Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 18 (Volume 18): Chance Encounter

18 volumes in, Hunter x Hunter need not seek to attract new readers--an understanding that Yoshihiro Togashi could convincingly be accused of, owed not to weaknesses in the story, but in the artwork--and all the conflictions therein.Vexingly, the backgrounds are rarely the problem; the scenery is often meticulously depicted, with peripheral, nameless characters sporting thin lines and cleanly effective designs--a clearness atypical of the first number of volumes in the series. Ostensibly, Togashi's artwork is elevated beyond prior ventures--yet it is this refinement which exacerbates the central flaw in production: the main characters. The most integral entities--the focal points of each panel--are painfully perfunctory and blunt, creating such a marked juxtaposition with the backgrounds that the two cannot be effectively synthesised. The lines of important characters are frequently thick and ugly, and the artist's failure to utilise screen tones--which are used less than sparingly in this volume--generates empty models. Main characters lack the detail of most minor renditions, and this bluntness hurts the action sequences which comprise the first half of the volume. Gone is the swift and potent flow of lines that typified volumes 7, 9 and 11: the battles--something Togashi offered that few other contemporary artists in Shonen Jump could peer--now feel mundane in their presentation.And yet the story endures ever so strongly. Enthusiasm permeates each chapter--if not in the artwork, then in the thought suffused through the story. The mathematical precision of manoeuvres and tactics is genuinely satisfying--and, in their complexity, there are very few superficial contrivances. Togashi realises his world fully, and communicates its intricacies fluidly to the reader--a testament to the strength of his writing in the absence of any effective visual aid. Volume 18 delves deeper into the mechanics of Togashi's realm--and even after 18 volumes, Togashi convincingly instils the impression that there is a greater reservoir of ideas he has yet to tap--an impression thoroughly etched by revelations that occupy the latter part of the volume, which indicate a dark departure from recent proceedings.Yoshihiro Togashi may perhaps, then, not seek to attract new readers with promises of vibrant, uniform artwork--but his story-telling dynamic is more than ample to keep his current install-base enthused.

Perfect condition xSome editions are cheaper than others , so hard to find in decent price range and condition x

As advertised

the conclusion of the Greed Island arc. The battle between Gon and Gen was well done. Even after all that training, the only way Gon stands a chance is if he takes stupid risks and relies on clever tricks. And it took 180+ chapters, but we've finally gotten the traditional shonen arc climax where our hero overcomes the odds to beat the villain.