I hate to compare the two, because I constantly see claims that HxH is a more "polished" version of YYH, which kinda demeans the merits of both series.

But I prefer YYH, and here's why: https://twitter.com/SinfulBash/status/1359935607322075136

HxH is great and so endlessly inventive in its narrative and world-building. It truly feels like Togashi letting loose, now a creator with a few hits under his belt no longer feeling hamstrung by the pressures of an audience and Shonen Jump editorial to deliver a specific thing.

Meanwhile YYH often feels very much like Togashi trying to "play the game." Tournament after tournament, big boss battle after big boss battle. If you didn't know anything about Togashi or Shonen Jump, you could still assume that it's a series trying to ride that Dragon Ball high

Togashi's writing about YYH seems to relay that fact, as he constantly struggled with delivering a series that would please everyone. It's a frustrating situation.

And I think that frustration becomes evident on the page, mainly in the character of Yusuke.

Yusuke is a brash prodigy, a kid that's very good at what he does and is now pushed to the forefront. He is, effectively, a "star." He's gotta save the world, win these battles, and constantly push himself harder and harder.

He is Togashi.

(Though Togashi has never really seemed brash. That's more of a Shonen Jump protagonist feature. The man seems remarkably humble.)

But as the series goes on, the veneer of confidence begins to slip away. We first see his insecurity thanks to his troubled relationship with his mother, but his wounds become more exposed in the Dark Tournament and Chapter Black arcs.

Yusuke loves to fight, but he's no Goku. The idea that he's gonna have to possibly keep training forever in order to keep up with the escalating power levels of the world doesn't thrill him. Instead, he approaches it with a mix of vigor and resentfulness.

Over the course of the story, YYH becomes a seething narrative. Yes, it includes all of the huge, game-changing battle manga victories that you come to expect, but it's mostly a series about anger. Because all four characters, as it's come to be revealed, are very angry people.

Even calm, collected, genius, beautiful Kurama has a lot of deep-rooted issues with his past and those involved with it. Hiei is jealous and distant. Kuwabara needs to affirm his rough n' tough masculinity and is troubled when he can't.

And this is...interesting to me. Because this kind of anger, this kind of passion that is often lauded as ultimately good in manga/anime like it (We tend to cheer when the provoked protagonist lets loose in violent rage) doesn't get an optimistic treatment in YYH.

Instead, it renders these characters stuck and brooding. Remember how joyful Yusuke's kiss on the beach in the last episode feels? He's been dating Keiko a long time! It technically shouldn't feel that good.

But because Yusuke has been trapped for so long trying to fight and prove himself and has existed for so long in a state of fist-clenched hostility, it's freeing and beautiful.

Now, I'm not saying that HxH doesn't have worthwhile themes like it. Gon's pursuit of his father and his hidden demons, Killua's attachment issues, the ease in which Kurapika can fall into rage - All of these are fantastically conceived.

And it's hard to find another Weekly Shonen Jump series that feels as constantly renewed as HxH. Every arc feels special in a way that makes you thankful for both Togashi's creativity and for manga and anime in general.

But for me, personally, YYH's treatise on anger and responsibility and how we handle them is what puts it in the top slot. It's a deeply effective series and remains my favorite anime of all time.