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| Viz Media |
One
Yusuke Murata
2012
The Summary
"Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem--he just can't seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out of 'em in one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of superpowered boredom?"
The Good
I read One-Punch Man at the recommendation of my brother, who read and watched the series online. When I found it in my library, it seemed fated to be and I'm glad I took the opportunity to read it. It's not a stretch to say One-Punch Man is a wonderfully amusing series that treats readers to great characters, humor, and excellent artwork.
Part drama, part comedy, One-Punch man is absolutely hilarious with its comical villains (who obviously don't know what they're getting into) and it's unassuming--nay, one might even say unimpressive--superhero. You wouldn't think it would strike all the right notes, but, miraculously, it does.
And, speaking of superheroes, Saitama is not what you'd expect. Average height, rather skinny, bald with saucer-like eyes that give him a bored look, Saitama is just an average guy. Who just happens to live in a city infested with monsters, supervillains, and criminals. You wouldn't think he could defeat every supervillain and/or monster that comes his way, but he can and he can do it with a single punch--and yet he's utterly depressed, because he's not challenged anymore.
He's a superhero for fun--an explanation that's sure to garner, at the very least, a chuckle--but, suddenly, he finds he's no longer having fun. He's disappointed when a foe falls to one jab, he's sad he's completely undefeated, and, as terrible as this sounds, I found myself outright laughing at his plight. I mean, he doesn't even have to try, just bam! and done...and back to his dreary old life as the world's strongest man.
Besides which, I got a kick out of the subtle jabs the author takes at the expense of other manga. He pokes fun at the serious, laughs at the overly dramatic, and yet provides a quality story that's amusing without being crass. It's a series that doesn't take itself too seriously, which I appreciated after reading Sui Ishida's macabre tragedy, Tokyo Ghoul.
And, as an aside, I cracked up over the fact that none of the cities actually had names. They were just designated as City A or City G, and it becomes quite apparent that these cities take a beating on a regular basis--and people are, more or less, used to it. Just another city-destroying monster, no big deal.
Overall, One-Punch Man is a great manga and I highly recommend it to both readers who are unfamiliar with the genre and long-time fans.
The Bad
You can't take this story seriously. It's absolutely ridiculous, but that's exactly what seems to make it so fun.
The Ugly
Wanton destruction. Graphic violence. Bug guts.
Don't worry, you'll see what I mean.
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