| Killua Zoldyck | |
|---|---|
| Hunter × Hunter character | |
 Killua Zoldyck, as illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi | |
| First appearance | Hunter × Hunter manga chapter 6: "The First Phase Begins, Part 2" (1998) |
| Created by | Yoshihiro Togashi |
| Voiced by | Japanese
English
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| In-universe information | |
| Family |
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Killua Zoldyck (Japanese: キルア=ゾルディック, Hepburn: Kirua Zorudikku) is a fictional character from the Hunter × Hunter manga series written by Yoshihiro Togashi. Killua is a twelve-year-old boy who has left his former life as a member of the world's most notorious assassin family. The middle child to a family of renowned assassins, the Zoldyck family. Showing great promise from birth, Killua has already mastered many killing techniques at a tender age, and is set to be one of the best assassins the family has ever produced. Bored and tired of killing, Killua unexpectedly rebelled against his family. He met Gon during the first portion of the Hunter Exam and became great friends. Initially, he wants to be neither an assassin nor a Hunter but instead to become friends with Gon and accompany him in his journey. However, he later becomes a Hunter after passing the 388th Hunter Exam. The duo travel to find Gon's missing father Ging and develop supernatural abilities by controlling their Nen energy with Killua developing powers that allow him to control electricity. The character has also been explored in films and video games.
Killua was one of the first characters created by Togashi in the making of the manga, standing out as Gon's friend. Much of their relationship was inspired by the protagonist's personality and young age, while Killua was influenced by several works Togashi enjoyed reading and watching. In the anime adaptations of the manga, Killua has been voiced by Kanako Mitsuhashi and Mariya Ise in Japanese and Annika Odegard and Cristina Vee in English dubs. Killua became a popular character, inspiring other characters from other manga as well as cosplay. His characterization was praised for while overcoming his brooding personality in the story and then becoming so devoted to Gon that he has often been recognized as one of the best characters in the series.