As a series goes on, the world within it can often grow to such a degree that it dwarfs the main characters, pushing them to the side as the spotlight takes some time to focus on side characters and the world at large. Such is the case with the latest issue of “One Punch Man,” but rather than slowing the story down, it ups the ante and the action.
Written by ONE
Illustrated by Yusuke MurataWhile Saitama’s distracted at a martial arts tournament, Centichoro, a threat level Dragon monster, attacks! Metal Bat engages it in battle but struggles against its gargantuan size. The monster knocks him into the distance and right into the path of hero-hunter Garo!
Continuing where the last volume left off, the Hero Association has to deal with a city-wrecking centipede monster, while Garo continues his hunt for heroes. Through it, we see the S-Class hero Metal Bat in action, and gain a newfound appreciation for the character and his strength.
Meanwhile, Saitama is entering a martial arts tournament as Charanko. This keeps him out of the major action, but in doing so allows the other characters to shine. After all, every time Saitama enters a fight, he ends it almost immediately, so keeping him sidelined is the best way to show off the amazing action scenes by Yusuke Murata.
But ONE manages to keep the twists coming with the introduction of a new threat, creating a neat parallel to the Hero Association and causing widespread chaos. In doing so, we’re introduced to a plethora of new monsters and heroes alike, each with a unique theme and design.
There are literally dozens of new characters introduced in this volume, including monsters, heroes, and martial artists. At the start of the martial arts tournament, there are no less than ten pages, highlighting eighteen characters, the majority of which are brand new (and a few are unexpected but welcome returning characters). Every single one of them has a unique design, along with a little blurb that gives us an understanding of the character. Mind you, these are just people in the martial arts tournament – the designs of the heroes are even more intense and varied, and the monsters draw from a wide range of sources, including horror, mythology, and even a pun or two.
Yusuke Murata’s character designs are outstanding all around. The amount of detail that goes into every one of them, no matter how minor the hero, makes each page a treat to see. Goofy heroes, sexy monsters, and even an announcer with a crazy hairdo all receive equal care in their designs, and there’s not a single character I wouldn’t love to see cosplayed.
The addition of Metal Bat’s little sister, Zenko, is a welcome touch as well. There’s an excellent scene that really speaks to both her character and that of Metal Bat, which I won’t spoil here, but I will say it has made me a Metal Bat fan.
Of course, the solid artwork covers more than just the character designs. When Saitama isn’t OHKOing anything in his path, we get some excellent fight scenes too. It really shows the level of coordination between the writer and artist, as each panel is set up perfectly, with wide attacks and strong angles that give us the best action, as the dialogue keeps up with the pacing while letting the combat speak for itself.
Between all the plot development, character exposition, and action, ONE still finds time to fit his brand of humor in. It mostly comes from Saitama’s deadpan commentary in the face of typical anime tropes (albeit often times tropes cranked up to 11), and the way characters respond to him, although other characters get their own chances to shine when the moment calls for it.
Yet along with the comedy and conflict comes a real sense of dread as the threats escalate. A pair of heroes dressed like a bright-haired punk and a pineapple? Funny. Get them wrecked by a rhino monster while they’re trying to protect a Hero Association chief’s child? Suddenly the stakes are real. The sense of panic throughout the Association, and the desperation of the heroes fighting, comes through wonderfully across the issue. The stakes are high, and it shows.
Continued belowFollowing the main issue, there’s another amusing side story about Saitama going off on a mission with other heroes, who are in no mood to form a sentai-styled team. A part of me wishes we’d get an actual “Power Rangers”-esque team of heroes at some point in this series, if just for a gag, but this chapter will have to suffice. (Besides, the manga “Gamma” already managed something similar before, so I’ll survive.) Once more, the art and writing are both top-notch, filled with uniquely powered heroes, great designs, and a good blend of action and comedy.
“One Punch Man” has been on a roll since its first issue. Like all the rest, this volume contains a perfect blend of comedy, action, character arcs, and absolutely stunning artwork. More than that, it builds the world up one more step, introduces new elements to it, and brings in some neat twists to the story.
Sure, the main character was absent from more of the issue than not, but because of that we got to meet so many new characters, learn more about those we know, and get to see the monsters as a legitimate threat before their inevitable defeat at Saitama’s hands. (Or rather, a singular hand; one punch and whatnot.)
Final Verdict: 9.3 – Honestly one of the best manga out there today. Great synergy between writer and artist, and a great ride the whole way through.
