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[Hellraider]

Same. The only thing that tops it for me was Togashi's other masterpiece Yu Yu Hakusho. The Dark Tournament arc is probably the best shounen arc ever created. The Chapter Black arc is pretty close as well.

You know, I read Yu Yu Hakusho this year and I really didn't think it was anything special. It was definitely competent and had a couple of fun moments but in the end it was pretty unmemorable and by the books fighting shonen. And I'm a huge HxH fan.

 

[Bounceounce]

You know, I read Yu Yu Hakusho this year and I really didn't think it was anything special. It was definitely competent and had a couple of fun moments but in the end it was pretty unmemorable and by the books fighting shonen. And I'm a huge HxH fan.

I think of Hakusho as the necessary step Togashi needed to make possibly the best Shonen,a lot of concepts he improved on, even the main characters of Hunter sans Gon are kinda updated versions of the Hakusho cast.

 

[Hockey123]

This post has made me want to jump in. At episode five on Crunchy roll. After that is there more elsewhere for me to watch?

If you have Netflix they have the first 80 episodes or so.

 

[HStallion]

Lol. This is good but the fighting aspect is so secundary, it can't possibly compete with OP for example, even though the nen system is so layered and rich.

I mean, chimera ant could be the best shonen arc, but the fighting aspect is so lackluster. I really want to read someone defending the king vs netero as a good shonen fight, because it was just... Nothing? No emotional stakes in play, no real purpose, we just learned Meruem is too intelligent. I mean, it didn't even use nen in clever ways, useless.

I thought it was quite possibly the best fight in the series.

 

[flintstryker]

Hunter X Hunter is incredibly but I wouldn't call it better than One Piece, on their best days I'd say they are both equal,it's definitely a better series than Bleach and Naruto however

Edit: As for protagonist I will say Yusuke is way better than Gon and pretty much every other shounen protagonist besides Joseph Joestar actually and I also think the Yu Yu hakusho anime is better than the manga

 

[Nightbird]

I think HunterxHunter is better than One Piece.

One Piece may be the Shounen Jump Manga that is the closest to HxH, but HxH is far better. Partly because not only does HxH kick into gear much faster than One Piece, but also because once it does that there are no downtimes like in OP.

 

[Xemnas89]

Just finished episode 19. I'm blazing through this early stuff pretty quick and really enjoy it already. At what episode do most consider it to get really good?

 

[Moaradin]

I enjoyed it from the beginning but once a key element gets introduced, I was hooked and it just kept getting better and better from there.

You're like 10 episodes away

 

[Thud]

Just finished episode 19. I'm blazing through this early stuff pretty quick and really enjoy it already. At what episode do most consider it to get really good?

I think the next episode already cements what makes this an amazing series.

 

[Lulubop]

Hunter X Hunter is incredibly but I wouldn't call it better than One Piece, on their best days I'd say they are both equal,it's definitely a better series than Bleach and Naruto however

Edit: As for protagonist I will say Yusuke is way better than Gon and pretty much every other shounen protagonist besides Joseph Joestar actually and I also think the Yu Yu hakusho anime is better than the manga

Joseph is a Gary Stu, dub Yusuke is easily better

HXH is easily my favorite Shonen, easily top 3 favorite series overall

 

[Nibel]

I wished Togashi had half the motivation and energy that Oda has

because in that case I'd call HxH superior

 

[DrD]

I started watching HxH in grade 12 after hearing people in my class talk about it and it became one of my favorite anime/manga despite being initially unimpressed by the first few episodes. Hisoka and The Oreo are my favorite characters and I'm interested in seeing more of Pariston, love the character so far.

 

[Kagari]

I wished Togashi had half the motivation and energy that Oda has

because in that case I'd call HxH superior

Togashi should probably get someone else to draw for him at this point.

 

[NHarmonic.]

Fighting being secondary doesn't make Hunter X Hunter inferior to One Piece, it helps it in being more cerebral and engaging, imo. I like knowing the thought processes and overall atmosphere of a given moment more than always having fight scenes.

