Yoshihiro Togashi (冨樫義博) is a manga artist. Credited in Chinese translations as Fu Jian Yi Bo.
He began drawing manga at an early age; while he attended college, the publisher Shueisha recognized his talent. Togashi has authored numerous manga series in different genres during the past three decades. He is perhaps best known for writing and illustrating the YuYu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter series, both of which have been published in the popular Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. Togashi is married to Naoko Takeuchi, the author of Sailor Moon.
So while I'm super glad that the Spiders have finally been reintroduced in this one... the majority of this volume honestly didn't interest me that much 8'D
Honestly, just a lot of setup (again) and more political machinations and murderous plots from princes... Even the Spiders didn't really have anything interesting happen with them - despite the fact that they're looking for Hisoka (which if he's on the ship spells troubleeeee) there hasn't really been anything substantial with them...
I freaking LOVE the phantom troupe and I am so happy to see them again! The whole mafia/succession arc storyline is really great and impressive. I loved every scene with our new main villain The 4th prince, I really liked Theta (the main villains bodyguard that was on our side), and I loved seeing Kurapika again! (In a sleek black suit like an edge lord, serving the underground, no less.) also, I loved the bodyguard that fell in love with Biscut once he saw her true form, and was like “those muscles are beautiful!” Like how CUTE!!!!!
The nen beasts and the rules of the succession war are explained a lot but I still managed to have some lacking in understanding. The explanations should’ve been clearer and more to the point, we have too much repetition circling around the rules keeping them mysterious which can have its perks but with this many characters it’s too much for me to keep up with. I just wanted to understand the rules a little easier! There was definitely a lot more dialogue than I was used to, and it was a struggle at times. But that was more in the other volumes in this arc than this one. This one I was more invested so it was easier. The artwork is also stunning as usual, there are a ton of new nen creatures and characters that Had to be created and I thought they were amazing, the nen beasts really fitting the aesthetic of their prince. IMO I think that the princes should’ve died quicker, as a succession battle having only one of them dead after half of the trip confused me. Other people were dying, but not the main princes. Odd.
Also random but I really liked the girl (ka-cho) who could travel through the wall in a tunnel she made and ka-chin her sister. (Ch383) It was so sad and brutal! Also Prince Camilla showed up for a short time but I really liked her and wanted more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
im sorry there is just nothing quite as addicting as when hxh gets going like now that we are in full swing of the arc I cannot stop reading, im sorry for doing so many manga in a row but this is just like candy to the extreme, it feels sooooo good to keep track of all the moving pieces from the princes and queens and their body guards to the different mafia families to the spiders and the zodiac its so cool to have everyone in the same place and navigating this complex ecosystem that is the ship, im loving this so much. I should be writing my Sula review since i finished that yesterday but ughghjdfkgsjdlf
As much as a can criticize the writing or over explanation of this arc, I have to give praise for the sheer courage of it all. There are so many moving pieces to account for, so many balls to keep from hitting the ground. And in spite of all that, the damn thing just works. When it started out, I couldn't really see where this story was going and wasn't really feeling it, but once again Togashi has won me over. If for no other reason than the sheer sport of this kind of storytelling. The spectacle of having so many factions- each with individual members who may have their own self-interests-would be enough to carry this arc. But that doesn't even account for the likes of Kurapika, the Spiders, and the princes, all of which have a strong sense of identity. I don't even know where an analysis would begin. I am feeling the lack of small, charming character moments, but there's not really any room left for those.
Overwhelmed by how much I love this series. It has indeed been a journey from watching the entire Chimera Ant arc in a week (72 episodes) to stress-reading the manga when I was supposed to be studying for my finals. It's a shame that this manga probably will never finish. I hope the creator gets well soon and finishes the story. :(
Although the end seems impossible in the near future. The story ends in the middle of the Dark Continent/ Succession Battle arc and they haven't even reached the continent yet. There are 4 storylines in parallel- the succession battle, the search for Hisoka with the phantom troupe and the mafia families, and the thing with Ging and the Hunter Association searching for the killer. And I'm sure if and when they reach the continent, it will be another chimera ant level situation. Meaning that at least 200 chapters...god.)
EDIT: I TYPED THIS REVIEW WITH THE "HOPE CREATORS FINISHES STORY" AS THE END AND THEN ON TUESDAY TOGASHI SAID HES RESUMING HIS WORK ON THE MANGA DSDHJBBDHBDF I LITERALLY MANIFESTED IT
I had meant to review the entire series, but the character limit stopped me. Attached is part one if anyone is curious: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4.5/5
(Volumes 30 to 36- all specific spoilers covered)
Chimera Ants To my surprise, immediately after Greed Island readers are launched into the famous Chimera Ants arc. Yes, it was mildly disappointing for me when Kite appeared instead of Ging. This arc however, definitely did not disappoint the high expectations I had for it- yet it is far from perfect.
