The gag manga underwent several title changes as it followed Tanaka through every stage of his life: Kōkō Afro Tanaka (High School Afro Tanaka), Chūtai Afro Tanaka (Dropout Afro Tanaka), Jōkyō Afro Tanaka (Tokyo-Bound Afro Tanaka), Sasurai Afro Tanaka (Wandering Afro Tanaka), and Shiawase Afro Tanaka (Happy Afro Tanaka).
Noritsuke ended the Shiawase Afro Tanaka manga in the same issue.
Sasurai Afro Tanaka ended in 2013, and Noritsuke launched Shiawase Afro Tanaka in 2015.
Shogakukan published the ninth volume of Shiawase Afro Tanaka on March 2. The Jōkyō Afro Tanaka story received a live-action film adaptation in 2012.