One Punch Man is a beloved manga sequence that was was an anime present in 2015. The primary season was a smash hit, displaying some wonderful and attention-grabbing motion and comedy. The story exhibits the troubles and successes of the Hero Affiliation, who rank heroes by power into ranks and lessons and assign them to defending their cities. However the cities haven’t got names; fairly, they’re known as Metropolis A via Z.

The hero of the present, One Punch Man, would not actually name himself that. He chooses his private identify—Saitama—as his hero’s identify; he additionally would not look after formalities and is not devoted to his calling. Moderately, Saitama says he is a hero for “enjoyable and revenue” and denies any particular powers, although he can destroy something and anybody with a single punch. With two seasons completed and a 3rd coming in 2025, One Punch Man has a number of the finest anime episodes ever made, full of superhero motion and belly-laughing comedy. To revisit Saitama and Hero Affiliation’s story, take a look at the ten finest episodes.

10

“The Strongest Man”

Season 1, Episode 1

The introduction to Saitama (recognized to viewers as One-Punch Man) is likely one of the finest episodes of the anime and among the many finest primary character introductions typically. It begins with him earlier than he turns into a superhero, as an peculiar salaryman returning house from a protracted day at work. When he encounters a boy with uncommon facial options being bullied by a monster, he saves him and decides to coach arduous to develop into an actual superhero. This introduction additionally exhibits the greatness of Saitama’s energy, in addition to his desires of assembly a monster who might match his power and problem him in a struggle.

Saitama’s uniform is straightforward—it is a yellow jumpsuit with some purple rubber gloves and a makeshift cape; his go well with is not trendy, nor does it improve energy or operate. It is principally simply there so he can appear like a hero, although the funniest bit is individuals reacting to him, calling him a weirdo. This additionally exhibits how heroism is usually fashion over substance, which does not have any impact on the nice aloof, fun-loving hero, Saitama, aka One-Punch Man, probably the most highly effective hero in anime.

9

“The Final Disciple”

Season 1, Episode 7

Season 1, Episode 7, “The Final Disciple” focuses a little bit extra on Genos, the naive and courageous younger man who was damage in a monster assault and received cyborg armor from a scientist who helped his mind keep alive. Genos proclaims Saitama as his grasp and trainer, so he is at all times with him; the 2 are polar opposites however get alongside properly, and make one among the most effective anime duos. Heroes of the best rank, S, are summoned to cease a meteor from hitting Metropolis Z, and Genos is one among them. Saitama, although a decrease rank hero, exhibits up, punches the meteor, and dissolves it into smaller components that trigger injury across the metropolis however depart no casualties.

This episode is thrilling, but it surely additionally exhibits the hubris and pleasure of high-ranking heroes. They depend on their devices and weapons, and every time they see somebody decrease in rank, they act prideful, not permitting them to assist. Saitama’s look kind of debunks all this stuff, as a result of he would not want the revelry and adoration from individuals to be a hero (which he says on this episode, too). This episode establishes him as much more relatable and good, with the potential to be the good hero alive.

8

“Everybody’s Dignity”

Season 2, Episode 11

Season 2, Episode 11, “Everybody’s Dignity” (someplace generally known as “Forms of Delight”) follows the continued battle towards season 2’s greatest antagonist, Garou. A number of A-Class heroes collect to defeat him; one among them, Demise Gatling, says defeating Garou will present the Hero Affiliation that there are heroes past S-Class who could possibly be helpful. Whereas Garou unleashes his full energy on them, Genos arrives to complete him. Saitama is at house, enjoying video video games, however gears as much as step in and assist his pal when his location sign goes off.

Garou challenges the motivations of the heroes hooked up to the Hero Affiliation; it is the primary time somebody in One Punch Man shakes up the established order, inflicting them to struggle amongst themselves much more than with him (although the heroes in S-Class actually struggle about who’ll strike final on a regular basis). Establishing him as a significant villain in season 2 is a storyline that may seemingly proceed in season 3, in line with the trailer. This episode is fairly cool as a result of it might simply present a villain that Saitama may have hassle defeating.

7

“Class S Heroes”

Season 2, Episode 7

Season 2, Episode 7, “Class S Heroes” dives deep into the dynamics and powers of One Punch Man‘s S-Class heroes, who’re the best class of fighters as a consequence of an ideal psychological and bodily take a look at. They’re additionally at all times summoned when a large catastrophe happens and do not normally cope with low-level threats. Because the Monster Affiliation decides to unleash an assault on the Hero Affiliation, the heroes should defend their headquarters (and their cities) from getting destroyed. Nevertheless, the S-Class heroes within the episode do not work collectively that properly, nor respect heroes from different lessons (most notably A, one class beneath theirs).

Their hubris is against Saitama preventing in a martial arts event, the place he would not appear to seek out plenty of amusement towards his opponents. He fights Suiryu, who tells him being a hero is weak and pointless. On this episode, Saitama once more prevails over others in his quest for the right problem, one thing S-Class heroes take without any consideration and rely totally on the celebrity of their names to save lots of them. There are humorous moments, however this season takes the hero’s accountability to a different stage.

6

“Unyielding Justice”

Season 1, Episode 9

Within the continuation from the earlier episode, season 1, episode 9, “Unyielding Justice” exhibits the struggle between the heroes and the colossal Deep Sea King. Genos is preventing him and Mumen Rider, a courageous and noble however not so highly effective hero of the C-Class rank. After all, when the Deep Sea King strikes him, he practically kills him. Saitama seems to save lots of Mumen Rider and rids the town of the risk with a single punch, surrounded by civilan prospectors. To divert consideration from himself, he makes gentle of the state of affairs, and other people begin appreciating the opposite members extra.