As for Netero vs Meruem, my response to your criticism is that it's not always what you show/tell but how you show/tell it that can make a scene compelling. I enjoyed their fight because it was presented in a way where you fully understood the degree of power these characters were capable of wielding against each other. Even a single action from both characters carried a ton of weight due understanding their potential. This would not be possible if the level of detail regarding these characters had not been as great as it was.



Ah, OK. I understand.

Anyway, I prefer Togashi's heavy narration. It gives you the kind of detailed story telling that typically only happens in books. It's the best of both worlds.

But we're talking about Shonen manga. Fights are important for the narrative itself. I'm really trying hard to understand how that fight could be appealing but i fail to do it. Netero was underdeveloped, and that flashback was so dumb but made a point. The dude was amazing, but in the end, the king outsmarts him, and yeah it was like 1 needle in an infinity of them and all those allegories, so deep.

But hell, even the resolution of the fight and how they got Meruem was shitty, i mean, they could have even just throw the damn bomb and be done with the ants, but the hunter association/government wasted the president on a mission that was grade B? It doesn't make sense at all.

i don't know, you usually have to care for the characters to find the fights significant, but this stuff doesn't really compete with the emotional punches of peak OP, I'd argue Hisoka vs Gon, the razor dodgeball game and gon vs pitou get to those levels, but the king vs meruem was really, really forgettable, for an arc considered the best in shonen manga.

 

[Nibel]

Togashi should probably get someone else to draw for him at this point.

I wished. His recent comments in Shonen Jump magazines are terrifying as hell

 

[Lulubop]

But we're talking about Shonen manga. Fights are important for the narrative itself. I'm really trying hard to understand how that fight could be appealing but i fail to do it. Netero was underdeveloped, and that flashback was so dumb but made a point. The dude was amazing, but in the end, the king outsmarts him, and yeah it was like 1 needle in an infinity of them and all those allegories, so deep.

But hell, even the resolution of the fight and how they got Meruem was shitty, i mean, they could have even just throw the damn bomb and be done with the ants, but the hunter association/government wasted the president on a mission that was grade B? It doesn't make sense at all.

i don't know, you usually have to care for the characters to find the fights significant, but this stuff doesn't really compete with the emotional punches of peak OP, I'd argue Hisoka vs Gon, the razor dodgeball game and gon vs pitou get to those levels, but the king vs meruem was really, really forgettable, for an arc considered the best in shonen manga.

The bombs were outlaw and the Hunter associate had to dance around that. Dropping the bomb on the capital of a country would have been met with a lot of repercussions. The always wanted to keep the true threat of the ants lowkey and nother alarm the population. Additional it was a last resort, period. Also the Ants had the entire population of the country summoned to the palace. You really gonna have them drop a bomb on them? The point was to save them, and a big reason why Netero drew out the king elsewhere. Come on dude weres you even paying attention?

OPs emotional fights are super heavy handed and extra cheesy complete with goofy over the top crying.

 

[heliosRAzi]

I thought the whole point of that fight is that even the most physically or Nen powerful characters can still be wiped out by a nuclear bomb. The fight between Netero and Meruem wasn't a fight between just those two, it was a fight between the Chimera Ants and Humanity, and humanity won because we find new ways to destroy anything. The low yield and low budget of the bomb is reiterated twice (once in the episode it first shows up and then another in the next episode). It's nicknamed the Poor Man's Rose because smaller nations favor it.

If humanity was going to be faced with extinction, humanity would have scorched the planet with rose petals.

 

[brainchild]

But we're talking about Shonen manga. Fights are important for the narrative itself. I'm really trying hard to understand how that fight could be appealing but i fail to do it. Netero was underdeveloped, and that flashback was so dumb but made a point. The dude was amazing, but in the end, the king outsmarts him, and yeah it was like 1 needle in an infinity of them and all those allegories, so deep.

But hell, even the resolution of the fight and how they got Meruem was shitty, i mean, they could have even just throw the damn bomb and be done with the ants, but the hunter association/government wasted the president on a mission that was grade B? It doesn't make sense at all.

i don't know, you usually have to care for the characters to find the fights significant, but this stuff doesn't really compete with the emotional punches of peak OP, I'd argue Hisoka vs Gon, the razor dodgeball game and gon vs pitou get to those levels, but the king vs meruem was really, really forgettable, for an arc considered the best in shonen manga.

