Hunter X Hunterhas finally seen the return of a beloved member of the original main cast after years of being sidelined, but many fans missed it. This finally opens the door for the eventual return and an increase in their role in the story, and recent developments could make this happen.
In chapter #404 ofHunter X Hunter, Prince Halkenburg started vomiting after Balsamilco poisoned him with the TSK-1 gas, and he had to be rushed to the hospital by paramedics. One of the paramedics wasnone other than Leorio Paradiknight. This is his first appearance in over 8 years, and he has been away from the manga for 43 chapters, which is the entirety of the Succession War arc. Furthermore, the reason people might’ve missed his appearance is that chapter #404 contained much bigger events and developments, so it is very natural fans would discuss that instead of Leorio’s very short cameo.
Leorio’s Role Could Increase Once Again
The Doctor-To-Be Could Be Needed Once Again
One major criticism ofHunter X Hunteris that Leorio did not have as much screen time compared to the other members of the main cast, like Kurapika and Killua, and this is very valid. The 13th Chairman Election arc changed this and made him one of the most prominent in the arc, solidifying him asone of the best characters in the series. Furthermore, hisbecoming a member of the Zodiacs alongside Kurapikamade it seem that going forward, he would get the respect he deserved, but so far, it seems the status quo hasn’t changed.
While it did make sense that he wouldn’t be involved, as the series took its time developing the new characters like the 14 Princes, the guards, the three Mafia Families of Kakin, and evengiving the Phantom Troupe a flashback, it was still pretty disappointing that Leorio, and largely some of the Zodiacs, were absent for most of the arc. Fortunately, the Succession War arc is reaching its boiling point and becoming much deadlier than ever, and with the end of the arc on the horizon,Leorio will definitely become more important, especially since he’s one of the few people on the ship Kurapika can lean on.
The last time Leorio appeared in the manga is in chapter #359, during the preparations for the Dark Continent expedition.
Hunter X Hunter Opens The Way For A Reunion of Its Original Cast
Leorio and Kurapika Could Join Forces
Hunter X Hunteris famous for introducing many characters who take the main role in the story. The current arc focuses a lot on Kurapika, but many new characters are also taking center stage. While this is surely exciting, longtime fans of the series are always clamoring to see the original main cast together again and in the middle of the action. While Gon and Killua are not on the Black Whale ship (at least as far as it was revealed in the manga), Leorio and Kurapika both are, which creates an interesting chance for a reunion.
As the Black Whale gets ever closer to the New Continent, and eventually the Dark Continent, Leorio will become more important. With the death count and casualties on the boat increasing every day, the doctors could play an increasingly big role, which opens up the door for Leorio to get his time to shine, and fans could possibly see him make good use of his medical skills for the first time, as this is the entire reason he is even on the ship.Hunter X Hunter’s most underrated member of the main cast is hopefully about to finally become more relevant as the series' deadliest arc yet intensifies.
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.
