Acclaimed manga series Hunter x Hunter may be returning from hiatus at last. On Tuesday, a new Twitter user claimed to be the real Yoshihiro Togashi — series creator, writer and illustrator. He tweeted that there were new chapters of his beloved series on the way, sending fans into an uproar of fresh excitement.
The Twitter account has not been verified yet and so far there has not been any official confirmation from Viz Media, but there are hints that this post really came from Togashi. According to a report by Polygon, the illustrator of One Punch Man, Yusuke Murata, vouched for Togashi’s new Twitter account. Either way, the post showed a small corner of a manga page in progress. Its caption was in Japanese, but it roughly translated to: “4 more episodes for the time being.” Hunter x Hunter debuted in 1998, but it has been plagued by frequent delays and hiatuses due to Togashi’s health. This current hiatus has been going since 2018, and some fans thought that it would be the end of the series altogether.
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Like many other Japanese media properties, Hunter x Hunter has had a delayed road to success here in the U.S. as fans wait for translations both on the page and in the anime adaptation. The series has only reached mainstream success in the English-speaking world in recent years thanks to increased availability. While fans here haven’t waited quite as long, they are just as impatient for new episodes.
So far, there’s no official word on Togashi’s health or Hunter x Hunter‘s return. Even if he is back to work, it’s unclear when fans might see the new manga chapters or the new anime episodes. None of that has slowed down fans’ celebration, however. Here’s a look at some of the top reactions on social media.
Happy Tears
Naturally, one of the most common sentiments about this news on Twitter was melodramatic, tearful happiness.
Suspicious
On the other hand, some fans were guarded, not wanting to get their own hopes up prematurely.
Big Day
Fans made self-effacing jokes about how much significance they were ascribing to this renewal.
Fan Art
With the series trending again, Hunter x Hunter fan art proliferated on all platforms in no time.
Togashi on Twitter
Fans were in awe of Togashi pushing through his health issues to continue his work, and generously joining Twitter just to share the news with them. Still, some joked that the author might not like what he saw once he really got to know his own fandom.
Short-Lived
Fans steeled themselves for an emotional roller coast in case Hunter x Hunter returned, then went on hiatus yet again. Many wondered if they could really handle that journey.
Vindication
Finally, fans felt vindicated by this news after so many naysayers had guessed that the show would never be back.
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