One-Punch Man's Greatest Fight is Already Disappointing
Warning: Contains spoilers for One-Punch Man chapter 161
Fans of One-Punch Man have been waiting for years to see the most anticipated fight in the series, the clash between Saitama and Garou, who has essentially become a secondary protagonist in the manga. Despite all the hype, however, it seems that this battle will end just like every other Saitama's fight: with one punch.
The premise of One-Punch Man is that the protagonist, Saitama, is so powerful that no enemy or challenge poses a real threat to him. He took on opponents such as Boros or Monster King Orochi, who were presented as the "final bosses" of their respective sagas, and killed them with one punch. No explanation is given for Saitama's strength because, rather than a plot point, is a concept that underlines the whole manga. However, for that same reason, the series most often focuses on other characters, usually the other members of the Hero Association who, despite their incredible strength and powers, still have to actually fight their battles and overcome hardships, just like in any regular Shonen manga. Since his introduction, the "Hero Hunter" Garou has taken center stage as the de facto co-protagonist of One-Punch Man.
Garou is a young martial artist and former disciple of S-Class Rank 3 hero Bang aka Silver Fang. Since he was a kid, Garou has believed that the hero-based society he lives in is based on hypocrisy, and he has pursued strength in order to obtain his own ideal of justice. Kicked out of Silver Fang's dojo because of his violent behavior, Garou became the Hero Hunter, attacking professional heroes to test his strength and improve his skills. After becoming involved with the Monster Association and suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Orochi, Garou underwent a transformation as a result of "breaking his limiter." He has now surpassed the limitations of a human body and half-transformed into a monster, but still retains his morals and his admittedly twisted sense of justice. After taking care of the only two remaining Executives of the Monster Association, Saitama and Garou accidentally meet on the battlefield, setting the stage for the battle that fans have been waiting for. After only one chapter, however, it seems that this will go the same way as every other Saitama fight.
Saitama refuses to recognize Garou as a monster, despite the latter's desire to become "absolute evil." When Saitama gets angry about his house being destroyed and lets out a glimpse of his power, Garou is genuinely scared, despite the incredible strength he himself displayed in the previous chapters. Flustered, Garou charges at Saitama and gets swatted away with one punch, just like has happened the three times they met before. Garou is supposed to be way stronger now, having removed his "limiter," which is the same reason for Saitama's ridiculous strength, according to a theory presented in the manga. However, the bald hero still towers over Garou, hinting that this fight will be over quickly. It is true that Saitama and Garou's interaction is brief, and the Hero Hunter has not gotten serious yet, but the tone of this encounter seems in line with every other supposed "big fight" Saitama has been involved in.
Usually, his opponent will go all out, dishing out more and more powerful attacks that Saitama will either dodge or absorb with no damage before expressing his frustration at the lack of a real challenge and taking out his enemy in one punch. This is the One-Punch Man formula, and it has worked until now, but Garou should be different. He has gotten so much time and character development in the series, that it would feel frustrating and disappointing if he ended up just like Boros or Orochi. One-Punch Man fans can only wait for the next chapter and hope that the long-awaited fight between Saitama and Garou will not actually be a disappointment.