Few manga complete sets command the kind of cult attention that Air Gear does among collectors of mid-2000s shonen titles. Securing all 37 volumes in one shot is a rare opportunity — the series has been out of consistent print since its 2012 conclusion, and complete-run sets in Japanese first editions are increasingly scarce on the secondary market. For collectors building a definitive Oh!Great library, or fans who want to read the original text the way it was first published, a full 1–37 set represents the endgame purchase.
Japanese-edition manga differs from international releases in ways that matter to serious collectors. The paper stock, cover finish, dust jackets on tankōbon editions, and original right-to-left reading orientation are all part of the authentic experience. Kodansha’s Shōnen Magazine Comics imprint uses a specific matte cover treatment, and color pages — often removed or recolored in translated editions — remain intact in the originals. We have handled dozens of Kodansha sets over the years, and the difference in print quality between Japanese and licensed overseas editions is immediately visible side by side.
About This Item
This listing covers the complete 37-volume run of Air Gear (エア・ギア), written and illustrated by Oh!Great (pen name of Ito Ogure), published by Kodansha under the Shōnen Magazine Comics label. The series began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in November 2002, with the first tankōbon volume released in 2003. The final volume, number 37, was published in July 2012, bringing the series to a definitive close after nearly a decade of weekly publication. This set is pre-owned condition, shipped from Japan, and was carefully inspected before listing.
The protagonist Itsuki “Ikki” Minami leads readers through a world built around “Air Treks” — motorized inline skates that enable acrobatic urban flight. The artwork is widely cited as some of Oh!Great’s most refined work, blending hyper-detailed mechanical illustration with the fluid character design that made earlier titles like Tenjho Tenge famous.
Key Details
- Manufacturer: Kodansha (Shōnen Magazine Comics imprint)
- Series/Franchise: Air Gear by Oh!Great (Ito Ogure)
- Type: Media & Books — Complete Manga Set
- Volumes: 1 through 37 (complete run)
- Original Publication: 2003–2012
- Condition: Pre-owned condition, inspected before shipping
- Origin: Japan
The Air Gear Franchise: Why Collectors Care
Air Gear ran for 357 chapters across 37 volumes in Weekly Shōnen Magazine, one of Kodansha’s flagship publications. According to Kodansha’s official sales reporting, the series surpassed 25 million copies in circulation during its serialization peak, making it one of the best-selling Shōnen Magazine titles of its era. The 2006 anime adaptation by Toei Animation introduced the property to international audiences, and an OVA series followed in 2010–2011, adapting story arcs the TV anime left unfinished.
Oh!Great, designed and illustrated the entire run himself without an assistant team for major sequences — a notable feat given the mechanical complexity of the Air Treks. His distinctive style, combining ukiyo-e–influenced line work with Western comic dynamism, has been the subject of art books and museum retrospectives. According to the official Kodansha Comics archive (https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/), the series remains catalogued but has had limited reprint runs since 2015, contributing to scarcity of clean first-printing sets.
Rarity and Value Factors
Several factors push complete Air Gear sets up the desirability ladder. First printings (初版) of early volumes (1–10) are noticeably harder to find in good condition because they circulated heavily before the series achieved its mid-run popularity peak. The later volumes (30–37) are scarcer in absolute terms because print runs shrank as the series approached its conclusion. Obi (the paper sash wrapped around the cover) are almost never preserved on used sets — a complete-with-obi run can command 2–3x the price of an obi-less set. In my experience, finding all 37 volumes with consistent edge color and unfaded spines is the single hardest condition factor to satisfy.
Looking for this item? Every item at HD Toys Store Japan is:
- Shipped directly from Japan with tracking
- Carefully inspected for condition and authenticity
- Pre-owned condition documented with detailed photos
Collector’s Guide: What to Look For
When evaluating a pre-owned Air Gear complete set, condition assessment goes beyond glancing at the covers. Japanese tankōbon use a softer paper than many Western trade paperbacks, which means yellowing (yake) at the page edges is common in books over a decade old. Some yellowing is expected and does not necessarily reduce collector value — what matters is whether it is uniform across the set and whether the interior pages remain legible and unstained. We inspected this set for spine cracking, page warping from humidity, and any writing or stamps on the inside covers (a common marker of ex-library or ex-rental shop stock).
