Why Is Blue Lock Manga Going On Hiatus? Find Out

by

As a dedicated follower of the anime and manga world for over two decades now, I can confidently say that Blue Lock has truly made a remarkable impact on the scene. Having witnessed countless series come and go, it’s rare to find one that captures the hearts of fans as profoundly as this soccer anime does.

The well-liked animated series, Blue Lock (focusing on soccer), has gained significant popularity and is now one of the most notable sports anime adaptations in recent times. In 2023, the manga surpassed all other publications in Japan by sales volume, demonstrating its immense potential. As enthusiasts eagerly anticipate season two, new chapters of the manga continue to be published on a regular basis; however, fans might need to exercise patience for the next chapter’s release.

2024 saw a prosperous year for the series Blue Lock, with the premiere of its first movie, Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, in Japan and North America. This film, centered around a key character from the “Blue Lock experiment,” garnered global box office success, underscoring the ongoing popularity of this anime.

I’m taking a brief break from sharing my work on Blue Lock due to some health concerns, as announced by Weekly Shonen Magazine. Don’t worry though, this hiatus will only delay the next chapter by a week, with the manga resuming on August 28th. With no end in sight for the manga and plenty of content yet to be covered, I’m excited to see how the anime adaptation continues, especially as it moves into its second season and beyond.

The narrative centers around the Japanese national soccer team, which placed 16th at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In a bid to elevate Japan to glory, the Japan Football Union recruits the mysterious football prodigy Jinpachi Ego. His strategy for greatness is Blue Lock, an intense training program aimed at producing the planet’s most self-centered striker. Any player who cannot meet the demands of Blue Lock will no longer be eligible to play for Japan. Yoichi Isagi, a relatively unrecognized high school soccer player grappling with his playing style, chooses to enter this rigorous program in pursuit of becoming the world’s top striker.

The first season of the sports anime “Blue Lock” can be streamed on Crunchyroll right now. According to the streaming service, this anime is about Japan’s national soccer team trying to recover after a devastating 2018 World Cup loss. They believe they need an exceptional striker, so they create Blue Lock – a demanding training facility for 300 of Japan’s most talented young players. The last player remaining in this intense competition must outwit and overpower everyone else to become the ultimate striker, driven by a hunger for goals and a thirst for victory.

From August 2020 to August 2022, the number of manga copies circulating steadily increased. By August 2020, there were approximately 1.9 million copies. This number grew to over 3 million by January 2021, then reached 4 million by April 2022, 5 million by August 2021, 6 million by February 2022, 8.3 million by March 2022, and surpassed 9.3 million by June 2022. By August 2022, the number of circulating copies reached over 10 million.

By the end of December 2022, I was part of a global community that had circulated over 16 million copies of this amazing book. A month later, in January 2023, we surpassed 18 million copies. As February rolled around, we hit 21.5 million copies in circulation. By March 2023, we had reached an astounding 24 million copies. In April, we soared even higher to 25.5 million copies, and by May 2023, we were at over 26 million copies. July 2023 saw us with a staggering 27 million copies in circulation. By August 2023, we had reached 28 million copies, and by November 2023, we had crossed the 30-million mark. And as of July 2024, this remarkable book had been circulated over 40 million times worldwide! What an incredible journey it has been to be a part of this reading revolution!

In the first half of 2023, the Blue Lock manga series topped the sales charts, moving over 8 million copies. Among these sales, volumes 12 to 14 and 21 to 23 were standout performers from the same period. Volumes 22 to 24 were also among the most popular manga releases in 2023. Particularly noteworthy was volume 24, which boasted Kodansha’s second-largest initial print run of any manga in the year 2023–2024, with a staggering 450,000 copies. The third installment of Blue Lock: Episode Nagi followed closely behind, selling 210,000 copies during the same period.

Read More

2024-08-18 15:39