One Punch Man's universe crosses the over-the-top fun of action shonen series with the mundanity of modern society. The heroes include Tank Top Master, Metal Bat, and Atomic Samurai, amongst other distinctly non-threatening sounding characters. Those are characters amongst the elite 'S class' of heroes though. There are genuinely unthreatening heroes among the lower classes, such as Licence-less Rider, the 'cyclist for justice' and top biller in C class. Amongst these, Saitama, a bald young man with a killer training regime, reigns supreme, and bored with the weak villains who can't defeat him.
One of One Punch Man's main themes is the struggle for recognition in a society that often values popularity and ceremony over genuine accomplishment. When Saitama joins the Hero Association, despite breaking every record in the physical tests, he is placed in class C by virtue of a poor essay. When he deals with threats even class S heroes can't handle, he is accused of being a fraud. Appropriately, the way it's treated is entirely tongue-in-cheek. Sadly, by the end of the anime there has been little time for One Punch Man's story to grow into it's own, if it has a destination in mind.
Nonetheless, through its mundanities and straight-forwardness, One Punch Man attains a level of unselfconsciousness that most 'serious' shows cannot muster. The action moves at a pace that matches the author's imagination, thanks to a range of talented animators who realise it. As a result, this anime delivers spectacular action scenes; supremely dynamic, flashy, and with a thrilling sense of impact and scale. Even if the fight's ultimately finished in one punch, Saitama's more than happy to drag it out to make things more exciting.
One Punch Man's universe is unique, and it's main character is, dare I say, iconic. It's a property with the potential for wide-reaching appeal. Though, by its parodic nature it is derivative of a variety of well-established tropes. Whether it has staying power, or is a passing fad, I couldn't guess based on a part-adaptation. The potential is there. One Punch Man has spectacular fights and an abundance of personality. However, its plot thus far is insubstantial and a second cour is desperately needed. I'm not waiting for one though, I've still got many classic anime to watch and there's a manga with excellent art begging me to read it.