Saitama receives a letter of appreciation from Mumen Rider, and the 2 go for lunch after his launch from the hospital. One Punch Man depicts the bravery and honor of smaller heroes on this episode; with the S-Class heroes safely tucked inside, Genos and Mumen Rider determine to step in and assist individuals, struggling nice accidents alongside the way in which. Saitama additionally decides to provide the heroes who labored tougher than him a greater likelihood on the public’s adoration, declaring his selfless nature.

5

“The Hunt Begins”

Season 2, Episode 3

In season 2, episode 3, “The Hunt Begins,” Garou’s origin story is proven. He’s a former pupil of S-Class hero Silverfang (additionally known as Bang). It appears Garou and Bang did not half methods amicably, and when Garou left his dojo, he labored on changing into the final word villain. Because the heroes put together for this upcoming risk, Saitama and Genos cope with their very own issues; Saitama enlists in a martial arts event and buys a wig to enter the competition. Genos worriedly calls the physician who created him, Kuseno, and asks him if he may give Saitama some hair plugs.

The humorous moments of One Punch Man begin to dwindle as Garou emerges. The perfect bits embrace these when Saitama is not coping with monster assaults or saving the town; nonetheless, this season went away from the basic season one jokes and moved into extra intense motion territory. This was a superb name, as a result of an excessive amount of of an awesome factor is also unhealthy, and Saitama is the best when he’s himself.

4

“The Final Mentor”

Season 1, Episode 5

Season 1, Episode 5, “The Final Mentor” exhibits Saitama and Genos becoming a member of the hero take a look at to allow them to formally develop into part of the Hero Affiliation. Via a bodily and psychological take a look at, the 2 get their rankings, and Genos leads to the best attainable class, S, whereas Saitama will get the C-Class rank due to a poorly carried out written take a look at. Saitama continues to trigger issues on the coaching, whereas Genos struggles to simply accept his rank is larger than his trainer’s. The episode additionally reveals that the founding father of the Hero Affiliation has the identical facial construction because the boy Saitama saved in episode 1, with Genos saying the founder created the Affiliation impressed by the hero who saved his son.

One other hilarious and enjoyable episode, The Final Mentor, additionally helps to determine extra heroes within the story. With Amai Masks, an A-class hero and heartthrob, showing to speak to Genos, his intentions do not appear heroic. There’s additionally the impatient Snakebite Snek and different self-centered heroes who make One Punch Man an awesome attention-grabbing story. It additionally exhibits the method of getting into the Hero Affiliation (although, to Saitama, it is only a formality). This episode helps set up One Punch Man as one among the most effective anime exhibits on Netflix.

3

“The Obsessive Scientist”

Season 1, Episode 3

In season 1, episode 3, “The Obsessive Scientist,” Saitama has joined forces with Genos and decides to chase after a mad scientist, Dr. Genus, who turns animals into anthropomorphic creatures and half-cyborgs. Genus retains sending monsters to the cities to check their skills, however will get irritated when he learns Saitama defeats all of them. He unleashes his strongest monster, Carnage, onto him, however Saitama intimidates him along with his distinctive energy, and Carnage pulls again.

When Dr. Genus asks how he turned primarily probably the most highly effective man alive. Saitama reveals he simply did 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats, and ran for ten kilometers each single day for 3 years. Everybody’s response is hilariously full of disbelief and marks one of many present’s finest moments. This episode is humorous due to Saitama principally, who exhibits not solely how little he cares about his energy and defeating robust enemies, but in addition how a lot he loves doing mundane issues, like catching gross sales and market reductions. The Obsessive Scientist is filled with good writing and character improvement.

2

“The Dominator of the Universe”

Season 1, Episode 11

Within the penultimate episode of season 1, “The Dominator of the Universe,” the episode opens with Saitama wreaking havoc on the alien ship that landed above Metropolis A. The ship’s grasp, Boros, and his disciple Geryuganshoop watch him on the screens, and Boros decides to take him on. Within the meantime, a shapeshifting, fast-regenerating monster named Melzargard causes issues for the S-Class and A-Class heroes, who give it their all to defeat him. Throughout a struggle with Melzargard, Metallic Bat realizes he has silver marbles inside him that assist him regenerate, instructing the opposite heroes to destroy the marbles.

Since that is now a critical risk to the Hero Affiliation, The Dominator of the Universe is an excellent motion episode full of the heroes’ typical back-and-forth exchanges throughout battle, in addition to some slick strikes from favourite facet characters like Metallic Bat, Silver Fang, and the hilarious Puri Puri Prisoner. Saitama is not fully on the focal point, since that’s reserved for the season’s last and finest episode.

1

“The Strongest Hero”

Season 1, Episode 12

Within the epic season 1 finale, the battle towards the alien invasion in Metropolis A continues. The S-class heroes, together with Silverfang, Atomic Samurai, and Twister (Tatsumaki), all defeat the shapeshifting, regenerating Melzargard. Whereas they rescue the individuals on the bottom, Saitama infiltrates the alien ship led by Boros and fights him. Boros throws all of his punches and powers at Saitama, however the hero is bored by Boros’ incessant speaking and character introductions.

Saitama, after all, would not come out with a single scratch—Boros breaks a sweat whereas Saitama takes his punches. At one level, Boros launches Saitama on the moon, and, in One Punch Man vogue, Saitama comes again to Earth by propelling himself and making a gap within the moon. This episode exhibits Saitama’s greatest opponent to this point, somebody who was in a position to problem him and push him to make use of greater than only one punch—his signature transfer. The episode additionally establishes the potential hidden villains for the subsequent season, like A-class hero Amai Masks and S-class hero Metallic Knight. This episode is thrilling, enjoyable, and fairly humorous.

One Punch Man is offered to stream on Hulu within the US.

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