Hunter X Hunter

So Kurapika is basically Sasuke Uchiha. Yet, I find myself far more invested in his character than I ever EVER did with Sasuke.

It's actually the other way around because Hx H predates Naruto (though not by too much, i think).

The difference between them is honestly pretty easy to articulate. In the first episode Kurapika shows up he literally shows a wider emotional range than Sasuke did in all of pre-Shippuden Naruto :´p

edited 4th Jun '17 10:56:28 PM by Draghinazzo

I'm really enjoying this now that I'm up to Episode 50.

The Prologue and Heaven's Arena arcs were kind of dull. This "Nostrade Family/Phantom Troupe" arc is the tits though, lots of moving parts, lots of half-truths, lots of "I didn't expect the heroes to get away with this sh't" moments, and a seemingly absolute defiance of Unique Protagonist Asset and Protagonist Power Up Priviliges.

I think what I disliked about Heaven's Arena was how Gon and Killua quickly picked up on Nen. Even with Gon losing to Hisoka it still didn't feel like enough. But here they are getting Always a Bigger Fish'd by the Phantom Troupe.

The Shadowbeasts vs Uvogin fight felt underwhelming because both sides were introduced as these "badass assassination squads." But Kurapika having a grudge against the troupe for killing the Kurta, and the Troupe having it in for Kurapika due to him killing Uvogin just made all of that build-up worth it.

And Hisoka putting a card to Killua's throat finally answered my burning "how does Killua stack against Hisoka" question.

Killua and Gon's friendship is adorable.

edited 18th Jun '17 8:18:34 PM by Soble

Not really sure how Hisoka being way out of Killua's league was really a question.

The only two times I recall Killua even paying Hisoka any mind were when he described an opponent as being like 20 Hisoka's, and being pushed back by Hisoka in the hallway during the Heaven's Arena arc - which still indicates Hisoka is stronger, but seeing as Gon managed to push through the same as Killua, and Killua seems to still be way above Gon at least physically, that doesn't really prove anything about where Killua and Hisoka are - they spend most of the Hunter's Exam BS'ing as I recall.

So unless there was a line/scene I missed the only comparison is Illumi, and while Killua was terrified of him and Hisoka wasn't, Hisoka is Hisoka.

I didn't expect Killua to win a fight easily, but then I hadn't seen any direct confrontation or conversation between him and Hisoka to indicate the former was just that far below the latter. There's Nen, but Gon and Killua learned that, so where does that leave Killua? Gon managed to punch Hisoka in the face and even sneak up on him. Killua's more tactical and better-trained.

edited 18th Jun '17 8:35:54 PM by Soble

How could you forget Killua making comparisons by drawing lines in the sand? "I'm so humble. :3"

Nope, forgot. I remember the scene but I can't visualize how Killua compared them all. The point was that Gon was way below Hisoka. Or Hanzo I guess.

And I can't seem to find a picture of it on Google.

edited 19th Jun '17 5:50:13 AM by Soble

Killua was closer but still fairly behind both Hisoka as well as Hanzo, the guy Gon fought in the final round of the exam. Pretty sure where that's the "humble" part comes in.

And that was just Killua's self-estimation, he was probably way off on how close he actually was to Hisoka.

edited 18th Jun '17 8:45:32 PM by LSBK

This'll come up later, but Killua's also been trained to underestimate himself. Better safe than sorry for an assassin, since the goal isn't to have a fair fight.

PSA: A NEW CHAPTER JUST CAME OUT!

When finally see the last of Kurapika's chain abilities. I like how they justified that the reason Kurapika didn't use that one in the Yorkshin arc is because he hadn't created it yet.

What was going on again? Some kind of succession battle for a random kingdom we have no reason to care about and some other stuff on a boat? Man, this series is confusing and hard to keep a track of.

Yeah, that's what's going on. Last chapter someone was taking out Kurapika's fellow bodyguards, turns out it's this parasite-type Nen ability controlling one of them, and Kurapika had to take him out.

Beyond Netero's expedition to the Dark Continent is being sponsored by this random country named Kakin and the princes there are having a traditional battle royale murderfest where the survivor gets the crown. One of the princes is a psycho who once bought a pair Kuruta eyes, so Kurapika is there to take it. He gets himself hired as a bodyguard to one of the princes and some friends as bodyguards to other princes, but it turns out Kurapika's prince is a baby.

edited 22nd Jun '17 8:04:33 AM by Comun

Also Nen Beasts are involved.

Also some of the princes including the baby are girls.

There's also a Stand made of boobs, but I don't remember exactly what was its purpose. I think it was the king's Nen ability?

Yeah, it's supposed to reflect upon his lustful nature.

Art in this chapter looks a bit sloppy compared to what Togashi was putting out before this latest hiatus.

It's not embarassing like the scribbles during the Chimera Ant arc mind you, but still mildly disappointing.

:V ◊

Also Momoze and Mayaram's mother is kind of a horrible person from that quick glance we got of her.

I saw this posted over on Reddit, but apparently Togashi revealed that he was originally going to kill off Machi as well when Hisoka resurrected himself, but he spared her because he wanted a character to return to the Phantom Troupe as a messenger.

edited 22nd Jun '17 7:54:18 PM by Lionheart0

New chapter out.

I forgot about one of those top three successors.

Evil bastard is evil.

He was one of the only two I remembered (the other being the baby) because he is the guy Kurapika is here for.

Whoof those Nen beast designs are really something else.

Theta seems cool. I hope she makes it, though I know the mortality rate for minor characters in HXH is not great. Especially with serial killer prince as her boss.