Saitama, the central figure in the widely popular manga and anime series One-Punch Man, possesses an overwhelming strength that allows him to vanquish any opponent with a single blow.
While this premise serves as an intriguing take on themes of boredom and the pursuit of excellence, it raises a fundamental question—what is the true origin of his unmatched power?
The mystery of One-Punch Man’s strength continues to puzzle fans (Photo: One-Punch Man/Madhouse)Characters within the series have often been perplexed by this very mystery. Genos, Saitama’s disciple, is among the first to inquire about his master’s strength, and the response he receives is unexpectedly simplistic.
Saitama attributes his abilities to a regimen consisting of 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a daily 10-kilometer run for over a year.
This explanation is met with disbelief, especially from the scientist of the House of Evolution, who happens to overhear their conversation. The reasoning behind their skepticism is clear—the routine itself does not seem rigorous enough to produce such overwhelming strength.
Despite Saitama’s insistence that this was indeed the secret to his transformation, even blaming it for his hair loss, Genos remains convinced that his master is unaware of the true source of his strength.
The Growth Limitation Theory
Although intense physical training is recognized as a path to extraordinary abilities in this universe, there are key distinctions when it comes to Saitama.
Individuals such as Superalloy Blackluster and Puri-Puri Prisoner have attained immense physical power through rigorous exercise, with Blackluster initially being a bodybuilder.
Their physiques reflect the immense training they have undergone, displaying exaggerated muscular development.
However, Saitama’s lean build does not align with such results, making it difficult to accept that his routine alone is responsible for his immense strength.
Beyond physical prowess, Saitama exhibits abilities far beyond what can be explained through exercise, such as enduring extreme temperatures and emerging unscathed from relentless enemy assaults.
A handful of characters, including the scientist from the House of Evolution and the mastermind behind the Monster Association, Psychos, have proposed an alternative explanation.
They introduce the concept of “growth limitation,” suggesting that both humans and monsters possess an inherent cap on their potential, preventing them from advancing beyond a certain threshold.
Under normal circumstances, surpassing this limit is deemed impossible, no matter how much training or experience one accumulates. However, rare individuals appear to break past this barrier, achieving boundless growth.
Psychos theorizes that experiencing near-death situations is a crucial factor in transcending these limits, a belief she tests on both Monster King Orochi and later on Garou.
Saitama himself has admitted that his training often made him feel as though he was on the verge of death, raising the possibility that he unknowingly shattered this limit purely by chance.
Another intriguing theory points to the idea that Saitama’s strength may stem from a divine source. Within One-Punch Man, supernatural abilities have been linked to god-like entities.
Homeless Emperor, a high-ranking member of the Monster Association, appears to be an ordinary human yet wields immense energy-based abilities.
He claims these powers were bestowed upon him by God during a moment of despair, with a directive to eradicate humanity. Vaccine Man, the very first villain introduced in the series, echoes this sentiment, describing humans as a plague upon the Earth.
Saitama, along with Flashy Flash and the monster Oculette, later comes into contact with a peculiar cube found within the Monster Association’s headquarters.
This cube enables them to communicate with a powerful entity referred to as God, proving that it is not merely a delusion or fabrication.
The entity presents the trio with an opportunity—either they will be granted additional power or their existing abilities will be stripped away. Before any of them can make a decision, the top-ranked hero Blast intervenes.
His arrival immediately causes the entity to take notice, recognizing him. Blast discloses that he has been gathering these cubes and appears to possess prior knowledge of this mysterious being, though he refrains from sharing further details.
A flashback to Tatsumaki’s childhood even shows Blast with a similar cube, suggesting that his involvement with this entity spans years.
Could Saitama’s Power Be Revoked?
According to this theory, Saitama may have gained his overwhelming power through a direct or indirect connection with this divine entity. Whether by interacting with a cube or through an unintended “blessing,” he could have acquired abilities beyond human comprehension.
The implications of this are unclear, especially given the ambiguous nature of the god-like being. While Homeless Emperor and Vaccine Man portray it as a force opposed to humanity, Saitama’s case may have been an unintended consequence.
A simple workout or something more Saitama’s origin remains uncertain (Photo: One-Punch Man/Madhouse)Alternatively, this being may distribute power without regard for an individual’s motives, granting abilities to anyone who passes its tests.
If that is true, it raises the question—why does Saitama have no memory of such an encounter, and why does this entity fail to recognize him in the way it does Blast?
Blast’s actions imply that this god-like being is a serious threat, making it unlikely that it would willingly grant power to someone like Saitama, who actively opposes its apparent objective of humanity’s destruction.
If Saitama is unknowingly tapping into this entity’s energy, then his strength may not be permanent—it could be revoked at any moment.
Another possibility is that this “God” is not the only one of its kind, and a rival entity, one more aligned with protecting humankind, may have intervened and granted Saitama his abilities.
Since Blast’s origins remain shrouded in mystery, it is conceivable that he serves as an agent of this opposing force, working to counteract the original entity’s influence.
His mission to collect the cubes would then be an effort to prevent interference with Earth, which might explain his elusive nature. If this is the case, it could suggest a shared origin for the powers of Saitama, Blast, and potentially even Tatsumaki and Fubuki.
Despite the abundance of theories, no definitive explanation has been provided for Saitama’s extraordinary strength. Until One-Punch Man reaches its conclusion, the true answer may remain unknown.
In a conventional superhero story, uncovering the origin of his abilities would likely serve as a major plot point, potentially influencing the overarching story.
However, One-Punch Man thrives on subverting expectations, making it entirely possible that the source of Saitama’s strength will forever remain an unanswered mystery.