One-Punch Man Fans Criticizing The Latest Arc Should Check Out The Redrawn Chapters

Many manga series stand only to gain from redrawn chapters to contextualize events, but One-Punch Man is the rare recipient of this blessing. Written by ONE and featuring his incredible storytelling combined with Yusuke Murata’s magnificent artwork, One-Punch Man chapters often get redrawn by the artist and expanded not just with even more gorgeous art, but new scenes and story details.

On March 13, Murata announced through his X account that he would be redrawing the chapters of the current Ninja Arc, and the result would be completely different from the originals. This left fans understandably excited, especially because many had criticized the latest arc due to its short chapters and lack of development.

The redrawn chapters, at the moment, are #193-195 of the VIZ version. ONE’s storytelling shines through either way, but the restructuring of events and more illustrations by Murata make the major developments of One-Punch Man‘s Ninjas Arc bear more weight and tension. Moreover, crucial plot details hinted at dozens of chapters ago get additional teases, and unanswered questions that don’t appear in the original release are addressed. It’s a strong case for fans bothered by the focal points of the latest One-Punch Man arc to read up again.

One-Punch Man Redrawn Chapters Shift Focus to Blast and Empty Void

A Deadly New Threat is Reexamined in Rewritten Chapters

In the redrawn One-Punch Man chapters, Empty Void – the founder of the Ninja village and Blast’s former partner – is still the clear and present danger of the current story arc. Still, more focus is given to his relationship with the ninjas, Blast, and the Monster Association Arc. The chapters examine the demonsterization process in greater detail, have Blast explain God’s powers and his relationship with Empty Void, but most crucial of all, the chapters reveal how Empty Void became the next potential cosmic-level threat of One-Punch Man.

In the Monster Association Arc, when Garou awakens his God-level form, the Hero Hunter unleashes cosmic rays, which Blast redirects into another dimension. The redrawn chapters reveal that Void absorbed these rays through the rift, allowing him to revive, move between dimensions, and use his God-influenced powers to pose the next existential threat. It’s only after this watershed moment in One-Punch Man’s redrawn chapters that Flashy Flash receives an invitation to combat Speed-o’-Sound Sonic.

The Redrawn One-Punch Man Chapters Improve the Ninja Arc

Murata Once Again Gave Fans Exactly What They Wanted

Along with the Nintendo puns, a grizzled-looking teddy bear amid attempted demonsterization, and a cosmic-level threat by Empty Void, these chapters explore the fallout of the biggest previous event yet in One-Punch Man. It indicates the dangerous potential of empowering characters like Empty Void with cosmic rays, but it also could play into Shibabawa’s prophecy about an apocalyptic event yet to come.

Finally, when Flash and Sonic have their fated confrontation, it turns from a generic face-off into an almost mutual farewell, as the two know Void is coming, and they’d rather settle their score. The fight in the redrawn chapters is more drawn-out, with spectacular action between the pair. However, in the final moments of the redrawn One-Punch Man Chapter 198, Sonic and Flash are pulled into a battle with their village’s mob, branding Flash a traitor, reconnecting with the initially published Chapter 195.

Fans only stand to gain from the additional artwork and story. Finally, more details about God and Blast are being revealed, and the story of the ninjas serves to tie all this into the main plot of the manga. This helps tie readers over while they continue the painful wait for another chapter and the next anime season for One-Punch Man.

Read on VIZ Media