Shoko Komi is the most beautiful, elegant girl at her high school, and everyone is too intimidated to talk to her. What nobody realises is that she has extreme social anxiety and can barely speak. Only her kind, ordinary classmate Hitohito Tadano notices, and the two of them begin communicating through a chalkboard. Her goal? To make 100 friends.

Komi Can't Communicate is one of the most stocked comedies in our shop, and we have a long run of Viz's volumes. Here is our guide to the manga, anime and live-action drama, and the volumes worth reading. Browse our Komi Can't Communicate manga.

Where Komi came from

Tomohito Oda first published Komi as a one-shot, and it became a full series in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from May 18, 2016. Over nearly nine years and 37 volumes, Oda built a huge cast of eccentric students, each with an exaggerated quirk, around a heroine whose struggles many readers recognised in themselves.

The story: 100 friends, one chapter at a time

The chapters are short and gentle. Komi tries to buy a drink, answer the phone, join a club or go to a festival, and Tadano, along with the chaotic, gender-ambiguous Najimi Osana who seems to be friends with everyone, helps her through. Each new friend adds a new comic personality to the class.

As the series goes on, Komi slowly grows more confident, and her relationship with Tadano develops into a sweet, slow-burn romance that carries the story to its conclusion.

From page to screen: the anime and drama

OLM's anime brought Komi to a global audience when Netflix began streaming it weekly from October 21, 2021. Its soft colour palette and visual gags, like the chalkboard conversations, translated the manga perfectly to screen. An eight-episode live-action drama also aired on NHK General TV.

Tomohito Oda's gentle touch

Oda handles Komi's communication disorder with humour but also real care. The comedy never comes at Komi's expense, and many readers with social anxiety have said that the series made them feel understood.

Why Komi matters

Komi has sold over 16 million copies and became one of the most-loved school comedies of its era. It is a great example of how manga can turn a personal struggle into something warm and funny.

Where to start reading Komi

Start with Vol. 1. The chapters are short and perfect for dipping in and out. We stock a spread of the run, from Vol. 7 to Vol. 35.

Komi Can't Communicate manga & anime timeline

Key characters in Komi Can't Communicate

Curiosities collectors should know

Komi Can't Communicate volumes worth knowing

• Vol. 1

  Komi Can't Communicate Vol. 1

  2019 · Viz Media

  Komi and Tadano meet and the friendship notebook begins.

  View our copy
• Vol. 2

  Komi Can't Communicate Vol. 2

  2019 · Viz Media

  Najimi Osana stirs up chaos and Komi's circle starts to grow.

  Browse our Komi Can't Communicate manga
• Vol. 13

  Komi Can't Communicate Vol. 13

  2021 · Viz Media

  A mid-series volume where Komi's confidence clearly starts to blossom.

  Browse our Komi Can't Communicate manga
• Vol. 37

  Komi Can't Communicate Vol. 37

  2026 · Viz Media

  The final volume, closing Komi and Tadano's story.

  View our copy

Komi Can't Communicate 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. 5 Vol. 6 Vol. 7 Vol. 8 Vol. 10 Vol. 11 Vol. 12 Vol. 13 Vol. 15 Vol. 16 Vol. 17 Vol. 18 Vol. 20 Vol. 21 Vol. 22 Vol. 23 Vol. 25 Vol. 26 Vol. 27 Vol. 28 Vol. 30 Vol. 31 Vol. 32 Vol. 33 Vol. 35 Vol. 36 Vol. 37

Komi Can't Communicate 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. 7 Vol. 12 Vol. 20 Vol. 35 Vol. 37

You can also browse every Komi Can't Communicate book we stock.

Frequently asked questions about Komi Can't Communicate

Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Komi Can't Communicate books of your own you would like to sell? Email us at contact@siomiccomics.com. Komi Can't Communicate and all related characters are trademarks of Tomohito Oda / Shogakukan. Cover images are shown for reference.