The legendary manga series One Piece has officially crossed the 600 million copies mark in global circulation, matching the lifetime sales of Superman and setting a new standard for the comic book industry. This historic achievement comes with the release of Volume 114 and places creator Eiichiro Oda among the best-selling authors of all time.
The official One Piece staff accounts confirmed the news on March 3, 2026, announcing that the long-running pirate adventure had surpassed 600 million copies printed and distributed worldwide . This number includes both domestic sales in Japan and international releases across dozens of countries.
What makes this milestone particularly remarkable is the timeline. Superman, the iconic DC Comics superhero who debuted in 1938, took nearly 90 years and over 18,000 individual comic issues to reach approximately 600 million copies . One Piece accomplished the same feat in less than three decades, with its first chapter appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine back in 1997 .
The math tells a powerful story. While Superman built its legacy across almost a full century of continuous publication, Eiichiro Oda’s creation has achieved parity in roughly one-third of that time. This comparison has sparked widespread discussion among fans and industry observers about the changing landscape of global comic readership.
How One Piece Reached This Historic Sales Number
Of the 600 million total copies, approximately 450 million have been sold in Japan alone, with the remaining 150 million coming from international markets . These numbers reflect the series’ massive popularity in its home country and its growing reach across the globe.
The release of Volume 114 served as the catalyst for crossing this threshold . Each new One Piece volume consistently generates massive sales, and the 114th installment proved no exception. The series has now published over 1,100 individual chapters collected into more than 100 volumes, maintaining a dedicated readership that spans multiple generations .
This achievement also pushes Eiichiro Oda higher on the list of best-selling authors of all time. He currently ranks eighth worldwide, standing alongside literary giants like J.K. Rowling, whose Harry Potter series has sold between 600 and 650 million copies . Oda is the only Japanese author in the top ten and one of very few non-English writers to reach this level of commercial success .
For comparison, the late Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball, has sold approximately 438 million copies across his various works . This places Oda in a league of his own within the manga industry.
Eiichiro Oda’s Underwater Treasure Video Celebrates the Record
To mark this monumental occasion, Eiichiro Oda released a special video that has captured the imagination of fans worldwide . In the footage, a figure dressed in black—presumably Oda himself—writes down the true nature of the One Piece treasure on a piece of paper featuring the series’ logo.
The video shows the paper being placed inside a special probe, which is then lowered more than 650 meters beneath the ocean surface at an undisclosed location . The device contains a tracker, and Oda states that only he knows its exact position. The treasure chest will remain underwater until the manga reaches its conclusion, at which point the document will be retrieved and the secret finally revealed to the public .
This elaborate project received technical supervision from researchers at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, along with the Strategic Innovation Promotion Program . These teams ensured the safe deployment of the probe while assessing potential environmental impacts on marine ecosystems.
The video has generated massive online discussion, with fans speculating about what Oda might have written and whether this means the series finale is approaching. Some interpret the gesture as Oda’s playful way of confirming that he has already planned the ending, while others see it as a publicity stunt designed to build excitement for the final saga.
One Piece Now Leads as Best-Selling Comic Series Globally
With this announcement, many outlets are declaring One Piece the best-selling comic series of all time, surpassing Superman in the process . While precise sales figures for Superman are difficult to verify given the character’s eight-decade history across thousands of issues, industry estimates have long placed the Man of Steel around the 600 million mark.
The significance extends beyond simple numbers. Superman represents the pinnacle of Western comics, a character who defined the superhero genre and became a global cultural icon. One Piece, by contrast, emerged from Japan’s manga tradition and tells a continuous, serialized story following a single protagonist and his crew.
The comparison highlights the growing influence of manga in the global entertainment landscape. Streaming platforms, expanded anime distribution, and successful live-action adaptations have introduced Japanese comics to audiences that might never have encountered them before . One Piece has benefited enormously from this trend, attracting new readers even as longtime fans continue following Luffy’s journey.
Global Character Poll Launches Alongside Sales Announcement
Coinciding with the 600 million copies announcement, the official One Piece team has launched the second worldwide character popularity contest . This global vote invites fans from every country to select their favorite characters from the series’ extensive cast.
The poll includes more than 1,500 characters, ranging from main crew members to minor villains and supporting figures who have appeared throughout the story’s long run . Voting opened on March 3, 2026, and will continue until June 11, 2026.
Throughout the voting period, temporary rankings will be updated regularly so fans can track how their favorites are performing . The final results will be revealed at One Piece Day 2026, the annual celebration event scheduled for August .
Characters who achieve high rankings may receive special projects or new illustrations from the creative team . The first global poll, held previously, generated significant excitement and produced some surprising results, so expectations are high for this second edition.
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One Piece Anime Prepares for Elbaph Arc Premiere in April
Beyond the manga milestone, the One Piece anime is gearing up for a major transition. The long-running animated adaptation will begin the Elbaph arc on April 5, 2026 .
This new story chapter follows the Straw Hat Pirates as they depart Egghead Island and set course for Elbaph, the legendary land of giants . The arc has been highly anticipated by manga readers, and anime-only fans will finally get to see this iconic location brought to life.
The Elbaph arc represents the continuation of the Final Saga, the last major story segment of One Piece. Creator Eiichiro Oda has stated that the series is moving toward its conclusion, though no specific end date has been announced .
Earlier this year at Jump Festa 2026, Oda confirmed that Laugh Tale—the island where the One Piece treasure is hidden—will be revealed sometime in 2026 . This announcement, combined with the sales record and the upcoming anime arc, makes this an exceptionally busy period for the franchise.
The anime adaptation has been running continuously for years, with over 1,000 episodes already broadcast. The Elbaph arc promises to deliver the high-quality animation and emotional storytelling that fans have come to expect, while advancing the plot toward its eventual climax.
For the latest updates on One Piece sales records, anime release schedules, and character poll results, keep visiting VvipTimes for accurate and timely entertainment news from around the world.
