One Punch Man: The Satirical Superhero Series You Don't Want to Miss

If you’re a fan of superheroes and love a good laugh, you need to check out One Punch Man. This manga turned anime series is a hilarious satire on the superhero genre, with a unique protagonist and stunning visuals that make it a must-watch or must-read for any fan of action and comedy.

The Plot

On a supercontinent version of Earth with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR moons (yes, you heard that right), powerful monsters and villains are causing all sorts of chaos.

But fear not, the millionaire Agoni has created the Hero Association, an organization that employs superheroes to save the day.

Enter our hero, Saitama, who hails from City Z and performs heroic deeds as a hobby.

This guy is so strong that he can defeat any enemy with a single punch! Impressive, right? Well, not for Saitama.

He’s bored out of his mind with his unmatched strength, and it’s safe to say that he’s in need of a real challenge.

Along comes Genos, a cyborg seeking revenge against another cyborg who killed his family and destroyed his hometown.

After Saitama defeats a monster that defeated Genos, he becomes a reluctant mentor to the cyborg and they both join the Hero Association hoping to attain notability.

But while Genos instantly obtains an S-Class rank, poor Saitama only becomes a C-Class hero due to his low score on the written exam.

What’s up with that, Hero Association? Don’t you know that actions speak louder than words? Saitama’s feats remain unnoticed even after saving people from an asteroid and a sea monster, barely getting himself promoted to B-Class.

Things start to get serious when a seer predicts that the world is in great danger as the alien Boros invades the planet. The heroes band together and destroy Boros’s ship, with Saitama defeating Boros in single combat.

But the monsters keep on coming, and a former apprentice of the hero Bang, self-dubbed “Hero Hunter,” starts terrorizing heroes.

Enter Garo, who holds a grudge against everything “heroic” due to childhood bullying. He bonds with a child who idolizes heroes and slowly becomes more powerful, ultimately joining the Monster Association who are intent on destroying the Hero Association.

They even offer “monster cells” that mutate humans into monsters to recruit fighters.

The heroes learn of the Monster Association’s plans and attack their headquarters, causing a battle that destroys City Z and kills almost every monster.

Saitama meets the highest-ranked hero Blast, who warns him of a threat known as “God.” Many heroes are heavily injured, and Garo emerges mutated into a monster.

Unable to match the power of Saitama, Garo receives some of “God’s” power and becomes a radiating monster that kills all the heroes.

But wait, there’s more! Saitama teaches Garo to time travel, goes back in time, and subdues him before he killed the heroes.

And despite objections from the other heroes, Saitama spares Garo and lets him flee after the child he bonded with stops them. Talk about a twist!

With the Monster Association destroyed, Saitama gets promoted to A-Class for defeating Garo. But the Hero Association’s poor performance causes public opinion to plummet.

Some heroes and officials even defect to the rival Neo Heroes, led by Blue, who claims to be the son of Blast. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…a family feud?

All in all, One Punch Man is an epic tale of heroism, villainy, and the power of a really strong punch.

And let’s not forget the importance of proper written exams. Who knows where Saitama would be if he had just aced that thing?

The Origin of One Punch

Creating a superhero series is no small feat, but ONE decided to take on the challenge with his original webcomic, One-Punch Man, in 2009.

Inspired by the long-running children’s character Anpanman, ONE played on the name by shortening it to Wanpanman and making it a contraction of “one punch.” It was a stroke of genius that would soon capture the attention of superhero fans worldwide.

ONE’s vision for the series was to have a superhero who was already the strongest in the world. He wanted to focus on different aspects of storytelling than those normally relied on in standard superhero stories, such as everyday problems.

He explained, “Punching is oftentimes pretty useless against life’s problems. But inside One-Punch Man’s universe, I made Saitama a sort of guy who was capable of adapting his life to the world that surrounded him, only armed with his immense power. The only obstacles he faces are mundane things, like running short of money.”

However, creating a webcomic is no easy task, and ONE had to take several breaks from updating the series. In February 2010, he put the series on hiatus for one year due to family circumstances.

Then, after releasing the 109th chapter in January 2017, ONE took another two-year break before releasing the following chapter in April 2019. Talk about a punchy schedule!

Luckily, ONE’s luck took a turn for the better when he was contacted by artist Yusuke Murata in 2011 about a possible partnership in which Murata would redraw the webcomic for ONE. Murata had been an enormous fan of One-Punch Man and was ill at the time.

Fearing he was going to die, he contacted ONE with a proposition. Looking back, he said, “Around that time, I was actually really sick. I broke out in hives, my inner organs were infected, and I couldn’t breathe well with my windpipes [sic] swelling.

I was in the hospital when I thought, ‘Ah, I guess people die just like that.’ If I’m going to die, I want to do something I really love to do. I want to draw manga with Mr. ONE. That’s what I thought.”

