What is overlord manga?

Overlord is a popular manga series adapted from the light novel series of the same name written by Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by so-bin. The story follows Ainz Ooal Gown (formerly known as Momonga), a player in the virtual reality MMORPG Yggdrasil, which is about to be shut down. He decides to remain logged in until the very end, but instead of being logged out, he finds himself transported to a new world with the game's settings altered, and the NPCs now possessing sentience.

Ainz, now physically manifested as his powerful skeletal avatar, resolves to uncover the mysteries of this new world and search for any other players who might have been transported alongside him. To achieve this, he maintains his guild's name, Ainz Ooal Gown, and aims to establish a legendary reputation. The manga chronicles his rise to power, his interactions with the inhabitants of the new world, and his struggles to maintain his human emotions while embodying an undead overlord.

The series blends elements of dark fantasy, isekai (transported to another world), and strategy. Key themes include power dynamics, the morality of a protagonist with immense power, and the complexities of ruling and building a nation. Ainz's internal conflict, torn between his old human self and his increasingly detached overlord persona, is a central element of the narrative. He is usually aided by Albedo and Demiurge in his decisions.