Hunter x Hunter: Hisoka's Bungee Gum, Explained

Key Takeaways

Nen abilities in Hunter x Hunter are unique and vary based on users’ personalities and desires.
Hisoka’s Bungee Gum is sticky and elastic, activated with misdirection and applied in various strategic ways.
Bungee Gum can be used for offensive, defensive, and trapping maneuvers, showcasing Hisoka’s creativity and tactical mind.

As a longtime fan of the anime realm, I must say that Hisoka Morrow from Hunter x Hunter is one of the most intriguing characters I’ve ever encountered. The way he uses his Bungee Gum Nen ability is nothing short of mesmerizing, showcasing both creativity and tactical genius.

In the universe of Hunter x Hunter, those who have mastered the fundamentals of Nen gain a distinctive power. This power typically reflects the user’s character and aspirations, resulting in significant differences from one individual to another. It might be as straightforward as Gon’s Rock-Paper-Scissors or as intricate as Chrollo’s Skill Hunter.

The same thing applied to the Nen ability of one of the most iconic characters in this series, Hisoka Morrow. His Nen ability is called the Bungee Gum, and it is the embodiment of Hisoka as a person. Deceptive, versatile, and highly dangerous. So what is so special about Bungee Gum? How does it work anyway? Read on to find out the answers to these questions.

The True Nature of Bungee Gum

Hunter x Hunter: Hisoka's Bungee Gum, Explained

In simpler terms, Hisoka’s power, known as Nen, allows him to alter the characteristics of his spiritual energy (aura) to imitate various substances. For instance, Killua, another user of Nen, can transform his aura into electricity. Interestingly, Hisoka has chosen to modify his aura into a mix of rubber and gum, which is why he’s called Bungee Gum.

The Stickiness of a Gum

Because it behaves like bubble gum, Hisoka’s aura has the ability to be shaped and stuck to various objects. He can transform his Bungee Gum from a thin strand into a broad sheet, shaping it however he desires. Similarly, he can adjust the stickiness of the Bungee Gum, making it as weak as wet newspaper slapping against a glass window or as strong as two pieces of metal being welded together. Additionally, Hisoka can cover an object with Bungee Gum, imbuing it with sticky qualities. Notably, he can control when the stickiness is activated and released at will.

The Amazing Bungee Gum! It transforms its characteristics, becoming flexible and adhesive! Attach it to any surface, and remove it effortlessly whenever you wish! It extends a long way, and returns to its original shape swiftly!

–Machi, Chapter 55

The Elasticity of a Rubber

Hisoka’s aura behaves like elastic rubber, allowing his Bungee Gum to extend for quite a distance and then retract with the force of a rubber band. Remarkably, Hisoka has mastery over the elasticity of Bungee Gum, making it as pliable as an ordinary thin rubber band or capable of exerting such force upon returning that it could shatter a human body.

Sticky Fingers

One of the standout features of Bungee Gum lies in its subtle and understated character. Unlike other Transmutation abilities, such as Killua’s electricity or Maki’s thread, it is not immediately apparent to untrained eyes, even those unfamiliar with Nen. This is largely due to the way Hisoka uses Bungee Gum and his playful demeanor.

Shoot From the Limbs

From a dedicated fan’s perspective, while many Transmuters rely on their hands to activate their abilities, Hisoka takes it to another level. Unlike others, he can trigger his Bungee Gum with not just his hands, but also his feet and even individual fingers. This versatility was vividly demonstrated during his battle against Kastro at the Heavens Arena, where Kastro managed to tear off Hisoka’s right arm at the elbow. Despite the graphic nature of the injury, the resilient Hisoka could still generate Bungee Gum from his bleeding stump. In essence, Hisoka can unleash Bungee Gum from any part of his limbs, showcasing an incredible adaptability in the use of his powers.

Smoke and Mirrors

Hisoka frequently conceals the use of Bungee Gum by employing Zetsu, a Nen skill that camouflages his aura, ensuring opponents remain unaware when he activates Bungee Gum or where he places it. In essence, Hisoka is a skilled magician who excels in misdirection – speaking about one matter while performing another undetected. When the opponent becomes overly captivated by Hisoka’s words or actions, that’s when he strikes with Bungee Gum. Notably, there are other methods to attach Bungee Gum, such as a direct punch to the face.

