Summary
Despite the many instances of combat and violence,One Punch Mandoes what most shonen anime fail to do with its comedy — making it the centerpiece of the story. This doesn’t take away from any of the serious events that unfolded throughout the first few seasons, but the laughs continue to roll out and entertain the growing audience of this series. At the center of it all,One Punch Man’s main protagonist, Saitama, is the leader of the humor that comes from the shonen, as he delivers quips and one-liners that aren’t meant to be taken as a joke, but the delivery of his dialogue leaves the audience in stitches.
From being able to defeat any villain thrown his way with one singular punch, to half of an episode dedicated to chasing down a pesky mosquito,One Punch Man’s comedic delivery is what makes it so special. While most shonen anime pride themselves on training arcs and placing depth into how characters get their powers,One Punch Mandoes the exact opposite. Saitama is indeed the most powerful superhero in the series, but how he gains his strength is unlike anything ever seen. From a businessman down on his luck during a job hunt to the most intense yet unaware hero in the world, here is the story of his aura and change in appearance over time.
Saitama: A Mild-Mannered (Umeployed) Businessman
Before becomingthe Caped Baldy ofOne Punch Man, capable of decimating even the strongest of villains with one punch, he was just like everyone else in Z-City. Living in a less-than-formidable apartment complex and unable to land a job, not much else could go wrong for Saitama. Having just been royally rejected after a job interview, Saitama was down on his luck and not much to look forward to other than scraps of food in a crummy dwelling. The trope of “what else could go wrong?” reaches its peak when Saitama encounters Crablante, a Tiger-level threat taking the shape of half-crab and half-human.
Fortunately for Saitama,Crablante is on a missionto seek out a big-chinned brat who did him wrong by drawing nipples on his crab body. In this situation, Saitama has reached his breaking point and no longer seems to care what happens to him. No job prospects, no future, and no hope for improvement have seemingly broken Saitama’s spirit. That changes when Saitama finds the butt-chinned boy kicking around a ball at the local playground. Realizing the boy’s potential fate if Crablante reaches him, Saitama plays it off as not being his problem until an assault on the boy causes the future hero to lunge into action and save the child.
Saitama’s First Major Change
Against Crablante, Saitama remembers his dream of one day becoming a superhero. Clearly outmatched by a stronger, more-intimidating foe, Saitama protects the child while taking a beatdown at the claws of Crablante. Thanks to some crafty work with the tie of his suit, Saitama manages to overpower Crablante by ripping out one of his eyes. The battle between Saitama and Crablante occurred three years prior to the story’s present setting, which also happens to be the start ofSaitama’s journey to becoming the superherofans know him as. The sensation and pride of defeating a large foe awakened something in Saitama, enough to start his iconic training regimen.
Saitama’s Legendary Training Regimen
Determined to become as strong as possible, Saitama set out on a training journey only the strongest of minds could withstand. The number one rule for this intense routine to work is to stick with it at all costs, which isa lesson Saitama teaches Genos. The physical aspect of the workout includes 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, a ten-kilometre run, and finally, 100 squats every single day, without fail. In the flashback leading up to the battle Saitama finds himself in, the Caped Baldy who once had hair is shown undergoing this almost-unrealistic routine, struggling at first but remaining persistent until he one day can perform it without resistance.
Saitama’s routine doesn’t end there, as it becomes more insane the further he goes into his explanation. Saitama refuses to use air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter as a way to train his body to withstand the temperatures and strengthen his mind. He comically places a note over his air conditioner, which reads “Save Money” as a reminder to not buy into temptation. At first,Saitama admits the training is absurdand will make those taking it on wish they were dead. However, over time, the body and mind become hardened enough to survive the conditions and build up resistance against fatigue and pain.
Finally, Saitama teaches the audience the importance of a balanced diet. Eating three meals a day is essential for maintaining the body’s strength, and suggests that just one banana for breakfast is a sustainable meal to start the day. This isn’t particularly ground-breaking, asshonen anime always display foodas important for the body to continue growing and recovering from training. With all this in mind, Saitama shows the effects of his training and how it paid off, even during days when his body grew weak from the excessive workout, to the point where he was spitting up blood. The results are undeniable, but they may have come with an unforeseen downside.
With Great Powers Comes… Less Hair?
After a year and a half, Saitama reached his fullest potential in strength, capable of blasting away enemies with one fist. Unfortunately, the side effects of undergoing such a rigorous training routine left Saitama completely bald. Comically, Saitama’s reasoning for this was that he had literally trained like hell until all of his hair fell out. The payout definitely outweighed him becoming folically impaired, asSaitama gained new powers, giving him the potential to be one of the greatest heroes of all time. Wearing a yellow suit complete with a white cape and red gloves, Saitama becomes the new face of hope; The guy who is just a hero for fun.
Not only did his training to be super strong pay off,Saitama’s dedication to his full traininggave him powers beyond human comprehension. Saitama has the ability to resist hot and cold temperatures, including frigid winters and lava, and is not affected by radiation poisoning. Saitama also has super senses and an invulnerable body, making him indestructible and a target that cannot be hit. Furthermore, thanks to Saitama’s daily ten-kilometre runs, the Caped Baldy can run at extremely high speeds without getting tired. If a comic book fan could combine the strengths and powers of their favorite superheroes, the result would be Saitama.
The only negative aspect of Saitama’s journey to becoming the strongest hero is the lack of hair on his head, but it’s a small price to pay for absolute power. Of course, Saitama can always wear a toupee to cover up his baldness, but he shouldn’t enter any competitions with a rule against headwear.
One Punch Mancan be streamed onAmazon Prime.
One Punch Man
One Punch Man is a series originally created by manga artist ONE and later digitally illustrated by Yusuke Murata. This satire-like anime follows the tale of superhero Saitama, who became so powerful that he is able to destroy enemies with one hit. Unsatisfied with this lack of challenge, he seeks to find a new direction in life.