Pay close attention to the spines. Long-running shonen sets are typically displayed spine-out on shelves, and faded spines from sun exposure are the most common condition flaw. If you plan to display the set, consistency across all 37 spines matters more than any single volume’s pristineness. Also check for the original dust jackets — Kodansha tankōbon ship with printed paper covers, not separate jackets, but the covers themselves can be removed and replaced over time, so verify the cover art alignment matches the binding.
Condition Checklist
- Spine fade uniformity: Check that all 37 spines show similar coloring, indicating consistent storage
- Page yellowing: Expected for 2003–2012 paper stock; verify it is even, not patchy from water damage
- Cover wear: Inspect corner bumps, edge rubbing, and any tears at the spine head
- Interior markings: Look for prior owner names, rental shop stamps, or library markings
- Obi (sash): Rarely present on used sets — a major bonus when included
- Color pages: Confirm the early-volume color insert pages are present and not torn
Price Guide
Current secondary market expectations for complete Air Gear 1–37 sets in Japanese: heavily-read condition with spine fade typically sells in the $120–180 range. Good readable condition with minor wear sits around $200–280. Clean sets with minimal fade and intact color pages reach $300–400. Complete sets with original obi on most volumes, in near-mint condition, can exceed $500 — though these are increasingly rare. The biggest single price factor is spine condition; uniform, unfaded spines on a long set are surprisingly hard to source.
Similar Items Worth Exploring
Collectors who appreciate Air Gear often pursue Oh!Great’s other major works. Tenjho Tenge (1997–2010, Shueisha, 22 volumes) is the artist’s breakthrough series and a natural companion piece. Bakuon Rettō and the more recent Itsuwaribito Iroha show different sides of his style. For collectors of Kodansha sports/action shonen of the same era, Samurai Deeper Kyo, School Rumble, and Negima! complete runs share shelf appeal and similar print-quality characteristics. Art book collectors should look for Oh!Great Illustrations: Air Gear, the official artbook released by Kodansha in 2008 collecting color pages and unpublished concept work. Browse more collector guides on our blog at hd-bodyscience.com for deeper dives into Kodansha and shonen manga collecting.
Why Buy Japanese Collectibles from Japan?
Japanese collector culture treats books as long-term objects. Tankōbon are typically stored upright, away from sunlight, and many collectors use plastic book covers (book cover film) from day one. This preservation ethic means used Japanese manga sets sourced domestically in Japan generally arrive in better condition than the same volumes that circulated through Western second-hand markets. Additionally, first-printing variants, obi sashes, and bookstore-exclusive bonus inserts are essentially impossible to find outside Japan. Specialist Japanese resellers verify authenticity, operate under second-hand dealer licensing (this listing operates under Tokyo license No. 308942319801), and understand the print-edition nuances that matter to serious collectors.
Summary
A complete 37-volume Air Gear set is one of those collector targets that gets harder to secure each year. The combination of Oh!Great’s distinctive art, Kodansha’s quality print run, and a finite supply of clean Japanese first-edition sets makes this a meaningful addition to any serious shonen library. Whether you are reading it cover to cover or shelving it as a complete display piece, the satisfaction of holding the full original run is worth the search. Contact our team if you have questions about authenticity or specific volume conditions, and refer to our returns policy for inspection guarantees.
By Kenji Tanaka — Last reviewed: January 2025. Published: January 2025.
Explore related collections
Never Miss New Arrivals from Japan
We add new pre-owned figures, toys, and collectibles every week. Sign up to get notified about new items, collector guides, and exclusive updates.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
コメント