As one of the longest-running manga in history,One Piecehas managed to achievea level of worldbuilding that is rivaled by very few, and this is one of the many reasons the series is so loved. However, there is one manga that has managed to make a world so interesting and better than One Piece’s in less than half of the chapter count, and this is none other than Yoshihiro Togashi’sHunter X Hunter.
Starting in March 1998 in Weekly Shonen Jump,Hunter x Hunteris one of the most popular manga and is considered a staple in the adventure and battle shonen genre. Focusing on the young Gon Freecs as he sets out to become a licensed Hunter and look for his long-lost father, the series then depicts the wildest adventures of Gon and his friends, including his best partner, Killua, as they journey all around the world, meet new people and enemies, and bond even more.
Hunter x Hunter Outclasses One Piece’s Worldbuilding in Many Areas
It’s Close But Hunter X Hunter Comes Out On Top
To understand the beauty ofHunter X Hunter’s world, it is necessary to understand what worldbuilding entails. By definition, it is the process of making a fictional world and any element within it. This includes technology, lore, cultures, people, creatures, biodiversity, power systems, geography, political structures, cultures, history, and many more. Often, people simplify worldbuilding to the amount of locations explored, which is very far from reality and isn’t a very good way to appreciate the effort a creator puts into fleshing out their world.
WhileOne Piecedoes a great job of exploring many breathtaking locations inspired by cultures all around the world, it falls short in other aspects. The main one is the power system, withHaki being a very controversial addition to the seriesand regarded as a bad power system by some fans. On the other hand, theNen power system is widely considered the best of the best, and its complexity and richness cannot be understated. It was so brilliant and innovative that other series took some parts of it and integrated it into their own, such asNaruto’s Chakra andJujutsu Kaisen’s Cursed Energy.
Hunter x Hunter Has An Entire Language
Togashi’s Attention to Detail Knows No Limits
This is still possibly the most interesting and underrated part of the series' worldbuilding but Togashi managed to craft his ownalphabet system called the Hunter Script, which is ingenious, to say the least, and makes the world even more unique. This detail is one of the many reasonsHunter X Hunter’s worldbuilding towers above every other manga, and shows the amount of detail and effort put into it.
Hunter X Hunter’s Variety Is Simply Astonishing
Every Arc Is An Interesting And Exciting New Storyline
One Piecefollows a similar plotline for many of its arcs, and while this is to enforce a major theme of the series,it becomes repetitive at timesand makes the islands look the same even when they’re not.Hunter x Hunter, on the other hand, treats fans to a wide variety of arcs and locations that are as different as night and day. From a unique exam and tournament, a bloody mafia feud, an intense apocalyptic event, a light-hearted training arc, and an immersive RPG video game,there are no limits to the variety of the adventures. Furthermore,the current Succession War arcis unlike anything seen before in shonen manga, let alone in the series, and it shows the diversity ofHunter x Hunter.
The Politics in Hunter x Hunter Are Much More Nuanced and Complex
The Exploration of Government and Organizations Is a Highlight
Another aspect thatHunter x Huntertreats better thanOne Pieceis the politics of its world and how interesting it is. It is realistic, gritty, intelligent, dark, and interesting,mirroring real-life nations. This makes sense given how opinionated Togashi is, as he has given his views on politicians before. The workings of the Hunter Association in the 13th Chairman Elections arc, the politics of East Gorteu and NGL, the depravity of Meteor City and many more,Hunter x Huntershowcases some of the best displays of politics and state of affairs.
WhileOne Piecefeatures a decent level of politics, it doesn’t place as much importance asHunter x Hunterdid. Furthermore, morality and nuance are somewhat lacking, and this isn’t a fault of the series, but a choice of the other to make it simple, since Oda has said he wantsOne Pieceto be for children. However, he has demonstrated interesting politics like the Shandian and Skypiean conflict, which shows how good he can be.
Is Hunter x Hunter’s Current Arc Pushing Away Fans? A Surprising Problem Is to Blame
The Succession War arc is Hunter X Hunter’s latest arc, and while it is hard to understand, it is shaping up to be the series' best.
The Succession War and Expeditions arc highlights the complexity of politics inHunter x Hunter. It showcases how the V6 and international organizations collaborate when Beyond Netero initiates his plans to journey to the Dark Continent. Fans gain deeper insights into the Kakin Empire and witness its brutality throughout the expedition on the Black Whale. While the mafia and the underworld have always been present, this arc elevates their significance, revealing their crucial role within the nation. It effectively displays both the public image and the hidden aspects of Kakin, making for a captivating exploration of its political landscape.
Hunter x Hunter’s Lore Is as Deep as It Is Exciting
While this is an aspect thatOne Pieceexcels at like no other, it wouldn’t be a stretch to sayHunter x Hunter’slore is as expansive as that ofOne Piece. There are so many interesting facets of the story, such as the Magical Beasts, Dark Continent, Nen Beasts, Five Threats, and many more that breathe life into the series and help maintain an atmosphere of mystery. Unfortunately, the many hiatuses led to these interesting pieces of lore not getting explored sooner, but now thatTogashi is back and healthy, it might not be too long until we get to see the true potential of the series.
While there are many valid and logical reasons and proof thatHunter x Hunterdoes indeed have better worldbuilding thanOne Piece, both are some of the best in this aspect and very few series can hope to match it. However,it is due time thatHunter x Hunter’s greatness in this aspect is appreciated and realized, as it has managed to feature such a breathtaking world capable of being called high fantasy in 400 chapters.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter × Hunteris a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The story follows Gon Freecss, a boy who discovers his father is a legendary Hunter, and embarks on a journey to become one himself. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes in a world filled with martial arts, adventure, and paranormal elements. The franchise spans manga, multiple anime adaptations, films, OVAs, and video games.
