Gon and Meruem’s parallel in Hunter x Hunter highlights Yoshihiro Togashi’s brilliance with foreshadowing that makes him superior to Eiichiro Oda.

SUMMARY

Hunter x Hunter is a literary and visual masterpiece in most aspects.
Yoshihiro Togashi’s brilliance is highlighted in the parallel between Gon and Meruem’s lives.
Hunter x Hunter is on par with One Piece in terms of foreshadowing.

Hunter x Hunter is one of the top-tier series when it comes to the Shonen genre. From characters to arcs, Yoshihiro Togashi redefines storytelling through his literary brilliance. This also applies to his main characters as well as side characters.

But what outlines his excellence is the aspect of foreshadowing. While Oda is considered to be the God of Foreshadowing, Togashi isn’t far behind. This is especially true for the dynamic between Gon and Meruem.

Gon Freecss in a still from the anime | Credit: Madhouse

Both characters and their parallels are woven intricately in details that make Togashi superior to Oda. In terms of foreshadowing and complex characters, the mangaka takes the cake.

Moreover, Togashi’s plot devices and themes offer a refreshing perspective on storytelling in the shonen genre. His chartering of depth and complexities along with moral conflicts is a rarity. But most of all, his foretelling is ever-present with the Easter Eggs in the series.

Gon and Meruem’s parallel outlines brilliant storytelling

Gon Freecss is probably one of the most misunderstood characters in terms of his actions. Often viewed as reckless, the character is often referred to as “batshit crazy” by most fans in the fandom. Seldom do the fans realize the heaviness behind the characters’ actions.

Togashi is a pure genius in his exploration of guilt and pain in his series. With the protagonist, his actions, though reckless, make sense considering his troubled past. His turbulent childhood is attributed to his father’s abandonment. And there’s more to it.

Meruem in a still from the anime | Credit: Madhouse

Gon isn’t evil or good especially when it comes to his actions. Rather, he is a morally grey character who is driven by his emotions and the events in his life. His “craziness” is what makes him different from most shonen protagonists.

But that is not all considering Togashi’s ability to charter and explore his characters’ pain. Most characters in the series outline a spectrum of emotions and complexities. This specifically applies to the parallel between the protagonist as well as Meruem.

Both Meruem and Gon’s life parallel this beautiful scene from the series.

Where Meruem sacrifices his life for Komugi, Gon does the same for Kite. Pitou and Killua parallel their confidante and best friends who are equally powerless and helpless.

While both characters are different, their lives and events parallel each other in this beautiful detail. This key aspect outlines Togashi’s brilliance as a mangaka. But there’s an even greater feat that the mangaka should pride on and that is, foreshadowing.

Hunter x Hunter is on par with Eiichiro Oda in terms of foreshadowing

Togashi foreshadowed some major events in his manga Hunter x Hunter. This includes Gon’s Nen as well as his descent into “madness”. His devastating journey was foretold in several easter eggs within the series.

From Melereon’s warning to Gon to the latter’s ultimate sacrifice, Togashi played out the events well in his series. The parallel between both characters only highlights and outshines the mangaka’s finesse’.

Gon Freecss in a still from the anime | Credit: Madhouse

More often than not, Eiichiro Oda is hailed as the God of Foreshadowing. And while this is true to some extent, foreshadowing as a concept isn’t gatekept. With Togashi’s parallels and plot devices including hidden details, one thing is certain.

The mangaka is on par with his contemporaries in terms of literary brilliance. And while One Piece is a true masterpiece, Hunter x Hunter stands unmatched for the most part. Especially with its exploration of dark and unsettling themes.

Hunter x Hunter is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.