Search Everything in One Place

Explore the web, images, videos, news, and more – all in one place.

Entertainment

Legendary 90s shonen manga officially returns to dethrone One Piece

Legendary 90s Shonen Manga Officially Returns To Dethrone One Piece
Legendary 90s Shonen Manga Officially Returns To Dethrone One Piece

Hunter x Hunter's return to the Jump has fans buzzing as it challenges One Piece.

Hunter x Hunter’s return in 2026 was a great moment for manga fans around the world. After a two-year hiatus, Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga resumed serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump, giving readers new chapters to enjoy. The release of Chapter 411 on June 28, 2026, made the comeback even more exciting. Fans were excited to return to Kurapika and the ongoing Succession Contest Arc. The series once again proved that its popularity had never faded.

Along with the excitement surrounding Hunter x Hunter’s return, the manga also recorded strong sales. Right off the bat, when Shueisha announced the release of Vol. 39, it also shared a new sales milestone. Hunter x Hunter had officially surpassed its previous total of 84 million copies in circulation, reaching over 100 million copies worldwide. This is a huge achievement for a series that has been consistently on long breaks since 2006. The 100 million mark proved that, despite the long waits between new chapters, fans still look forward to the manga. The new milestone proved that Togashi’s work remains one of the most popular and successful manga ever published. Hunter x Hunter’s comeback also made it clear that it is one of the few manga capable of challenging a long-running series once again.

Hunter x Hunter’s Is Challenging One Piece For The No. 1 Spot

Hunter x Hunter’s strong sales from June 29 to July 5, 2026, showed that the series is ready to challenge One Piece for the top spot. Oricon’s manga sales rankings for the same week have painted a clear picture. Hunter x HunterVol. 39 recorded strong sales during its first week, finishing in second place. The competition is really close between Hunter x Hunter and One Piece Vol. 115, which also recently launched and claimed the No. 1 spot. While One Piece kept its crown, Hunter x Hunter’s impressive return showed that Togashi’s manga remains one of the biggest titles in the industry.

Per Oricon’s sales figures, Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece Vol. 115 sold 627,567 copies, while Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter Vol. 39 followed in second place with 401,775 copies. These rankings are based on Oricon’s sales data for the week of June 29 to July 5, 2026, and were current as of July 13, 2026. The third and fourth spots on the list were taken by One-Punch Man Vol. 37 and From Old Country Bumpkin to Master SwordsmanVol. 9, which sold 72,589 and 58,510 copies, respectively. While there is a massive gap between the top two manga and the third and fourth place titles, the difference between One Piece and Hunter x Hunter was largely able to stay within reach, given the fact that Hunter x Hunter had just returned from a nearly two-year hiatus. The gap is still large, but it speaks volumes about Hunter x Hunter, making the manga’s performance even more impressive. The previous Hunter x Hunter release was with Chapter 410 on December 8, 2024. By registering these numbers, the series proved that fans quickly bought Vol. 39, and made it one of the biggest manga releases of the week.

The biggest achievement of Hunter x Hunter’s return is not just its sales numbers, but the loyalty of its fans. After nearly two years away, readers immediately welcomed the manga back, proving that the love for Togashi’s story never disappeared. The comeback was a reminder that a truly beloved series can remain powerful, even after a long break. Hunter x Hunter‘s return has created strong momentum for the series. While One Piece remains ahead and continues to hold the top spot, the gap between the two shows that Togashi’s manga is still a major force in the industry. Despite being consistently away, Hunter x Hunter managed to compete with one of the biggest manga series in history, proving that its popularity has not faded. With continued releases, the series has the potential to keep challenging One Piece for the throne.

All things considered, the competition was always going to be difficult. One Piece has continued to perform strongly in recent months while continuing on the Elbaf Arc. In March, One PieceVol. 114 defeated Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Vol. 2 by more than 400,000 copies and remained at the No. 1 spot for several weeks. With the Elbaf Arc marking the beginning of the final stages of the story and the series approaching its 30th anniversary next year, One Piece continues to be indomitable. This argument just proves that a two-year gap in Hunter x Hunter was up against the dominant One Piece, meaning it was still a major achievement. The fact that Vol. 39 was able to reach the second spot after nearly two years away also speaks volumes about the long-lasting legacy the series has built over the years. While One Piece reigned at the top, Hunter x Hunter demonstrated that it still has the popularity and influence to compete with the biggest names in manga.

Why Hunter x Hunter Remains Special Despite The Hiatuses

Despite its many breaks, Hunter x Hunter has remained one of the most loved manga series for a reason. The series stands out because of Togashi’s unique way of storytelling. Hunter x Hunter keeps surprising readers with its impressive world-building, memorable characters, and unexpected battles. Additionally, Hunter x Hunter is now preparing for one of the biggest shōnen showdowns fans have been waiting for: Chrollo vs. Hisoka in its future releases. Their rivalry has been ongoing for years, and fans are eagerly anticipating their second showdown. This long-awaited battle is another reason why interest in Hunter x Hunter remains stronger than ever. Their first battle took place in Hunter x Hunter Chapter 351, which was released in Issue #21-22 on April 25, 2016. Chrollo won the fight, and Hisoka was killed. However, Hisoka used postmortem Nen to revive himself and later killed Shalnark and Kortopi. Both Hisoka and the members of the Phantom Troupe are now aboard the Black Whale. This sets the stage for another intense battle in the future. This battle could happen on the Black Whale. However, their first fight took place during the Succession Contest Arc, so it is possible that their rematch could be delayed until the Dark Continent or at least until the ship reaches the refueling island.

Ultimately, Hunter x Hunter is back and going stronger than ever. As new chapters continue to arrive, it is entering a new stage of its story. The series has already created a strong legacy, but there is still more left to explore. With its characters and upcoming battles, the manga continues to keep fans excited. After all these years, Hunter x Hunter remains a series that can bring excitement to fans every time it makes a return.

At the time of writing this article, One Piece Vol. 115 tops Oricon’s sales rankings for June 29 to July 5, but Hunter x Hunter’s return is still one of the biggest manga events of the year. Despite being unable to take the top spot, Hunter x Hunter’s comeback has brought fresh excitement to the manga industry and reminded everyone why it remains one of the greatest shōnen series.

Read full story on GameRant

Related News

More stories you might be interested in.

Top