It's not like fight scenes don't exist in Hunter X Hunter, they just aren't the primary focus.

Anyway, it seems to me that you simply didn't have much affinity for some of the characters in HxH and so that had an effect on the level of impact some of the climatic scenes left on you. That's fine. I'd wager the same case for myself in terms of how I feel about One Piece. I just don't have any emotional investment in the characters and the show is harder to take seriously.

You have to realize that artistic representation is a very subjective thing. Some things resonate better with some people while other things resonate better with other people. Arguing about it is like making an argument for why pink is better than blue. Ultimately, it all boils down to preference.

 

[ASilentProtagonist]

You know, I read Yu Yu Hakusho this year and I really didn't think it was anything special. It was definitely competent and had a couple of fun moments but in the end it was pretty unmemorable and by the books fighting shonen. And I'm a huge HxH fan.

I'd highly suggest watching the anime. The english dub cast, music, and humor really shine compared to the anime

 

[Lulubop]

I thought the whole point of that fight is that even the most physically or Nen powerful characters can still be wiped out by a nuclear bomb. The fight between Netero and Meruem wasn't a fight between just those two, it was a fight between the Chimera Ants and Humanity, and humanity won because we find new ways to destroy anything. The low yield and low budget of the bomb is reiterated twice (once in the episode it first shows up and then another in the next episode). It's nicknamed the Poor Man's Rose because smaller nations favor it.

If humanity was going to be faced with extinction, humanity would have scorched the planet with rose petals.

It's not like fight scenes don't exist in Hunter X Hunter, they just aren't the primary focus.

Anyway, it seems to me that you simply didn't have much affinity for some of the characters in HxH and so that had an effect on the level of impact some of the climatic scenes left on you. That's fine. I'd wager the same case for myself in terms of how I feel about One Piece. I just don't have any emotional investment in the characters and the show is harder to take seriously.

You have to realize that artistic representation is a very subjective thing. Some things resonate better with some people while other things resonate better with other people. Arguing about it is like making an argument for why pink is better than blue. Ultimately, it all boils down to preference.

Yea to both

 

[Bounceounce]

I think HunterxHunter is better than One Piece.

One Piece may be the Shounen Jump Manga that is the closest to HxH, but HxH is far better. Partly because not only does HxH kick into gear much faster than One Piece, but also because once it does that there are no downtimes like in OP.

What do you mean by down times?
And yeah, I'd agree it kicked in faster, but for me OP kicked in once we got to Syrupp village and never let up after.

 

[Daingurse]

OPs emotional fights are super heavy handed and extra cheesy complete with goofy over the top crying.

I love One Piece, but find it hard at times to take tragic moments seriously. The way people cry and shit is just too cartoonish, a pretty ironic complaint I know, haha.

I thought the whole point of that fight is that even the most physically or Nen powerful characters can still be wiped out by a nuclear bomb. The fight between Netero and Meruem wasn't a fight between just those two, it was a fight between the Chimera Ants and Humanity, and humanity won because we find new ways to destroy anything. The low yield and low budget of the bomb is reiterated twice (once in the episode it first shows up and then another in the next episode). It's nicknamed the Poor Man's Rose because smaller nations favor it.

If humanity was going to be faced with extinction, humanity would have scorched the planet with rose petals.

You got it. Meruem, essentially the peak of biological evolution, was nothing to the technological superiority of mankind. Humanity possesses a potential for cruelty that surpassed Meruem's wildest dreams.

 

[ASilentProtagonist]

Seeing all of this praise for One Piece makes me want to give it another shot. It's just sooo far ahead, that the task seems daunting.

 

[heliosRAzi]

You got it. Meruem, essentially the peak of biological evolution, was nothing to the technological superiority of mankind. Humanity possesses a potential for cruelty that surpassed Meruem's wildest dreams.

That's the whole point in showing Netero's backstory. He is the pinnacle of humanity when it comes to nen, but that doesn't matter because he's rigged with a nuclear explosive.

