Review of One-Punch Man Volume 01, Punch 2

First Look Review of One-Punch Man Volume 01, Punch 2

After we’re introduced to Saitama in the last chapter, we get to see more of his origin in this chapter. We also see that heros and villains can seemingly be created fairly randomly as our villain in this issue, Crablante, shows us.

Punch 2

Crab and Job Hunting by Yusuke Murata. Published by Viz, 2014.

This chapter takes place 3 years prior to the previous issue and we get to see the basis for Saitama becoming a hero. It turns out he was just unemployed and after miserably failing at an interview he runs into Crablante. This guy simply transformed into a crab beast after eating too much crab (I better watch out or I’ll become a salmon beast). The crab guy doesn’t seem too evil but he’s hunting a boy with a cleft chin who drew nipples on him with a permanent marker.

The kid is a jerk but he doesn’t deserve to be torn limb from limb, but what can anyone do? Saitama is just a normal unemployed businessman but he decides to interject himself between Crablante and the kid. He saves the kid but now the crab wants to even the score. Saitama starts getting smacked around by the beast as he recalls that as a child he wanted to grow up to be a hero who could send villains flying with one punch. Next thing we know, One-Punch Man is born and Crablante is just splattered all over the place.

From this chapter, we basically learn that this manga takes place in a world where childhood dreams can come true when remembered and consuming too much of anything could cause some serious issues. We also saw that in last issue, the Earth could even birth a creature because of pollution. But no matter how different this world is, there are still jerks who think it’s cool to draw on a sleeping person. Saitama doesn’t just start being a hero for altruistic reasons though, he actually says he can’t let Crablante kill the kid because of the low birth rate. From my understanding this is a huge issue in Japan so it’s not surprising to see it in a Japanese manga, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it in any media before. And I would never expect to see something like that in an American comic. Regardless, I think it adds to the character of the manga and makes it so authentic.

You can find first looks at other issues in this title linked in my February Reading List.

I rate this issue a B+.

This comic can be found on Marvel Unlimited, Comixology or at your local comic book shop.