It's still pretty cool though and it does make sense in a way. Gon is an enhancer after all, he enhanced himself by giving up all his strength and future potential just for that one moment. Shonen manga usually do these type of things and it doesn't really bother me much. The other ones you mention also make sense in bleach as well. Is it cheap? Maybe so, but I don't personally think it's a big deal.

Watch it be "The End...or is it? 1,2,3,etc" Classic Kubo :P Wouldn't put it pass him.

When did Cell reform? I wouldn't call myself a Dragonball expert by any means, but I'm pretty sure he ended up in Hell with Freeza, and was the exact same character there. He certainly didn't seem any more human by the end.

Mereum's design was certainly a nod to Dragonball, but that doesn't speak entirely to the story progression. Even the methods of the sacrifice were different. I mean...they explode (albeit different sides), but that's another very general comparison. It still seems like a huge stretch to me. I could probably find more comparisons between Jojo Arc 4 and the Cell saga...but that wouldn't mean much.

Now the pacing is a criticism I can understand, and one I've definitely heard before. I honestly thought it was great build-up, and nailed the overall sense of desperation in that arc, but that's definitely subjective.

I loved every HxH arc except Greed Island, which was okay, just felt more like a traditional shounen arc rather than what came before and after. The Hunter Exam arc was a great contrast to the darker themes that come later.

I actually thought Gon's sacrifice was one of the best moments of the arc for the tone alone. Even though the hero was getting a power-up, it was clear that it was a tragic turn of events. If anyone cheered for Gon's victory there...I think they really missed the point. The look on Gon's face as he was crushing Pitou's skull was absolutely heart-breaking...it really felt like he gave up everything for his revenge.  

If anything, I would hate if this becomes a regular power up similar to Chopper's Monster point...but I have faith that Togashi won't cheapen Gon's sacrifice.

Heh...I like Orihime more than Rukia...but I'd be very surprised if Kubo went that route. I think it's more likely that Ichigo will either get with or be implied to be with Rukia..or be forever alone as the Soul King somehow. Or become Brook.  

I certainly wouldn't mind being wrong though.

Yes, I remember that! And I think the anime in its entirety  released today already? That's what I heard from a cat...

But I really want to watch it if I can!!! x )

I think at times it bothered me when in the manga, characters don't have shades or anything on their hair, so I imagine they have a light color, but then in the color page, they have brown hair. Why don't they color in that character's hair with a gray, instead of giving the impression they are blonde or something?

Yeah ... like Hori and her stupid hair.

Yes, exactly. I imagined her and her father blonde, and I forgot she had brown hair. What the heck.

That's if Togashi will release another chapter anytime soon in this century...

... :'(

Yeah all 13 episodes are out today!

So Nisekoi is ending before summer is over, Bleach is ending before the year is over, and HxH is back on hiatus and so that just leaves me with One Piece ): gonna need to start reading a lot more Manga again otherwise i will be reading more DC comics weekly then i will be reading Manga weekly.

I guess our opinions differ here :P I kinda thought that the tension was all leading up to Gon doing something unthinkable and that's what he did. All that rage he's shown throughout the series indicates how powerful he can become thanks to it.  All that hidden potential the Chairman saw in him led up to that very moment.

Lol yes!!! Sometimes it fits sometimes it doesn't. Like I usually get an impression of White/unshaded hair = Some shade of Blonde.