One-Punch Man is getting popular. How do I know this? Well, aside from manga sales numbers and viewing numbers for the anime, it’s starting to appear all over the place. I keep seeing it as avatars for various people in forums. It shows up as random news images on Destructoid (they have a tradition of using random unrelated images for new articles). But the most damning evidence of all is my friend’s kid called me to try and score some One-Punch Man manga. I agreed, but only if she does her homework for three weeks without complaining. Might be easier for her to defeat a threat level Demon monster.

In any case, this all adds up to a series that is starting to resonate with many different people. Something about Saitama’s incredible strength and incredible cluelessness has attracted a fanbase that shows no signs of slowing down. And as a fan, it makes me really happy to see his bright shiny head appearing in so many places.

Volume 4 came out in January, and it’s kind of a turning point for our hero, Saitama. The story starts out with a Demon Level threat in the form of a massive asteroid that threatens to wipe out a good chunk of the population. But only a few heroes are able to show up in time to try and stop it. I can’t really tell you more than that without revealing a major spoiler, but what happens afterwards might make you look at Saitama differently. His character growth is subtle for the most part, and some people who don’t pay close attention may not even notice how he’s changed since the beginning. But in this volume, you’ll get to see that there’s more to him than a cool bald head and cape. 

The next story arc introduces one of the stronger villains we’ve seen so far--the mighty Deep Sea King! But the bulk of that fight is actually in the next volume. However, there is a hilarious bonus chapter called “Prison.” It focuses on Speed-o'-Sound Sonic's brief stay in a prison run by a cruel inmate who has made even the toughest of prisoners his plaything. It’s one of the funniest bonus chapters I’ve ever read, and it was not in the anime, so this is the only way to read it.

And of course, I can’t write about One-Punch Man without mentioning the art. It is simply some of the best comic art there is. Ever. I know this sounds like hyperbole, but I’ve read my share of western comics and manga, and it really doesn’t get much better than this.

If you’ve only watched the anime, you’re missing out by not reading the manga. It’s a totally different experience! Some would say, it’s even worth doing three weeks' worth of homework without complaining. Now that’s some good manga!

You can laugh and see some amazing art by picking up Vol. 4 right here!

by Urian Brown