GANGSTA 5-Year Hiatus Explained: Kohske’s Medical Condition, Chapter 57 Release Timeline & More

The long-running crime manga Gangsta. is finally returning on July 3, 2026. Created by Kohske, the plot of this manga centers on Nicolas Brown and Worick Arcangelo, two independent contractors known as “Handymen.” They take on high-risk jobs for both the mafia and the police in Ergastulum, a quarantined city populated by criminals, corrupt officials, and genetically enhanced individuals known as Twilights.

Despite beginning serialization 15 years ago in March 2011, the manga has a remarkably low chapter count. There are currently only 56 chapters released across eight volumes. Let’s dive into more information regarding the chapter release and explore the reasons behind the delay.

The 5 Year Wait Is Over, but New Gangsta. Chapters Will Take Time

Shinchosha’s Monthly Comic @Bunch formally confirmed the return of the manga starting with Chapter 57. The last installment, Chapter 56, was published in December 2020. While the July release date provides a concrete return for the franchise, readers must keep their expectations low regarding the future release schedule.

GANGSTA.これからもちょこちょこ連載止まるだろうし、単行本出るペースも遅いと思うし、負担が少ない描き方を手探りしている段階でもあるので絵の雰囲気が多少変わる事もあるでしょうが 何卒ゆっくり気長にお付き合いください〜 https://t.co/GtBGE2nW6K

— コースケ (@go_kohske) April 24, 2026

Following the official announcement, Kohske posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the new serialization will proceed at a significantly slower pace. The release of compiled volumes will also be delayed. Frequent pauses will continue to occur as a standard part of the publication process moving forward.

Furthermore, the author also mentioned that she is currently adjusting her art style, as she is searching for drawing methods that are less physically demanding on her body.

Kohske’s Illness Explained & How It Led to Gangsta.’s Long Delays

The multiple, years-long hiatuses throughout the publication history of Gangsta., despite it being so widely loved, are the direct result of Kohske’s severe and ongoing health issues. The author suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs.

In 2021, Kohske publicly disclosed the full extent of her medical condition to her readers (as reported by ANN). She revealed that because of SLE, she started to lose sight in one of her eyes. Additionally, she experiences paralysis in her fingers, which makes drawing manga really hard.

The manga previously went on hiatus in November 2015 and again in September 2018 for these exact reasons. The physical toll of the manga industry is high, and managing a chronic illness simultaneously makes consistent serialization impossible.

A Quick Recap of the Story Before Chapter 57

Nicolas is currently separated from Worick. After a series of violent clashes against the Hunters, Nicolas, along with Dr. Theo and Alex Benedetto, was overpowered. The Paulklee Guild took them into custody. Nicolas remains locked inside the Guild’s facilities after an unsuccessful attempt to fight off their forces, leaving him neutralized as a combatant for the time being.

Meanwhile, Worick has voided his contract with Nicolas, severing his ties with his longtime partner. Worick murdered Miles Mayer and presented the severed head to the Corsica family. He left a note and money for Alex, telling her to leave the city. Using the new alias “Storage,” Worick now works directly for Uranos Corsica. However, Corsica placed Worick in command of the Third Destroyers. This is the exact unit tasked with the killings of the Twilights.

TITLE	Gangsta.
MAL RATING (as of April 25, 2026)	8.08 / 10
ORIGINAL CREATOR	Kohske
RELEASE DATE	Jan 21, 2011 to ?
SERIALIZATION	Comic@Bunch and Comic Bunch Kai (from Chapter 57 onwards).

The return of Gangsta. on July 3 is really good news for readers who have waited five years for a resolution to the Ergastulum conflict involving multiple families, twilights, and hunters. While the irregular schedule and Kohske’s ongoing health struggles mean that new chapters will require long and irregular wait times, the continuation is finally confirmed.

Are you excited for the return of this manga? Let us know in the comments.

Gangsta will be available to read on Comic@Bunch and Comic Bunch Kai (from Chapter 57 onwards).