Hunter X Hunter 2011 – 67

Hunter - 67 - Large 02 Hunter - 67 - Large 26 Hunter - 67 - Large 42

It’s not like this is any big news or anything, but Gon and Killua are certainly very different people.

Before we launch into this episode, there was some interesting news from Shounen Jump this week.  ANN worded it this way:

A blurb in this year’s 12th issue of Shueisha‘s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is reporting on Monday that a “shocking” announcement regarding the Hunter X Hunter television anime would be made in the following issue.
Production of a second film was already confirmed in a special teaser trailer after the ending credits of the first film, Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge, released last month. The trailer was focused on Netero, the chairperson of the Hunters Association, in front of a backdrop of a dimly lit street with a tall tower similar to the Heavens Arena.

 

However, I’ve seen other sources indicate that the word “shocking” is nowhere to be found in the actual SJ blurb.  In any case, it seems very unlikely to me that SJ would intentionally be calling attention to an announcement that’s likely to be received negatively (such as a hiatus).  We already know about the second feature film, so it isn’t that.  The most interesting speculation I’ve seen – and it was the first thing that popped into my head – is that perhaps Togashi-sensei is going to be writing directly for the anime, while the manga stays on hiatus.  That would be highly unusual and I suppose it’s unlikely, but given his legendary deadlines issues perhaps only having to worry about writing has some appeal.  It could be almost anything I suppose – a time-slot change for the reportedly very dark and violent “Chimaera” Arc, an anime-original season paired with an end to the manga hiatus, giving the manga time to build up a big lead again – who knows?  In any event we’ll find out in a few days.

While we wait, we have another episode of “Greed Island” to talk about, and as usual it was stellar.  I haven’t checked against the source but this episode certainly felt less frantically-paced than the last few have – ironically, as it started with a barrage of restricted-slot cards that required many pauses in playback. This was an episode that seemed content to focus on the details of the game itself and take the time to savor them, without having the burden of too much action or major revelations.  We certainly got a fair share of exposition and as always, some very interesting grist for the mill as far as Killua and Gon’s character development, but mostly it was about atmosphere-building and scene-setting.  On the whole it made for a refreshing change-of-pace.

Some elements of the game are becoming clearer as we progress through it.  In the first place, Genthru and his thugs are drawing the attention of other parties as they inch closer to their goal – now only three cards away, thanks to a very clever gambit they use to heist several cards from Tsezguerra’s party.  Tsezguerra is no fool – a cautious and capable Hunter, clearly, but you can add him to the list of those who’ve been bested by Genthru.  Pissed as he is, he keeps his wits about him and immediately seizes on the best course of action after Genthru’s con job – try and monopolize one of the final cards that Genthru needs to win.  It just so happens that someone else has seized on the same idea – Kazsule (Okabayashi Fumihiro), who we’ve met before.  He’s also decided that it’s time for everyone to team up and decide how to stop Genthru – despite the fact that he has no knowledge of Genthru’s true identity – and he invites the boys and Bisky to a powwow of elite (50 restricted-slot cards and up) teams.

This is my favorite part of the episode, because as always it’s fascinating to watch Killua and Gon go about their business in such diametrically opposed ways.  For Killua the meeting represents both a danger and an opportunity, and he immediately butts heads with another team leader, Asta, who dismisses he and his allies as a bunch of useless kids.  Killua trusts no one he doesn’t know intimately (and even then, usually with caution) and he’s a brilliant strategist, as he shows us over and over.  For him this is immediately a negotiation – they have info the others need to know and he’s certainly not willing to let Asta’s team have it without a significant cost (for the others, he’s willing to go so far as to accept whatever they offer after the fact).  For Gon it’s the completely opposite approach – once the true nature of Genthru has  been revealed and the others realize they may have become his victims too (after he’s touched them) Gon spills the rest of the information about his abilities, whereas Killua was ready to extract his pound of flesh in exchange.

Generally speaking, of course, Killua’s way is the more sensible in this ruthless world Togashi has set up.  But Gon’s way proves most effective here – by showing trust in the rest of the teams he earns their trust in return.  Even Asta, who proceeds to share a wealth of valuable information about spell cards and other critical hints.  It’s also interesting to watch Bisky’s response.  By nature she’s clearly more inclined to Killua’s way of thinking, but she can’t help but smile as she sees what Gon’s approach is capable of achieving – in a way, this “perfect gem” is winning her over in spite of her cynicism.  And Killua would never choose to change that aspect of his friend’s personality, because it’s one of the many reasons he loves Gon – rather, he’ll continue to stand by Gon’s side and cover his back when that openness leads him into dangerous territory.

