WARNING: The following contains discussions of a sexual nature.
Over the years, Hunter x Hunter has become a staple in the anime community, rising in popularity for its complex, yet engaging, story that is only enhanced by an abundance of memorable characters. From Killua to Meruem, the series has given us many fan favorites that are recognized even by people who haven't seen or read the series. One of these characters is Hisoka Morow.
Shrouded in mystery, extraordinary abilities and controversy, this bizarre character is a true wild card in the deck. Fans of the series are often torn on where their opinions of Hisoka lie. Some love him, some hate him, while others are more on the fence. Though he plays a vital role in moving the story along, Hisoka is incredibly problematic -- here's why.
Who is Hisoka?
Hisoka is an eccentric and confident magician whose role in Hunter x Hunter shifts from antagonist to supporting character depending on the story arc. From terrorizing and killing countless people to selling out the Phantom Troupe and encouraging Gon to grow stronger, Hisoka does whatever is most convenient to fulfilling his own goals.
That being said, he's completely self-serving, acting in ways that please and entertain only himself -- a trait that makes itself known in his addiction to violence. Hisoka has an unquenchable lust for blood and strong opponents, seeking out those who are skilled enough to pose a challenge in battle. He has no issues with killing but spares the ones who show potential and will likely become a worthy opponent for him in the future.
An intelligent jester, Hisoka is incredibly manipulative, spewing lies as naturally as breathing. Even in battle, Hisoka pulls many tricks to get into his opponent's head and take control. As such, this makes it difficult to decipher his true morals and intentions. Very little is known about Hisoka's past, only that he grew up in poverty and had a love of candy, especially "Bungee Gum" and "Texture Surprise."
Hisoka uses nen under the transmutation category, meaning that he can change the properties of his aura to mimic something else. His two main abilities are named after his favorite childhood sweets. Bungee Gum turns his aura into a flexible and durable substance, useful for offense, defense and laying traps for his opponents. Texture Surprise is a deceptive ability that allows him to change text and create a paper or cloth to alter something's appearance. In addition to nen, Hisoka's combat ability is as cruel as it is elegant, implying that he has many years of fighting experience under his belt. His weapon of choice is a deck of playing cards that he uses to attack and kill.
What Makes Hisoka Controversial?
The controversies begin with how Hisoka's bloodlust is portrayed in the Hunter x Hunter. His addiction to violence and fighting manifests as a strong sexual desire, one that strengthens as the unpredictability of battle gets him excited. Even just thinking about such things gets him aroused as he becomes eager to kill and has been seen to go off the rails as his desire for blood and violence takes over.
While over-sexualized, perverted characters are not particularly jarring in the world of anime, it is jarring in Hunter x Hunter and Hisoka stands out for it. Not to mention that the two characters who Hisoka directs much of these emotions towards are Gon and Killua. Both boys are 12 years old at the beginning of the series, whereas Hisoka is very much an adult, making the situation all the more problematic. While this is definitely pedophilic behavior, it's also worth noting Hisoka becomes attracted to others regardless of age or sex and judges them based on their potential as a strong fighter.
Additionally, some argue that Hisoka's manipulative tendencies can be seen as grooming. For example, during the Heaven's Arena arc, Hisoka leads Gon and Killua to learning nen. While Killua is extremely intuitive for his age, Gon is a lot more naïve and impressionable, and is much more susceptible to giving in to Hisoka's taunts. Hisoka likely isn't helping them for their benefit, but for his own as he greatly looks forward to fighting and killing both of them when he feels they are ready, even referring to them as "fruit" that are "not ripe yet."
There is no doubt that Hisoka is twisted and sadistic, as he sees no fault in the way he leads his life. Rather, he takes pride in what he does and treats his tendencies as part of a spectacle, viewing himself as a performer in a much larger show. It's odd that a character such as Hisoka has such an impact by balancing the story, taking on whatever role is required of him. Nevertheless, the Hunter x Hunter fandom has grown divided, either loving Hisoka's character for being an exciting attractive wild card or disliking him for being insanely creepy because of his targeting of children.
