One-Punch Man is a 2015 superhero action parody Japanese anime based on the manga of the same name created by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata.  The story focuses on Saitama, a superhero who has grown bored as he has become so powerful that all of his battles end in a single punch.

Positives:

• Saitama and Genos are great characters
• Great action
• Great soundtrack
• Great humor
• Good animation style

Negatives:

• Poorly written characters
• Poorly written story
• Major plotholes

Plot: The series follows Saitama, a superhero who is the strongest man alive, as he deals with normal life and being a superhero. The series really doesn’t have a story. Basically every episode is of him owning some random monster or villain who are more-or-less canon fodder but with no actual story behind them. Sure, him joining the Hero’s Association and trying to make his way through the ranks is cool but there isn’t much else. (2 out of 5)

Characters: Saitama is a pretty cool character, though he suffers from depression due to his unchallenged power. Genos is a cool character too, highly enthusiastic and actually has personality.  Saitama and Genos are cool characters and all but neither actually have lives.  Did not see any hobbies or social life outside of fighting villains. Wished they had went into more detailed with their past and current lives though. Most of the other characters aren’t worth a nickle.  Most of the other heroes are complete douchebags with nothing special going for them nor about them. How are these guys superheroes?  What kind of training do they have?  Most of these people just seem random. Most of the other elite superheroes are just straight up assholes.  (2 out of 5)

Animation Style: The animation is actually pretty good. The characters have distinct designs with their own distinct looks.  The action sequences are pretty intense.  Even some of the comic relief (mainly the faces made by Saitama). (4 out of 5)

Score: The intro is freaking awesome. It’s fast paced, action packed, and definitely sets a great tone. The Japanese dubbing is pretty good. (3 out of 5)

Writing: The writing does have some underlining tones when it comes to the main protagonist. There​ is some sweet humor especially the sequences with Saitama dealing with everyday issues or interacting with others. There​ is a lot of great action that is handled well but a little over-the-top. The action is fast paced adding a good level of intensity to the fights. Some aspects could’ve been hammered out a bit. First, there should’ve been a helluva better reason for Saitama to be as strong as he is. Saying he did basic workouts everyday for three years makes little to no sense, even in the anime world. Second, have a better roster of characters or minimize it so that certain characters can be fleshed out more.  Third, the whole Hero Association is a cesspool of jerks and douchebags who care nothing for human life.  In the final confrontation with the alien invaders led by Boros and Melzargard, nearly half of the S Class heroes “decide” to show up.  A world ending event and some of the highest ranking “decide” not to show up.  Wow, really. Fourth, where in the hell are all of these monsters coming from and why are they so hell bent on destroying humanity? Now, the whole ranking system is pretty solid and how the characters have to take test makes sense.  The whole idea of having a weekly goal they have to meet is entirely stupid.  The whole over-the-top aspect doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest. And honestly, it’s a wonder why humanity isn’t destroyed yet as nearly every encounter the monsters or villains end up destroying large portions of the city. (2 out of 5)

The Verdict: In the end, One-Punch Man is an alright anime and it’s a shame because it has so much potential. Despite it being a parody, most of the characters suck, the story is all over the place, and there are major plotholes.  However, the two leads are awesome, the action is pretty intense, the story is interesting, the voice performances solid, and the soundtrack really good.  One-Punch Man gets 3 out of 5.  If you’re a fan of overpowered characters or mindless over-the-top action, this is an anime for you.  However, for fans who enjoy substance, they might want to pass.