One-Punch Man

Episode 4

In our modern-day world of social media networking and necessary self-promotion, it doesn't matter how much you excel at your craft compared to others in your field. You have to know how to market your brand and you have to know the rules of your industry. This week, poor Saitama learned this lesson the hard way. He may be the world's strongest man, but he's been doing it all wrong for three whole years!

Actually, this episode is way more about Saitama's mental state than anything else, leaning on One-Punch Man's self-aware commentary on hero comics over the action and comedy elements that give the show its hottest spark. What I'm trying to say is that it's a (slight) step down from the heights of wacky joy in the first three episodes, but the animators have to rest their hands at some point, I guess. When a group of skinheaded villains start ruining the reputation of bald heroes everywhere, Saitama steps in and discovers that their leader might not be so different from him after all. Oh, and a creepy ninja shows up to give everyone a hard time.

The biggest problem here is probably the episode's one-off villain, Hammerhead. He's a generic Fist of the North Star mook leading a crusade against "The Man" (he just doesn't want to get a job), while donning a tacky armored bodysuit. (It's not just me saying that; Saitama also finds the suit to be an eyesore. Also, it's supposed to be generic military-issue stuff, which means the tasteless Hammerhead probably painted those gaudy flame patterns on by himself.) In fact, the episode seems so aware of Hammerhead's boring shruggability that it chooses to focus on two new recurring characters instead: Mumen Rider and Speed-o'-Sound Sonic.

Mumen Rider doesn't do much this episode and frankly, that might be the joke. See, his name is a play on Kamen Rider, but he has no bitchin' scarf or powerful hog to ride into battle. "Mumen" means "unlicensed," and Mumen Rider is just a normal joe with a ton of bravado who rides around on an ordinary bicycle and takes credit for others' victories after getting knocked out of the fight. Still, he's a famous presence despite his lack of talent, because contrary to what his name might suggest, he is licensed with the National Superhero Registry. His name appears on their website, the government promotes his allegiance, and the people sing his praises in the streets. Saitama realizes that he spent so much time focused on training that he never looked into the legality of his own actions. Genos informs him that according to the national authority on superheroes, Saitama is a nobody: just a weird vigilante bum. The horror! He's gotta get himself down to the registrar and start making a legitimate name for himself all over again!

So when faced with the labor-dodging Hammerhead, Saitama can't help but see a few similarities to his own childhood self. He could have ended up just like him! (Eh, give yourself a little more credit, Saitama.) He decides to take mercy on the brick-brained buffoon by only punching his suit to ribbons instead of his flesh. Unfortunately, another new character has different plans. Speed-o'-Sound Sonic is a hero-for-hire, a sadistic ninja currently under contract to the proprietor of the Golden Turd Building that Hammerhead foolishly knocked down in his rampage. (It took him and his stooges a while to get the right building, but you know, if at first you don't succeed, demolish-demolish again!) As Genos puts it, "Who would possess such a redundant name?" Ironically, only an antihero who takes themselves deadly serious would do such a foolish thing, and Sonic's the kind of fight-starting jerk who just won't take no for an answer.

The slimy ninja immediately lumps Saitama in with Hammerhead's follically challenged crew and tries to kill him, doing his best to look stoic and cool despite his overwhelming desire to split that calm face with a shit-eating grin. Like his name suggests, Sonic's strength is all in his barrier-breaking speed, which works wonders against every opponent who isn't sense-perfect Saitama. When the One-Punch Man decides he's had enough of this little douchebag's posturing, he tries to put his inert fist up as a warning, and poor Sonic's velocity finally gets the better of him. Unable to change his trajectory, he plummets down spread-eagle and gets knuckled right in the chaos emeralds. Don't worry, Saitama's fist was motionless, so although he's been wounded in the very worst way, Sonic will live to spin-dash another day. (But I wouldn't be surprised if his voice is a few octaves higher in future episodes.)

By action-anime standards, this episode was totally great, but by (the now insanely high) One-Punch Man standards, it was just okay. Most of the standout animation this time revolved around Sonic, who is more blur than man when in motion, and while the pacing and sense of humor were solid, it feels like the energy of past vignettes is being sequestered again for future adventures instead, giving us an enjoyable but not enthralling entry in the interim. All of this really seemed like setup in service of a future plot arc, with new characters and a new (extremely silly) existential conflict for Saitama to agonize over. At the end, we see that the monsters who gave Hammerhead his suit are not happy about his wasted efforts, and Saitama and Genos will be headed to the Superhero DMV next week to get certified. Unlike Genos, I have no idea what Mumen Rider and Sonic will add to Saitama's daily life in the future, so I'm eager to see if these two new jokers will play a role in the exam to come.

Rating: B+

One-Punch Man is currently streaming at Hulu, Daisuki.net, and Viz.com.

Hope has been an anime fan since childhood, and likes to chat about cartoons, pop culture, and visual novel dev on Twitter.