Different Ways to Use Bungee Gum

Let’s explore various techniques Hisoka employs in using his signature Bungee Gum throughout the story. Please note that the following terms are not official names for Hisoka’s abilities, but rather simple descriptions of his most frequent Bungee Gum maneuvers:

Sticky Bungee Cord

Hisoka often employs the Bungee Gum in its simplest manner, which involves him flicking the gum from his finger towards any part of an opponent’s body. This action creates a connecting line or cord between himself and the opponent.

When Bungee Gum adheres to an adversary, Hisoka swiftly retracts the bungee cord, instantly pulling the foe towards him. As soon as the enemy gets close enough, Hisoka unleashes a series of powerful punches, enhanced by Nen, on them. This was exactly how he fought Gon during their battle at the Heavens Arena.

Bouncy Shield

In a match where his adversary wields projectiles like Razor’s volleyball-like cannon or Gotoh’s coin-like bullets, Hisoka will respond by molding a large sheet of Bungee Gum with his palms. This particular form of Bungee Gum has immense contracting power and can be expanded further if the situation demands it.

When a projectile strikes a Bungee Gum sheet, it experiences an equal and opposing force that halts its movement in place. This is similar to Gotoh’s bullet coins where the coin stops after impact. However, if the projectile hits a surface with greater force, like Razor’s canon during volleyball, it will be propelled back in the opposite direction.

Stretchy Whip

In simpler terms, if Bouncy Shield primarily serves for defense and counter-attacks, Stretchy Whip is essentially the aggressive version of Bungee Gum. Unlike its stickiness, the Stretchy Whip emphasizes the rubbery and elastic properties of Bungee Gum. The power stored in this whip’s snap can effortlessly shred a human’s clothing apart. Moreover, the stretchy quality allows Hisoka to adjust the length of the whip at his convenience.

In my enthusiasm for unleashing maximum devastation, I often equip a substantial item at the tip of my whip. During my epic showdown with Chrollo atop the Heavens Arena, I affixed a detached human head there. The synergy between the whip’s forceful snap and the head’s enhanced toughness and resilience, bestowed by Nen, can instantly reduce an adversary to pulp.

Sticky Snappy Trap

Hisoka can use Bungee Gum to make all sorts of traps, but these are the steps that he usually takes to create and execute the trap:

Attach Bungee Gum to an object(s), either by touching it directly or by shooting the Bungee Gum from afar, until there’s a thread(s) of Bungee Gum connecting the object to Hisoka’s finger. Make sure to use Zetsu to hide the Bungee Gum.
When the opponent drops their guard, throw the Bungee Gum thread(s) that is currently stuck to the user’s finger onto the opponent’s body. Be sure to keep the object(s) stuck to the floor or whatever surface it is currently glued on.
When the time is right, release the sticky part that glued the object to the floor so that the Bungee Gum will snap back and hurl toward the opponent’s body at high speed.

In a strategic move, Hisoka employs his trap to hurl a large piece of rock at Gon’s face, causing him to fall and secure Hisoka’s win. Similarly, he utilizes the same trap mechanism to fire multiple Nen-empowered cards towards Kastro’s body, ultimately piercing the adversary and resulting in Kastro’s demise.

3D Maneuvering Aid

As a gamer, I’ve found a clever trick that feels like using an elastic tether, similar to a Sticky Bungee Cord. The twist is instead of flinging it at my opponent, I hurl it upwards towards the ceiling, walls, or any higher ground. Once it sticks thanks to the Bungee Gum, I can yank myself towards that surface, navigating mid-air or even evading an ambush – just like I did during my battle against Gotoh at the Zoldyk Family compound.

Binding Rope

To summarize, Bungee Gum is employed as a means to immobilize adversaries. Intricately, Hisoka crafts a more substantial Bungee Gum, extending its length, and wraps it around his foes. The adhesive quality of this binding material, coupled with its elastic nature, ensures the opponent remains motionless, even in the smallest attempts to move. He utilizes this technique on Machi to ensure she won’t disrupt his plan aimed at capturing or killing Phantom Troupe members, specifically Shalnark and Kortopi.

It’s worth noting that while Bungee Gum might seem straightforward, it’s surprisingly versatile within the storyline. What truly sets this ability apart is not just the power itself, but the ingeniousness and strategic thinking of its wielder, Hisoka Morrow. I can’t wait to witness more of Bungee Gum in action as the story unfolds.

Hunter x Hunter is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

2024-10-31 19:37

Hunter x Hunter: Hisoka’s Bungee Gum, Explained