While many shonen anime emphasize intense battles and dramatic storytelling, One Punch Man takes a different approach by making humor its defining feature. This focus on comedy does not diminish the impact of serious moments throughout the series, but instead keeps the entertainment factor high for its growing fanbase.
At the heart of this comedic brilliance is Saitama, the protagonist whose deadpan delivery and unexpected one-liners bring laughter even in the most intense situations. His remarks aren’t necessarily meant to be jokes, yet the way he delivers them leaves audiences in stitches.
Saitama’s journey from job hunting to world-shattering battles (Photo: One Punch Man/Madhouse)The uniqueness of One Punch Man lies in how it balances absurdity with action. From effortlessly obliterating opponents with a single punch to devoting an entire episode to chasing a mosquito, the series finds humor in unexpected places.
Unlike traditional shonen anime that emphasize long training arcs and intricate power systems, One Punch Man flips the script entirely. Though Saitama stands as the strongest hero in the series, his journey to immense power defies the usual conventions.
From a down-and-out businessman struggling to find work to an unwittingly overpowered warrior, his transformation is both unusual and hilarious.
Saitama: An Ordinary Man Before Becoming a Hero
Before earning the title of the Caped Baldy, One Punch Man’s most formidable character lived an unremarkable life. Residing in a modest apartment and struggling to secure employment, Saitama faced constant problems.
A recent rejection from a job interview left him discouraged, with little more than leftover scraps to eat in his cramped home. Just when it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse, he encountered Crablante, a monstrous half-human, half-crab entity classified as a Tiger-level threat.
Crablante, however, had no interest in Saitama at first, as his mission was to find and punish a child who had defaced his crab-like body. At this point, Saitama had lost all motivation, indifferent to his fate and future. With no career prospects or aspirations, he appeared completely broken.
However, when he spotted the child Crablante was hunting—an innocent boy playing in a park—Saitama initially dismissed the situation as none of his concern. That quickly changed when the villain attacked, prompting an unexpected act of heroism as Saitama sprang into action to protect the child.
Saitama’s First Step Toward Becoming a Hero
In his confrontation with Crablante, Saitama experienced a moment of clarity—his long-forgotten dream of becoming a superhero. Faced with an opponent far stronger than himself, he endured a brutal beating while shielding the child from harm.
Just as it seemed all hope was lost, Saitama seized an opportunity, using his suit’s tie to yank out one of Crablante’s eyes and turn the tide of the battle. This fight, which took place three years before the present storyline, marked the beginning of Saitama’s journey toward becoming the unstoppable force fans recognize today.
The exhilaration of overcoming such a powerful adversary ignited a drive within him, setting the stage for his now-legendary training regimen.
The Grueling Training That Made Saitama Unbeatable
Determined to achieve ultimate strength, Saitama committed to a training regimen that few could endure. The key to success in this brutal routine, as he later explains to Genos, is unwavering commitment. His daily workout consisted of 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 squats, and a ten-kilometer run—without exception.
The flashbacks reveal that Saitama, who once had hair, initially struggled with this routine. However, sheer persistence allowed him to push past his limits, eventually executing the exercises effortlessly.
How a mosquito chase became one of anime’s funniest scenes (Photo: One Punch Man/Madhouse)Saitama’s discipline extended beyond physical training. To further test his resilience, he refused to use air conditioning in the summer or heating in the winter, forcing his body to adapt to extreme temperatures.
A comical detail in his home shows a note placed over his air conditioner that reads “Save Money,” a constant reminder to resist temptation. He openly admits that the training felt unbearable at first, making him wish for death. Yet, through perseverance, his body and mind became resilient enough to withstand pain and exhaustion.
Another key component of Saitama’s philosophy is proper nutrition. He emphasizes the importance of eating three balanced meals a day, even recommending a single banana for breakfast as a sufficient way to start the morning.
While this idea isn’t groundbreaking—many shonen anime highlight food as essential for recovery and growth—Saitama’s unwavering adherence to his routine paid off. Even on days when his training pushed him to the brink of collapse, he never wavered. His extreme efforts produced undeniable results, though they came with an unexpected side effect.
The Cost of Ultimate Strength
After dedicating a year and a half to relentless training, Saitama reached an unprecedented level of power. No enemy could withstand his punches, making him an unstoppable force. However, the intense strain of his regimen came at a price—his hair completely fell out.
In a humorous twist, Saitama attributes his baldness to training so intensely that his body simply couldn’t hold onto his hair anymore. Despite losing his once-full head of hair, the reward was more than worth it. Dressed in a yellow jumpsuit with a white cape and red gloves, he became the ultimate protector—a hero for fun.
His dedication to his training granted him abilities beyond human comprehension. Saitama developed immunity to extreme temperatures, withstanding both cold and searing heat without issue. Radiation posed no threat to him, and his senses became incredibly sharp.
His body also became invulnerable, rendering him nearly indestructible. Thanks to his daily ten-kilometer runs, he could move at incredible speeds without tiring. If someone were to combine the most powerful attributes of various comic book heroes, the result would be Saitama.
The only real drawback to his transformation was his lack of hair, though it was a small sacrifice for such overwhelming power. If he ever wanted to conceal his baldness, he could always wear a wig—though entering competitions with a ban on head coverings might present a challenge.