Gon Freecss is a main protagonist of the anime and manga Hunter × Hunter.
Though his line of work as a Rookie Hunter can be extremely dangerous, Gon has thankfully not yet died in the line of duty (or otherwise).
He was very near the brink of death in episode 131 of the anime’s first season, “Anger × and × Light”, but he does survive in the end – much to all of his fans’ relief!
How Does Gon (Nearly) Die?
Gon nearly dies in episode 131 of Hunter × Hunter’s first season, named “Anger × and × Light”.
While in battle against Neferpitou (nicknamed ‘Pitou’), Gon made the decision to sacrifice his life to defeat the villain. He over-consumed Nen (to the extent of physically aging his own body) and released a Jajanken blast.
Related Read: Shalnark’s Death – What Really Happened?
The blast swallowed the forest and Pitou, but also Gon. His body was extremely badly burned, but luckily Gon was revived by Nanika (a Dark Continent creature who possesses Alluka Zoldyck).
Who Is Gon?
Gon Freecss was born on May 5, and is currently in his early teens.
His father, Ging Freecss, was an absent father and Ging’s cousin, Mito, gained custody of Gon after Ging tried to leave Gon in his grandmother’s care for a time. Gon’s mother is yet to be confirmed, though there are many theories as to her identity.
Gon is young and looks to be his age (around 14 years old), with black spiky green-tipped hair and large hazel eyes. He most often wears a green jacket with red edges, a black or white tank top, green shorts and green laced boots.
Since the age of nine, Gon had wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Hunter (in no small part to see why his father would abandon him for the job), and so takes the Hunter Exam.
Along the way, Gon meets Killua Zoldyck, Kurapika and Leorio Paradinight, and after he passes the Exam they embark on many dangerous adventures together, such as facing off against the Phantom Troupe (a gang of criminals), and fighting against the Chimera Ants (a group of monstrous insects).
What Does Gon Look Like?
In some of the series’ arcs, his outfit changes slightly: he takes off the jacket, and adds the Paladin’s necklace (an item that protects the wearer from attack-type spells and can undo curses).
What Is Gon Like?
Gon is a friendly young boy with a curious, adventurous streak. He is very kind and compassionate, and can easily make friends.
During his childhood, he spent a lot of time in the woods, and this has led him to be very good with animals.
Gon possesses Enhancement-type Nen, making him an Enhancer. Enhancers are known for being simple minded and determined, and this fits Gon’s personality.
Gon can be impulsive and short-tempered, with a complex moral code; he can easily dissociate his personal feelings from a moral dilemma. When Gon is feeling emotionally triggered, he can become irrational and oblivious to all else. Despite this though, he is mostly quite level-headed.
Gon can be very hard on himself and enters into self-destructive spirals – for instance, when Kite died facing Neferpitou, Gon blamed himself. In contrast to this though, he is also extremely confident in his abilities (occasionally to a fault!).
He has difficulty with maths and numbers, and it is a running joke in the series.
What Are Gon’s Abilities?
Despite only being around 14, Gon is very skilled and has many abilities.
These include: very powerful senses, hand-to-hand combat skill, an incredible healing factor and impressive stealth skills.
Gon’s Nen type is Enhancer, and his Hatsu (or an individual’s personal expression of their own Nen) is called Jajanken. Nen is a technique that allows a being to manipulate and make use of their own life energy, or aura.
Where Is Gon Now?
Gon’s journey started when he was 12, and we have followed him on that journey to the present day, where he is now 14 or 15.
The manga is currently on an extended hiatus, but the creator Yoshihiro Togashi has assured fans that it will continue.
Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of our favourite characters soon!
