One-Punch Man has all the makings of a top-tier superhero satire anime, from an iconic main character with an easily recognizable ability to a fascinating world filled with colorful heroes and villains with unique powers. All the series really needs is a solid production studio to restore the animation quality that helped make One-Punch Man Season 1 globally successful.
One Punch Man: Why Fights Sometimes Take More Than One Punch
Despite a simple promise, the show has necessarily outgrown its premise into something more than its original punchline.
While One-Punch Man Season 3 had a disappointing treatment, the series continues Saitama’s epic yet casual hero journey. Three seasons into the anime, and Saitama is still the same overwhelmingly overpowered hero who defeats opponents with a single punch. Right now, Saitama isn’t the only character that matters, as these other heroes and villains are also important to the series.
Saitama
The biggest mistake of the Monsters Association in One-Punch Man Season 3 was their decision to build a hideout underneath Saitama’s apartment building. If only Gyoro Gyoro and Orochi had relocated to a city or other cities except Z City, their encounter with Saitama might not have happened so soon.
Just like that, Saitama paid the Monsters Association a visit just to complain about the noises underneath his apartment, and the rest is history. Not only did Saitama win against Orochi with a single punch in the anime (with a serious water gun attack in the manga), but he also helped a lot of S-class heroes to defeat their opponents. Saitama is still working his way up to the surface, but his presence in the Monsters Association’s secret hideout changes everything for the forces of good.
Genos
Genos continues to grow stronger than ever in the series, all thanks to the modifications that Dr. Kuseno provided. He also went up several ranks among the heroes, proving that his upgrades are making a tangible difference on the battlefield. However, his goal of getting into the top 10 S-class heroes as per Saitama’s recommendation remains unattainable. Besides, he still lacks enough strength to defeat a powerful opponent singlehandedly, resulting in Saitama’s interventions.
In One-Punch Man Season 3, while Saitama gets some action, Genos takes a backseat from villain fighting after the Heroes Association suspects him of wrongdoing. They believe that Genos was a double agent, casting doubt on his intentions just because he lives with Saitama in the ghost city of Z.
Garou
One-Punch Man Season 3 was very generous to Garou, giving him opportunities to show off his abilities as well as his motivations in greater depth. The hero hunter has been shown fighting against King the Ripper and the Insect God, Orochi, and even Saitama himself. His body suffered tremendously from all the beatings he received, but those painful experiences also made him stronger than ever.
Right now, Garou remains hidden within the Monsters Association’s hideout, chained yet far from powerless. It would not take long before Garou escaped from captivity, as the hero hunter is far too skilled and relentless to stay chained for long.
Metal Knight
Dr. Bofoi, who goes by the hero name Metal Knight, has been accused by Drive Knight of being the traitor within the Heroes Association. However, this isn’t confirmed yet, and the ambiguity surrounding Metal Knight’s actions keeps both allies and enemies on edge. While Metal Knight has yet to do anything evil against humanity, the series is obviously pushing him as the bad guy in the organization.
Metal Knight is a class-S hero who specializes in long-range combat and advanced robotics. He often uses his inventions to gather data, acquire new technology, and infiltrate enemy strongholds without putting himself in real danger.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Bang
Bang has a shared history with Garou, so it’s only natural for One-Punch Man Season 3 to give him more relevance than the other heroes. Along with his brother, Bomb, Bang became a crucial part of Saitama’s group, using his mastery of martial arts and tactical insight to fight against escalating threats.
At the moment, Bang is on a mission to hunt Garou and end his reign of terror. As the former master of the hero hunter, he feels obliged to take direct action, even if it means sacrificing his life in the process. After all, Bang has aged considerably, and fighting Garou in a solo match might be the ultimate battle of his life.
Amai Mask
Amai Mask is one of the most intriguing characters in One-Punch Man. Dubbed as the idol hero, Amai Mask is loved by many civilians not just for his incredible strength but also for his handsome looks. He may look and act like My Hero Academia’s Yuga Aoyama, but he has the strength to back up his seemingly over-the-top persona with real combat skill.
In fact, Amai Mask has a brutal fighting style, and his sense of justice is far greater than anyone else's. During the encounter with the villainess D-Os, Amai Mask did not hesitate to confront her head-on, slamming her face against the wall with brutal force. Also, he almost killed Narinki’s assassination squad, further proving how ruthless he is. However, it's obvious that Amai Mask is hiding something about his identity, shrouding his actions in mystery and intrigue.
King
The joke about King as the Strongest Man on Earth continues in One-Punch Man. He still maintains his public image of a top-tier hero despite his constant fear of being exposed as a weak, powerless guy. Thanks to Saitama, King still manages to deceive everyone, including those S-class heroes.
Still, King remains a vital character in the series, with his close relationship with Saitama and Genos. His insights are proving to be crucial in keeping Saitama grounded and humble, ensuring that even the strongest hero doesn’t lose his humanity as well as his true responsibilities.
Fubuki
While Fubuki is significantly weaker than Tatsumaki, she receives more screentime than her sister in the series. Most of the time, fans spot her hanging out with Saitama and Genos in their apartment building, convincing the two powerful heroes to join the Blizzard Group. She always appears confident, masking her insecurities with determination and not-so-clever strategies.
Whenever Fubuki is with Saitama and Genos, she always brings humor, lightening the mood even during tense moments. Also, it’s funny how she hesitates to accept just how powerful Saitama really is.
One-Punch Man
- Release Date
- October 5, 2015
- Network
- YouTube, TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
Cast
-
Makoto FurukawaSaitama (voice) -
Kaito IshikawaGenos (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Shinichiro Ushijima, Makoto Sokuza, Nobuhiro Muto, Ryoh Ando, Shuuji Miyazaki, Youhei Suzuki, Miyuki Ishida, Katsushi Sakurabi, Hideki Okamoto, Yoshio Suzuki, Hiroyuki Okuno, Riki Fukushima, Shigeki Awai
- Writers
- Tatsuro Inamoto
- Franchise(s)
- One-Punch Man
- Creator(s)
- Yusuke Murata
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Madhouse, J.C.Staff
- Number of Episodes
- 36
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.49 (Season 1)