Murata’s determination paid off, as he was already a successful manga artist and used his connections in the industry to get a publishing deal with Weekly Young Jump comics. The manga became a digital publication on Weekly Young Jump’s spin-off manga website Tonari no Young Jump, published by Shueisha.

In the end, ONE and Murata’s collaboration paid off in spades. One-Punch Man has become a beloved and wildly popular series, and fans are eagerly anticipating what will come next for Saitama and his comically overpowered punches.

The Many Adaptations of One-Punch Man: From Webcomic to Anime

One-Punch Man has come a long way since its inception as a webcomic in 2009. Created by ONE, the series was self-published on the Japanese manga website Nitosha.net.

As of July 2022, the webcomic has 141 chapters. However, it wasn’t until the manga remake of One-Punch Man was illustrated by Yusuke Murata that it gained more widespread popularity.

The manga version of One-Punch Man has been published on Shueisha’s Tonari no Young Jump website since June 14, 2012.

The first volume was published on December 12, 2012, and as of November 4, 2022, twenty-seven volumes have been published. The manga has also been released in print in North America since September 2015.

One-Punch Man was adapted into an anime in 2015, with the first season directed by Shingo Natsume at Madhouse animation studio and written by Tomohiro Suzuki.

The series features character designs by Chikashi Kubota, and the music was composed by Makoto Miyazaki. The first season ran for 12 episodes, and it aired in Japan from October 5 to December 21, 2015.

It was later simulcast on Hulu, Daisuki, and Viz Media’s Neon Alley service. An original video animation (OVA) was released with the tenth manga volume on December 4, 2015.

A second season was confirmed in September 2016, and it aired from April 9 to July 2, 2019. However, the second season was animated by J.C.Staff, with Chikara Sakurai replacing Shingo Natsume as director and Yoshikazu Iwanami replacing Shoji Hata as sound director.

Despite the changes, the series remained popular with fans, and a ten-minute OVA was bundled with the second season’s first Blu-ray Disc/DVD volume on October 25, 2019.

One-Punch Man’s evolution from webcomic to manga to anime is a testament to its enduring popularity and the creativity of its creators.

One Punch Tunes: The Epic Soundtrack of One Punch Man

Oh boy, let me tell you about the music and soundtrack of One Punch Man. It’s like the perfect blend of epic and ridiculous, just like our favorite bald-headed hero Saitama.

From the opening theme song “The Hero!!” that gets you hyped up and ready to punch some villains yourself, to the hilarious ending theme “Hoshi Yori Saki ni Mitsukete Ageru” (which roughly translates to “I’ll Find It Before the Stars for You”), the music of One Punch Man never disappoints.

But the real showstopper is the background music. It’s so epic, it makes you feel like you could take on a whole army of monsters single-handedly. The music swells and builds during fight scenes, making every punch and kick feel like a major event. And when Saitama unleashes his signature “One Punch” move, the music hits a crescendo that will give you goosebumps.

But the best part of the soundtrack has to be the character themes. Each hero and villain has their own unique theme that perfectly captures their personality and fighting style. From the ridiculous “Mumen Rider’s Theme” that sounds like it’s straight out of a cheesy ’80s action movie, to the haunting “Deep Sea King’s Theme” that will give you nightmares, the music in One Punch Man adds so much to the overall experience.

In conclusion, the music and soundtrack of One Punch Man is just as epic and ridiculous as the show itself. It’s the perfect complement to Saitama’s over-the-top battles and larger-than-life characters. So turn up the volume, grab a bag of popcorn, and get ready to experience some One Punch Tunes.

One Punch Man: More Than Just a Punchline

While One Punch Man is widely known for its unique brand of humor and jaw-dropping action scenes, it has also made a significant cultural impact. From inspiring countless fan art and cosplay to sparking discussions on the nature of heroism, Saitama and his exploits have become a global phenomenon.

One Punch Man has also been praised for its subversion of typical anime and manga tropes. Instead of the usual formula of a protagonist starting out weak and growing stronger through training and battles, Saitama is already overwhelmingly powerful from the start. This has led to a refreshing take on the superhero genre, where the focus is less on physical strength and more on the mental and emotional fortitude required to be a true hero.

The show has also touched on societal issues such as the commercialization of heroism and the danger of blindly following authority. The character of King, a seemingly unbeatable hero who is later revealed to be a fraud, serves as a commentary on the idolization of public figures and the pressure to maintain a certain image.

But perhaps One Punch Man’s greatest cultural impact is in its ability to bring people together. Fans from all corners of the globe have bonded over their love for the series, with fan events and conventions dedicated solely to the franchise. The show’s themes of perseverance and the importance of friendship and community have resonated with audiences worldwide.

In short, One Punch Man may have started as a simple webcomic, but it has grown into a cultural phenomenon that has left a lasting impact on the world of anime and beyond. So if you haven’t already, it’s time to hop on the Saitama train and join the legion of fans who have been swept up in the whirlwind that is One Punch Man.