One-Punch Man, Vol. 18

ワンパンマン [One Punch Man] #18

by ONE, Yusuke Murata (Illustrator)

Life gets pretty boring when you can beat the snot out of any villain with just one punch.

Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on!

Garo has just left the Monster Association’s hideout when he crosses paths with Saitama, who’s in quite a pinch, but Saitama still doesn't know Garo is the Hero Hunter. Later, King the Ripper can no longer hold back his murderous urges and confronts Garo himself!

Genres: Manga, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Humor, Fiction, Superheroes

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2018

About the author

Manga creator ONE first created One-Punch Man as a web comic, where it quickly went viral, garnering over 10,000,000 hits! Along with One-Punch Man, ONE also writes and draws another series called Mob Psycho 100.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume sees the unstoppable lethal force that is the Hero Hunter tested to his very limits by both heroes and monsters alike. As ever One-Punch Man, Saitama wanders throughout the volume not fully aware of the chaos around him as his focus is 'dine and dasher', a wallet and some cabbage! The mix of deadpan apathetic humour with blood and guts monster vs human fighting continues unabated, although this series really needs to get to the Monster Association battle asap, as it's all kind of beginning to drag, a bit. A 7.5 out of 12, Three Star read. Hotpot anyone? :D

2024 read

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hot-headed read!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

So that freaking Gyoro made the great Orochi who is strongest in the monster association. If he can create that great monster, I wonder how great his powers are.

Also I think the other person that is highlighted here is "Blast". I saw him on the other volume but I'm just not sure. I think this is really him. I wonder if he is in par with Saitama? I am curious, too since he's been hidden for so long.

Garou really has a soft spot on children. It's his downfall. (shrug)

Yayyyy Saitama again!

LOLLL Saitama is so cute as always. Everyone was shock when he said he was in a perilous situation. But they didn't know it was about the wallet and cabbage lol. Extremely adorbs.

LOL. Fubuki really paid for his food. Saitama's face is hilarious!!

OMG Kuseno went to meet Genos. And he finally meet Saitama, too. Awwww!!!!!

AAAwwwwwwww.. Kuseno is so sweet. He brought Saitama a premium gourmet meat since he buy on bargain. Awwwwwww.. Such sweet people!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so touch for Saitama.

This Waganma kid is attitude. I hate him he is such a bully. Better let him rot though. He is bullying Tareo a lot and he is not even a handsome kid. Ewwww. Gross!!!!

I love how Genos is overprotective of Saitama. It's also so cute they are all sharing a hot pot. Saitama's circle of friends is growing. Awwwwwwwwww.

OMG Saitama is so cute in his sleeping gears. So so adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aww.. Garou save Tareo. He really have something with Tareo, it's cute though.

WOah Woah. Garou defeated that freaking monster who almost killed Tareo. He sure is strong even with all the damage he have! But YUCKS!! He eat that monster's hand. YUCK YUCK YUCK!!

[B. P. Rinehart · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are at the point now in the series that it is becoming formulaic. We have a big existential crisis that we know is not a real crisis because the titular hero can literally solve it with one punch. In the early volumes it used this to employ satire & parody of shonen/superhero shows. Now the series is trying to tell a real story, but still keep the humorous edge and I think it is only half-way working. I hope we get over this arc soon; I feel like though it is an ok story, but not what I signed up for with this series. The artwork here though is beyond anything we saw in season 2 of the anime.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garou, Garou, Garou, you're really coming up in the world... or shall I say down?

I'm just going to come right out and say it. Aside from Saitama himself, our Caped Baldy, Garou is by far and away my favorite character in this manga. :)

He does what he wants. When he wants. For his own reasons. Gotta admire that. Saving a little kid? Unexpected, but continuing to champion that kid? That's growth. :)

And then, there's all that demon monstrosity stuff. I can't believe he's taking on Dragon level monsters now. :)

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garo the Old Dude just can't catch a break.
Blizzard is trying but no one is taking this woman seriously - but I think they should.
Saitama might as well be another "Monster" the way he gave up his humanity for power, even as he plays at being a hero. He needs a bigger apartment if he accumulates more friends, allies and followers.
It is kind of interesting seeing the Monster Association politics.

The fights are decent but less punchy fighting in this volume.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there are two things that will continuously keep me hooked this series, it's definitely the banter between characters and the artwork.

The story slowly builds up the game plan as to what the Hero association plans to do against the Evil association. You just have to face-palm at how things are handled by the greatest heroes in this universe.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Monsour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murata's art is on FIRE for the past few volumes. Much more impressive than his previews work.

[✡Weed Dragon✡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.9 🐉

I hope the little brat is okay

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now we can see how a supervillain on his path to becoming an even more powerful supervillain!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than the last one, and the fight scenes!! Garou is definitely a new favorite, and I'm kind of curious to see where his power will be by the end of this ordeal.
We're building up for a major fight, so we're getting a lot of players again and people have some subtle changes to their looks (not so subtle in Genos' case...dude is looking crazy).

This was my 6th book for the 25 Day of Manga, so much as I want to continue on with another volume tonight I'll hold off until tomorrow.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

November 2024
Kindle edition

More Garo, although it looks like he's heading for a redemption arc. It's funny how effortlessly he gets his ass kicked by Saitama and neither of them know who the other is. More Zombieman in this one, with spreads of all the foes so far, along with pity for Saitama. More hype for the monster association. Mostly still all about Garo.