To start, what I loved and think is worth the hype it gets. The character and relationship development is incredible. Gon and Killua's friendship is very well expanded upon, with the effects of Gon's selfish tendencies coming to surface. I am so glad their friendship's underlying issues are explored instead of passed off with the characters being young. Despite doing nearly everything together, their different upbringings cause Gon and Killua to have dissimilar takeaways and similarly, divergent journeys. Gon's innocence from growing up on Whale Island versus Killua being raised as an assassin... Gon is introduced to the darker aspects of the world while for Killua, the opposite is true.
Its's quite sad, in how Killua places so much of his self worth onto his friendship while he is forced to confront his own shortcomings- he silently takes upon the burdens of Gon's actions without considering Gon's faults. This arc oversees great development and insight for Killua's character in which he grows separately from his friendship with Gon.
Regarding Gon, this arc is monumental to his character. His selfishness in the form that he is the only one allowed to sacrifice themselves, is taken to the extreme under the influence of his rage and guilt over Kite's death. Kite's death is truly the main event that shatters Gon's innocence as no atrocity previously witnessed reached him at a personal level. His anger is not only directed at Neferpitou and how unjust Kite's death is, but at himself- his inadequate abilities rendering him unable to play the role of sacrifice. As Gon cannot find an outlet for his emotions, he does not consider the effects of his actions and ends up lashing out at Killua. The climatic moment of this arc for Gon is an iconic animanga scene. Rightfully so, as it truly highlights Gon's complexities and is a moment built up to over the course of the series.
While still on the topic of characters... Meruem, Palm and Netero (more on the latter later) stand out. While Meruem's development was foreseeable, his relationship with Komugi struck my feelings nevertheless. At first, I was skeptical of how meaningful it would be (I generally despise romance/love used for character development or motives), but Meruem and Komugi's fate was heart wrenching and played the role of an emotional climax. Meruem's arc focused on him gaining humanity contrasts Gon's, in which he sacrifices it. Palm is kind of a weird one... To say the least, when she is first introduced, she is extremely unstable and attention seeking- leading her to cling to Gon in Novu's absence. I initially figured she would become some kind of comic relief or cannon fodder but her character developed nicely. To put it simply, Palm's state after becoming a Chimera Ant reflects her character. She has clearer visions and no longer requires blood (self harm) to do so. Her change represents her gaining stability and understanding she did not possess prior.
In regards to the abundance of other characters introduced, I did not care for a portion of them. Some honorable mentions though- Morau is a great depiction of an experienced hunter; Knuckle subverted and far surpassed my expectations; mostly all the ants allied with the main crew and the royal guards are all significant contributions to the cast.
(Additional commentary) However, I think Neferpitou was a better character before Meruem’s appearance- their unhinged qualities and edge gave way afterwards making them less distinctive. Pouf was extremely annoying as intended, so while I hate him, I can’t hate his character as this arc needed his contributions. Shoot doesn’t leave much of an impression on me, all his internal monologues just served as plot devices to boost Gon and Killua. I did not like his change of heart upon witnessing Gon and Killua’s bravery. Speaking of bravery… Novu was done dirty upon what I believe, Togashi realizing how convenient and powerful his ability is.
This arc started feeling really impactful after Netero’s sacrifice. Seeing humanity’s greatest commit suicide to detonate the equivalent of a nuclear bomb is terrifying in the context of the HxH world. Meruem vs Netero is definitely my favourite fight from this arc. Overall, the Chimera Ants arc is the best comprehensive representation of Togashi’s writing. Albeit the pacing being slow and some characters, in my opinion unnecessary, a very interesting, multifaceted story is told.
Regarding the events afterwards, I don’t think the Chimera Ants arc held as much impact as it should have in HxH. This is my main criticism of this arc. While post mortem nen is a feature I like, Kite’s reincarnation is frustrating. Perhaps it is to convey the futility of Gon’s sacrifice made out of rage and guilt, but to me this seems like a way to gloss over that event. Coupled with the introduction of Alluka/Nanika, Gon ends up coming out of this arc with only the consequence of losing his nen. Neither his scene with reincarnated Kite, or later his apology to Killua makes up for this loss of impact- both scenes felt lacking. Yes, the Chairman Election arc is born out of Netero’s death- but due to that fact, way more apprehension should be expressed towards the Dark Continent. The chimera ants somehow only reach a B on the threat scale… I feel like I missed chapters considering the lack of discussion about the severity of the events that unfolded.
Chairman Election and Dark Continent Expedition While this arc felt like a clean up device for the prior, it was still rather enjoyable. I like Alluka, but she was definitely not originally included in the story… Considering how significant she is to Killua, I refuse to believe that Killua just never mentioned her before. Alluka is great, but exists because Togashi did not want Gon to die. I also wish the 12 Zodiacs or more about the Hunter Association could have been mentioned prior, but it’s not huge. Another thing that bothered me was Tsubone’s comments on Illumi.
