Is the Hunter x Hunter Manga Worth Reading Despite the Hiatuses?
Yes, the Hunter x Hunter manga is absolutely worth reading. Even with its famously irregular release schedule, the 37 published volumes deliver some of the most intelligent, emotionally gripping storytelling in all of manga. If you enjoy stories that respect your intelligence and constantly surprise you, this series belongs on your reading list.
But the hiatuses are real, and you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting into. Let’s break it all down.
The Reality of Togashi’s Release Schedule
Hunter x Hunter launched in 1998 in Weekly Shonen Jump, written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. Since then, the series has gone through multiple extended breaks — some lasting years. Togashi has been open about his struggles with chronic back pain and other health issues that make the physical act of drawing manga extremely difficult.
After a nearly four-year hiatus, Togashi returned in late 2022 with new chapters, bringing the total to over 400 chapters across 37 volumes. While no one can guarantee a consistent schedule going forward, the existing material alone is a complete, rewarding reading experience that spans multiple fully realized story arcs.
Think of it this way: 37 volumes is longer than the entirety of Death Note, Slam Dunk, or Fullmetal Alchemist. There is no shortage of content here.
Why Fans Still Wait for New Chapters
The Hunter x Hunter fandom is one of the most patient in manga — and that patience is not blind loyalty. Fans wait because every new chapter Togashi delivers tends to be worth it. The writing is layered, the character arcs are unpredictable, and the story consistently refuses to take the easy way out.
The journey itself is the reward. Each completed arc — from the Hunter Exam to Greed Island to the Chimera Ant arc — stands as a self-contained masterpiece. You will not feel like you read an incomplete story. You’ll feel like you read several brilliant ones, with the promise of more to come.
What Makes the Hunter x Hunter Manga Unique?
The Deepest Power System in Shonen: Nen
Most shonen manga rely on characters simply getting stronger and hitting harder. Hunter x Hunter takes a radically different approach with its power system called Nen.
Nen is the ability to use and manipulate your own life energy. Every character has a natural category — like Enhancement, Transmutation, or Emission — that determines their strengths. But here’s what makes it special: raw power almost never wins a fight in Hunter x Hunter. Strategy, preparation, and creativity do.
A weaker character who understands their abilities and outsmarts their opponent can defeat someone far more powerful. This means every battle feels like a chess match rather than a shouting contest. If you’ve ever felt tired of power scaling in other shonen series, Nen will feel like a breath of fresh air.
Dark Tones and Moral Ambiguity
Hunter x Hunter starts with a bright, adventurous tone — a young boy named Gon sets out to find his absent father by becoming a Hunter. It feels lighthearted and fun. Then, gradually, the series peels back its layers and reveals something much darker and more complex underneath.
The villains in this series are not simple. Some of the most terrifying antagonists in the story develop genuine emotional depth. Heroes make morally questionable decisions. The line between good and evil blurs constantly, and the story is stronger for it.
The Chimera Ant arc, widely considered one of the greatest arcs in manga history, is the peak example. It explores themes of humanity, identity, and sacrifice with a depth that rivals literary fiction. Without spoiling anything: it will change the way you think about what a shonen manga can be.
Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 1
Where to Start the Hunter x Hunter Manga
Starting from Volume 1 (For Complete Beginners)
If you have never experienced Hunter x Hunter in any form, start from Volume 1, Chapter 1. This is the recommended path for the richest experience.
The manga’s early chapters establish character relationships, world-building details, and subtle foreshadowing that the anime sometimes condenses or skips. Togashi’s art style evolves significantly across the series, and watching that progression from the beginning is part of the charm. The pacing in the manga also gives you more time to absorb the story at your own speed — something that really pays off during the more complex later arcs.
Starting from Volume 1 also lets you experience the Hunter Exam and Heavens Arena arcs with their original panel layouts and visual storytelling, which carry a different energy than the animated adaptation.
Starting from Volume 33 (For Anime Watchers)
If you’ve already watched the 2011 anime adaptation (which covers up to the end of the Election arc), you can pick up the manga at Chapter 340 in Volume 33. This is where the Dark Continent Expedition arc begins — entirely new territory that the anime has not adapted.
The Dark Continent arc introduces a massive expansion of the world, new political conflicts, and some of the most intricate plotting Togashi has ever written. It’s dense, layered, and rewards careful reading. Many fans consider it the most ambitious section of the entire series.
One note: the transition from anime to manga can feel jarring at first because of the difference in pacing and art style. Give yourself a few chapters to adjust, and you’ll settle in quickly.
Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 33
Final Verdict: A Masterpiece You Shouldn’t Skip
The Hunter x Hunter manga is worth every page. The hiatuses are a reality, but they do not diminish what already exists — over 400 chapters of storytelling that consistently ranks among the best manga has ever produced.
The Nen power system rewards readers who love strategy. The character development treats you like an adult. The story arcs range from thrilling adventure to deeply moving psychological drama. And the existing content is substantial enough to keep you engaged for weeks.
If you are new to manga and wondering where to start, Hunter x Hunter is one of the strongest recommendations anyone can make. If you watched the anime and hesitated to pick up the manga, Volume 33 is waiting for you with an entirely new chapter of the story.
The only real question is not whether it’s worth reading — it’s whether you’re ready for one of the most rewarding manga experiences available today.
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