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing much has happened here - there's a mix of funny, frustrating, sad, and of course action-packed panels.

Artwork still remains superb, from the quiet moments in the prison to near-death fights. The consistency in quality of the illustrations in OPM is very commendable. And this is one of the reasons why I still continue to read and buy One-Punch Man manga. The way action is drawn is very, very clean. The movement, shading, and framing are top-notch and well-though of.

[Kulwinder Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garo is one determined fighter that much was clear from the get go. But his resolve and mentality to never give up is the reason i admire him so much. That dine-and-dash incident was a lot of fun! 😂

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5
While I do appreciate the shift in tone of the series, we are spending too much time on everyone else. Why has Saitama suddenly stopped fighting? He goes outside--we see him go outside (and he sticks Blizzard with the bill again haha) so why doesn't he address what's happening? I get that hes so strong we wouldn't get much of a fight (and that's why the monsters keep getting stronger, too) but who cares?? We wanna see the caped baldy in action!

The battles and art are getting way more detailed, though, and it made me feel like I was watching an actual show instead of reading a book. Kudos to that.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Another solid entry in the series, as it leads to something with the monsters. This volume allows the characters to interact a little more and setup what's to come.

Why the 4.5?

It's not a great issue, but it maintains that humour and craziness I've grown to enjoy. I'm now at the point I believe the storyline should aim at concluding. The series has been fun but its treading water and that's going to alienate fans.

[Adam M · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Read for the YA Reading Challenge 2020*

Garo gets a new form, Saitama loses his wallet, Zombieman confronts his past and we learn about what really happened with the House of Evolution. This volume has some great monsters and pretty good fights. It's also still building towards whatever the Monster Association's end game is.
There is also quite a club hanging out at Saitama's apartment and something about those scenes is really funny to me.

[Momo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Moe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think if general little child, around elementary school student, saw someone who he knew have been chopped he would faint. But Tareo didn’t and could walk by himself. It means Tareo is a little bit strong or tough?

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garo comes close to breaking his Limiter. Saitama has trouble with his wallet and napa cabbage

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many questions are on the verge of being answered.

Garo is my favorite.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.

One of the best and funniest manga series out there.

Period.

[Tasneem · Rating 5 out of 5]

@Maryam Remember that character I showed you that I said was my personal favourite in all of manga and anime???? That's the character 😼👍

[Slayer Corpse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the development between Tareo and Garo, I feel like Garo is not as bad as he’s put out to be!

[Ilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scusa Garo se all’inizio ho detto che mi stavi sulle balle, in realtà dovevo solo conoscerti meglio

[Dr Rashmit Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man ! Garo is sooo cool . He is monster in name alone coz his arc is so empathetic, i can relate to where Garo's motivations are coming from . Arguably this was one of the weakest edition coz barely any story progression took place. We just saw a new bunch of monsters .

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

One-Punch Man, Vol. 18 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next three chapters (88–90) of the on-going manga series.

Bug God and Royal Ripper who were following Garou have passed their judgment and told Garou to kill the boy he’s protecting, because to become a monster – one must turn themselves from their humanity and protecting an innocent is not monstrous. Unwilling to kill the boy, Garou fights Bug God and Royal Ripper and was on par with them until he got distracted and was seemingly slain on the ground. Bug God and Royal Ripper leaves with the boy Garou has been protecting as hostage.

Meanwhile, the Hero Association hears about a child being kidnapped by the Monster Association and they decide to form a rescue mission and destroy the Monster Association at the same time. Meanwhile, the seemingly dead Garou gets up and heads to the Monster Association Headquarters to rescue and save the boy and managed to leave carnage of monster body parts in his wake – including Royal Ripper.

This tankōbon is written by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. For the most part, the tankōbon focuses on Garou and his relationship with the Monster Association. Although he has the powers of monsters running through his veins, he is unwilling to give up what little humanity he has left and fights to keep it, which means protecting the boy who had saved him many times. After a lot of dilly dallying, the Hero Association has finally made its choice and heads out to destroy the Monster Association once and for all.

All in all, One-Punch Man, Vol. 18 is a good continuation to a new series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.

[Chris Orme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garo has become like the secondary protagonist for this manga it feels like. Which I am all here for. He’s a villain but not as bad a villain as the monster villains. Even though he’s fighting heroes a lot of the time, I’m invested in the fights. Yet we know as it’s been proven a couple of times Siatama can easily kick his ass. What has made the manga interesting is watching these other weaker by comparison heroes (& a villain) fight, the fights are fun & I do like the ludicrous concepts for monsters at times (or heroes for that matter). Like how the fact that you’d think the guy who dresses as a dog would be a weak gag character but turns out he’s stronger than loads of the heroes.
Sure Siatama exists as a punching deus ex machina for the whole series if things get too tough but it goes to the strength of this series that despite the ‘get outta jail free card’ that always exists the series is still fun.

[Fazli]

Back to reading One Punch Man! I read up to volume 17 back in 2019, so I picked up right where I left off.

This one made me laugh a lot, plus I love seeing Garo for some reason. Such a cool villain! His relationship with Tareo is pretty sweet too. I like how he continues to call Garo “old guy” when he’s only 18

[Matthew Manchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still boring, but picking up.