The Troupe's journey from innocent kids to feared thieves and murderers is rooted in their decision to catch the killers of their childhood friend Sarasa, but the methods they used turned them into monsters too.
The Phantom Troupe was introduced in Hunter x Hunter as a group of criminals feared all over the world. To make their reputation even more terrible, the series soon revealed that they are responsible for the genocide of Kurapika's clan. However, as the characters kept appearing in the manga, they also revealed a distinctive human side that set them apart from classic villains. The recent flashback presented in Hunter X Hunter is fundamental to understanding the origins of the Phantom Troupe and how they can be, at the same time, ruthless murderers and loyal friends.
After showing how the original of the future Phantom Troupe flocked around the charismatic kid named Chrollo in Meteor City, chapter #397 of Hunter X Hunter shows the tragedy that led to the formation of the group. Chrollo and the others set up an actual actors' troupe to bring to the kids of Meteor City the joy of watching the episodes of a popular TV show. However, one of the group, the young girl Sarasa, is kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by the criminals who exploit the lawless territory of Meteor City. To catch them, Chrollo decides to exploit a new, developing technology: Hunter X Hunter's version of the internet. Chrollo knows that the sick people who tortured Sarasa took pictures, and sooner or later they will share them in the darkest corners of the web.
The Phantom Troupe Became Evil By Watching Snuff Videos
The unspoken consequence of Chrollo's decision is that the of the Troupe will, for years, scour the dark web, looking at thousands of the worst kind of pictures and snuff videos to find the murder of their friend Sarasa among them. No one can remain completely sane and unfazed after doing that for years, which is why all of the Troupe are essentially desensitized to violence. They have no issues with killing innocent people because they have been exposed to the worst kind of crimes repeatedly, even before committing one. However, they were not naturally evil people to begin with, which is why their human side is still present and visible, and it mostly comes out through the bonds they share with each other.
This flashback explains how the Phantom Troupe could exterminate Kurapika's clan without feeling a hint of remorse. To avenge the murder of their friend, Chrollo and the rest of the Phantom Troupe had to dive into a world of violence and sick crimes, a tragic decision that ultimately turned them into the most feared and ruthless criminals in Hunter X Hunter.
The latest chapter of Hunter x Hunter is available from Viz Media.
