Before starting with this review, I just want to let you know, guys, that the bold texts contain spoilers, so please be careful with that.
With that said, let’s continue.
PROLOGUE
HELLO MY FRIENDS. How are you today? I hope that you guys are ok. And I apologise for not updating my blog in almost two months. I was busy at work, and I have other projects that took most of my time. But during these days, I watched a lot of new anime, and I am back in action.
One of them… Well… The title says it all.
When I saw that the first episode of the second season of this fantastic epic anime was released, I literally said…
«HOLY COW! I NEED TO WATCH IT BEFORE I DIE!»
I did… AND I LOVED IT.
And now I am happy to bring you this review.
SAITAMA MEETS… ALL MIGHT?
In this episode, we start with Good Ol’ Saitama, and his apprentice, the cyborg Genos, going back to their «normal» lives, and getting groceries, but suddenly Saitama sees a figurine of King, a.k.a. The Strongest Man on Earth. Coincidentally, both meet King in the streets, fighting two super-villains; one of them surrenders after witnessing King’s «aura», which is seen in his facial expression, and that I will call calm, cool and imposing; as well as his «strong heartbeats», a.k.a., the King Engine. But when the other one, a giant robot created by The Organization, arrives to wreak havoc, King suddenly disappears.
As expected, Genos fights the giant robot, along with Saitama… Oh wait… He also disappears!! If not, the robot will be dead by now.
I will be honest. Up to this point, I was really looking forward to see what’s going to happen. I wanted to be surprised by King himself, not because he is «The Strongest Man on Earth», but because there are so many cool heroes in One-Punch Man, just like in My Hero Academia; in fact, King reminded me All Might in a way; however, two of the strongest pillars of the comedy of One Punch Man are the creativity and the power to amaze the fans, or at least in my case.
Having said that, this is not the exception.
The episode later reveals that King is…
«An unemployed, 29-year-old, otaku loser!»
And yes. King reveals this to us. He only happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, with «someone else» killing the foes King encounters. Anyway, he runs away, gets home, and meets Saitama. Both play the newest release of Doki Doki Sisters, until King is forced to confess Saitama he’s been lying. Also, he discovers that Saitama is not only the same hero that King encountered in the past, but also the one who saved the latter’s life after getting his scar.
Finally, the episode ends with Genos claiming victory over the robot, and Saitama sharing some pearls of wisdom to King:
«Then why don’t you just get strong?»
Then we have some hints about Genos’s past and the return of some fan-favourite characters… Fubuki and Sonic.
MY THOUGHTS
Just like in the first season, the combination between comedy and action is brilliant, something you can always expect from the same creator of Mob Psycho 100. I couldn’t stop laughing at the comedic moments, especially when it comes to the presence of Saitama, whose calmness in the direst situations is hysterical. Moreover, witnessing how Genos has become stronger is so satisfying, proving again that he is one of the greatest characters of One Punch Man. Both Genos and Saitama have an amazing chemistry together in this episode, and King himself leaves an ever-lasting impression, to the point that, on behalf of all the fans of One Punch Man, I would say that you want to see more of him. And we will indeed. Somehow, I compare the first episode of season 2 with the very first episode of One Punch Man, because the story and the pacing are very synchronised, and you get to understand all the main leads for the first moment.
And if the second season follows the rhythm and narrative of its predecessor, then fans will not get disappointed. The only problem is that perhaps newcomers of One Punch Man will be forced to see season one from the beginning in order to understand what it’s going on.
Moreover, I would say that One Punch Man s2 will be that good, but it is impossible to forget that, while the first season was produced by Madhouse (Boogiebop and Others, Card Captor Sakura), and directed by Shingo Natsume, J.C. Staff (Date a Live, Food Wars!) and Chikara Sakurai are in charge of this season 2. Additionally, the op, Seijaku no Apostle, is performed by JAM Project, who also sang the already classic «The Hero!! Set Fire to the Furious Fist» of season 1. It was a great song, but it will never reach the perfect epicness of its predecessor.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the first episode of One Punch Man, season 2 is a great start for a second season that took almost four years to see the world, and I would say that it was worth the wait. But like I said, is still too soon to compare both seasons, but for now, this is an anime I am more than willing to watch from the beginning to the end.
And let’s not forget Mob Psycho 100, whose first season I really enjoyed as much as I enjoyed One Punch Man.
STORY – 7.5/10
CHARACTERS – 7.5/10
ANIMATION – 7.5/10
MUSIC – 7/10
Jainituos Presents 