One Punch Man (ワンパンマン) is a 12 episode shonen battle series based on the manga of the same name, originally a web comic by the pseudonymous One. The series aired in Japan during the fall of 2015.
Saitama spent 3 years training to be a hero. He trained so hard his hair fell out. Why did he do this? He really didn't have much else to do and though it would be fun. The end result is that he can defeat any opponent with one punch and withstand any sort of physical attack. After a particularly destructive battle with a mosquito woman Saitama gains an unwanted apprentice. The apprentice, a powerful cyborg named Geno's, informs Saitama about the Hero Association and they sign up to become professional hero's. Even though he is stronger than almost anyone else, poor test scores puts him in a low hero rank, while Geno's earns a high spot in the association. That doesn't stop Saitama from carrying on his new hero duties. His success comes into question when the masses believe he cheats for each of his victories where higher ranked hero's failed. Saitama goes with it and decides to carry on not being important but relishing the search for a strong opponent.
OPM ended up becoming the biggest anime this year. I was excited for it when I heard the news of its release. I had heard about the manga a year previously and it sounded fun. It was fun, at least in the beginning. In the beginning its a cynical tale of a man who has become bored with his power. The strong point is that it sticks its tongue out at every other shonen battle manga that exists. Everyone postures about their strength and brags about their abilities. While Saitama stands by, bored, waiting to see if the person he's up against can withstand a hit from him. Unlike something like One Piece of Dragon Ball Z, where a battle continues and there is much fan fair over the ever continuing almost defeat of people involved. Saitama typically just ends it before it can turn into an exaggerated waste of time and money. Sadly though, as the series progresses that spirit is lost and it begins to emulate what it originally satirized. Bigger and stronger enemies arrive, show how powerful they are by destroying hero's ranked higher than him. When Saitama finally has a crack at them and completely wipes them off of reality. No posturing, no long speeches about justice, usually Saitama asking them if they are done talking. He doesn't want to be rude. Then he hits them.
The final arc was the one that disappointed me the most. It was spread out over a few episodes and lacked much of the humor and snide attitude of the earlier episodes. Instead it started to devolve into drawn out monologues and villains who wouldn't die without revealing hidden power. Over all it was an entertaining series and confused the hell out of a lot of people. Is it serious or a joke? I take it as a joke that started to become serious. It's probably for the best that the run only lasted 12 episodes. But given the sudden and overwhelming popularity of it we may see another run in the future. I believe the manga adaptation of the original short web comic is still going and the first two tankoubon in North America sold well enough. While the internetz argue over who would beat who between Saitama and all of the Shonen Jump hero's I shake my head in disappointment for them missing the point.
The series is what you make of it, I enjoyed the comedic and satirical aspects of it and became bored of the serious portions. It was simulcast on Hulu and the manga is being released by Viz Media.
Saitama spent 3 years training to be a hero. He trained so hard his hair fell out. Why did he do this? He really didn't have much else to do and though it would be fun. The end result is that he can defeat any opponent with one punch and withstand any sort of physical attack. After a particularly destructive battle with a mosquito woman Saitama gains an unwanted apprentice. The apprentice, a powerful cyborg named Geno's, informs Saitama about the Hero Association and they sign up to become professional hero's. Even though he is stronger than almost anyone else, poor test scores puts him in a low hero rank, while Geno's earns a high spot in the association. That doesn't stop Saitama from carrying on his new hero duties. His success comes into question when the masses believe he cheats for each of his victories where higher ranked hero's failed. Saitama goes with it and decides to carry on not being important but relishing the search for a strong opponent.
OPM ended up becoming the biggest anime this year. I was excited for it when I heard the news of its release. I had heard about the manga a year previously and it sounded fun. It was fun, at least in the beginning. In the beginning its a cynical tale of a man who has become bored with his power. The strong point is that it sticks its tongue out at every other shonen battle manga that exists. Everyone postures about their strength and brags about their abilities. While Saitama stands by, bored, waiting to see if the person he's up against can withstand a hit from him. Unlike something like One Piece of Dragon Ball Z, where a battle continues and there is much fan fair over the ever continuing almost defeat of people involved. Saitama typically just ends it before it can turn into an exaggerated waste of time and money. Sadly though, as the series progresses that spirit is lost and it begins to emulate what it originally satirized. Bigger and stronger enemies arrive, show how powerful they are by destroying hero's ranked higher than him. When Saitama finally has a crack at them and completely wipes them off of reality. No posturing, no long speeches about justice, usually Saitama asking them if they are done talking. He doesn't want to be rude. Then he hits them.
The final arc was the one that disappointed me the most. It was spread out over a few episodes and lacked much of the humor and snide attitude of the earlier episodes. Instead it started to devolve into drawn out monologues and villains who wouldn't die without revealing hidden power. Over all it was an entertaining series and confused the hell out of a lot of people. Is it serious or a joke? I take it as a joke that started to become serious. It's probably for the best that the run only lasted 12 episodes. But given the sudden and overwhelming popularity of it we may see another run in the future. I believe the manga adaptation of the original short web comic is still going and the first two tankoubon in North America sold well enough. While the internetz argue over who would beat who between Saitama and all of the Shonen Jump hero's I shake my head in disappointment for them missing the point.
The series is what you make of it, I enjoyed the comedic and satirical aspects of it and became bored of the serious portions. It was simulcast on Hulu and the manga is being released by Viz Media.
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