One Punch Man season one ended with a bang. It gave audiences pretty much exactly what they were looking for. A nigh invincible hero who obliterates any foe with a single punch is confronted by an alien enemy of immense power. An enemy who had been biding his time to face off against such a foe.
The climatic battle set up the next season quite well. As fans of the breakout show, whose influence in the anime world and beyond almost reached the heights of Attack On Titan. So, after nearly a four-year break, we have One Punch Man season two. How good is the latest season? How does it live up to the potential of the first? Let’s find out in part one of this two-part review.
One Punch Man: Bringing back the fun
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Four years was too long for fans of the action parody anime. With the long break and the change of animation studio with J.C. Staff taking over, there were concerns over the show’s quality. But they were not to be disappointed. One Punch Man season two delivers an interesting but arguably more thoughtful take on the concept of the invincible superhero by delving deeper into the personal conflicts and doubts that affect heroes blessed with incredible powers and those who aren’t.
The first question fans of the first season would ask is: Is it as good? The answer is yes, in a way. While it lacks the novelty of concept and the dry humor that situations involving Saitama and his immense power evoked, the second season holds its own by taking a more character-centric approach to storytelling. And for the most part, it works.
The hero who is not
One of the main story arcs in One Punch Man season two is the plight of the character named King. King is an S- class hero known as “The Strongest Man on Earth.” But as things turn out, King is no such thing. He is not even a superhero. His most remarkable ability is the sheer dumb luck (or curse) that seems to follow him. It places him in situations where the real hero, Saitam, does the job.
The relationship between Saitama and King provides a more ground but contrasting look at the superheroes’ lives. One hero, Saitama, has all the power but doesn’t take the job seriously. King has no power but is made to live with the responsibility and status of being the strongest hero. Psychological conflicts aside, this does not mean that One Punch Man season two is lacking in the action department. The truth is that it is far from it.
More villains, more battles
An argument can be made that season one of One Punch Man played it safe regarding the character and complexity of the villains. For those new to the anime, the writers aimed to present moments where the hero’s incredible powers were allowed to shine.
And that meant throwing in some big, powerful, and generally stupid baddies. Things are a bit different in season two. The villains come in various shapes and sizes but have more complex motivations. From Garou, the self-proclamation “hero-hunter,” to the monstrous Elder Centipede, a gigantic centipede that is part of the Monster Association.
You heard that right. To challenge the growing menace of the Hero Association that is taking out monsters as they come, the monsters have formed their group and are planning their line of attacks against the heroes. So, taken together, there is a lot going on amidst personal conflicts and the rising threats of transmissible monster disease, where the consumption of infected cells can potentially turn victims into monsters. Overall, One Punch Season 2 is a fun addition to the acclaimed anime, but the ending may seem abrupt.
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