Yoshihiro Togashi recently announced a new chapter of Hunter X Hunter will release in the near future, and fans of the series are as excited for the return. Despite the occasional lengthy breaks between releases, Hunter X Hunter remains one of the most popular long-running manga.
The depth of the stories, the emotional journeys, and the complex and compelling characters have kept the series running since its debut in 1998. All the time between updates has given fans ample opportunity to create fanart, theorize, and produce plenty of memes.
Gon Is The Best
Fans of any series get protective over the characters they adore, and the protagonist of HxH is no different. As made clear by the raging laser eyes, fans of the series love Gon Freecss.
Though he is occasionally a little too loud, and it takes him time to figure things out, there are many things to love about Gon. His genuine kindness towards others and his undying dedication to his goals and his friends make him easy to love.
Friendship Is Magic
When Gon attempts the Hunter examination at the beginning of the series he befriends three other hopefuls: Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio. The quartet bond and help each other through the difficult process of getting their licenses. One of the best friendships in shonen anime is Gon and Killua's bond.
Though at times they find themselves separated, each on their own life quests, these four friends make it through all the challenges that face them because of the strength they give to each other. They do bicker and tease, just as the video suggests, but ultimately they care for one another.
Chimera Ants Arc
One of the most harrowing plotlines in any manga or anime, the Chimera Ants Arc hit fans with a lot of feels, just like a chair to the back of the head. Up until that arc, there had been serious moments, but nothing quite so emotionally brutal. This particular section solidifies Hunter X Hunter as one of the best dark shonen manga.
Human-eating chimera creatures infiltrate East Gorteau and wreak havoc, but over the course of the longest arc yet, audiences watch as the ants develop. One of the most beautiful friendships of the series between the King ant Meruem and the human girl Komugi is a particular highlight.
Worst Dad Ever
The central quest of the show is Gon's search for his expert hunter father. Gon and Ging finally meet after Gon has gone through many trials and tribulations, only for Ging to turn out to be a bit of a jerk.
To be a professional Hunter, especially one as skilled as Ging, requires incredible dedication, even obsession. Ging left Gon and his mother to pursue his dream of hunting ruins. His most egregious failure was not visiting Gon in the hospital after he nearly died. He may be great at many things, but fathering is not one of them.
Villains
Throughout the series, there have been many frightening and powerful adversaries, but the most consistent and evil is Hisoka. He's a sly and terrifying foe, killing indiscriminately in his hunt for powerful opponents.
The Phantom Troupe is a group of villainous characters, of which Hisoka was a member. Though not all the details have been revealed, the Phantom Troupe wants Hisoka dead, but he manages to evade them consistently. The treacherous but complex villains make the series all the more dark and exciting.
Slow Updates
There is a fair share of manga that go through hiatuses. Infamously, titles like Berserk and Vagabond have gone on incredibly lengthy breaks. It's to be expected given creators must not only generate great stories but draw the images as well. Many fans think the Hunter x Hunter anime deserves another season, but without the new manga chapters, that is difficult.
Hunter x Hunter is in good company, as Yoshihiro Togashi takes plenty of breaks of varying lengths. Fans may tease him about the update schedule, making jokes about his will to finish, but it's all from an eagerness to see more of the saga.
Killua Zoldyck
Gon's best friend and a lethal assassin, Killua was raised by a family of elite killers in an abusive home. His friendship with Gon saves him in many ways, figuratively and literally.
In the Zoldyck Family Arc, Killua is being held captive at his childhood home, and the gang must find a way into the estate to rescue him. When Killua is finally able to get away, he takes his sister Alluka with him to hopefully give her a better life away from their evil family.
Kurapika's Revenge
In a universe full of both extreme joy and extreme pain, Kurapika's history is one of the darkest and is the direct reason he seeks to be a Hunter. He is the last remaining member of the Kurta Clan after the rest were killed by the Phantom Troupe for their scarlet eyes.
The troupe took the eyes to sell, as they're considered a rare jewel by some. Kurapika seeks revenge for his clan and aims to reclaim all of the stolen body parts. He will go to any length and often puts himself in dangerous situations for the sake of his mission.
Gon's Sacrifice
One of the most harrowing moments in the Chimera Ant Arc and one of the best anime episodes is Gon's sacrifice in "Angel x and x Light." This playful young boy gets pushed to a point through pain and loss where he is willing to give up everything to avenge the death of a dear friend.
Pushing his body to this limit almost kills gone, only Killua is able to find a way to save him. Thankfully Gon survives, but he has lost his Nen (a power possessed by Hunters that enables them to fight). As the comic currently stands, no one knows what this will mean for Gon moving forward, but it's clear his sacrifice was a heavy one.
So Many Characters To Love
In the sprawling world of Hunter X Hunter, there are a lot of characters. Humans, chimeras, and more navigate the continents of the Yobian and Azian continents, and there are other lands not yet explored in the story including the probably next destination for our heroes-- the dark continent.
With such an expansive cast, one might think characters would be painted with broad brushes and simplified, but that is not the case. Even minor characters are given details that suggest fully developed personalities and lives. It's easy to love even the villains when everyone is granted so much humanity.