What makes a hero? The answer to this question changes as society dictates what they want out of a hero. This idea of society’s hero is completely put into question in One and Yusuke Murata’s One Punch Man manga and the anime adaption. Where the archetype we believe is required in order for someone to be considered a hero and the personality that the hero, Saitama actually has are not in sync.  I believe One Punch Man was created in order to question this idea of the typical hero, to prove this I will discuss how the aesthetic given off by the opening of the anime contrast from the feeling given off by the actual content of the series. I will argue how the opening, what we expect from the hero differs from the content of the series, which can be seen as who the hero truly is.

In the opening many symbols are used to indicate organizations of power within the series. Near the beginning of the opening, Saitama is shown facing a tiger, a demon, a dragon, and a god. In the series these symbols are used to distinguish the danger levels of a villain or creature. The images of Saitama facing each of these threats in ascending order gives off the feeling of growing tension. This feeling is there to push the viewer into believing that the series will showcase a hero’s struggles to provide protection and pursue justice for the innocent. After this sequence we see Saitama go on what appears to be a journey in order to be able to face the increasing threats to the people of his world.

We then see the ground shatter and lightning strike Saitama’s fist. I find this imagery similar to what one would expect if a greek hero were to be bestowed with Zeus’s lightning. This image is also reminiscent of how the DC Comics character, Billy Batson is transformed from a child into the hero, Captain Marvel who by saying the word “Shazam” is bestowed god-like abilities. This same feeling is portrayed onto Saitama (in the opening) who as a result of his hard work, perseverance, and “above all else his good intentions” have aided him in obtain the strength we see throughout the series. We then see Saitama use his seemingly god given strength to fight off the cruel and evil people and creatures of his world. The images of him fighting evil evoke a sense of “this is how a hero should be,” able to fight the villains with abilities bestowed by the gods to protect us, “the innocent”. In other word it fools us into thinking that he is fighting for something he feels is more important than himself he is fighting for our sake. 

At the end of the opening we see what we interpret to be Saitama on his way home and he is carrying a bag of groceries. This final scene of Saitama indicates to me that One Punch Man is not a some larger than life, self-sacrificing hero who would do anything in order to protect the lives of the citizens. One Punch Man is instead a person the same as us just trying to get through each day one at a time.

The scenes shown in the opening depict many serious elements that many would expect a hero to have to face and overcome. These elements are portrayed through what seems to be a heroic journey, one in which all heroes are expected to have to go through in order truly be a hero. Elements such as this are commonly thought to only be achievable with serious determination and a drive to do so only found in a remorseful backstory. The elements we often see in characters such as Batman’s determination to fight crime or Spiderman’s regrets toward not stopping the thief who ended up killing Uncle Ben. When watching the One Punch Man opening these assumptions can easily be made due to his over the top strength and seemingly determined expressions.

Although this interpretation is easy to develop through watching the opening, it misleads viewers in order to create a comedic or ironic scenario when it jumps to the actual content of the series. While the opening gives the viewer a sense that Saitama, the protagonist is some sort of justice seeking super human, while in the show he starts off being a hero as a hobby. Even the way he obtained his unmatchable strength was through average or from the perspective of heroes, a meager task. He merely did "100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run every single day"(for two years) and he emphasizes how much of a struggle it was to accomplish such a “feat”. This is one of the moments in one punch man that shows how stark a contrast there is from what the opening seems to foreshadow and what the story actually entails. (One Punch Man episode 3)

This contrast goes to show how what we think a living symbol of something, in this case a hero has to act in a certain way and how often this is different from how he, she, or it actually is. This contrast even within the series is highly represented especially by Saitama. He with his leisurely resolve and overwhelming strength still finds himself thinking that "In exchange for power…” he might have “…lost something that's essential for a human being." Even within an individual character such a contrast exists in the world of One Punch Man. (One Punch Man episode 1)

The opening of One Punch Man is used to distract the viewer long enough to show them what they tend to expect and then show them that their expectations are not the only possibilities. After the openings distraction is successfully put in play the series makes a 180 and puts all effort into showing the difference from the way we believe a hero has to act to what a hero can be. The One Punch Man opening accomplishes this the same way Saitama’s power is represented, with over the top scenes of destruction and defeat for the villainous creatures. These numerous scenes accomplish One and Yusuke Murata’s goal of bringing such a different type of hero from the heroes we more commonly see. Such as those that are born able to do no wrong, those who continue to learn from their mistakes, and those who stray from the right path. One and Yusuke Murata create an intriguing idea and story and the opening of the anime only contributes towards making their goal all the more prevalent.