”Sinister and mechanical that one. A wicked ambition contrary even to the assassin’s creed…” - Tsubone
When moral relativism and ambiguity is a huge theme in HxH, this misses the mark for me. Coupled with her comments associating Illumi and Milluki with Kikyo over the rest of the family, I don’t really get what Togashi was going for here. Potentially this suggests a divide in the Zoldyck family, and it’s highly likely Tsubone sides with Silva and Zeno in such. The inaccuracies in her perspective are consequently demonstrated in her quip about Killua being happier while under his family’s control but still… I just don’t get why this was added.
Regarding the election itself, I feel like its events got lost for me in Killua’s mission to revive Gon. Although, I liked seeing Ging’s mind at work- especially in his interactions with Pariston. Pariston’s character is an interesting addition quite befitting of his former title of ‘Rat’. I look forward to what these two hold in store for the plot. The rest of the zodiacs and Leorio’s involvement did not stand out to me. I liked the idea of Leorio stepping up for Gon, but it felt a little forced considering their lack of interaction (still a satisfying punch though).
Overall, this arc delivers when Gon finally meets Ging. It’s a well deserved moment that provides a sense of closure. The latter however, dissipates with the introduction of the Dark Continent but I am not complaining when the world of HxH still has so much to offer.
Succession Contest While I don’t know if readers will ever be able to see the end of this arc, it is definitely on track to becoming one of the best in the series and my favorite.
Firstly- it encompasses (in my opinion) the best fight in the series. Hisoka versus Chrollo has been long awaited since Yorknew and this ended up surpassing my already high expectations. I loved the use of strategy by Chrollo and watching the different abilities fit together. Great fight choreography. Overall the Phantom Troupe and Hisoka will be very interesting to follow moving forwards. Hisoka vowing to kill each Troupe member fits so well with what is previously established about his character. He feels the need to reaffirm his strength to himself. Chrollo’s anger towards Hisoka after Shalnark and Kortopi’s deaths is personal- an interesting development from the detachment he displayed in Yorknew City.
The succession contest itself has done an amazing job weaving politics, relationships and nen. Each prince brings something different to the page. Togashi’s unique designs used to depict the quirkiness of the HxH world and ant hybrids has now created creatures straight from a horror/thriller. Tserriednich’s nen guardian is so distinctly frightening. Throughout, amazing art and imagery. Nen guardians are a good addition and figuring out their powers along with their hosts’ has been very fun. I really like all the new powers introduced this arc- especially Camilla’s nen beast and Fugetsu and Kachin’s interconnected abilities.
I love how much is going on aboard the Black Whale. Despite that, it doesn’t feel convoluted and I feel as though all the pieces will start falling together nicely. With the final pairs of scarlet eyes and the entire Phantom Troupe onboard, I am sad to admit I think this arc will be Kurapika’s final moments. Tserriednich is being set up as a powerful antagonist with his prodigious affinity for nen and I believe in the throaty he has specially collected Pairo’s severed head (intro panel where he is sitting with his collection). Combined with the prominence of Emperor Time and Kurapika’s devotion to Oito and Woble, the death flags are strong… While I hope (and doubt…) the case is otherwise, hopefully readers will be able to see the end of Kurapika’s arc in a satisfying manner.
Overview Well that sums up most of my thoughts on each arc! Hunter x Hunter really stands out to me in its range of moods and characters. The variety makes it a very entertaining read. I didn’t expect to like Gon as the main character at first, but following his character’s journey has been a pleasant surprise. The plot has far surpassed the fairly high expectations I had going in. I will make some final comments on the art- it’s pretty inconsistent but overall well drawn and the panels have good flow. It really ranges from incredibly impressive to hard to make out. My only complaint would be inconsistencies with character design as I can only recognize Chrollo by his coat and forehead cross. I will stress how great the majority of this series is- it is definitely worth the read regardless of its hiatus situation. Needless to say, I can now join in on the excitement from announcement of HxH’s return this year!
On a side note, I don’t really know why I made this review THIS long but it was fun to dump/rant my thoughts somewhere. Word count is just under 4000 (parts one and two) for reference which marks my longest review to date… I’m incredibly flattered and grateful if I’ve managed to maintain anyone’s attention up until this point! Hopefully something about my ramblings is coherent and constructive.
I did not enjoy the last couple of volumes but this one is good. The Succession contest arc is actually coming into place and things are making more sense now. It's getting interesting slowly. I guess this arc is a slow burner. There is so much stuff happening with a lot of characters compared to the previous arcs. The character names are annoying though. I just can't remember them. But I hope things keep getting better.
Let me just say, I adore the covers of volume 12 and 36. They are my favorites in a line of great artistic covers. Beyond its simplicity and chibi cuteness, I love them because both further humanize the Phantom Troupe, (whether or not they deserve our sympathy is another matter,) as well as showcase their strong bond to one another; transitioning from a once cheerful collective to now a somber one sans four original members, plus Kalluto and Illumi.
Although I am still enjoying the Succession arc, I’m a bit exhausted with the back-to-back slow buildup leading up to what could be a crazy climax.
Nothing really to note… I’m bummed that the next volume is the last of Hunter x Hunter before Togashi goes into hiatus.