Meruem should've realized how cruel humanity could be after he underestimated Komugi in that side bet he made during Gungi. He intended to throw her off her game. If she wins, he will grant any wish she has. But if she loses, he will take her left arm. Then Komugi says that she'll wager her life since that is what she usually bets.

 

[casiopao]

Seeing so many here confused on looking for new great shonen, i will recommend reading Helck.

Great Shonen. I feel it is absolutely on par with One Piece or HxH.^~^

 

[B-Dubs]

Togashi should probably get someone else to draw for him at this point.

Everyone's pretty sure it's gotten bad enough that his wife pitched in and helped him out a bit during this most recent run of chapters. There's a couple of pages in the first few chapters released recently that are done in her style.

That's the whole point in showing Netero's backstory. He is the pinnacle of humanity when it comes to nen, but that doesn't matter because he's rigged with a nuclear explosive.

Meruem should've realized how cruel humanity could be after he underestimated Komugi in that side bet he made during Gungi. He intended to throw her off her game. If she wins, he will grant any wish she has. But if she loses, he will take her left arm. Then Komugi says that she'll wager her life since that is what she usually bets.

That's why that fight was so good.

 

[SalvaPot]

I recommend My Hero Academia, even if the anime is only 13 episodes and stops just when it goes from decent to something special, I can't wait for season 2. The manga is much faster.

One Piece is a masterclass in World Building, Hunter x Hunter is a masterclass in developing characters. I think both have their strengths but One Piece deserves praise in that its still quality after all this years.

 

[Thud]

Seeing all of this praise for One Piece makes me want to give it another shot. It's just sooo far ahead, that the task seems daunting.

Definitely give it a try. The beginning is a bit rough, but the Enies Lobby arc is one of the highest highs battle manga can get. Quite different from the Chimera Ant arc in HxH.

I would also recommend manga like Law of Ueki and Rave Master. Pretty old stuff now that I think about it.

 

[casiopao]

I have been reading several shonen recently. Helck, Enen no shouboutai, Black Clover, Kimetsu no Yaiba and Hinomaru Zumou.

Helck and Enen no shouboutai is my favorite from those.

While Black Clover is totally like Naruto blin his early day. Simple but fun to read. Kimetsu had quite unique setting while Zumou is all about badass Sumo battle lol.

 

[Lulubop]

If you're down for a manga I'd recommend Kekkaishi.

 

[casiopao]

If you're down for a manga I'd recommend Kekkaishi.

Thats old though lol. Full Metal Alchemist is also nice manga there. The great Fuhrer.^~^

 

[HStallion]

Thats old though lol. Full Metal Alchemist is also nice manga there. The great Fuhrer.^~^

Yeah FMA is one of the greats. The animes are both pretty good though the first one does go crazy after a certain point.

 

[flintstryker]

Joseph is a Gary Stu, dub Yusuke is easily better

HXH is easily my favorite Shonen, easily top 3 favorite series overall

I don't disagree that Yusuke is better but Joseph being a Gary Stu is hardly a minus for me, his personality completely makes the character

 

[Hypron]

Yeah FMA is one of the greats. The animes are both pretty good though the first one does go crazy after a certain point.

The first one also has some filler episodes that kinda put me off.

 

[Lulubop]

I don't disagree that Yusuke is better but Joseph being a Gary Stu is hardly a minus for me, his personality completely makes the character

That's fair.

 

[casiopao]

The first one also has some filler episodes that kinda put me off.

Thats why i love Brotherhood much more.^_^ To the point.

 

[flintstryker]

The first one also has some filler episodes that kinda put me off.

I actually prefer the filler version to Brotherhood

 

[Bounceounce]

I recommend My Hero Academia, even if the anime is only 13 episodes and stops just when it goes from decent to something special, I can't wait for season 2. The manga is much faster.

One Piece is a masterclass in World Building, Hunter x Hunter is a masterclass in developing characters. I think both have their strengths but One Piece deserves praise in that its still quality after all this years.

