How to read Hunter x Hunter in English: where to start

What Hunter x Hunter is about

Hunter x Hunter is a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. It started in Japan in 1998. It mixes action, adventure, comedy and fantasy.

Gon Freecss is twelve. He grew up on a quiet island with a relative named Mito. His father was never really part of his life. A Hunter named Kite changes that. Kite tells Gon that his father is alive. He also tells him that his father is one of the most famous Hunters in the world.

So Gon sets out to take the Hunter Exam. A Hunter's license is his best chance to pick up his father's trail. The exam is a chain of brutal tests. Not every applicant survives it. Along the way Gon falls in with Kurapika, Leorio and Killua. Killua is a boy raised by a family of assassins.

The series has a sharp and clever streak. Planning wins fights as often as strength does. It suits readers who like strategy and a world full of surprises. Expect some dark and violent stretches too. Its themes include super powers, cultivation, travel and politics.

How far the series is in Japan and in English

As of October 2026 Hunter x Hunter has 30 volumes in Japan. The series is still releasing there. It is not finished.

English readers have 30 volumes as well. In other words English has caught up with Japan. VIZ Media publishes the series in English.

Where to start

The answer is Volume 1. The story begins with Gon on his island and follows him toward the Hunter Exam. Starting anywhere else means missing how the main group comes together.

Here is the way in for English readers:

• Volume 1 (Vol. 1) from VIZ Media, released on 5 April 2005

This is the single volume edition. No omnibus or other edition is listed for the series. That keeps the choice simple. Pick up Volume 1 and read on in order.

What comes next in English

No upcoming English volume is listed right now. The English edition already matches the Japanese count. The series itself is still running in Japan. Any new English date will appear on the series page.

Common questions

How many volumes does Hunter x Hunter have? There are 30 volumes in Japan so far. The series is still running.

Is Hunter x Hunter finished? No. It is still running in Japan.

How many volumes are out in English? 30. VIZ Media publishes them in English.

Every volume in one place

The Hunter x Hunter series page lists every English volume with its release date. Start there for Volume 1. Come back to it for each volume after that.