A Special Thanks To Viz Media and NetGalley for the ARC.
It’s time once again for another 3-in-1 Edition Review (Be sure to check out my previous review of Haikyuu 3-in-1 Edition Vol. One), and this time, we’re going to cover one of the most iconic Shonen Manga in the history of Manga, Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter.
After hearing tales of his dad as a Hunter, a young country boy named Gon prepares to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a legendary Hunter. He embarks on a journey across the sea to take the Hunter Exams. After he finally finds the elusive Exam Hall, the other Hunter hopefuls prove deadly serious, and the tests are wild and wicked. Will Gon’s plucky spirit and courageous heart be enough to carry him closer to his dream?
Once again, Viz Media re-releasing a new collected edition that benefits not only Hunter x Hunter fans but new readers and fans of Manga. This collected edition starts new fans in the right direction when it comes to Shonen manga, not to mention having something to read while the later portion of the series is on hiatus. With it being an older Shonen title, it does show its age in terms of its story and artwork (which will be covered further in the review).
This collected edition sets up the premise of the story perfectly, though if you are approaching the manga after you watch the anime, keep in mind that things are a tad different from the anime. For example, we see that Gon learned about his dad’s time as a Hunter from Kite, this was shown later in the anime. But aside from that, it sets up what you need to know about the importance of Hunters in the story, introducing the key characters and finally what it takes to be one. Speaking of the story, it still has a way of mystifying the reader, introducing terrifying creatures, and enemies that fans love to hate (I’m looking at you Hisoka!)
As for the artwork, this collected edition includes unique illustrations from each volume, including an illustration of Sailor Moon that he drew for Naoko Takeuchi, who helped him with his color pages in the earlier stages of Hunter x Hunter. The way Gon is drawn reminds me of Osamu Tezuka‘s Astro Boy, a certain innocence to him, and the knowledge of what tragedy he will face in future volumes. Togashi’s eye for detail in character design and creature design (whether it’s humorous or in a serious tone) is remarkable, this is the case for Gon’s pals, Leorio, Kurapika, and Killua, who showed quite well that looks can be deceiving. In certain scenes, the moments filled with action are drawn well, and in certain situations, there are hints of comedic humor involved to keep the story enticing and the reader’s attention from straying away, but how can you not be interested in the Hunter Exam? We have fights with shape-shifting creatures, a fierce game of takeaway, and a cooking challenge, all collected in three volumes.
Hunter x Hunter (3-In-1 Edition) Volume One Goes on sale next Week (February 18), it will be available in your local bookstore or e-retailer. You can pre-order your copy now on Amazon, or purchase the volumes individually, which are available now. For more great reviews, click here to read my previous reviews.
Final Grade:
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