Rebirth is one of the series that introduced English readers to Korean comics, or manhwa, in the early 2000s, when Tokyopop was bringing as many Asian comics to Western bookshops as it could. It tells the story of Deshwitat L. Rudbich, a 17th-century vampire who was sealed away by a powerful Light Magician named Kalutika, and who returns in the modern world to take his revenge.

We have a strong run of Tokyopop's Rebirth volumes, which is why it ranks so highly in our stock. Here is our guide to the series and the volumes worth knowing. Browse our Rebirth books.

Manhwa, not manga

Although Rebirth sits on our manga shelves, it is a Korean comic, or manhwa. Lee Kang-woo created and drew it under the pen name Woo, and it ran from 1998 to 2010 with Daiwon C.I., finishing with 26 volumes in Korea. Manhwa often reads left to right, like Western comics, and Rebirth's English edition was part of the first big wave of Korean comics in the West. It also found readers elsewhere in Europe: a Swedish edition began in 2005.

The story: three hundred years of revenge

Deshwitat was a vampire in the 17th century, until the Light Magician Kalutika betrayed him and sealed him in limbo. When he is finally freed in the present day, he sets out to find Kalutika and make him pay. Along the way he picks up unlikely allies and discovers that the world, and the forces of light and dark, have changed a great deal while he was away.

The series mixes gothic horror, sword-and-sorcery action and plenty of humour, with big, explosive battles drawn in Woo's sharp, energetic style.

From page to screen

Rebirth has not been adapted as an anime, but it shares a lot of DNA with the vampire anime of its era. Fans of series like Vampire Knight and Hellsing will recognise its mix of gothic style and action. In recent years, Korean webtoons such as Solo Leveling have shown how far manhwa has come since Rebirth's day.

Why Rebirth matters

For many readers in the 2000s, Rebirth was their first manhwa, and it remains a nostalgic favourite. It is a reminder of the Tokyopop era, when bookshop manga sections were filled with Korean, Japanese and original English-language comics side by side.

Where to start reading Rebirth

Start at Vol. 1. We currently stock a long run of Tokyopop's volumes, including Vol. 5, Vol. 10 and Vol. 11.

Rebirth manga & anime timeline

Key characters in Rebirth

Curiosities collectors should know

Rebirth volumes worth knowing

• Vol. 1

  Rebirth Vol. 1

  2026 · Tokyopop

  Deshwitat is freed and his hunt for Kalutika begins.

  View our copy
• Vol. 5

  Rebirth Vol. 5

  2026 · Tokyopop

  The story's cast of allies and enemies grows.

  View our copy
• Vol. 10

  Rebirth Vol. 10

  2026 · Tokyopop

  A mid-series turning point in Deshwitat's quest.

  View our copy
• Vol. 18

  Rebirth Vol. 18

  2026 · Tokyopop

  A later volume as the long feud reaches new heights.

  Browse our Rebirth manga

Rebirth covers through the years

A look at the covers across the English-language run. Tap a cover to find it in our shop.

Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 3 Vol. 4 Vol. 5 Vol. 6 Vol. 7 Vol. 8 Vol. 9 Vol. 10 Vol. 11 Vol. 12 Vol. 13 Vol. 14 Vol. 15 Vol. 16 Vol. 17 Vol. 18 Special

Rebirth on our shelves right now

Here are some of the volumes we currently have in stock. Every copy is checked and graded before it is listed.

Vol. 1 Vol. 5 Vol. 10 Vol. 11

You can also browse every Rebirth book we stock.

Frequently asked questions about Rebirth

Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Rebirth books of your own you would like to sell? Email us at contact@siomiccomics.com. Rebirth and all related characters are trademarks of Lee Kang-woo / Daiwon C.I.. Cover images are shown for reference.