There are many pots on the boil that suggest some very interesting near-term developments.  Of the restricted cards that Genthru is missing (#0, #2, #9 and #75 – and #0 is suspected to appear when the other 99 are collected) only #2, “Strip of Beach” can be monopolized because the others are owned by multiple teams.  And one of Kazsule’s allies uses a spell card to reveal that the port city of Soufrabi is where the card is located – and Tsezguerra and Genthru’s teams are already headed there.  By a stroke of fortune the new allies seem to stumble upon a clue that required the arrival of 15 or more in a party via the “Accompany” card – which means the others likely haven’t found it yet – they have to take on a group of pirates and defeat them to learn the location of the card from a sexy NPC.  The leader of these pirates just happens to be named “Razor” – that should be fascinating.  And there’s that #75 card that Team Gon has obtained (by helping the stricken villagers who took their clothes) – “Wild Luck Alexandrite”.  It promises “Once in a lifetime experiences – for better or for worse…”  I can’t imagine the wording is coincidental.  Finally (and perhaps most intriguingly) we have Hisoka wandering around in here somewhere, and we know he’s going to end up teamed with Gon, Kil and Bisky sooner or later.  I expect things are going to get pretty wild from this point forward.

Hunter - 67 - Large 08 Hunter - 67 - Large 09 Hunter - 67 - Large 11
Hunter - 67 - Large 12 Hunter - 67 - Large 13 Hunter - 67 - Large 14
Hunter - 67 - Large 15 Hunter - 67 - Large 17 Hunter - 67 - Large 18
Hunter - 67 - Large 19 Hunter - 67 - Large 20 Hunter - 67 - Large 21
Hunter - 67 - Large 22 Hunter - 67 - Large 23 Hunter - 67 - Large 25
Hunter - 67 - Large 27 Hunter - 67 - Large 28 Hunter - 67 - Large 29
Hunter - 67 - Large 30 Hunter - 67 - Large 31 Hunter - 67 - Large 33
Hunter - 67 - Large 34 Hunter - 67 - Large 35 Hunter - 67 - Large 37
Hunter - 67 - Large 39 Hunter - 67 - Large 40 Hunter - 67 - Large 41

Greed Island Tutorial: “Tax Collector’s Gauntlet”

Hunter - 67 - Large 43 Hunter - 67 - Large 44 Hunter - 67 - Large 45
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

12 comments

  1. A

    Weird, they are making it sound like the news is going to be bad. I really hope it is a time slot (or even a rating change) so we can witness Chimera Ant arc in its full glory. Or maybe it really is sad news, and there is going to be a break after the end of Greed Island arc so that Togashi can get his ass back into gear. More material is always a good thing

  2. Why would they intentionally call attention to bad news? That doesn't make sense to me.

  3. t

    Yeah – the wording and the build up are consistent with announcements that they expect to excite fans. If it was negative they would have drawn as little attention to it as possible!

  4. k

    yeah, I hope it's not a break. it would really be sad to have a "no HxH week" for a long tym. If they really did stop right after Greed Island, fans will be like, "what the…?! what's the point of remaking it if they're gonna stop at where the older one stopped as well?" sort of thing…mmm… i can live wid HxH fillers, as long as its on par wid d canon story. ^^,

  5. K

    I read that the announcement was saying it was "A new Hunter x Hunter project" Then all of sudden I'm hearing 'shocking'

  6. K

    It definitely won't be a time change. The anime does so well where it's at that it would be stupid to move it

  7. m

    I am hoping as well that the announcement is something along the lines of "the anime will continue well past the currently published storyline, with the help of Togashi".

  8. x

    Just had a scary thought there.. Given that the island is real, what else on that island is real as well? Are the cities real? The monsters? The NPCs? Are all of those some kind of illusion, or are they perhaps real people that were just put under some kind of spell?
    I wonder how immensely powerful a Nen user would have to be to conjure all of that up. Would sound much more resourceful if they just picked an existing island and hypnotised everyone on it.

  9. K

    Remember Razor gave a big hint a couple episodes ago. "I handle all the emitter spells" stay tuned

  10. a

    My guess for the announcement is an hour long special or two.
    My reason for thinking this is 1. I want a hour long special or two
    and 2. There are two upcoming events that will rival Gon vs Hisoka
    in sheer awesomeness if done right and these events are several
    chapters long and dividing them into two separate episodes would
    lose some momentum 3. not only that but if it's an hour long special
    it would mean taking a break before then meaning more time will be
    given to work on the hour long episode.

  11. e

    Eheh. Alexandrite is a sorta dual gem, its homonymous card power makes sense. *gem nut*
    The glimpse of oh-so-naked-behind man in the preview resembles Hisoka a bit if not for his hair length. Hmmm…

  12. j

    Who else likes to show his naked back in this series? Or at least was building up to it. Hisoka has (I want to say several, but I'm not sure) just-out-of-the-shower scenes from before. …which could explain the hair length. Hmm…

Leave a Comment