Warning! Contains spoilers for Hunter x Hunter Chapter 397!The Phantom Troupe have always been some of Hunter x Hunter's most mysterious and compelling villains, and the latest chapter is finally showing off their driving motivation. Series author Yoshihiro Togashi has always excelled at creating complex and iconic villains, like the tragically human Chimera Ant Meruem. But while Meruem was so compelling because readers got to see his entire life and growth, the Phantom Troupe has always been interesting because of how little was known about them.
The Phantom Troupe first appeared in the Yorknew City arc, although they had been mentioned previously as the murderers who massacred Kurapika's entire clan. With striking character designs and fascinating powers that surpassed anything the protagonists of the series had faced beforehand, they instantly became fan favorite characters. After the events of Hunter x Hunter's Yorknew City arc, they remained active in the series, being featured in the following arcs even if they weren't a major focus of them. But while it was clear that the Troupe viewed each other as a family, their reason for committing crimes was still unknown. The latest chapter is changing this.
Chapter 397 continues a flashback delving into the origins of the Phantom Troupe. Initially, the group joined together as children to form an acting Troupe that would spread joy to the other children in Meteor City, the dystopian metropolis in which they lived. But the city is plagued by kidnappers and murderers and eventually, one member of the Troupe, a joyful girl named Sarasa, is kidnapped and brutally killed. This act causes the Hunter x Hunter's Troupe leader Chrollo Lucifer to change the Troupe into an instrument of vengeance, devoting themselves to gaining the skills they need to track down and destroy Sarasa's killers. This is a brilliantly tragic origin that brilliantly recontextualizes the group's dynamics.
The Phantom Troupe's Motivation Recontextualizes Their Dynamics
In Yorknew City after Kurapika killed a Phantom Troupe member named Uvogin, the other members of the Troupe took it very seriously, wreaking havoc on the city in their quest to find out who killed him. Given their origin, this reaction makes sense. Uvogin was like family to them and their whole reason for being is to avenge another Troupe member's death after all. This also contextualized their current hunt for Hisoka after the clown killed two more of their number.
Given the heavy focus on the Phantom Troupe in the Succession Contest arc, this flashback provides some welcome depth to their recent actions. Also, given that more Phantom Troupe members will likely die in their eventual conflict with Hisoka, it deepens that inevitable tragedy, increasing what the Troupe has lost in their quest for revenge. It seems like the next couple chapters of Hunter x Hunter will continue to focus on their backstory, so it will be interesting to see how the Phantom Troupe goes about avenging Sarasa's death in their early days.
Hunter x Hunter Chapter 397 is available to read from Viz Media.