Double Good News from GANGSTA. Mangaka Kosuke: The Series Returns and a Special Signing Event is Being Held!
The summer of 2026 is turning into an unforgettable period for GANGSTA. fans. The series' world-renowned creator Kosuke (Kohske) will hold a special signing event on July 4th as part of the "Bunch 25th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition" at Gallery Zenon in Tokyo. Applications for this exciting event are open until June 28th, and lucky participants will be determined by a lottery. This move by the artist, who has not appeared in public for a long time, has been met with great joy within the community.
What makes this signing event truly special is its symbolic timing. Kosuke, who has been struggling with serious health issues for a long time, announced that the legendary crime manga GANGSTA. will officially return with new chapters on July 3, 2026, just one day before the signing event. This five-year silence, which has been ongoing since December 2020 and marks the longest hiatus in the series' history, will end with the publication of chapter 57 in Monthly Comic Bunch magazine. This comeback is like a celebration for fans who were left at the most exciting part of the story.
Kosuke's return is described as a story of perseverance in the truest sense of the word. The famous mangaka faced severe physical obstacles, including vision loss in one eye and paralysis in their fingers, due to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease. In statements made on social media, the artist honestly shared that they have updated their drawing style to put less strain on their body and that the series' publication schedule may proceed irregularly depending on their health. This sincerity has further strengthened the fans' loyalty to the series and their support for the artist.
Starting its publication life in 2011 in Monthly Comic @Bunch magazine, GANGSTA. tells the story of Nicolas Brown and Worick Arcangelo, known as the "Handymen" in the city of Ergastulum, where crime and corruption run rampant. The series, which is considered one of the most unique examples of its genre due to having a hearing-impaired main character (Nicolas) and its deep world-building, was adapted into an anime by the Manglobe studio in 2015. However, the anime remained unfinished due to the studio's bankruptcy, and the manga frequently paused due to the author's health. Now, with both new chapters and the 9th volume expected to be released in August, the GANGSTA. universe is coming back to life.
