Black Butler manga going on hiatus while mangaka Yana Toboso takes extended vacation

The ongoing manga series Black Butler is going on hiatus for the foreseeable future.

The news came late yesterday via the Square Enix magazine GFantasy’s official X account, with the comment:

[Notice of suspension of “Black Butler”]

“Black Butler” will be on hiatus for a while, starting with the next issue of the monthly “GFantasy” magazine, August issue.

We will announce the resumption of the series as soon as it is decided. During the hiatus starting from the next issue, we plan to republish past serialized chapters of “Black Butler.”

We hope you will continue to support “Black Butler.”

Along with the comment about the Black Butler hiatus, an illustration by Yana Toboso was also released that included a message from the mangaka herself saying:

I have decided to take a longer maintenance vacation!

Since my debut in 2004, I have now been drawing for 20 years. The fact that I have been able to keep running for such a long period of time without serious illness or breaks is due to the warm support of everyone.

During the period I am away, I will continue to prepare for the necessary interviews and preparations for the climax of ‘Black Butler’ while making sure that my body and mind are in good shape.

I am very sorry to those of you who have been looking forward to my monthly serialization. I will return in the best condition, so I hope you can wait for a while.

So, yes, when she does return to drawing the long-running manga, it will be with the goal of bringing the story to its final close.

Meanwhile, fans on X are wishing Yana Toboso well, and saying take as long as she needs to recuperate from her hard work.

One fan even stressed:

As long as it is properly completed in the end, I have no complaints I will wait patiently.

The history of Black Butler

The first chapters of Black Butler were published in September, 2006, and have run in GFantasy magazine in Japan ever since.

The first tankobon volume was released in February, 2007 with 33 other volumes released since.

Yen Press publishes the manga in English, with Volume 33 coming out today (June 18th), and with Volume 34 likely on its way soon.

They explain the plot of the first volume in this manner:

Just a stone’s throw from London lies the manor house of the illustrious Phantomhive earldom, its master one Ciel Phantomhive. Earl Phantomhive is a giant in the world of commerce, Queen Victoria’s faithful servant . . . and a slip of a twelve-year old boy.

Fortunately, his loyal butler, Sebastian, is ever at his side, ready to carry out the young master’s wishes. And whether Sebastian is called to save a dinner party gone awry or probe the dark secrets of London’s underbelly, there is practically nothing Sebastian cannot do.

In fact, one might even say Sebastian is too good to be true . . . or at least, he is too good to be human . . .

The manga has also spawned an anime series, which currently has its fourth season airing, as well as two movies, a video game, a live-action film and five musicals.

Yes, Black Butler has had the same sort of success as Harry Potter since its debut.

No word yet, of course, when Yana Toboso will resume publishing Black Butler, or when the manga series is scheduled to finally come to a close, but we will keep you posted here at Leo Sigh as soon as it is announced.