Ball and Chain Manga Ends: Natsumi Eguchi's Beloved Series Concludes
Sad news from the world of manga! The latest work by Natsumi Eguchi, the master artist known for the Hozuki's Coolheadedness (Hozuki no Reitetsu) series, Ball and Chain, has reached the end of its journey. According to the official announcement, the series, which began its publication life in June 2023, will conclude with the next upcoming volume. The story will come to an end after a journey of approximately one year.
Serialized in Kodansha's weekly Morning magazine, Ball and Chain was a production that reflected Eguchi's unique sense of humor. The series made readers both laugh and think by focusing on the dynamics between an ex-convict and a character strictly bound by rules. Following the massive 31-volume success of Eguchi's previous masterpiece, Hozuki's Coolheadedness, the shorter run of this series came as a bit of a surprise to fans.
Natsumi Eguchi is an artist who has carved a unique place for herself in the industry, particularly known for her works that blend Japanese mythology with dark humor. The character depth and absurd situations in her stories make her one of the best in her genre. Although Ball and Chain did not last as long as mainstream long-running series, it seems it will be remembered as one of the experimental and fun stops in Eguchi's career.
While the exact release date of the series' final volume has not yet been clarified, fans are already waiting to complete their collections. Whether Eguchi will start a new project after this finale or take a break for a while is a matter of curiosity. If you haven't read it yet, now is the perfect time to give this short but impressive comedy series a chance! Stay tuned for future announcements.
