Indefinite Hiatus: Best Manga Left On Hold

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Summary

  • The manga industry is tough, leading many mangaka to overwork and end up on indefinite hiatus due to burnout or health issues.
  • Bastard!! is an anime with music references and frequent hiatuses, possibly due to a lack of ideas.
  • Nana, Vagabond, and others are on hiatus due to creator health issues, leaving fans uncertain about their completion.

Working as a professional comic creator can be quite challenging, and the manga industry in particular poses significant difficulties. Even when employing assistants, consistently meeting deadlines for multiple chapters often demands considerable effort and time. Regrettably, some mangaka find themselves juggling such demanding schedules that they barely have time for essential activities like sleeping, let alone leisurely socializing with friends and family.

Many creators find themselves burned out, depleted of creativity, or facing health issues that impede their work, causing delays or even complete stops. Recovery from these setbacks can take time, both physically and mentally, leading to pauses in production. As a result, these manga are left on an extended break, with no definite return date. For this reason, among others, these are the most frustratingly prolonged manga series.

9. Bastard!!

MyAnimeList Score: 7.20

  • Creator: Kazushi Hagiwara.
  • Published: October 1987-August 1989, January 1997-May 2010.
  • 27 Volumes, 144 Chapters.
  • 19 Volumes formerly available in English via Viz Media.

In a similar vein to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Bastard!! also incorporates music into its storyline through creative references. The villainous wizard Dark Schneider (modeled after Udo Dirkschneider from Accept) was imprisoned by Lars Ul, the monarch of Metallicana. However, when the Dark Rebel Army aims to revive the demon Anthrasax, Lars requires assistance to send it back to the underworld. Consequently, Dark Schneider is brought back as teenager Lucien Renlen, with the expectation that he’ll behave himself. Needless to say, this isn’t very likely.

As a bystander, I can attest that this manga is as hard-hitting as they come. It served as the blueprint for an equally intense OVA series in the 90s, which was later adapted into a Netflix Original Anime Series. Interestingly, it’s had its fair share of breaks, with a nearly decade-long pause in the 1990s, followed by another hiatus in 2010 that continues to this day. The reasons for these pauses remain unclear, though rumors circulate that Kazushi Hagiwara may have exhausted his ideas for the manga and is currently exploring other creative ventures until he feels rejuvenated.

8. Gangsta

MyAnimeList Score: 8.06

  • Creator: Kohske.
  • Published: January 2011-November 2015, May 2017-April 2019.
  • 8 Volumes, 56 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Viz Media’s Viz Signature imprint.

Initially, the title Gangsta might lead one to assume it’s just another crime-focused manga set in a gritty urban environment. However, there’s a deeper layer to this story, as the city of Ergastulum is inhabited by extraordinary beings known as “Tags”, who are essentially superhumans. These Tags wear dogtags and are governed by their dependence on a powerful drug called Cerebret. This makes them live in a precarious truce with ordinary humans, adding complexity to the usual power dynamics.

However, when “handymen” Nicholas and Worick are assigned to protect Alex, a woman with hidden secrets, they unwittingly become entangled in a dangerous conspiracy that could permanently disrupt their equilibrium. Tragically, the author Kohske developed lupus around 2015, causing regular interruptions in the comic strip. The current hiatus is particularly lengthy, suggesting that Chapter 56 may be the final one.

7. Me & the Devil Blues

MyAnimeList Score: 8.06

  • Creator: Akira Hiramoto.
  • Published: November 2003-March 2017.
  • 5 Volumes, 34 Chapters.
  • Formerly available in English via Del Ray Comics.

In life, Robert Johnson was a modest blues artist who passed away young at 27 years old. However, his melodies posthumously ignited the imagination of several pioneers in rock music. An intriguing tale about him emerged, claiming he acquired his musical prowess by striking a deal with the devil at a crossroads, only to perish when Satan came to collect. This myth caught the attention of Akira Hiramoto, who transformed it into a chilling horror comic book.

The comic book “Me & the Devil Blues” dramatizes Johnson’s life by accepting the urban myth as factual and expanding upon it. It temporarily halted production in 2008, resumed briefly in 2015, and was put on hold again in 2017. Hiramoto expressed his desire to revisit it in the future, but for now, he’s earning a living by working on “Super Ball Girls” and “Futari Switch.

6. xxxHOLiC: Rei

MyAnimeList Score: 8.18

  • Creators: CLAMP.
  • Published: March 2013-March 2017.
  • 4 Volumes, 56 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Kodansha Comics USA.

CLAMP is arguably the most well-known manga collective, and they’ve taken breaks on some of their works. The series “Clover” was abruptly ended due to its magazine ceasing publication. “X/1999” has been on hold since March 2003. Additionally, both “Gate 7” and “Drug & Drop” were put aside in 2013, coinciding with their work on “xxxHOLiC: Rei”.

