You Need to Power Through HUNTER X HUNTER #71 + 75

Listen… I’m well aware that a lot of shonen shows weren’t really made
for me. Most of the time, I still think the age rating is an accurate “10+” in that,
yes, it’s acceptable for ten-year-olds, but anybody over that can still
enjoy it (and, more importantly, pick it apart for an episode-by-episode
column). Other times, I can still put my mind back into the headspace of my
10-year-old self, and then enjoy the series through his eyes.

And then there are times like this… where I feel silly for thinking so
much about this stuff, and I can do nothing but just admit that I’m outside the
target audience.

== TEASER ==

My interest in trading cards only lasted from about age 7 to age 9; when
my friends and I were collecting those outrageously overpriced Fleer X-MEN
cards. That was one of the ‘gateway drugs’ that got me into reading comics, sure, but
there was something specific about my mindset at the time which differed from
my fandom later on. I was just obsessed with comparing character stats.

So, I would’ve eaten this portion of HxH up, most likely. The breakdown
of dueling tactics, the power hierarchy of good guys and bad guys, the various
tidbits from the Hunterpedia which are doled out in the bonus segments… all of
it.

Now? I just powered-through five episodes that mostly just slid off my
mind’s eye. I loved watching our young leads kick the shit of these grown-up
bad guys. I was less interested in all the scenes setting those bad guys up,
because they had to be some of the blandest, lamest big bad’s in all of anime.

You lunatics warned me that “Greed Island” probably wouldn’t be my cup
of tea, and you were right on the money. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, necessarily.
As always, I admire Togashi for knowing exactly what an audience wants and
having no hesitation about delivering. I’m just not part of that audience.

Maybe the “Chimera Ant” arc will be a different story? Isn't that the trick with this show?

Watch "Bargain × And × Deal" and "Chase ×
And × Chance" and "Insanity × And × Sanity” and "Victor × And ×
Loser" and "Ging's Friends × And × True Friends" and decide for
yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk