Book Review for One-Punch Man, by ONE

★★★★★

Note: I am currently up to Volume 17, and so will be considering the story so far.

What I thought it would be going in:

I started watching a few episodes of the anime a little while before picking up the book, and so I knew what to expect story-wise. Going from anime to manga is usually less disappointing than vice versa, but One-Punch Man is one of the only manga/anime where I’ve kept up with both of them (I am behind in the manga but that was because I had to put getting the volumes on pause during the lengthy move). The anime is funny and the style is great, and so I expected similar … just in black and white.

My initial impressions:

It’s amazingly close to the anime—and by that I mean the anime was designed amazingly close to the manga—and so it was just as fun as watching it. What I do love about the manga, however, are the little extra bits that aren’t in the anime. There’s also an added element of panel humour.

My final impressions:

Loved it. One-Punch Man is easily one of my favourite mangas, and is the only manga that I actually buy the novel of to read. Ordinarily, I might read the manga online to see if the volume is worth buying (they can be pricey here. Although the range is getting better so I’m hoping the prices will too) but with this, I just buy the volume. I’ve seen before that people don’t like it because they think Saitama is boring, and “each to their own” I guess, but the manga really isn’t just about Saitma, and the whole “so powerful I’m bored” creates for an interesting character and concept.

What I liked most:

The humour. I love the art style and I love the characters, but it’s the humour that keeps me. The action is great and there’s a brilliant balance of epic and cheesy, hinged on this humour.

What I disliked most:

Nothing. Honestly.