When it comes to the most notable and high-quality manga and anime of the last decade, author ONE's One-Punch Man certainly comes to mind to most anime fans. Technically, of course, the series, in general, started back in 2009 as a webcomic/webmanga before going viral and prompting both a manga adaptation and an anime adaptation containing two seasons so far.
After a hefty wait for those waiting to see the anime, whether it was fans of just the anime or both that and the manga, season two finally debuted last year. However, a portion of fans were left disappointed with the end result. With that being said, here are five reasons you should read the manga and five why you should at least watch season one.
10 Manga: Immaculate Artwork
While, for sure, the other contents of the series are incredibly entertaining including the story (even if it is simple), the characters, and more, this is arguably the biggest appeal of the printed manga. As mentioned, One-Punch Man started first as a webcomic, but as popular as that version was and as responsible as it was for making the series as big as it is now, it has a certain artistic style (if you want to call it that) that is not so appealing.
The printed manga adaptation, however, features absolutely masterful artwork by the immensely talented Yusuke Murata. The work is incredibly detailed, expressive (more on that later), and highlights the action scenes.
9 Anime: Season 1 Is Animated Fantastically
For anyone who has already seen the first season or has not seen it but knows of the studio behind season one of the One-Punch Man will find this to be of no surprise. Studio Madhouse, responsible for some of the most prolific anime adaptations out there, has done an impeccable job animating one of the most notable works in the industry in recent years.
Watching through season one will make anyone who both reads and watches the series feel like it was a worthy adaptation of the illustrations by Murata. The vibrant colors add positively to the experience and everything on-screen moves fluidly and do an incredible job of bringing to life the beautiful chaos of the action scenes.
8 Manga: Season 2's Animation Quality Takes A Dip
This is probably the biggest reason to read the manga by ONE and illustrated by Yusuke Murata, at least after watching season one. It was undoubtedly the biggest complaint of the second season of One-Punch Man and there are a number of reasons why this turned out the way it did in the eyes of the fans.
The biggest reason being that studio Madhouse was not behind the second season. Instead, it was given to the studio J.C.Staff. In addition, it also changed directors. This perfect storm is enough reason to experience the continuation of the series' story in manga form.
7 Anime: Season 1 Is Among The Best Anime Adaptations Of The Last Decade
As already suggested since the beginning of this list is the fact that season one is arguably one of the most notable anime adaptations of the last decade. For that reason alone, season one of One-Punch Man more than merits a complete watch through to the end.
Even if you are a fan who already read through the story through what would be the first season in manga and/or webcomic form (especially if you only read the webcomic) then you should absolutely watch the first season to see how well the story was brought to life. It will go down as one of Madhouse's many greatest achievements.
6 Manga: No Long Waits For New Seasons
Sure, this probably will not apply to those who also happen to be caught up with the manga, but for those who are completely new to the series, this is not a reason to disregard. As of now, there is plenty of story of One-Punch Man to read up on, especially if you choose to follow the webcomic. However, if you want to appreciate this series with some of the finest artwork to be seen in any Japanese series, then the manga is the way to go.
For reference, season one came back in 2015, but the second season was not released until 2019. Should you choose to experience this series, the manga will satisfy your appetite for more content. This is especially so considering no one knows when a third season will drop.
5 Anime: Season 1 Is Very Accessible To Watch
Considering that, especially in this day and age, streaming is one of the most widely popular forms to consume media like TV and film, this is an easy incentive to watch season one. This is on top of the fact that, as mentioned before, that the first season of One-Punch Man is among the best anime adaptations in recent years.
The first season is easily accessible on some of the most popular streaming platforms available. It is available on Crunchyroll--one of the best places to stream and watch anime--as well as Netflix and Hulu.
4 Manga: Expressive Art
This can definitely be said for a lot of manga series when compared to their anime counterparts. Of course, this is no disrespect to the respective anime adaptation. There can absolutely be excellent work done in the animation department, with the first season of this particular season being a shining example of that.
However, the argument can certainly be made that the artwork by Yusuke Murata can be viewed as more expressive, particularly in the most pivotal of scenes. Take any panel in which there's a powerful attack inflicted on someone.
3 Anime: Concise Season
Some might see this as a con of the season, as obviously when something is of such high quality, fans are going to want more of it. But since chances are people are going to be juggling several pieces of media with the intention of consumption, not just anime either, this could be considered a pro.
The fact that the first season of One-Punch Man is 12 episodes makes it easily digestible for most people at least curious in the series. Considering where the story goes after the first season, 12 episodes allow the season to end at a good point.
2 Manga: Character Designs Are Just As Good Here
Something like character design is obviously important to most narrative pieces of media, especially in fiction. And considering that this is a series about a legion of superheroes, character designs are naturally going to be pivotal to keep things interesting. Saitama himself would probably be an exception to this rule since that is basically the point in his case.
This speaks further to the talent of Yusuke Murata as his interpretation of the designs of each character is incredible even without color to work with most of the time. One might think that without color, designs are handicapped, but with the proper artwork, shading, and attention to detail, the character designs still dazzle.
1 Anime: Color Adds To The Experience
On the other hand, while the manga is a fantastic experience even in black and white, the first season is complemented further by its use of color. While just adding color does not necessarily make an anime adaptation immediately superior to its source material in manga form, considering the high level of quality done by Madhouse, this is certainly a big positive.
Bolstered by excellent animation done by the studio, the use of color that helps bring the world to life adds a degree of vibrancy to the overall experience.