Vagabond, after being on hiatus for nearly 9 years, has truly tested the loyalty of its fans who eagerly await the continuation of the series.
Since 2015, fans of "Dogs: Bullets & Carnage" have been left in suspense, eager for resolution after a major cliffhanger.
For over 21 years, "X by Clamp" has been on a break, much to the curiosity of fans who are left wondering how the narrative will ultimately unfold.
Long breaks are an unavoidable aspect of the demanding manga industry, yet these ten series have pushed their readers' patience to the limit.
Many manga enthusiasts are familiar with the frustration of their beloved series taking a short break, but nothing compares to the agonizing waits endured by fans of the mangas that have experienced the longest hiatuses. These breaks, often triggered by factors such as health concerns or cancellations, have tested the loyalty of devoted followers and shattered the resolve of others, as they anxiously await the next installment. However, for the resilient few who weather the extended hiatus, the potential continuation of the narrative can be a thrilling read.
It's worth noting that not all series on hiatus make a comeback. Sometimes, creators lose interest in the tale or succumb to debilitating health issues. Tragically, some creators pass away, leaving their manga unfinished, unless another team steps in to carry on the story, as seen with Berserk's new creative team. Mostly, in such cases, the manga simply concludes. Therefore, series like "High School of the Dead," which released its final chapter in 2010, won't be considered on hiatus. Nevertheless, numerous extended breaks aren't attributed to the creator's demise, and some even manage to resume after decades.
Among these, "Vagabond" stands out. Its hiatus, spanning from 2015 to the present, has lasted nine years, testing the patience of fans of Takehito Inoue's masterful work.
Vagabond, created by Takehiko Inoue, stands as one of the most renowned manga that has been on a prolonged hiatus. This series, centered around the historical figure Musashi Miyamoto and his battles through Sengoku-era Japan, boasts compelling characters and exquisite artwork. However, its creator seems disinterested in wrapping up the story in the near future. Although one of Inoue's other works, Real, resumed after a five-year break, there's still hope for Vagabond's return. Nevertheless, fans have been eagerly waiting for almost nine years since the last chapter was published in May 2015, anticipating the continuation of Musashi's journey.
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9 Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, a Seinen manga crafted by Shirow Miwa, revolves around four morally ambiguous protagonists who converge in a gritty futuristic city. The setting and characters are fascinating, but it's the action sequences that truly captivate. Regrettably, the series went on hiatus in March 2015, and despite Miwa's expressed interest in resuming it in 2017, no new chapters have surfaced. This hiatus is particularly frustrating as the manga concluded on a major cliffhanger, leaving fans in dire need of closure.
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Glass Mask, a longstanding series initiated by Suzue Miuchi in 1976, traces the journey of Maya, an aspiring actress aiming for the lead role in "The Crimson Goddess." Her path crosses with Ayumi, a worthy rival and complex character. Disappointingly, their engaging stories halted in October 2012 when the manga went on an indefinite hiatus. Although "The Crimson Goddess" was adapted for the stage in 2020, no further manga chapters have been released.
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Glass Mask is currently not available in English.
- Magic Kaito
Created by Gosho Aoyama, Magic Kaito follows the magician and thief, Kaito, on his various adventures. This series presents a unique case when tracking its hiatuses. Since 1998, the series has gone through intermittent breaks, with the longest lasting from 1994 to 2007. Some characters from this series have occasionally appeared in Aoyama's more popular Case Closed series, providing fans with some content even during the hiatuses. However, Aoyama has clarified that despite these crossovers, Case Closed and Magic Kaito exist in separate continuities. Regrettably, Magic Kaito is not available in English at this time.
- Bastard!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy
Bastard!!, set in a brutal and dystopian world, is an iconic dark fantasy series. It revolves around the reincarnation of the wizard Dark Schneider who strives to prevent the resurrection of the demon Anthrasax. Although its creator, Kazushi Hagiwara, recently redrew the manga's original one-shot in 2023, the main series has been on hiatus since 2010, with no clear indication of a return. Nevertheless, a recent anime adaptation indicates continued interest in the series, giving hope that the manga's hiatus may soon end. Bastard!! is currently out of print in English.
- Nana
Nana, created by Ai Yazawa, has been on hiatus since 2009, a break that has lasted for 15 years.
Nana tells a down-to-earth tale of two women, both named Nana, who fatefully find themselves sharing a roof. Over nine years of consistent serialization, creator Ai Yazawa documented their individual odysseys: one Nana pursuing a music career and the other searching for love. However, Yazawa's health issues forced her to put the manga on an indefinite hiatus in 2009. Despite this setback, Nana maintains its popularity, and Yazawa even released new art for the series in a 2015 calendar. Now, almost 15 years into the hiatus, fans eagerly await a satisfying conclusion to Nana's journey.
X, a manga crafted by the renowned Clamp creative team, revolves around Kamui, a young man returning home during the final days of 1999 as an apocalypse looms. Kamui battles to preserve the world, even as he clashes with his former childhood friends. In 2003, the magazine serializing X refused to publish Clamp's intended ending, sending the series into an indefinite hiatus. Though Clamp has expressed a desire to wrap up the series, over two decades have passed without resolution, leaving fans in suspense.
Hades Project Zeorymer, a 1980s mecha series by Chimi Moriwo, follows Masaki, the son of a scientist, as he strives to keep his father's invention from falling into the wrong hands. While this premise may not captivate modern anime fans as much as it did in its time, it was a groundbreaking concept back then. Disappointingly, Moriwo couldn't initially deliver a satisfying conclusion. Fortunately, in 2007, 23 years after the original run ended, Moriwo finally penned the story's finale.
In 2008, Moriwo embarked on a sequel titled "Project Zeorymer Omega" alongside artist Watari U. Regrettably, neither the primary series nor its sequel are accessible in English.
"Stop!! Hibari-kun!" stands as a remarkable instance of a manga resuming after a prolonged pause. This romantic comedy, focusing on the adventures of Kosaku and Hibari - a notable early representation of a transgender character in manga - was serialized in the early 1980s. However, creator Hisashi Eguchi struggled to maintain the demanding weekly chapter releases, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion. Fortunately, for a 2010 rerelease, Eguchi crafted and appended the intended ending, 27 years after the original conclusion. It's worth noting that "Stop!! Hibari-kun!" remains unavailable in English.
Another intriguing case is "Otoko-Zaka," a combat-themed manga by Masami Kurumada, renowned for the iconic "Saint Seiya." Serialized briefly from 1984 to 1985, the series was later revived by Kurumada in 2014, following a nearly three-decade hiatus. Kurumada's dedication to the series is admirable, working on it for an additional 9 years before finally concluding it in 2023. This comeback offers a ray of hope to fans eagerly waiting for the resumption of other long-paused series. Sadly, "Otoko-Zaka" is also not accessible in English at present.