Hunter x Hunterdoes a lot of things at a very high level, and one of these things is the intimidating and complex antagonist cast. These characters always keep the series interesting and never fail to make readers anxious, and while many series, likeNaruto, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, andHaikyu!! produced many top-tier antagonists,Hunter x Hunterstill towers above them all for one great and interesting reason.
Different stories always require different types of villains and antagonists, and for example, a story likeNarutowhich explores generational hate due to war will have sympathetic villains who are products of their environment, whileJujutsu Kaisen, which needs truly evil villains to back up its theme of death and life.Hunter x Hunter, on the other hand, has the flexible main theme of enjoying the side adventures more than the destination, and this leads to the main characters seeing all types of people and places, and encountering all different types of villains.This diversity of villains is what makes Hunter x Hunter have the best antagonist cast in manga.
Hunter x Hunter Boasts a Wide Variety of Excellent Villains
The Series Excels by Having a Variety of Antagonists
While many series have a common pattern among their villains,Hunter x Hunterstands apart with its diverse range of characters,personalities, and motivations that fit into different archetypes, and they’re all executed at a high level. This variety keeps the series interesting and exciting. For example, Chrollo Lucilfer is a particularly enigmatic character. Afterthe backstory of the Phantom Troupewas revealed, he can be seen as an anti-villain—a character with sympathetic and, at times, heroic goals, but whose methods are undeniably brutal and evil. Following the murder of Sarasa, Chrollo adopted a villainous persona to protect Meteor City and fend off the rampant human traffickers at the time, and his strategy proved effective.
Another example isthe extremely loyal and devoted Shaiapouf, Meruem’s bodyguard and servant. He is the henchman archetype, but instead of being the brawns-over-brain henchman that is very common, he is equally brilliant as he is obsessive, to the point of even manipulating Meruem himself. While his master was one of the highlights of the incredible Chimera Ant arc, Shaiapouf also stood as a complex and interesting villain with lots of depth, and his drive to let Meruem become the greatest was executed very well.
Hisoka is a major yet underappreciated villain, but he is undoubtedly one ofHunter x Hunter’s best characters. His interesting traits and characteristics make him fall into the trickster type, and with the way he manipulates people, forges alliances with foes and friends, and maintains a very hard-to-discern moral alignment. Hisoka is a boon for everyone, both the heroes and other villains, as he has killed two of the Phantom Troupe members and is currently being hunted down by Chrollo and the rest. With a character as random and puzzling as he is, the Succession War arc is made even more interesting with such an anomaly walking around.
Hunter x Hunter Just Teased the Most Unexpected Resolution For Kurapika and the Phantom Troupe
Hunter x Hunter’s latest chapter hinted at a possible development that could completely change the dynamic between Kurapika and Chrollo.
As puzzling as Hisoka can be, Pariston is even more confusing with his actions to the point that readers just laugh. He is the ultimate “troll”, because of the way he toys with other characters and has them around his finger all the time. Furthermore, he is by far the most mysterious character given many things he knows and has, particularly when it is revealed he has 5000 Chimera Ants and that he is collaborating with Beyond Netero, the latest big villain. With the latest arc nearing its climax, it won’t be long until Pariston and Ging come back to the stage and show what they have been doing in the meantime.
The Succession War Improved the Antagonist Cast By Magnitudes
The New Villains Made the Series' Antagonist Cast Even More Memorable
Inthe Succession Contest arc, scheming, betrayals, and assassinations are prominent, so the antagonists and villains are in abundance, and this is one of the key factors why this arc is so intense. Kurapika, who is now the main character, is surrounded by evil, and fortunately for him, many of these villains are also targeting each other. Morena is gunning for Tsseriednich and the world itself, Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe are hot on Hisoka’s trail, Halkenburg is aiming for Benjamin’s life, and many other characters are trying to kill each other. The entire boat is in disarray and with blood flowing like a river,Hunter x Hunter’s journey to the Dark Continent is possibly the most exciting arc in manga in years.
While there are many incredible series that produced multiple top-tier and brilliantly written villains,Hunter x Hunter’s sheer range in its antagonists and how it makes them incredibly interesting and with great depth makes it second to none in this category. With interesting characterization, complex ideologies, and deep motivations, these characters enhance the series by magnitudes and help makeHunter x Hunterthe masterpiece it is.
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.
