This Anime Superhero Satire on Netflix Can Give The Boys A Run For Its Money

Summary:

• With the superhero genre well past its peak of popularity, the satirical approach to the genre suddenly became mainstream
• However, most of the western superhero satires feel a bit similar and are starting to feel a bit tired
• One-Punch Man anime series, on the other hand, hasn't aged a bit since its debut in 2015 and still feels incredibly fresh

Superhero movies and TV shows have been around for many years at this point, so long in fact that many fans believe the genre is well past its prime, leaving audiences hungry for unusual takes on the beaten formula.

This has led to the unexpected rise of superhero satire, as TV shows like The Boys and movies like Deadpool have gained mainstream popularity, whereas before projects like Kick-Ass (2010) were considered more or less niche.

Looking For Something Truly Unique? Try Anime

However, even though the aforementioned projects are unique in their own way, they are somewhat limited by the merits of Western culture, which makes them look and feel somewhat similar.

Anime, on the other hand, often takes popular Western genres and transforms them into something entirely unique, and superhero satire is no exception, spicing it up with its signature bizarreness.

One-Punch Man, first season of which premiered in 2015, may be the best installment in the genre to date, mercilessly poking fun at the tired clichés of not only superheroes, but anime in general.

The Show Proves That Even An All-Powerful Hero Can Be Interesting

Originally created by a Japanese manga artist known simply as One, the story takes place in a world where superheroes are a common occurrence, protecting cities from all sorts of monsters on an almost daily basis.

It follows Saitama, an ordinary man who one day got fed up with his life and managed to gain immense strength by simply following a daily set of physical exercises, eventually breaking his physical limits through pure dedication.

Unexpectedly, after becoming stronger than any existing superhero and being able to crush any enemy with a single blow, he has just gotten bored because no one is able to give him the challenge he so desperately needs.

While the concept of an all-powerful hero may sound boring, the show does a great job of subverting expectations and delivering a great story that is both epic and hilarious at the same time.

There have been two seasons of the anime series so far, following Saitama's adventures after he decides to join the Hero Association, but unfortunately only the first season is currently available on Netflix in the US.

The third season of the series has been officially announced in 2022, but no release date has been announced yet