The YuYu Hakusho manga ending has the superior story (Spoilers) (2025)

The YuYu Hakusho anime and manga are basically a 1:1 but starts to split a bit post Sensui. The Anime gives a more indepth look at the tournament while the manga skips a lot and gives you a summary of what happened at the tournament. The thing I don't like about the anime is post the tournament ending. Demons who not only are displayed to be actually evil (killing/torturing for the fun of it), but even a common C class can wreak havoc decide to not kill humans because the new demon king says so. These beings who have acted seemingly on their own now listen to authority.

In the manga there is a different twist, after the defeat of Sensui Koenma decides to investigate spirit world and figures out something else. A year and a half after the tournament Kurama does some exposition.

This twist changes the entire context of the story and brings it much closer to reality. Exploited people who are painted as evil and crimes against them are seen as necessary to stop their evil. This changes Yusuke from a savior to a soldier who fights on the beliefs based on what his superiors tell him. The best part is that it makes Yusukes journey really worthless as he mainly fought brainwashed demons and humans, Toguro being the only exception. In a world with beings just trying to exist the ones with power will use that power to exploit one group and use another group to pit them against each other, the moral reasons are generally made up, especially the ones pushed by the ones in power. My favorite frames are these ones that show that the victories of the past aren't even moral ones and should just be in the past

I also enjoy the different epilogue (which I think is covered in the new OVA) but this twist is what makes the manga superior to the anime for me. (Both are excellent mediums for this series)

Lagamorph said:

I just wish it had stopped after the Dark Tournament. It was sharply downhill from there really.

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I mean no since Chapter Black is better and it was still incredibly popular.

Still need to check out the manga. Hope Viz does something for the 30th anniversary next year.

Lagamorph said:

I just wish it had stopped after the Dark Tournament. It was sharply downhill from there really.

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I enjoyed most of Chapter Black, except some of the Sensui/cave stuff at the end.

I was loving Three Kings at first, but then... yeah lol. Togashi was just done at that point.

Lulu said:

I mean no since Chapter Black is better and it was still incredibly popular.

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No way was Chapter Black better than the Tournament.

Bringing Genkai back to life was a pisstake that made her entire arc in the Tournament completely meaningless.

Lagamorph said:

I just wish it had stopped after the Dark Tournament. It was sharply downhill from there really.

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I wouldn't say that. I really liked chapter black

Lagamorph said:

No way was Chapter Black better than the Tournament.

Bringing Genkai back to life was a pisstake that made her entire arc in the Tournament completely meaningless.

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That probably would have still happened even if the manga had ended with the Dark Tournament.

The twist in the manga would have been good if it was explored at all beyond that expo-dump. As is, I didn't feel there was any real weight given to it.

Also, that last manga arc makes for a weaker ending than the last anime episode, IMO, aside from us finally seeing Kuwabara help in a mission again.

SigmasonicX said:

The twist in the manga would have been good if it was explored at all beyond that expo-dump. As is, I didn't feel there was any real weight given to it.

Also, that last manga arc makes for a weaker ending than the last anime episode, IMO, aside from us finally seeing Kuwabara help in a mission again.

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Well it likely was set up but Togashi was ready to check out. Though I can see where you're coming from.

Lagamorph said:

I just wish it had stopped after the Dark Tournament. It was sharply downhill from there really.

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The chapter black saga is really good though. I enjoy Sensui as a villain and what Yusuke has to bring himself to in order to "win"

Quantum Nottle said:

The chapter black saga is really good though. I enjoy Sensui as a villain and what Yusuke has to bring himself to in order to "win"

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Yusuke being part demon all along was probably one of the worst parts of the whole series.

Quantum Nottle said:

The chapter black saga is really good though. I enjoy Sensui as a villain and what Yusuke has to bring himself to in order to "win"

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chapter black saga redeemed itself a bit with Kurama

SigmasonicX said:

The twist in the manga would have been good if it was explored at all beyond that expo-dump. As is, I didn't feel there was any real weight given to it.

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Pretty much. Thus massive twist that puts everything in the series in a new light is just stated in text and everyone seems to get over it super quickly. Come out of nowhere and goes just as quickly.