (ワイルドハントを斬る, Wairudohanto o Kiru)
The members of Night Raid succeed not only in rescuing Tatsumi, but in taking down Budo, considered the Empire's strongest general. However, Mine's battle against Budo causes her Teigu to be destroyed, and takes such a toll to her body and mind that she falls into a comatose state. To make matters worse, Tatsumi is informed that his body is slowly being taken over by Incursio every time he uses it, and it will take only a few more uses for him to become completely possessed by his Teigu. Despite that, he joins Akame and Leone in a successful mission that ends with them ambushing and killing the last three members of Wild Hunt.
61. "Kill the Reinforcements" (援軍を斬る, Engun o Kiru)
62. "Kill the Past (Part 1)" (過去を斬る(前編), Kako o Kiru (Zenpen))
63. "Kill the Past (Part 2)" (過去を斬る(後編), Kako o Kiru (Kōhen))
64. "Kill the Little Sister (Part 1)" (妹を斬る(前編), Imōto o Kiru (Zenpen))
65. "Kill the Little Sister (Part 2)" (妹を斬る(後編), Imōto o Kiru (Kōhen))
66. "Kill the Fate" (因果を斬る, Inga o Kiru)
As the Revolutionary Army surrounds the capital, the members of Night Raid occupy themselves with disrupting the Empire's chain of command further by killing as much of their top echelons as they can, except for Tatsumi, who suffers from the side effects of the transformations. Meanwhile, Esdeath routs the attackers with the power of her Teigu. After nearly losing his life to Akame in battle, Wave decides to look for a way to stop her impending showdown with Kurome, to no avail. As the two sisters clash, Wave confronts Tatsumi, who wants to stop him from interfering, but he outmatches Tatsumi by achieving the never seen before feat of using two Teigu simultaneously. After stopping the duel, Wave declares his love for Kurome and convinces her to flee with him, so they can live peacefully together until the war is over.
69. "Kill the Bedlam (Part 1)" (混戦を斬る(前編), Konsen o Kiru (Zenpen))
70. "Kill the Bedlam (Part 2)" (混戦を斬る(後編), Konsen o Kiru (Kōhen))
71. "Kill the Great Enemy" (大敵を斬る, Daiteki o Kiru)
72. "Kill the Root" (根源を斬る, Kongen o Kiru)
The Revolutionary Army begins their attack on the capital, but they face a fierce counterattack from Esdeath and her forces. Meanwhile, Akame and Leone storm the palace to kill the Prime Minister. Leone confronts Honest, but is defeated when he uses the power of his own Teigu to break hers. To crush the Revolutionary Army, the Emperor himself joins the battle with his own Teigu, Shikoutazer, a towering suit of armor with massive firepower. When the Emperor loses his self-control and starts attacking friend and foe alike with Shikoutazer's power, Tatsumi launches to stop him.
74. "Kill the Supreme (Part 2)" (至高を斬る(後編), Shikō o Kiru (Kōhen))[n 1]
75. "Kill Esdeath (Part 1)" (エスデスを斬る(前編), Esudesu o Kiru (Zenpen))
76. "Kill Esdeath (Part 2)" (エスデスを斬る(中編), Esudesu o Kiru (Chūhen))
77. "Kill Esdeath (Part 3)" (エスデスを斬る(後編), Esudesu o Kiru (Kōhen))
Final chapter. "Akame ga Kill" (アカメが斬る, Akame ga Kiru)
After Tatsumi defeats the supreme teigu with Wave's help, he is fused with Incursio and becomes a reborn Tyrant. Akame at first "kills" him which causes her to unleash Murasame's trump card, but actually killed the Dragon's soul. Both Akame and Esdeath battle a brutal fight which ends with Akame piercing Esdeath's chest with a broken Murasame. Esdeath freezes herself and shatters, Honest is fatally wounded by a fused Leone and the Revolutionary Army executes Honest, freeing the people from his tyranny while Leone dies peacefully. The Emperor is also executed. Mine and Tatsumi have a child together. Akame leaves on a journey hoping one day they will be able to fulfil their dream of sailing the world together.
^When released in tankōbon 15, chapter 74 was renamed from "Kill the Emperor" (皇帝を斬る, Kōtei o Kiru) to "Kill the Supreme (Part 2)" (至高を斬る(後編), Shikō o Kiru (Kōhen)).