Will Garou be the villain for One-Punch Man season 3? Explained

One-Punch Man season 3 is one of the most anticipated anime returns in recent memory, and fans can’t wait to see who the big villain will be this time. Many already expect Garou, the “Hero Hunter,” to take center stage. But will he really emerge as the primary villain of the new season?

The answer is more complex than it would be if it were just yes or no, and that’s what makes this season so much fun. Garou was one of season 2’s new characters as a powerful martial artist who despises heroes. With his ethos and unstinting drive, he was clearly one of the best characters introduced in that season.

For anime-onlys who haven’t read the manga, Garou becomes more central in the show. Season 3 portrays whether he becomes a real villain or something deeper.

In the last season, we saw Garou single-handedly take on multiple heroes. He went through Mumen Rider, Charanko, and the Tank Topper Army, and also humiliated Tanktop Master. Garou also defeated the combined effort of Golden Ball and Spring Mustachio. More iconically, he defeated the alliance of Death Gatling, Smile Man, Stinger, Chain’n’toad, Wild Horn, Glasses, Sooter, and Gun Gun.

While he lost many fights, he survived battles that should have killed him. He was seriously outclassed by Watchdog Man. It was Zenko's presence that prevented Metal Bat from smashing his head in. Then there were the two times he went against Saitama, and of course, things did not go his way. Then, he was defeated by Bang and Bomb and had to be saved by Phoenix Man.

His growth through pain and defeat has been one of the most interesting arcs in the series so far. One of Garou’s most impressive abilities is his explosive growth rate. Every time he suffers defeat and is at death’s door, he always comes back more powerful. And in One-Punch Man season 3, this growth transforms him into a much larger threat than anyone expects.

The beauty of Garou’s story is that he isn’t evil just for the sake of it. He has his own beliefs. He sees the world as unfair and thinks heroes are only celebrated because they’re strong. In his mind, villains are just the losers of society’s game. With that mindset, One-Punch Man season 3 might show him as the villain. But a villain we can strangely understand. That’s what makes him different from monsters like Carnage Kabuto or Deep Sea King.

Still, Garou doesn’t stand alone. The Monster Association is a huge part of his story moving forward, and it will play a central role in One-Punch Man season 3. They’re the official bad guys, a collection of terrifying creatures bent on destroying the Hero Association. Some of them include Orochi, Psykos, Black Sperm, Fuhrer Ugly, and Homeless Emperor.

In One-Punch Man season 3, Garou, though, sits in an odd middle ground. He doesn’t see himself as one of them, even when circumstances pull him closer to their side. That’s why on multiple occasions, he does not agree with them but rather fights. He fought against Overgrown Rover, Gyoro Gyoro, and the leader of the Monster Association, Orochi. When interacting with people like Orochi, he clearly states that he does not see himself as one of them.

If we look at the manga, Garou’s transformation is nothing short of wild. Without spoiling too much, he evolves into something far beyond the skilled martial artist we first met. By the time One-Punch Man season 3 adapts these chapters, his fights will be some of the most jaw-dropping the anime has ever shown. The question is, when he reaches this point, will he be a villain? Or something else entirely?

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Different sides of the coin in One-Punch Man season 3

Another big thing to watch for is how the anime handles Garou’s humanity. In the manga, his struggle is not just physical but emotional. He’s constantly torn between his ideas and the reality of his actions. He says he wants to be a monster, but his actions sometimes show he still has compassion. Like how he goes the extra mile to protect Tareo. Is that not the action of a hero? But then sometimes, he acts like a menace to society.

Of course, Saitama stands in his way in One-Punch Man season 3. And fighting the “hero” Saitama makes Garou the “villain.” Garou stands primarily against the Hero Association. As a result, is he not a villain? Pitching his tent in a place that is not aligned with the goals and objectives of a body that is meant to be a symbol of protection and peace sort of makes him a villain.

Some fans argue that Garou isn’t really a villain at all. He’s more like an anti-hero who has taken a difficult path. He hates heroes, but not because he wants chaos. He wants balance. He wants the underdogs to have a chance. And One-Punch Man season 3 could push that idea forward by making him both the enemy and the one you can’t help but cheer for at the same time.

Then, in One-Punch Man season 3, if it is animated according to the manga, most of his opponents are monsters. He fights against Royal Ripper, Bug God, Unihorn, Showerhead, Super Mouse, Evil Natural Water, Sage Centipede, Evil Ocean Water, and more. If he is the one putting many monsters down, can he be dubbed a villain?

So, will Garou be the villain in One-Punch Man season 3? The best answer is both yes and no. He’s the biggest obstacle the heroes will face, but he’s not a villain in the traditional sense. He’s a man who chose a path against the world, and in doing so, he became the ultimate challenge. Whether or not he takes the official “villain” role, he’s clearly the star of the story this time around.

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Conclusion

Ultimately, it’s that role in One-Punch Man season 3 that makes it so exciting. He’s strong, complex, and unpredictable. And that means we’re in for a season that’s not only about Saitama throwing fists. It is about challenging the notion of what it actually means to be a hero or a villain. That’s the story that gets fans hooked. And that’s why the return of One-Punch Man is one of the hottest anticipated anime events of the year.