One Punch Man is an extremely popular series because of the way it breaks the mold of a traditional Shonen protagonist. Rather than showing proper character growth, ONE and Yusuke Murata stuffed fans with an overpowered protagonist right from the beginning.
The title of the series comes from Saitama’s specialty of defeating his opponents with a single punch. Afterward, the hero himself looks disappointed for winning so soon, but that’s a tale for another day. The issue at hand is that Saitama does have a weakness, which ONE has already revealed.
ONE and Yusuke Murata Reveal Saitama’s Major Weakness
An interview between ONE and Yusuke Murata was published in the One Punch Man: Hero Encyclopedia. The duo were asked if Saitama had any weakness, and their answer might punch you in the face. ONE took on the responsibility and stated:
I think running is his specialty. But he isn’t good at sports like table tennis, football and etcetera where technique is required because Saitama hasn’t practiced them.
So basically, Saitama could have been defeated if a villain used a specialized technique in battles. As long as Saitama’s hits don’t connect, a villain is safe. But at the same time, Saitama’s speed and efficiency are at such an extreme level that it is hard to dodge his punches.
Murata further explained that when the protagonist shoots a ball, it is bound to disappear. But even if his power is incredible, he would be no match for a pro in terms of control and other technical aspects. ONE also elaborated that Saitama might be bad in team sports. Because of his cynical nature, he might entirely lose interest in the game once he has been pinned down.
One Punch Man Failed to Incorporate Saitama’s Weakness
Despite Saitama having such a major weakness, it was never incorporated in Yusuke Murata’s adaptation or the anime. While Saitama’s lack of combat training is explored in the series, his lack of technique was never touched upon. Other heroes in the anime have trained in several martial arts styles and have honed their skills for years. Saitama’s only style is to throw punches and hope they connect.
But then again, it’s not like a disaster-class monster would invite Saitama to a chess or basketball game. Either way, the protagonist is safe for a while, that is until a villain who takes advantage of his low intelligence comes by.
The only time Saitama was properly defeated was by a mosquito. This episode brought tears to the eyes of fans, not because seeing their hero lose was sad but due to the hilarious exchange in which Saitama hurt himself with his hits. Trying to kill this small insect became the bane of his existence. His lack of training was highlighted in this episode because he could not predict the trajectory or movement of the mosquito.
One Punch Man is available to read on Viz Media, and the anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
