The Hunter x Hunter prequel one-shot centered on the Blacklist Hunter Kurapika is set for a digital release.
A report from Shonen Jump News has announced that the HxH prequel manga "Kurapika's Memories" will receive a digital release on July 4, 2023. The one-shot, which consists of 63 pages split into two parts, was initially featured in volumes #1 and #2 of Weekly Shonen Jump in 2013. This is the first time it will receive an official release since its debut.
Fans Who Saw Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge Received a Copy
This spinoff acts as a prequel to the mainline Hunter x Hunter manga written by Yoshihiro Togashi and is often labeled as Volume Zero of the series. It delves into the childhood of Kurapika, following the story of how he lost his clan thanks to the onslaught of the Phantom Troupe. The story's events became the founding motivation for the character in the mainline series. The first one million viewers who saw Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge in theaters received copies of the one-shot.
Kurapika plays a significant part in the HxH series, acting as a major character in the "Hunter Exam" arc and taking on the role of protagonist for the "Yorknew City" and "Succession Contest" arcs -- the latter of which is currently ongoing. He became a fan-favorite thanks to his tragic backstory, cool demeanor, intelligence and impressive power. Fans of the character will get the chance to experience his previously tough-to-access backstory after this one-shot is released.
Yoshihiro Togashi is a renowned mangaka known for creating the Hunter x Hunter series and the iconic Yu Yu Hakusho, which he wrote before. Both projects became major franchises with a noticeable influence on the animanga industry. However, the intense work schedule has often taken a toll on Togashi's health, leading to many hiatuses for HxH. The series experienced its most extensive break between 2018 and 2022 before returning to publication in October 2022. It has been placed on another hiatus since then following the release of Chapter 400 in December 2022. Still, Togashi reported in March 2023 that progress on Chapter 401 was promising.
The Hunter x Hunter manga was adapted into an anime by Nippon Animation in 1999, which ended prematurely as it caught up to the manga volumes. A reboot from Madhouse was eventually created in 2011, which restarted the series and followed the manga more accurately. However, this acclaimed reboot concluded in September 2014 after 148 episodes.
The 2011 anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Also, fans can read Togashi's manga via the VIZ Media website with a Shonen Jump subscription.
Source: Shonen Jump News via Twitter