One-Punch Man vol. 22

Get this:  Saitama actually plays a significant role in the volume’s first half.  That’s all about the final throw-down between Child Emperor in his Brave Giant mech against the supercharged Phoenix Man.  While there’s some quality spectacle to this fight, the important parts take place in “Phoenix Space” as the monster tries to convince the kid hero that he’s unappreciated and should join the Monster Society.  Saitama, being a decent guy overall, has some things to say about this while also doing his best to keep the story from going off the rails in a way that leaves Child Emperor as a big wet stain on cement.  It’s cool seeing the title character in action again and there’s even some quality one-punch action to be had as well.  Still, this storyline’s biggest achievement is that it takes a hoary line about heroism not being a costume (“It’s what’s inside.”) and actually makes you believe in it for a second.  Only a second, though.

Vol. 22 continues on with an intermission involving the hero known as Zombie Man and adds a whole lot of background to his cameo in the above-mentioned storyline.  His gimmick is regeneration and this story finds him up against a vampire with the same ability.  What follows is about 50 pages of Zombie Man dying over, and over, and over, etc… until he finally succeeds.  Creators ONE and Yusuke Murata are skilled enough that they can take a premise this simple and imbue it with enough style to make it fun.  It was also smart of them to make this a one-chapter story as they push the concept about as far as it can go here.

The volume ends with two chapters that look like they’re going to set up the title’s next arc as a trio of sword-based heroes mix it up against the mercenaries who were sent in a few volumes back and are now mind-controlled lackeys of an S&M monster dominatrix.  Fortunately for them, and unfortunately for us, Amai Mask shows up to lend a hand.  The most unlikeable of heroes is actually revealed to have some skeletons in his closet, which look to be leading him on a collision course against the heroes he’s currently fighting with.  This is the most promising part of the volume as finding out what makes this arrogant pretty-boy tick is something that’s been long overdue in this series.