Quick Links Saitama Is Not Interested in Being a Hero in One-Punch Man One-Punch Man Arcs Are More Interesting Without the Protagonist Saitama Is a More Interesting Character Outside of Battle One-Punch Man Makes Saitama's Returns Worth the Wait Saitama's Absence Allowed Me to Discover My Favorite Character Saitama craves a strong opponent and finds hero work trivial, making him relatable. Supporting characters shine in One-Punch Man arcs without Saitama, handling dire threats. Saitama's absence in the series builds anticipation for his powerful returns when he gets serious.

I was introduced to One-Punch Man like many other anime fans, in 2015 when the series debuted the unanimously acclaimed first season of its anime, and Saitama became a household name in modern mainstream otaku fandom. While the second season didn't live up to the hype, those familiar with One's original webcomic, or Yusuke Murata's manga adaptation serialized in Tonari no Young Jump,...