Who is Beyond Netero? Hunter X Hunter's current villain, explained

Modified Oct 07, 2024 19:25 GMT

Who is Beyond Netero? Hunter X Hunter — Beyond Netero as seen in the Hunter X Hunter manga (Image via Shueisha)

With the recent return of Hunter X Hunter manga, the series once again gave fans a glimpse of Beyond Netero, the person heading the Dark Continent Expedition Team. While the character has had an important role in the Succession Contest Arc, he hasn't been an ever-present character in the series.

That, on top of the repeated hiatuses by manga creator Yoshihiro Togashi, has left fans feeling confused about the antagonist and his goals. As fans might remember, Beyond Netero is the son of Isaac Netero, the late 12th Chairman of the Hunter Association. What are his goals, and why is he heading the Dark Continent Expedition?

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Hunter X Hunter manga.

Beyond Netero's goal in Hunter X Hunter, explained

Beyond Netero as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

As fans must remember from Beyond Netero's announcement, his goal was to go somewhere no one had gone before and meet people nobody had met. He wished to acquire things nobody had touched and explore without bounds. Considering that the Dark Continent was a territory that matched most of his goals, he wished to reach the same.

While he was adamant about attaining his goal, he was not planning on turning down anyone who wished to join or chasing after anyone who did not wish to join him. However he was certain that he would crush anyone who would interfere with his expedition sanctioned by the Kakin Empire.

Beyond Netero's role in initiating the Dark Continent Expedition

Isaac Netero as seen in the anime (Image via Madhouse)

Despite Isaac Netero having a son named Beyond being a secret known by very few people in the Hunter Association, about fifty years ago, he was hired by the V5 to lead a secret expedition to the Dark Continent.

While the group obtained the alchemical plant Metallion from the unexplored route, on their way back, they lost most of the group members to a mysterious disease. In the end, the mission ended up as a failure due to the plant's death.

Following that mission, Isaac Netero forbade Beyond from going to the Dark Continent until his death. Hence, Beyond started preparing for an expedition in the future by recruiting talented individuals and forming an alliance with Nasubi Hui Guo Rou, the Ruler of the Kakin Empire.

Beyond Netero as seen in the Hunter X Hunter manga (Image via Shueisha)

So, sometime after Isaac Netero died, Beyond had Nasubi Hui Guo Rou announce an open expedition to the Dark Continent to pressure the V5 into joining them. The video announcement made waves on the internet as it gained one hundred million views on EyeTube and led to a hundred thousand phone applications.

The V5 tried to put a cease to this expedition but Beyond's additional announcement saw the V5 have Kakin Empire join them, forming the V6. In addition, they accepted the voyage led by Beyond Netero. As for the Dark Continent expedition itself, Beyond was to remain in a cell in Tier 1 of Black Whale until the voyage reached its destination.