I actually disagree about the world building aspect, I find that to be the most overrated part of One Piece by fans.
Characters and theme work are what I believe Oda shines at.
I'd put characters like Bellamy on par with the likes of Mereum and more from Hunter (which isn't an insult because I genuinely believe Bellamy might be the best character Odas written).

 

[Kagari]

You got it. Meruem, essentially the peak of biological evolution, was nothing to the technological superiority of mankind. Humanity possesses a potential for cruelty that surpassed Meruem's wildest dreams.

I never would have expected commentary on nuclear weapons/humans being the ultimate evil in this series, but here we are.

 

[balgajo]

Imo HxH is much better than One Piece. One is almost perfect and the other isn't even good. A lot of Jump stuff is better than OP.

LTTP guys, Hisoka is the best character isn't he?

 

[Daingurse]

As long as people are recommending shonen, read Toriko folks. It honestly scatched the same itch as HXH for me, when it was on hiatus. If you like cool world building, crazy nonsters, and insane power creep, you'll dig Toriko.

Toriko was sum gud shit until it's pace went hypersonic. It's like if you sex Bleach and Toriko together, you get just the right pacing. But each alone, it's too slow or fast, respectfully.

The pacing did accelerate to an insane degree at one point. And it is disappointing, but unavoidable as SJ must want the author to wrap it the fuck up. We missed out the development of many things, and that irritates me when I think about it. But even with all that, no series brings me more enjoyment week to week than Toriko, now that HXH is hiatus. I am enjoying all the crazy escalation and feats.

 

[Kieli]

As long as people are plugin shonen, read Toriko folks. It honestly scatched the same itch as HXH for me, when it was on hiatus.

Toriko was sum gud shit until its pace went hypersonic. It's like if you sex Bleach and Toriko together, you get just the right pacing. But each alone, it's too slow or fast, respectfully.

 

[Fandangox]

Hisoka is kind of funny because I don't really like the character itself and I want him to fail terribly, but he works really well on the story and he's executed pretty well for the most part.

also there's this.

 

[casiopao]

Imo HxH is much better than One Piece. One is almost perfect and the other isn't even good. A lot of Jump stuff is better than OP.

LTTP guys, Hisoka is the best character isn't he?

One Piece not even good? Whatt??O_O

I absolutely like HxH for sure, but i also feel One Piece scratch the other side which is more on adventure for me here.

As long as people are plugin shonen, read Toriko folks. It honestly scatched the same itch as HXH for me, when it was on hiatus.

This is a suggestion i liked even moar.^_^ Toriko is like One Piece+Hunter x Hunter but on steroid lol.^_^

Toriko was sum gud shit until its pace went hypersonic. It's like if you sex Bleach and Toriko together, you get just the right pacing. But each alone, it's too slow or fast, respectfully.

Mentioning Toriko and Bleach makes me want to puke lol. Blech is not even anyway close to Toriko greatness here.

 

[Thud]

Toriko got robbed. Mangaka has to finish everything in this arc.

One Piece manga is solid work. The anime is done by toei, which ruins the pacing and kills animation.

Imagine if toei did HxH, pure horror.

 

[Xemnas89]

Just finished episode 26 which was another recap episode. Is there going to be a recap every 10-15 episodes?

 

[Moaradin]

Just finished episode 26 which was another recap episode. Is there going to be a recap every 10-15 episodes?

Nope that was the last one.

 

[Daingurse]

I never would have expected commentary on nuclear weapons/humans being the ultimate evil in this series, but here we are.

Looking at that first volume with Gon on the cover really puts it into perspective for me lol. Hunter x Hunter really went places I never could have anticipated, and that is definitely a part of why I love it. Togashi is a master.

 

[balgajo]

One Piece not even good? Whatt??O_O

I absolutely like HxH for sure, but i also feel One Piece scratch the other side which is more on adventure for me here.

I tried it until episode 60~70 then I dropped. I didn't read the manga though. Some people told me that the anime is bad but I don't feel like reading it now.

 

[Moaradin]

I tried it until episode 69~70 then I dropped. I didn't read the manga though. Some people told me that the anime is bad but I don't feel like reading it now.

The anime was a lot better back then than it is now. If 70 episodes didn't do it for you, then I doubt you'll have much interest in the manga.