Recently, a recurring topic has appeared on a popular Japanese discussion forum about the Hunter X Hunter manga series.
Users criticized the “extra text” contained in the work, which created the perception that reading the story was more like reading a novel than a regular manga. These complaints were further amplified after readers expressed frustration over the Hunter X Hunter series' extended hiatus.
The manga, created by Yoshihiro Togashi, has been on hiatus several times over the years, largely due to the author's health issues. However, although Togashi has resumed publication on certain occasions, the work has not maintained a steady pace. This has caused many readers to forget parts of the plot. This problem, along with the excessive dialogue and detailed explanations, has led to growing dissatisfaction among fans.
On the forum, some Hunter X Hunter readers did not hesitate to express their dissatisfaction:.
– The manga probably won't even end and will go on hiatus again. I won't be buying the compilations anymore, they're worthless.
– There was so much text, it took me a long time to read it.
– It's not a reading comprehension issue. People simply don't take the time to read carefully anymore because they find it boring. There are many forms of entertainment nowadays other than manga.
– It doesn't have to be manga anymore. If you're going to write so much text that anyone can understand it, then calling it a manga doesn't make any sense.
– It took me an hour and a half to read volume 37.
The excess of text isn't the only criticism. Some users point out that the work has lost the balance between illustration and narrative. “It's not that there are too many words, it's that there aren't enough pictures.”, One debater said, arguing that manga has moved away from its traditional visual format.
On the other hand, other fans defend the complexity of the plot and the depth of its characters, although they recognize that the speed of publication makes it difficult to enjoy the work. “It's true that the story has become very dense, but that's what makes 'Hunter x Hunter' unique,” one reader commented, noting that, despite its flaws, the manga is still an influential work.
Despite controversy over the manga's text density, Hunter X Hunter remains one of the most popular and beloved series in the manga world. However, uncertainty over the series' future and author Togashi's health has left fans nervous.
