Attack on Titan is easily one of the biggest dark shōnen manga ever made. Hajime Isayama’s renowned manga became a worldwide phenomenon with its brutal action, shocking plot twists, and powerful themes of war, freedom, and revenge. It helped redefine what shōnen manga could be and inspired many series that followed. But for many fans, few series push the genre further than the long-running masterpiece, Hunter x Hunter.
In July 2026, Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter made a comeback after a two-year hiatus. Togashi, one of the manga industry’s most respected creators, is also known for YuYu Hakusho, but it is Hunter x Hunter that has become famous for its long breaks and highly anticipated comebacks. Since beginning serialization in 1998, Hunter x Hunter has gone on hiatus many times due to Togashi’s health, yet its popularity has never faded. Instead, every return has been met with huge excitement from fans. Following its 2026 comeback, Shueisha’s Hunter x Hunter reached a new milestone of over 100 million copies in circulation, surpassing its previous total of 84 million. The achievement once again proves that this dark shōnen remains one of manga’s biggest success stories, standing alongside giants like Attack on Titan, or even surpassing its legacy.
Hunter x Hunter’s Latest Comeback Proves It Can Rival Biggest Hits
Image from Hunter x Hunter. Curated by Rei Penber.
Image by GameRant
Hunter x Hunter has had quite a journey since it first debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #14 on March 3, 1998. Following the massive success of Togashi’s YuYu Hakusho, expectations were already high, but Hunter x Hunter quickly established its own identity, thanks to its unique world, memorable characters, and increasingly dark storytelling. Although the manga took a few short breaks during its early years, it continued to release new chapters at a steady pace before its first major hiatus began on February 20, 2006, after Chapter 260. From that point onward, long interruptions became a defining part of the series, largely because of Togashi’s ongoing health issues. The series soon became one of the magazine’s biggest hits thanks to its unique world, memorable characters, and increasingly dark storytelling. Although the manga took a few short breaks during its early years, it continued to release new chapters at a steady pace before its first major hiatus began on February 20, 2006, after Chapter 260. From that point onward, long interruptions became a defining part of the series.
Despite those lengthy breaks, Hunter x Hunter never lost its popularity. Fans continued to return every time the manga resumed, making each comeback one of the biggest events in the industry. The series eventually reached Chapter 410 in December 2024 before registering another nearly two-year hiatus. Shueisha officially announced its return on June 22, 2026, with Chapter 411 releasing in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31. The comeback delighted fans around the world and coincided with another huge milestone, as Hunter x Hunter surpassed 100 million copies in circulation. Earlier that year, on April 8, 2026, Togashi also confirmed on social media that he had completed work up to Chapter 430, proving that one of manga’s greatest dark shōnen is far from finished.
No. 430, character inking completed.
The publication timing for chapters 420 onward will be announced by Shueisha's Jump editorial department.
Please wait for the announcement.
I'm receiving tons of motivation to keep going from my wife. — Togashi
For a manga that has spent so much time on hiatus, reaching these numbers is a huge achievement. It is a big win for the dark shōnen genre and an even bigger win for Hunter x Hunter itself. It also shows that fans still care deeply about the story, the characters, and the world of Hunter x Hunter. Many manga lose attention when they stop for a long time, but this one has stayed strong. That is not easy to do. It means the series has a special place in the hearts of fans all over the world. As far as the dark shōnen genre goes, stories in this style are often more serious, more emotional, and sometimes more risky than normal action manga. When a series like this does well, it proves that readers want more than just simple fights and easy answers. They want deep stories, strong themes, and characters who feel real. Overall, with the 100 million + milestone, Hunter x Hunter proves that even with long breaks, the manga still has reach and influence. It still brings in readers and keeps its name alive. That kind of success is rare. It shows that Hunter x Hunter is not just a popular manga, but a lasting one.
The new Hunter x Hunter chapters continue the Succession Contest Arc, which is inarguably Togashi’s most complex story arc. It has many important characters and several storylines at the same time. Gon and Killua are not in this part of the story, so Kurapika is the main character. The arc takes place on the Black Whale, a huge ship that is carrying people to the mysterious Dark Continent, where danger and political problems keep growing.
With Hunter x Hunter, the timing could not have been better. Despite years of health problems and long hiatuses, Togashi has worked against all odds to keep the story alive. Every new chapter is a reminder of his dedication to the series and the fans who have supported it for nearly three decades.
Hunter x Hunter Has The Potential To Take Dark Shonen Even Further
Titles like Hunter x Hunter and Attack on Titan have shown just how popular dark shōnen can become. Both have built loyal fanbases by telling darker stories, giving readers complex characters, and at the same time, refusing to follow the usual shōnen formula. But Hunter X Hunter, while it is slow, isn’t ending. Given its massive success, it has the potential to become the next big manga and carry the genre forward.
Hunter x Hunter has perfectly set up the legendary Chrollo x Hisoka battle in its future. If it lives up to expectations, it could become one of the greatest battles in dark shōnen manga and raise the bar for the genre even further. Hisoka is stronger than ever after his reawakening, while Chrollo is becoming even stronger by adding more abilities to Skill Hunter. When their rematch finally begins, it feels like one of them will have to die. Chrollo’s death is a real possibility, but Togashi is known for surprising readers, so it is impossible to rule anything out. In the end, either one of them or even both could lose their lives.
Chrollo wants to kill Hisoka, and he will do whatever it takes to make that happen. That shows just how dark the story is going to become. Like Attack on Titan, Hunter x Hunter is not afraid to put its biggest characters in danger. But many fans feel it takes the dark shōnen formula even further. If Togashi continues at this level, Hunter x Hunter will deliver some of the darkest and unforgettable moments in shōnen manga. The loyal fanbase will be ready to tune in to the story every step of the way.
Hunter x Hunter is available to read for free on Manga Plus.
