Where to begin reading the Black Butler manga after season 4? Explained

The final episode of Black Butler season 4 has generated much discussion among fans due to its cliffhanger ending. As a result, fans are eager to learn about the upcoming developments in the story. The recent season covered the Public School Arc from Yana Toboso’s dark fantasy manga series and concluded by hinting at the next major arc.

Despite the lack of an official announcement for a sequel, fans who only follow the anime will have to patiently await the resolution of the finale’s mysterious conclusion. However, for those eager to find out immediately, they can turn to the manga and begin at chapter 86, which marks the start of the Emerald Witch Arc.

Reading Order for Black Butler Manga

Fans who wish to read the manga after finishing season 4 of Black Butler can start from chapter 86, as this is where the final episode, titled His Butler, Taking Off, ended. The episode was adapted from the first few pages of Yana Toboso’s original manga, making it a seamless transition for viewers to continue the story in its original form.

Notably, Cloverworks has done an excellent job of faithfully depicting the crucial moments from the manga in this season, which encompassed chapters 67-86 and adapted the Public School Arc. As previously mentioned, the highly anticipated sequel concluded with a cliffhanger, teasing the upcoming Emerald Witch Arc.

Ciel Phantomhive, as seen in the anime (Image via Cloverworks)

During the closing scenes of the episode, two noblemen in Germany were seen pursuing a fox with hounds that had escaped into the nearby forest. One of the nobles mentions a dark rumor about the forest being cursed, but they dismiss it and continue their search within the forest.

As they continue to track the fox’s path, they come across an elderly woman who cautions them about a curse and urges them to reconsider. Despite her warnings, the nobles disregard her words. Eventually, they find the hounds they had sent after the fox, barking at something in the distance.

The werewolf, as seen in the anime (Image via Cloverworks)

Upon further examination, the nobles come across a repulsive being that bears a striking resemblance to a werewolf, emerging from the depths of the forest. The scene then shifts to the moment when the creature turns its gaze towards the camera.

The Emerald Witch Arc, starting with this particular segment, will serve as the foundation for the upcoming manga adventure of Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian.

Where to Find the Black Butler Manga?

Sebastian Michaelis, as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

Yana Toboso’s popular manga series Black Butler has been continuously published in Square Enix’s shonen manga magazine, Monthly GFantasy, since 2006. Currently, there have been 213 chapters released, with Yen Press handling the English publication and releasing 33 volumes to date. The most recent volume was released on June 18, 2024.

For those who are fans of the Black Butler anime and are interested in reading the manga, they can easily purchase physical or digital versions of the volumes from various sources such as Amazon, Flipkart, Barnes & Noble, or local retail bookstores. Another option for accessing the manga digitally is through Comixology.

What occurred in the fourth season of Black Butler?

The most recent season revolved around Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis as they delved into a peculiar situation at Weston College, where multiple students had gone missing. In response to the Queen’s summons, Ciel assumed the identity of a student at Weston College, while Sebastian posed as a teacher.

The school’s rules were found to be under the control of the Principal, who was often absent. The Four Prefects, known as the backbone of the school, were responsible for upholding its moral principles and beliefs. In due course, Ciel gained the approval of the Prefects and crossed paths with the Principal, who was revealed to be Undertaker.

Ciel and Sebastian, as seen in season 4 (Image via CloverWorks)

After an investigation, it was discovered that the missing students, whom Ciel and Sebastian had been desperately searching for, had been murdered by the Prefects for bullying their peers. In order to conceal this dark truth, they enlisted the aid of the Aurora Society to revive the deceased.

After capturing the Four Prefects, Ciel and Sebastian had them expelled from the institution. Once the case was resolved, the young Phantomhive and his butler returned to their manor where they completed tasks for their staff. The fourth season of Black Butler left viewers on a cliffhanger, hinting at a potential sequel.