In the follow-up to the initial xxxHOLiC, Kimihiro persisted in his duty under Yuko, a formidable witch who fulfills wishes at an appropriate cost—money is not accepted. The series was put on hold in 2017 and has been paused ever since. However, CLAMP has revealed they’ll resume working on the comic strip in April 2025. Assuming all goes well, enthusiasts of xxxHOLiC can look forward to a new installment soon.

5. Historie

MyAnimeList Score: 8.19

  • Creator: Hitoshi Iwaaki.
  • Published: January 2003-October 2022.
  • 12 Volumes, 124 Chapters.
  • Available in English digitally via K-Manga.

Over more than ten years following the shocking tale of “Parasyte”, Hitoshi Iwaaki ventured into ancient history with “Historie”. This work offers a fictional portrayal of Eumenes, an affluent youth who was reduced to slavery. After enduring numerous hardships, he eventually rose through the ranks to serve as a general under the command of Alexander the Great.

The manga started publishing in 2003 and continued until August 2022, at which point it took an open-ended break. Alongside health issues, Iwaaki explained that he needed time to prepare for the 12th volume (due out June 2024) and to think about how to wrap up the story in a way that guarantees a satisfying conclusion. Essentially, if it’s going to end soon, it needs to end well, but the exact timing remains uncertain.

4. The Glass Mask

MyAnimeList Score: 8.43

  • Creator: Suzue Miuchi.
  • Published: January 1976-May 2012.
  • 49 Volumes, 382 Chapters.
  • Fan Translations only.

Back in 1976, I stumbled upon “The Glass Mask,” a timeless comic strip that’s been part of our storytelling landscape since then. It revolves around the intense rivalry between two aspiring actresses, Maya and Ayumi. While Ayumi is blessed with natural talent, beauty, and influential connections, Maya might not stand out as conventionally attractive or intelligent. But her unyielding passion for acting has consistently landed her in the running for the coveted lead role in the legendary play, “The Crimson Goddess.

During the 1990s and 2000s, it only took occasional pauses. In 2008, it changed from Hana to Yume to its additional sister magazine, Bessatsu Hana to Yume. Suzue Miuchi thought about wrapping up the series shortly after 2009 but continued working on it until it went on a break in 2012. If Miuchi does get to conclude it, it’s likely to return in Hana to Yume, as its Bessatsu edition stopped publication in 2018.

3. Nana

MyAnimeList Score: 8.80

  • Creator: Ai Yazawa.
  • Published: May 2000-May 2009.
  • 21 Volumes, 84 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Viz Media’s Shojo Beat imprint.

The captivating stories of Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu propelled the manga titled Nana into widespread recognition as a renowned shojo series. Despite its tendency to resemble a josei comic, it fearlessly tackles mature subjects such as addiction, pregnancy, and death, as well as more serious adult topics like politics in the music industry.

After the creator of Nana, Ai Yazawa, fell severely ill in 2009, the series went on a break. While details about her condition have not been disclosed, her illness kept her hospitalized for close to a year. Since then, her recovery has only allowed her to work on smaller projects. She’s expressed an intention to finish Nana once she is well enough, but it’s understandable if she prioritizes her health over her work.

2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

MyAnimeList Score: 8.83

  • Creators: Kanehito Yamada (story), Tsukasa Abe (art).
  • Published: April 2020-December 2024.
  • 13+ Volumes, 140+ Chapters.
  • Available in English via Viz Media’s Shōnen Sunday imprint.

In the captivating narrative of “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End“, we delve into the aftermath of fantasy hero parties when their grand adventure concludes. The story explores what remained unspoken between them during their journey, thoughts they wished they could have shared. With the passage of time, Frieren’s elven longevity outlives her companions Himmel and Heiter, who eventually age and pass away. However, their spirits live on through their successors, Fern and Stark, whom they had mentored during their journey, leaving behind their memories and a lasting legacy.

The series has seen a surge in popularity due to its anime adaptation, which timed well as the comic book version experienced several unexpected breaks over the past two years. These pauses were typically short, such as the two-month gap in 2023 and a three-month halt in 2024. At present, the comic has been on an extended break since December 2024.

1. Vagabond

MyAnimeList Score: 9.26

  • Creator: Takehiko Inoue, from a novel by Eiji Yoshikawa.
  • Published: September 1998-May 2015.
  • 37 Volumes, 327 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Viz Media’s Viz Signature imprint.

Following the groundbreaking success of “Slam Dunk” in the sports manga genre, Takehiko Inoue ventured into a grand historical saga with “Vagabond”. This work is an adaption of Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel, “Musashi”, detailing the transformation of the reclusive outlaw Takezo Shinmen into the renowned swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Through his travels across Japan, we witness his understanding of life, death, and strength.

Similar to Miuchi with The Glass Mask comic, Inoue had planned to finish the series within 1-2 years back in 2009. However, health issues that arose in 2010 forced him to pause the manga until he felt well enough to resume. He briefly resumed the work for a few chapters in 2014 and 2015, but then went on another hiatus in May 2015, which persists till now. Fans can only cross their fingers, hoping that Inoue will rekindle his passion for the comic someday.

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2025-01-26 03:06