One Punch Man: How did Saitama get his powers?

In the universe of One Punch Man, Saitama was not born with any special powers. He is just one bald man who wears a plain yellow jumpsuit and almost defeats every opponent with just one punch. This animanga series is created by the artist ONE, who flips the traditional superhero narrative.

While most heroes dream of becoming the strongest, Saitama already is. So naturally, one of the most intriguing questions fans ask is: How did Saitama get his powers? The answer to this was revealed when he was talking to Genos about his secret. It is one of the most baffling and ridiculous regimen anyone has ever heard.

“100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run. Every single day! And don’t forget… no air conditioning or heating in the summer and winter to build mental fortitude.”

That is it. By religiously following his routine for three years and Saitama became the most powerful character in their universe. But the brilliance of One Punch Man lies in its absurdity. Saitama isn’t lying. The story presents his transformation in such a deadpan and matter-of-fact way that it’s both hilarious and strangely philosophical.

His journey started as an ordinary guy with no powers, who was one day returning home after being rejected in a job interview. On his way, he encountered a crab-man hybrid named Crablante who was intimidating a kid with a butt-chin.

He instinctively stepped in just like how Midoriya had in My Hero Academia and fought it. After acquiring his first win, he has an epiphany that he wants to be a hero. And from that day forward, he made a promise to himself: to train harder than anyone else. The only downside of gaining superior power was one side effect: all his hair fell out.

In One Punch Man, despite having god level powers, Saitama is placed in Class C, the lowest rank, by the Hero Association. Even after climbing to Class B, his contributions are constantly overlooked. It’s a deliberate critique of bureaucracy and how society often values perception over truth.

During this series, he has also revealed why his hero costume is a yellow tight suit. He designed it himself. In one of the early chapters, he mentions that he picked it because he wanted to look like a hero. It’s not tactical. It’s not armored. It’s iconic because it’s so simple.

Finally, even after being so powerful and yet undermined by many of the characters, the reason he keeps going is that Saitama still wants to do the right thing. Even if at the end of the day he gets no credit, he has made peace with that. And this makes him a true hero in One Punch Man.

Popular theory about his powers in One Punch Man manga

One of the most famous theories that is also supported within the manga is discussed by Dr. Kuseno and Dr. Genus. They speak about a fundamental thing that humans are born with, known as the limiter. It is a biological ceiling that prevents them from reaching infinite strength.

This would mean that Saitama in One Punch Man, only through sheer will and repetitive training, might have broken that limiter. He surpassed the physical and mental constraints of normal humans, becoming something beyond biology. And finally, this would also give an explanation as to why his strength knows no bounds. At this point, he has no equal anymore. He exists outside the natural order.

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In conclusion, Saitama in One Punch Man was an ordinary man who dreamed of becoming the most powerful guy and achieved it in three years by working out. His story is a mirror held up to the superhero genre, showing us what happens after the power fantasy is fulfilled. Currently, he is so overpowered that when anyone asks him what the purpose is of becoming a hero, he would answer that he is a hero for fun.

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