You’ve probably seen the "Hiatus x Hiatus" memes. They’re everywhere. But honestly, if the Hunter X Hunter manga was just some average story, nobody would care enough to complain about the wait. We’d have moved on years ago. Instead, every time a new chapter drops or Yoshihiro Togashi posts a cryptic photo of a manuscript corner on X (formerly Twitter), the entire internet basically has a collective meltdown.
It’s weird, right?
The series started back in 1998. Since then, we’ve seen the rise and fall of dozens of massive franchises. Yet, Gon and Killua still feel more relevant than almost any modern protagonist. That’s not an accident. Togashi isn't just drawing a comic; he’s deconstructing what it means to be a hero in a world that is frankly quite terrifying.
What makes the Hunter X Hunter manga so different?
Most shonen series follow a predictable path. You get a kid with a dream, a bunch of power-ups, and the "power of friendship" winning the day. Hunter X Hunter manga lures you in with that exact setup and then proceeds to rip the rug out from under your feet.
Take the Nen system.
It’s easily the most complex power system ever put to paper. It isn't just about who has the biggest "energy blast." It’s about psychology. It’s about Vows and Limitations. When Kurapika fights the Phantom Troupe, he isn't just stronger; he’s more desperate. He literally puts a blade to his own heart to gain the power necessary to kill his enemies. That’s heavy stuff for a "kid's magazine."
Togashi writes like he’s playing 4D chess against himself. You can see this in the Chimera Ant arc. It’s long. Some people say it’s too long. But the way it shifts from a monster-hunt into a philosophical meditation on human nature and evolution is something you just don't see in Weekly Shonen Jump very often. The "villain," Meruem, ends up being more human than the "hero," Gon, who undergoes a psychological collapse that is genuinely hard to watch.
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The Hiatus struggle is real but there is a reason for it
We have to talk about Togashi’s health. It’s the elephant in the room. For years, fans speculated about why the Hunter X Hunter manga would vanish for years at a time. Some people joked he was just playing Dragon Quest.
The reality is much darker.
Togashi has been open about his debilitating back pain. At certain points, he couldn't even sit in a chair to draw. He had to work while lying down. This is a man who loves his craft so much that he’s willing to endure physical agony to finish his story. He’s also famously stubborn about using assistants. While most manga artists have a small army of people doing the backgrounds and ink work, Togashi keeps a very tight grip on his vision.
In 2024 and 2025, we saw a shift in how the series is produced. The move away from a strictly weekly serialization was necessary. It’s about survival. If Togashi stayed on the weekly grind, he’d likely never finish the current Succession Contest arc, which is—and I’m not exaggerating—perhaps the most dense piece of fiction in manga history.
The Succession Contest: A masterpiece of complexity
Right now, the story is on a giant boat heading toward the Dark Continent. There are 14 princes trying to kill each other. There are Mafia families. There are the Zodiacs. There’s Kurapika trying to keep it all from exploding.
- It’s basically Game of Thrones on a cruise ship.
- Every character has a Nen beast with specific, terrifying rules.
- The dialogue is dense.
- You actually have to read it twice to understand the subtext.
Some fans find it overwhelming. They miss the days of Gon fishing on Whale Island. But that’s the beauty of the Hunter X Hunter manga. It grows up with its audience. It refuses to stay stagnant.
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Why you should start (or restart) the manga today
If you’ve only watched the 2011 anime, you’re missing out. The anime stops at a "good" spot, but the manga keeps going into territory that is much darker and more experimental.
The art style changes too. Sometimes Togashi’s art is incredibly detailed, with hatching that looks like a classical engraving. Other times, it’s loose and sketchy, almost like a storyboard. Some people hate that inconsistency. I think it’s raw. It feels like you’re looking directly into the mangaka’s brain.
You also get the fight between Hisoka and Chrollo. That fight alone is worth the price of admission. It takes place in Heaven's Arena and involves explosive clones, stolen abilities, and a level of tactical brilliance that makes other manga fights look like two toddlers swinging sticks. It’s a masterclass in "show, don't tell."
Dealing with the "Wall of Text"
The biggest complaint about the recent Hunter X Hunter manga chapters is the amount of text. Sometimes there are pages with almost no art, just bubbles.
Here is the thing: Togashi is writing a novel that happens to be a manga. He isn't wasting words. Every explanation of a Nen ability or a political maneuver is a puzzle piece. If you skip the text, you will be lost three chapters later. It’s a slow-burn experience. It’s for the reader who wants to theorize and dissect every panel.
Common Misconceptions about Togashi's work
- "It's never going to finish." We don't know that. Togashi has stated he has the ending planned. He wants to finish it.
- "The art is bad." Go look at the volume releases. Togashi often redraws panels for the tankobon (volumes) that looked rough in the magazine.
- "Gon is the main character." He’s a main character. But the Hunter X Hunter manga is an ensemble piece. Right now, Kurapika is the lead. Next, it might be Leorio (we hope).
The world of Hunter X Hunter is indifferent to its protagonists. The world doesn't revolve around Gon's quest to find his dad. The world is a vast, terrifying place full of monsters and politics, and the characters are just trying to survive it. That groundedness is why it sticks with you.
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Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Hunter
If you're looking to dive deep into the Hunter X Hunter manga, don't just rush through the chapters. The depth is the point.
First, start from Chapter 1. The 2011 anime actually cuts out a vital character from the very beginning—Kite. Seeing Kite in the first chapter changes how you view Gon's entire journey and the eventual fallout in the Chimera Ant arc.
Second, pay attention to the backgrounds and the "Nen symbols." Togashi hides a lot of information in the margins.
Third, join the community discussions on places like Reddit or specialized Discord servers. Part of the fun of being a Hunter X Hunter fan is the collective theorizing. Because the releases are sporadic, the community has spent years deconstructing every single line of dialogue.
Finally, be patient. This isn't a series you binge and forget. It’s a series you live with. The gaps between chapters are long, but they give the story time to breathe in your mind.
The Hunter X Hunter manga remains a benchmark for the medium because it refuses to play it safe. It’s a story about the beauty and the horror of being alive, wrapped in a package of superpowers and adventure. Whether we get ten more chapters or a hundred, the journey Togashi has taken us on is already one for the history books. Keep an eye on the official Shonen Jump app for the most recent updates, and always support the official release to ensure the creator gets his due.
Go back to the Dark Continent. It’s worth the trip.