One Punch Man: Season 3, Episode 2 Review

Full spoilers follow for Season 3, Episode 2, “Monster Traits.”

Last week’s One Punch Man Season 3 premiere saw heroes and villains alike sit around indoors engaging in a cornucopia of exposition. It was far from a triumphant return to the engaging blend of humour and action fans were waiting for. But now that the table’s been set, there’s a lot more to dig into this week in Episode 2, “Monster Traits.”

The city is divided. The monster threat looms large, and the citizens don’t all have our heroes’ backs. Protest signs on the streets wielded by the “Monster Worship Party” read “Obey the monsters” and “Cooperate with the monsters.” Their proposed solution to the monster problem? To offer up sacrifices at regular intervals to the monsters to appease and satiate them. Call it portion control.

Into this scene strolls Garou – increasingly likeable in his brooding internal conflict – who finds himself unimpressed and frustrated by the protestors’ attempts at sucking up to their oppressors. If they’re already grovelling like this, what hope does he have of making a serious impact?

Well, the serious impact can wait. Like the Yakuza series’ Kazuma Kiryu, Garou decides to pass up a streetside scrap in favour of a meal, taking a seat in a restaurant for a nice steak. And another steak. And a salad. And a drink. Turns out hunting heroes works up quite an appetite.

Also enjoying a hearty meal out is Saitama, who appears to have misplaced his wallet. Did he leave it in the grocery store earlier? No clue. Well, he could call his friends. Nope, they’re broke too. Here we’re served up prime One Punch Man situation comedy, as our hero finds himself desperate to avoid turning to criminal ends to escape his predicament.

Saitama is at his most unhinged in his expressions in this episode, and it finally feels like J.C.Staff has remembered the appeal of the series’ characters, as everyone internally monologues, forgets what they were meant to be doing, and crosses paths at the most individually inopportune moments. It’s all a lot of fun.

After successfully outrunning his bill, Garou’s food hits his stomach and he finally remembers what he’s meant to be doing — bringing back a hero’s head for the Monster Association to prove himself as their new leader. However, instead of proving himself as a villain, he manages to make himself an everyday hero to a bullied young boy who he’s crossed paths with before. Saitama is determined to prove his heroism too. In their fated first encounter, Saitama unwittingly engages Garou for dine and dashing – without realising who he is. Swiftly knocking him out with his titular move, these hijinks return us to what makes One Punch Man special, applying the presence of hero battles and organisations to an everyday Japan and seeing how the two interact and clash.

That’s enough fooling around; time to up the ante. In walks King the Ripper – an urban legend of a monster that Garou’s young companion immediately recognises. King the Ripper is a compelling presence, capping every sentence with ghostly (and insincere) whispers of apology. And here comes the animation budget too! It’s a production tempo that’s starting to have a charmingly amusing effect now that we’re two weeks in – winking at the audience knowingly, acknowledging what we’re after and what to place the emphasis on. It’s a meta gag reminiscent of adultswim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force for example, and fits well with the show’s overall humour.

The episode closes with some revelations, proclaimed verbally by Gyoro-Gyoro from atop his puffy throne. Like Garou, Lord Orochi was once human – and he was created by Gyoro-Gyoro. The master plan is to train Garou to be a second Orochi. King the Ripper will be the test of whether Garou has what it takes. He tasks Garou with killing the kid, and their personal philosophies clash. Their ensuing scuffle is the first proper fight scene we’ve had this season, all flashy close-ups and flowing particles. The battle commences. And credits.

After a clunky slow start, One Punch Man Season 3 is beginning to find its groove. All it needed was to get some meat on its bones.