Back to Goldenshadow177's Profile Goldenshadow177's Profile

This manga does everything a shounen manga should do. When I think of the perfect manga, I think of Hunter X Hunter. This review is about the series as a whole.

The fights are amazing. Each hunter has their own ability and fighting style. The main characters use their wits and their own unique style to win. I liked Dragon Ball Z as much as the next kid growing up, but each characters strength is determined by their power level, and that's about it (DragonBall is a different). In HxH there is so much thought and strategy during the fights. When a character wins, you ... feel like they deserved it.

The characters are memorable and fun. If pressed I could name 10's of characters from this series. They are as unique as their abilities. Some shounen rely on the same types of characters you see over and over again (especially the villains). In HxH the villains are some of the best part, they are well thought out and entertaining to watch.

The story isn't groundbreaking, but done it's brilliantly. The overarching story is that Gon wants to find his father. However, like most ongoing manga, there are various story arcs. We see Gon mature and encounter various trials as he develops as a hunter and helps his friends.

The art is on and off. Having started the series over a decade ago, back in 2004ish, I've experienced the many writing hiatuses of Togashi. There are times when the art is wonderful, and fits the story beautifully. Other times, there are issues when it's clear the art isn't quite as strong. Personally, this was never a huge issue for me (the art, not the breaks). Any new chapter was better than no new chapter.

Simply put, HxH is my jam. I've read the manga multiple times and watched more than one version of the anime. I've probably spent more time with Gon and Killua than I have with any other manga/anime characters. It is both a manga and anime (the 2011 version) that I can wholeheartedly recommend with no reservations.

Be aware that this series, while for all intents and purposes is currently finished, isn't truly ended. Gon still has room to grow, and there are plenty of adventures for him to have. His journey as a hunter has just begun; his adventures with his friends only just started. I've had to realize that I might not get to read all of his adventures, and maybe I was foolish to think I could. I've waited with bated breath many a year for more HxH through the many hiatuses. But ultimately I've come to understand that mangakas are people too. Unlike a novel, manga span hundreds and hundreds of chapters that have to be both written and drawn. It's taken time, but I can look back on my HxX experience as a whole and have unabashed and total love for the series. Thank you Togashi, and thank you HxH.

Reading Death Note was one of the defining manga moments in my life. Up until I had read Death Note, all I had ever read was shounen manga. Which, don't get me wrong, can be awesome! But Death Note was the first series I read that played with more mature concepts like life and death, morality, and the individuals role in society. All of that was coupled with some of the most suspenseful and masterful storytelling I've ever read.

The premise for the series itself is amazing, our hero/antihero is given power over life and death itself in the form of a notebook. The two main ... characters are unforgettable. The story is a battle between two sides of the law, between two views of the world, and two total bad-ass geniuses. The art was perfect for the story, which is all I look for. The first half series of the novel was stronger than the rest. But when I think of Death Note, I know where the series ends for me truly (with the resolution of the conflict between L and Light).

Death Note will always hold a special place in my manga history and my heart.

Oro?

Love you Kenshin! One of the noblest characters in Manga. Possibly my all time favorite character. Back in the day, before online reading, I would go to my local bookstore and read-then reread- Rurouni Kenshin. I started off watching a couple of episodes of the anime with my Dad, then moved to the Manga when I needed more!

When I think of the noble warrior, I think of Kenshin. This story surrounds a warrior who has given up killing, and started wielding a sword with the blunt edge in front, instead of the sharp edge. His travels as he finds love and protects his friends will ... always stay with me. This series is a story of redemption and friendship, with plenty of humor to go with it! It will always have a special place in my heart.

I've never been the biggest fan of watching sports. I enjoy it, understand the appeal, and I can get super into it, but I've never "followed" a team or a sports season all the way through. I remember reading Eyeshield 21, however, and getting super into it, even to the point of tears at times. For years I played soccer, basketball, and hockey at different times. But long before middle school I had given them all up. Eyeshield 21 really touched the deep part within me that would've loved to be a part of the brotherhood of a serious sports team.

It's a great manga, and ... really showed me what a sports manga could be!

One of the first manga I can remember reading. I loved watching the americanized version of this TV show after school on Cartoon Network. I was exposed to anime very young through my dad, but it wasn't until Dragonball and Dragonball Z that I found manga. For that reason Dragonball and Dragonball Z will always be important and unique for me.

Growing up I preferred DBZ, the villains looked cooler (although King Piccolo is a badass in Dragonball), and the anime was longer and full of more powerful characters. But looking back now, Dragonball is closer to my heart, and I appreciate it more as a ... manga. The battles seem more tactics oriented- rather than power level oriented as with DBZ. There is also an element of character progression for Goku that just isn't there to the same extent in DBZ. Dragonball was also my first exposure to tournaments in shounen- which are super awesome!

I love you Dragonball, and I love you Akira Toriyama!

On the surface this anime is a story about a high school volleyball team trying to win a local tournament. However the anime excels with its character development and suspenseful way of depicting the volleyball matches they take part in.

Haikyuu! manages to connect its audience emotionally with its characters, which is the strongest point of the anime. The personalities of the characters themselves are nothing particularly new for the genre, however this didn't make them boring. Haikyuu! managed to create depth to their characters through compelling back stories. This extends even to the rival volleyball teams they face throughout the anime.

Haikyuu! retains tension and ... suspense through the volleyball matches themselves, which is an important aspect of any sports anime. The anime is full of action, as the majority of the episodes have a volleyball match taking place. However, what makes Haikyuu! stand out is its ability to make the viewer identify with all of the characters involved with the match. They do it so well that more than once I found myself rooting for the rival volleyball teams to score a point!

Check out Haikyuu! if you are looking for a great action packed sports anime. Know that it is a sports anime at its core, and the plot is typical fare: win the matches. However, the characters are very emotionally charged and their interactions are great, the art is done well, and the anime is extremely enjoyable.

Enjoyment: 9
Story: 7
Character: 9
Art: 8
Sound: 8

Overall: 8