Hunter x Hunter Just Dropped Out of the Top 3 — And the New Hiatus Has Fans Terrified
There are few manga series in history that carry the same emotional weight — and collective anxiety — as Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter. Just when fans thought the dark fantasy epic was finally building momentum after a nearly two-year break, the unthinkable happened: the manga has officially slipped out of the top three in Oricon’s latest sales rankings, and another indefinite hiatus has begun. For a series that has been on more breaks than a Java developer’s coffee schedule, this feels like a gut punch.
Here’s the full picture — and why fans are more worried than ever.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Dramatic Drop
According to Oricon’s August 2026 manga sales rankings, Hunter x Hunter sold 175,449 copies between August 3 and August 30. That’s enough to land at fifth place on the list — but the real sting is where the series was just one month earlier. In July, Hunter x Hunter occupied the number two spot, selling over 1.02 million copies, largely driven by the release of Volume 39, which alone moved over 600,000 units.
That’s an 83% sales decline in a single month. While volume-driven sales spikes are normal in the manga industry, the speed and scale of the drop highlight a persistent problem: Hunter x Hunter simply can’t maintain consistent sales when chapters aren’t actively being released. And right now, there are no chapters on the horizon.
The August 2026 Top 10: Who’s Winning?
The full top 10 best-selling manga for August 2026 paints a fascinating picture of the industry:
- Kingdom — 513,459 copies
- Blue Lock — 366,214 copies
- Chiikawa — 332,469 copies
- Sakamoto Days — 177,046 copies
- Hunter x Hunter — 175,449 copies
- The Apothecary Diaries — 151,648 copies
- Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You — 133,491 copies
- One Piece — 127,758 copies
- Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun — 117,772 copies
- Black Clover — 115,358 copies
The biggest surprise? One Piece sitting at number eight with just 127,758 copies — roughly a quarter of what Kingdom moved. But don’t worry, Straw Hat fans: Oda’s magnum opus still dominates the long-term charts and will almost certainly bounce back with its next volume release. What’s remarkable is how Sakamoto Days managed to edge out Hunter x Hunter by a mere 1,597 copies — a razor-thin margin that speaks to how competitive the manga market has become.
Chapter 420: The Bittersweet Goodbye
The hiatus follows the publication of Chapter 420 on September 7, 2026, which wrapped up another installment of the ongoing Succession Contest arc. This arc — following Kurapika and the various factions aboard the Black Whale ship bound for the Dark Continent — has been one of the most complex and ambitious storylines in shonen manga history. It’s also been one of the most painfully slow to read in weekly format, with Togashi’s meticulous pacing making each chapter feel like a masterclass in tension.
The 10 chapters published during this latest serialization window (which kicked off on June 29, 2026) gave fans a solid two months of Hunter x Hunter content. That’s more than many fans dared to hope for after the series’ infamous two-year absence. But it’s never enough, is it?
The Good News: Togashi Is Still Writing
Here’s where things get interesting — and potentially hopeful. According to Togashi’s latest update on X (formerly Twitter), the legendary mangaka has already completed manuscripts through Chapter 427. That’s seven more chapters sitting in the vault, waiting to be inked, toned, and published.
For context, seven chapters at a weekly pace would cover nearly two months of content. If Togashi can get through the serialization and preparation process efficiently, fans might not have to wait as long as they’re fearing. But “if” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence, given Togashi’s well-documented health struggles and the series’ legendary hiatus record.
Why Fans Are More Worried This Time
The anxiety around this particular hiatus feels different from previous ones. When Hunter x Hunter returned in 2026 after nearly two years away, there was genuine excitement that Togashi had found a sustainable rhythm. The 10-chapter batch felt like a proof of concept — proof that the series could come back and stay back.
But now, with the manga dropping to fifth place and entering another break, fans are starting to wonder if the brief return was just another chapter in the same old story. The sales decline, while predictable, serves as a stark reminder that Hunter x Hunter is fighting for relevance in an era where series like Blue Lock, Sakamoto Days, and Kingdom are dominating the charts with consistent weekly releases.
There’s also the looming question of whether Togashi’s health will allow him to complete the Succession Contest arc — let alone any future storylines. At 59 years old, with a history of chronic back pain that has forced multiple extended hiatuses, the clock is ticking on one of manga’s most beloved creations.
The 100 Million Copy Milestone
It’s worth noting that despite the sales drop and the hiatus, Hunter x Hunter recently crossed an extraordinary milestone: 100 million copies in circulation worldwide with the release of Volume 39. That places Togashi’s work alongside the likes of Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Bleach in the upper echelon of shonen manga history. The series may sell fewer copies per month than its competitors, but its cultural impact is immeasurable.
Viz Media has licensed the manga for English-speaking audiences, with Volume 39 scheduled as the next English-language release, following January 2026’s publication of Volume 38. For Western fans, the wait between volumes can feel even longer — especially when the source material is already on hiatus.
What Happens Next?
The million-dollar question — or perhaps the million-copies question — is when Hunter x Hunter will return. Togashi’s manuscripts through Chapter 427 suggest the content exists, but the gap between manuscript and publication is where the series has historically stumbled. Whether it takes weeks, months, or another two years remains to be seen.
For now, fans are left to re-read the Succession Contest arc, debate the finer points of Kurapika’s strategy, and refresh Togashi’s X account every few hours for updates. It’s a familiar cycle — one that has defined Hunter x Hunter fandom for over a decade.
At least this time, there’s a concrete number to hold onto: Chapter 427. Whether that’s six months away or six years, it’s something.
Final Thought
The drop from number two to number five isn’t the end of the world for Hunter x Hunter — the series has survived far worse. But it’s a reminder that in the fast-moving world of manga, absence doesn’t just make the heart grow fonder. It also makes the sales chart grow shorter.
What do you think — will Togashi actually make it to Chapter 427 without another break, or are we in for another multi-year wait? And more importantly, can Hunter x Hunter reclaim its spot in the top three when it finally returns? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
For more anime and manga coverage, check out our articles on Bleach TYBW Season 4 and One Piece Chapter 1193.
