Weeb Weekly: Hunter x Hunter
Welcome back to Weeb Weekly! This week I will be covering a classic anime that is making a strong comeback next year, Hunter x Hunter. This is the manga that holds the biggest hiatus of all time. You can watch this on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.
Gon Freecss works hard to become a hunter while searching for his father, whom he does not remember. Gon Freecss is an eight-year-old boy who lives on Whale Island. He discovers that his father, whom he thought was dead, is still alive and well as a top “Hunter,” risking his life to seek greatness. Gon decides to become a hunter himself and taken on the treacherous Hunter Exam.
I actually am very late to start watching this anime and catching up on manga. This series has been out for a long time and has taken almost ten year breaks to make big advances. The manga was first published on March 16, 1998. The first episode, however, aired on October 2, 2011.
Yoshihiro Togashi wrote and illustrated it. Yoshihiro Togashi is a manga artist from Japan. He began drawing manga at a young age and was discovered by the publishing company Shueisha while still in college. Togashi has written several manga series in various genres over the last three decades. The artist took such a long hiatus due to poor health, lower back issues, stress, and the weight was too much.
I have just arrived to the second “official” arc. I am currently on the Heavens Arena Arc. The Hunter x Hunter episodes and chapters are divided into several story arcs, with 8 officially [ 9 unofficially as of December 2017].
One of the most interesting aspects of this manga series is that it is very character driven. Although there is an underlying plot that connects all the arcs together, the characters’ development, growth, and interactions with one another help the plot advance.
The characters within the series show much potential and promise as they continue to grow along with the series. Gon, for example, is only twelve years old when he is taking the Hunter Exam. The show has 6 seasons and Gon grows stronger and stronger each and every day at a tremendous pace.
Along the way, Gon has made a series of friends and enemies who are also important, strong figures that impact the plot. A personal favorite of mine is Killua Zoldyck. Gon met Killua within the Hunter Exam. Killua was raised by a large family of assassins and these skills are implemented within his very own fighting style.
There is also another character that is powerful, unique, and their abilities unlike any other. Their appearance embellishes a “joker-esque” theme with many colors and symbols to cover his outfits. His name is Hisoka Morow. His moves in combat continue to stun his foes each fight if he deems even worth stepping into. Hisoka is a very controversial character amongst the fans of this series due to his pedophilic nature towards Gon, strong abilities, and violent actions towards many other characters within the series.
I am excited as I move through the arcs and am ready to see the new content in the next year or so. One of the most exciting aspects of the new arc is that there is a new protagonist of the series. The new protagonist is Gon’s friend, Kurapika, sworn hater of the so-called Phantom Troupe. The two met within the Hunter Exam just like most of the characters. His persona is logical and cautious with the deepest care for what is just. Kurapika will lead the series and this is a strong change for the series itself. What exciting news!
