One Punch Man

Saitama is no ordinary hero. In fact he looks too much like an ordinary guy and not a hero. But don't let his plain features, slightly embarrassing costume and bored expression get you into thinking that this is just another series where a regular guy goes on an adventure to become the strongest fighter. Quite the opposite. Saitama is too strong for his opponents. So far, he has defeated all the monsters and villains that he has encountered with just one punch. Yes, just one super powerful punch, hence the title of the series.

One Punch Man is set in a fictional Japan. The metropolitan district is divided into several sections. These cities are protected by the Heroes Association. Apparently, the cities are constantly invaded by monsters. These villains come in all shapes, sizes and have different set of attributes and powers. But none of these are enough to challenge the bored Saitama. He's so efficient that a cyborg named Genos became an instant fan. Some characters in the series have worked for years or trained so hard to become strong, yet Saitama was able to defeat them in just one stroke.

Saitama defeats a giant superhuman

Genos

What makes this 12-episode series interesting is not Saitama's mysterious strength. It's how he differs from all the other heroes that have been made in the action/superhero genre, and I'm not just referring to anime. A typical superhero's reasons for fighting is to protect people. Others want to be recognized by other people, especially if the hero started as an average (sometimes "loser") type. Others want to avenge a loved one's death. Others end up marrying the prettiest girl in town. But Saitama just wants to fight a strong opponent. His reasons for becoming a hero at first might have been different, but it changed when he learned how strong he was.

The series is like a parody of all the superhero series, movies, books and comics. The genre has been popular in the past several years and I was never really a fan because the stories are predictable. One Punch Man has a supporting cast that show the typical heroes. Men and women who are gifted with powers, strength, charisma, and resourcefulness. Those types of characters might make good lead roles in any other series, but again, it's just gonna continue the tradition of typical heroes. Saitama's ridiculous strength, his humor and his carefree attitude, even his looks mock the heroes pop culture are so used to seeing. And I love it! 

One Punch Man is a breath of fresh air. If you're tired of the supersaturated superhero genre, Saitama's a different breed. It incorporates both the old and new ideas of making a hero. There's also a bit of dilemma in which Saitama found himself in when people started seeing his handiwork. The humor works as well and the supporting cast are interesting.

Rating: 10 out of 10