The Fable
Edit
What would you like to edit?
 

Read Manga
Add to My List

Alternative Titles

Japanese: ザ・ファブル
English: The Fable
More titles

Information

Type: Manga
Volumes: 22
Chapters: 240
Status: Finished
Published: Nov 1, 2014 to Nov 18, 2019
Genres: Award Winning Award Winning, Comedy Comedy, Suspense Suspense
Themes: Adult Cast Adult Cast, Organized Crime Organized Crime
Demographic: Seinen Seinen
Serialization: Young Magazine (Weekly)
Authors: Minami, Katsuhisa (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.561 (scored by 1971519,715 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #1202
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #287
Members: 63,751
Favorites: 2,051

Available At

Kodansha
Kodansha USA
Official Site

Resources

icon
Wikipedia
icon
Wikipedia
Top
  >  
Manga
  >  
The Fable
8.56
Ranked #120Popularity #287Members 63,751
MangaYoung Magazine (Weekly)Minami, Katsuhisa (Story & Art)
Add to My List
Volumes: /22
Chapters: /240
Manga Store
Read Sample

Edit
Synopsis

Fable is a legendary hitman who has completed numerous jobs for a variety of clients. After concluding his latest assignment, the number of people he has recently killed becomes too high, and Fable is ordered by his boss to lay low for a year. He is suggested that having to adapt to life as an ordinary citizen might prove a valuable experience for his future work.

Fable is to be accompanied by the woman who acts as his driver, and the two will assume new identities as siblings. However, their boss warns them that they will both face a deadly punishment if Fable kills anyone during his time off. Thus begins Akira and Youko Satou's joint one-year sabbatical from the underworld.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit
Background

The Fable won the 41st Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 2017. The series ranked 19th and 14th in the 2019 and 2020 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! for the Male Readers division, respectively.

The series was published digitally in English by Kodansha USA from April 12, 2022, to January 9, 2024, and in print as 2-in-1 omnibus volumes since April 9, 2024.

The manga was adapted into a Japanese live-action film that premiered on June 21, 2019. A sequel film was released on June 18, 2021.
Edit
Sequel (Manga)
The Fable: The Second Contact
Adaptation (TV)
The Fable
Side Story:

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 - THE ISEKAI presented by KADOKAWA
MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 - Twilight Frontiers Presented by Frontier Works
Check out colleize ー big catalog, rare items and worldwide shipping! 🛒

More characters
Characters

 Satou, Akira
Main
Satou, Youko
Supporting
Yamaoka
Supporting
Ebihara, Takeshi
Supporting
Jackal Tomioka
Supporting
Shimizu, Misaki
Supporting
Kuroshio, Ryou
Supporting
Matsu
Supporting
Yuukari, Shinobu
Supporting
Saba, Hinako
Supporting

Reviews

Write review
23 Recommended
3 Mixed Feelings
0 Not Recommended
All reviews (26)
Aug 8, 2025
Ciezul
Recommended
The Fable is one of its kind. The natural flow of humor made me chuckle even in some serious situations, which kept the reading experience very engaging.

Characters are very important in a comedy manga. Without their quirks, some jokes may never land with the audience. And given The Fable is a seinen manga, it has certain jokes that might not be well-received by everyone. Yet, thanks to its quirky cast, it was still a good read all around.

And then comes the character growth of Satou which was genuinely entertaining.

I also loved the dynamics of the characters surrounding Satou. Although I was a bit underwhelmed by ...
Read more
Open
Gift
Report
Jul 29, 2025
platos_
Recommended
Never really expected much reading this, but this is one of the few mangas that have made me laugh after reading manga for so long. The humor is well done and unexpected. You won’t get much from reading the first few chapters tbh if you’re thinking of trying it out; anyways, great manga, definitely read it.

The art styles are really good, more or less realistic maybe? They fit the story like a glove.
Each and every side character has a lot of depth to them that you don’t find as much nowadays and are hilarious as well.

The story also highlights how the world ...
Read more
Open
Gift
Report
Jan 26, 2024
darkpixelftw
Mixed Feelings
TL:DR
Unexpectedly light-hearted tale of the a hitman trying to become a normal person - but he needs to escape the past first. This is more of a slice of life (albeit a slice of a very strange life) than action or comedy. However, this is very compelling for a certain kind of person.

Description
Fable is a legendary hitman who has completed numerous jobs for a variety of clients. After concluding his latest assignment, the number of people he has recently killed becomes too high, and Fable is ordered by his boss to lay low for a year. He is suggested that having to adapt to life ...
Read more
Open
Gift
Report

More stacks

Interest Stacks
Best-Selling Manga (101-150)
by AveryRhodes2003
49 Entries · 81 Restacks
Underrated & Hidden Gems
by ManicPixieTerror
48 Entries · 311 Restacks
Essential & Elite Manga
by ManicPixieTerror
50 Entries · 463 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations


More news
Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for December. Week 1: December 2 - 8 Anime Releases Azumanga Daiou The Animation (Azumanga Daioh: ...read more

Dec 1, 9:50 AM by Aiimee | Discuss (1 comment)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for February

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for February. Week 1: February 4 - 10 Anime Releases Mato Seihei no Slave (Chained Soldier) Comple...read more

Feb 1, 3:29 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (2 comments)


More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: The Fable Chapter 166 Discussion
otakuweek - Nov 24		 1 repliesby bohwrrzz »»
Nov 26, 1:28 PM
Poll: The Fable Chapter 165 Discussion
Ranxomare - Apr 19, 2023		 1 repliesby otakuweek »»
Nov 17, 8:48 AM
Poll: The Fable Chapter 164 Discussion
otakuweek - Oct 13		 0 repliesby otakuweek »»
Oct 13, 8:37 AM
Poll: The Fable Chapter 163 Discussion
Ranxomare - Apr 19, 2023		 1 repliesby otakuweek »»
Sep 28, 4:53 PM
Poll: The Fable Chapter 109 Discussion
Ranxomare - Apr 19, 2023		 2 repliesby GT1Studios »»
Sep 26, 1:31 PM

MoreTop Anime

  1. 1 Sousou no Frieren
  2. 2 Chainsaw Man Movie: Reze-hen
  3. 3 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  4. 4 Steins;Gate
  5. 5 Kingdom 6th Season

MoreTop Airing Anime

  1. 1 Kingdom 6th Season
  2. 2 Boku no Hero Academia: Final Season
  3. 3 One Piece
  4. 4 Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray Part 2
  5. 5 Chiikawa

MoreMost Popular Characters

  1. 1 Lamperouge, Lelouch
  2. 2 Monkey D., Luffy
  3. 3 Levi
  4. 4 Lawliet, L
  5. 5 Roronoa, Zoro