The ending of One Punch Man has always been a mix of excitement and anxiety. Fans want to see Saitama finally get the recognition he deserves, but they also fear the series might end without that happening. A recent post has reignited discussion by revealing an idea that artist Yusuke Murata once considered back in 2017 for the “Caped Baldy” finale.
A wild concept: Saitama trades his power to get his hair back
According to shared information, Murata discussed a scenario where Saitama would hit the “reset” button on his heroic journey, returning to square one with nothing left.
This idea centers on the final battle against the entity known as God. In this hypothetical story, breaking Saitama’s limits might involve God’s energy, or defeating this being would require an equal exchange.
Saitama wins, but the cost is losing all his unbeatable power. He becomes an ordinary person again, regrows his thick black hair, and simultaneously loses all memory of being the strongest in the universe.
The scenario also describes a nostalgic scene where Genos approaches a normal Saitama to become his disciple once more, restarting their relationship from zero. This bittersweet loop highlights their bond but strips away the defining trait of the series: the one-punch knockout.
Why are fans worried about this “weak” ending?
While this might seem like a heartfelt ending, fan reactions are mixed. To understand why, we need to look at One Punch Man’s core value. It’s not just about a powerful hero, but a sharp satire on the idea of “power scaling” and the typical hero’s journey.
Many fans argue that stripping Saitama of his power feels like a betrayal of the series’ core promise. They also compare it to controversial endings in other major shonen like My Hero Academia, where the protagonist loses their abilities and returns to a normal life. Among the anime community, this trope is often seen as dull and unsatisfying. If Saitama saves the entire universe, why should he lose his heroic identity?
The memory loss aspect faces the harshest criticism. It implies that all of Saitama’s character growth, from valuing his friendship with King to mentoring Genos, becomes meaningless. If he doesn’t remember his journey, was it truly important?