Review of One-Punch Man Volume 01, Punch 1

First Look Review of One-Punch Man Volume 01, Punch 1

While I’ve seen the anime, this is my first time taking a look at the manga for One-Punch Man and I found it enjoyable. The art is black and white and overblown but once I got used to it, it was actually well done and the story so far is enjoyable. I’m looking forward to continuing.

Punch 1

One Punch by Yusuke Murata. Published by Viz, 2014.

Here we see the beginning of One-Punch Man. Saitama is a hero or at least his has fun doing heroic things and mostly they seem to revolve around punching things. Or at least hitting things once.

In this issue a new threat appears in the city, one that seems to emerge onto the scene full blown and ready to cause havoc. And as the being, we learn is named Vaccine Man, romps around destroying the town, Saitama decides to intervene. He’s supremely confident and nonchalant and he casually proclaims he’s a hero for fun.

Vaccine Man is incredulous and announces his back story as being born of the Earth as a result of humankind’s destruction of the environment. He’s here to destroy all humans and restore the Earth to a better state. Too bad for him, he ran into Saitama for with a single punch, Vaccine Man is reduced to bits and pieces.

Things are overly dramatic and out of proportion but that seems to be expected in manga and while I’m no expert, this seems pretty standard. What I think is cool about Saitama is how simply he’s drawn in comparison to everything else that’s on the page with him. Straightforward, simple, and bald, One-Punch Man stands apart from all the craziness and overblown musculature of Vaccine Man and the destruction of the city and he’s simply a hero for fun. I really enjoyed this.

You can find first looks at other issues in this title linked in my February Reading List.
I rate this issue a A-.