Hunter x Hunter 24

Hunter x Hunter 24 continues the "Chimera Ant" arc.  The chimera ants are a type of creature who gain the powers, abilities, and characteristics of whatever they eat.  A few volumes ago, the King Ant was born, and he's become the most powerful being in the world by eating Nen-influenced humans (long story short, it's like the force).  Right now, the king is obsessed with playing gungi, a complex game that has only truly been mastered by one person, a blind girl.  So, this gives the Hunters a chance to sneak into his territory and take out his top men.  Meanwhile, Kite, Gon's father's student, has been changed by the chimera ants, and Gon has promised to change him back.

The structure of this tankoban volume is a little complicated.  Of the 13 chapters, about half of them are part of the "6" storyline.  Then follows "5, Part 1 to 2, Part 1," "2, Part 2," and the four parts of "1."  Obviously, a lot happens in this volume, but the story is progressed much more in that one chapter than in the others, which feature the usual fights, games, and stories.  This is a very interesting volume in that it's a bit longer than most at 215 pages.  It is printed so because it ends the countdown, ending it in a perfect cliffhanger.

Comic and manga writers usually weave their stories around some weird shit.  Some of it really, really works, and most of it not so much.  Writer-artist Yoshihiro Togashi makes the weird work, like a Charles Mingus, but his artwork is spectacular as well, particularly the way he depicts size and perspective.

So, how come I read Black Butler, Nisekoi: False Love, Citrus, and other titles instead of Hunter x Hunter?  They're easier.  Hunter x Hunter has a lot of text, has a lot of characters, and has a lot of situations you have to keep track of.  20th Century Boys might be my favorite long manga ever or tied with Hunter x Hunter, but I eventually got Naoki Urasawa fatigue.  In the past year and a half, I've read 18 volumes of 20th Century Boys, 12 of Monster, seven or so of Master Keaton, and one and a half of Pluto.  One Piece is another series I like, and I've finished 15 volumes of that or five three-in-one volumes.

Getting back to the point, Hunter x Hunter is hard to read, but it's totally worth it.  I don't know when I'll pick up Hunter x Hunter 25, but I'm excited to read manga again.  I only have one more volume of Black Butler in my home, but I'll likely read that pretty soon.  Nisekoi 18 comes out in just over two weeks, and I'm looking forward to that.  I'd also like to get back into Pluto and Food Wars, among other titles.