If you're
one of those who goes on social media every day just to check if Yoshihiro
Togashi uploaded a new issue to his famous blank slate, get ready for
the best update of the year. The legendary mangaka not only
confirmed that he has just finished inking the characters for chapter 430
of Hunter x Hunter, but he gave us a spectacular crossover that
no one saw coming. Instead of his classic quick doodles, he posted a special
illustration mixing his universe with that of Sailor Moon to
publicly thank his wife, the iconic Naoko Takeuchi.
Kurapika,
magical warriors and a hiatus-proof love
The piece of
art is a real gem for the otaku community. In the drawing we can
see Kurapika sharing space with two legends of the magical
girl anime. On one side is the cat Artemis, drawn in the style of a maneki-neko (the
classic lucky cat) holding a gold coin with the word "Thank you" on
it. On the other side appears Sailor Mars showing an amulet
with the date "4/17", making a clear nod to her birthday. But what
really brought fans to tears was Togashi's message, where he openly confessed,
"I'm getting a lot of strength from my wife to keep going."
In
addition, the author showed that he is up to date with Takeuchi's projects,
adding the hashtags #Artemis2 (referencing NASA's recent
lunar mission) and #ShiningTheater (for the franchise's new
themed dinner show premiering in Tokyo). Seeing this level of support for each
other in a couple who have been married since 1999 is a beautiful reminder of
why they are the most respected duo in the entire manga industry.
When do
the chapters return to Shonen Jump?
Beyond
romance and nostalgia, the update brings excellent news for those who continue
to suffer from the history of the Dark Continent. Togashi took advantage of the
tweet to remind us that he has plenty of material stored in the drawer. He
clarified that chapters from 420 are already ready to come to light, and that
the ball is now in the court of the editors of the Weekly Shonen Jump.
Basically, the post can resume at any time, we're just waiting for
Shueisha to hit the green button and announce the official return
date.
For now,
knowing that Togashi's pen continues to move thanks to the unconditional
support of the creator of Sailor Moon is enough to keep the
hope of all readers alive.
