Shueisha confirmed Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 will release July 3, 2026 in Japan, compiling Chapters 401-410 and ending a 22-month gap since Volume 38 shipped in September 2024.[1] The 10-chapter tankōbon marks Yoshihiro Togashi's return to print after the manga resumed serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump from May through November 2024, delivering the first new Succession Contest Arc material since the 2019 hiatus.
VIZ Media has not announced an English release date for Volume 39, but the publisher historically ships North American editions 6-9 months after Japanese publication. That timeline would place the English Volume 39 in Q4 2026 or Q1 2027, assuming Togashi's health permits continued serialization and VIZ maintains its localization pace.[2]
Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 | Chapters 401-410 Synopsis
Volume 39 adapts the middle section of the Succession Contest Arc, focusing on Princes Tserriednich, Benjamin, and Woble aboard the Black Whale ship en route to the Dark Continent. Chapter 401 opened with Tserriednich awakening to Nen, while Chapters 402-410 escalated bodyguard intrigue, Nen beast revelations, and Kurapika's dual mission protecting Prince Woble and infiltrating the Phantom Troupe remnants hiding among lower-tier passengers.
Togashi introduced three new named Nen abilities and expanded the lore around post-mortem Nen, the mechanic central to the arc's rising body count. Chapter 410, the volume's final chapter, ended on a cliffhanger with Halkenburg's consciousness transfer complete and Tserriednich's Parallel Future ability fully realized, setting up what fans expect to be a multi-chapter confrontation in the eventual Volume 40.
Yoshihiro Togashi Hiatus History | 2026 Status
Togashi paused Hunter x Hunter serialization in November 2024, one month after Chapter 410 ran in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 48. The mangaka has not announced a return date for Chapter 411, but his Twitter account (@Un4v5s8bgsVk9Xp) posted hand-rehabilitation photos in March and April 2026, suggesting he is preparing for another batch release similar to the May-November 2024 run.[3]
Chronic back pain and degenerative spinal issues have limited Togashi to batch publication cycles since 2014. The 2024 comeback marked his first 10-consecutive-chapter streak since the 2018 Election Arc conclusion. Fans on Reddit's r/HunterXHunter community are speculating Chapter 411 could debut in late July or early August 2026, timed to the Volume 39 release hype, but Shueisha has made no official statement.
Hunter x Hunter English Release | VIZ Media Q4 2026 Target
VIZ Media published Hunter x Hunter Volume 38 in English on January 9, 2025, 16 months after the Japanese edition. The delay was attributed to localization scheduling and Togashi's hiatus creating uncertainty around whether Volume 39 would follow. Now that Shueisha has confirmed the July 3, 2026 Japanese release, VIZ's typical 6-9 month window would place the English edition between December 2026 and March 2027.
North American manga retailers including Barnes & Noble and RightStuf have listed placeholder SKUs for Volume 39 with tentative December 2026 ship dates, but those entries have not been confirmed by VIZ. The publisher declined to comment when contacted by Anime News Network in May 2026.[4]
Succession Contest Arc | Dark Continent Expedition Status
The Succession Contest Arc began in Chapter 349 (2017) and is currently 61 chapters deep as of Chapter 410. Togashi structured the arc as a closed-environment battle royale with 14 princes competing for the Kakin throne while the Black Whale ship travels to the Dark Continent, a journey expected to last 2-3 months in-universe. Real-world time has stretched the arc across 9 years of sporadic publication.
Five princes remain alive as of Chapter 410, with Princes Tserriednich, Benjamin, Camilla, Tubeppa, and Woble all positioned for the arc's climax. Kurapika's plotline intersects with both the royal succession and the Phantom Troupe, who are hiding in Tier 3 of the ship and planning a heist. Togashi has stated in interviews the arc is roughly 60% complete, suggesting another 40-50 chapters remain before the ship reaches the Dark Continent and the story shifts to exploration.
Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 | Pre-Order and Pricing
Japanese retailers including Amazon Japan, CDJapan, and Kinokuniya have opened pre-orders for Volume 39 at ¥528 ($3.50 USD), the standard Jump Comics tankōbon price. The volume includes a dust jacket with Togashi's signature minimalist cover art, expected to feature either Kurapika or Prince Tserriednich based on the arc's focus.
VIZ Media's English edition is expected to retail at $9.99 USD, matching Volumes 37-38. Digital editions via VIZ's Shonen Jump app and Kindle will likely launch day-and-date with the print release at $6.99 USD. Collectors should note Volume 38 sold out within 48 hours of launch at major retailers due to high demand after the 2024 hiatus ended.
Sources and Further Reading
- ^[1]Shueisha. Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 Official Listing (May 2026) — Publisher confirmation of July 3, 2026 Japanese release date and chapter contents.
- ^[2]VIZ Media. Hunter x Hunter English Volumes (Ongoing) — Official North American publisher page with Volume 38 release history and upcoming titles.
- ^[3]Yoshihiro Togashi. Yoshihiro Togashi Twitter Account (March-April 2026) — Togashi posted hand rehabilitation photos hinting at preparation for Chapter 411.
- ^[4]Anime News Network. VIZ Media Declines Comment on Volume 39 English Release (May 15, 2026) — ANN contacted VIZ for English release timeline; publisher stated no announcement yet.