The Dark Continent

~ short analysis on The Dark Continent of Hunter x Hunter, a fantasy manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. Adapted from a Twitter thread.

The Dark Continent appears to us as a Kaiju Ultrascape x Supernatural Frontier x *Hell Realm* of cursed Nen and impossible disease. Anything is possible in a place this big.

As Togashi puts it: the place is TOO BIG.

Too big for humanity’s knowledge and power. // Perhaps too big to even write.

Togashi is blessed for aiming here, to the place where dreams are made.

Does humanity truly dream of this impossible conquest of such a wild and unassailable place, or just the Hunter? Or is it all the will of Beyond Netero?

The Dark Continent expedition goes beyond anything we can possibly understand. That is its power. Togashi has taken his massive world to its supernatural limit. This endless mystery horizon of monsters x treasure x curses transcends Nen and Chimera Ants and even sweet Kurapika.

One senses Miura’s influence in the Dark Continent’s aura and Nen Beast designs. Undoubtedly Togashi and Miura, as contemporaries of premiere fantasy manga, shared some rapport. (They happen to be my two favorite mangaka as well, so I could be applying biases)

There are further connections to be drawn between Berserk’s story and HxH. The final Fantasia arc of the former can be compared to the Dark Continent arc. Both deal with mankind merging his mortal realm with the immortal, or immaterial, realm of phantasy & dreams/(nightmares).

Telling a Double World / Pandora’s Box story, wherein there is an unconscious future where *the monsters are unleashed*, means to divide your story into two major arcs: before the box is opened and after. Some authors may end their story at the divide. Others begin Part 2.

Togashi’s Dark Continent protagonists, to my eye: Ging, Pariston, Beyond, Zodiac, likely more. It will be coming off the Succession War’s resolution, so a fresh Kakin King will be wielding tremendous power and confidence. (Maybe, maybe they all die or become neutralized)

Who knows what storylines may be drawn once ashore the Dark Continent. Extreme dangers must be imminent. Will there be intelligent enemies or monstrous trap deaths? Secret characters and overwhelming Nen will be revealed. Everything will be on the menu. Togashi shall feast…

End of thread. Back to work. Please enjoy Pariston.