One Punch Man

One Punch Man

A satirical superhero manga and anime series about Saitama, a hero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch but struggles with the mundane problems of everyday heroism.

IP Overview & Key Facts

IP Key Facts

Essential information and quick stats.
Full Name
One Punch Man
Also Known As
OPM, Wanpanman, One-Punch Man
Format
Anime/Manga
Release Year
2009
Current Status
Ongoing (manga), Multiple seasons (anime)
Country of Origin
Japan
Creator
ONE (Original creator), Yusuke Murata (Manga artist)
Original Work
Anime/Manga
Genre
Superhero, Comedy, Satire, Action, Parody, Seinen, Overpowered Protagonist

Story, World & Core Themes

Explore the narrative, setting, and ideas that shape One Punch Man.
Story
High-level synopsis and narrative focus.
Saitama is a superhero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch, but his overwhelming strength has left him bored and seeking a worthy opponent while dealing with the bureaucracy and politics of professional heroism.
World
Setting, cultures, and distinctive elements.
The world of One Punch Man features a supercontinent Earth divided into cities named alphabetically from City A to City Z. Monsters mysteriously appear to cause destruction, classified by Disaster Levels:

Wolf: Threat to a group of people.
Tiger: Threat to a large number of people.
Demon: Threat to a whole city.
Dragon: Threat to multiple cities.
God: Threat to all of humanity.

The Hero Association manages professional heroes, ranking them from Class C (lowest) to Class S (highest/elite) based on combat ability, intelligence, and popularity.
Themes
Core ideas and recurring motifs.
Heroism, Boredom, Recognition, Strength vs Purpose, Everyday Problems, Satire of Superhero Tropes

Cultural Impact Timeline

High-level milestones showing One Punch Man's global influence.
2009
ONE begins One Punch Man webcomic
2012
Yusuke Murata begins professional manga adaptation
2015
First anime season by Madhouse premieres
2019
Second anime season by J.C.Staff airs
2021
Manga continues with ongoing arcs
Present
Continued manga serialization and growing global popularity
Sales
Over 30 million copies sold worldwide
Awards
Multiple manga awards and anime recognition

Key Characters

Meet representative characters from One Punch Man.
Saitama
I'm just a guy who's a hero for fun.
A superhero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch, but struggles with boredom and lack of recognition.View Profile
Genos
Sensei, please teach me your secret!
A cyborg hero who becomes Saitama's self-proclaimed disciple, seeking to learn the secret of his strength.View Profile
King
I'm just a normal guy.
The supposed strongest hero on Earth who is actually a regular otaku living off his false reputation.View Profile
Tatsumaki
I can handle this myself.
The second-ranked S-Class hero with powerful psychic abilities and a petite appearance.View Profile
Garou
I'll become the monster that changes this crappy world!
The 'Hero Hunter' who seeks to become the ultimate monster and challenge the hero system.View Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Saitama so strong?
According to Saitama, he achieved his god-like strength through a strict training regimen: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run every single day for three years (without using air conditioning).

However, in-universe theories suggest he broke his "limiter"—the natural growth limit placed on living beings—through sheer willpower and effort.
What is the S-Class?
The S-Class is the highest rank in the Hero Association, reserved for heroes with insane, superhuman capabilities.

Originally, the association only had classes A, B, and C, but they created the S-Class to accommodate individuals whose power defied standard logic (like Tatsumaki, King, and Genos) and who could single-handedly defeat Demon or Dragon level threats.
Is One Punch Man a gag anime?
It is a unique blend of action, satire, and comedy.

While the premise of a hero defeating everyone in one punch is a gag on shonen tropes, the series features serious character development, high-stakes battles (for characters other than Saitama), and genuine emotional moments. It parodies superhero genres while also being a top-tier example of one.
Who is Blast?
Blast is the Rank 1 S-Class hero and the most powerful hero in the Association.

He is an enigmatic figure who only appears during god-level threats. Unlike other heroes, he operates independently, traveling dimensions to collect mysterious cubes and fight a cosmic entity known as "God."
What is the difference between the Webcomic and Manga?
The Webcomic (drawn by ONE) is the original source material with a rougher art style. The Manga (drawn by Yusuke Murata) is a high-quality adaptation that expands on the story, adds new arcs (like the Super Fight Tournament), and features some of the best artwork in the industry. The manga is considered the definitive version for most fans, though the webcomic is further ahead in the plot.

Official & Related Links

Find official resources and trusted references to learn more.
Official Website
Social Media
Official anime and manga social media accounts
Fan Communities
One Punch Man wikis, superhero anime communities, fan art galleries

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