Warning: Spoilers for One-Punch Man Chapter #185 (183 EN)One-Punch Man is undergoing a radical upheaval as a new group rises to prominence, threatening the Hero Association’s dominance in the field and driving a wedge between its members. The question lingers if it’s possible for the Hero Association in its current state to compete.
One-Punch Man‘s Hero Association suffered a number of losses in the war with the Monster Association, but despite its eventual victory, it seems the people of the world have lost some faith in the organization’s ability to win. This has created an opportunity for a new hero organization to rise up, and as Hero Association representatives go around recruiting potential new heroes, they’re finding out that’s exactly what happened. The Hero Association’s reputation seems to be thoroughly ruined, but it remains to be seen if these new heroes will actually be any better.
The Hero Association’s Rivals Have the Upper Hand in One-Punch Man
The Hero Association of One-Punch Man is hardly a bastion of all that’s good and pure. The executives at the top and those who fund the group are unambiguously portrayed as corrupt, and many of the heroes themselves are no better, obsessing over rank and refusing to work together. While the Monster Association raid did ultimately force some teamwork out of them, it seems that lesson was quickly forgotten by most of the S-class heroes. With the new Hero Association base being an allegedly impregnable fortress, it gives the appearance of the heroes being little more than bodyguards for the wealthy benefactors of the Association living there.
This new organization (called the “Neo Heroes” in the webcomic) does seem, from what little has been revealed so far, to be more concerned with the safety of the public and has reached out to potential heroes well before the Hero Association. The new group’s even gone so far as to contact Genos, and likely other S-class heroes as well, tempting them to leave the Hero Association and join them. While Genos has yet to make up his mind, it proves that even the heroes of the Hero Association are having doubts about the organization, so it’s no wonder the people have lost faith.
If One-Punch Man‘s Hero Association is to survive, it will have to adapt and do more to keep heroes onboard. Repairing public relations must be a focus, earning back the trust of the people. The real question is whether the organization is even capable of that; while it’s identified the problem, it has yet to do anything to endear itself to the public in the time since. If these new heroes can make a flashy entrance, public support for the Hero Association may bottom out entirely. The Hero Association of One-Punch Man will have to get used to having a competitor, as this new group is coming whether the others like it or not.
