Exclusive: Stunning Announcement - Blue Exorcist Manga Comes to an Unexpected Pause Due to COVID!

Highlights

Bad news for Blue Exorcist fans: the manga has to go on hiatus for at least a month due to mangaka Kazue Katou's health; she has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Blue Exorcist has had multiple hiatuses in the past, but it is expected that the current one will be shorter. The manga is scheduled to resume in the December edition of Jump SQ magazine. Excitement among fans continues to grow for the upcoming third season of the Blue Exorcist anime, titled Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, set to premiere in January 2024.

Despite the conclusion of the Blue Exorcist anime, the manga has continued to be in production for several years. Fans eagerly anticipate regular chapter releases, but unfortunately, there is distressing news for them this week. Due to the onset of the mangaka's health issues, the manga will be going on a minimum month-long hiatus.

The official announcement was made via the manga's Twitter account last week, revealing that Kazue Katou, the creator, has tested positive for COVID-19. During the height of the pandemic, numerous anime and manga projects faced delays and interruptions as studios closed down and individuals fell ill. While the management of the disease has improved in recent times, this situation proves that it can still have unforeseen and unfortunate consequences.

The Blue Exorcist manga debuted in 2009 and has gained significant popularity. Its first anime series premiered in 2011, comprising 25 episodes along with an OVA. A second season, consisting of 12 episodes and an OVA, was released in 2017. The success of the anime and manga led to the publication of a spin-off manga called Salaryman Exorcist: The Sorrows of Yukio Okumura, which ran for four volumes from 2013 to 2020. Meanwhile, the main Blue Exorcist manga is still ongoing.

Blue Exorcist has experienced previous hiatuses. The first one lasted from July 2021 to May 2022, and the more recent one occurred from January to May 2023. However, the series is expected to return in the December issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ magazine, marking the third hiatus with hopes for a shorter duration.

While Blue Exorcist may have faded from the spotlight in the anime world, it enjoyed immense popularity upon its original release more than a decade ago. However, the series has recently regained attention thanks to the surprising announcement of a third season last year. Fans can now anticipate the imminent arrival of the new season, which is slated to start airing in January 2024. Titled Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, the upcoming season promises to reignite the excitement surrounding this beloved anime.

Hopefully, Blue Exorcist will proceed as planned, with the manga's next chapter and the upcoming anime series. However, all of this is contingent upon Katou's health condition. Fans are advised to keep an eye on the Blue Exorcist Twitter for further updates.