One-Punch Man, Vol. 23: Authenticity

ワンパンマン [One Punch Man] #23

by ONE, Yusuke Murata (Illustrator)

Narinki’s private force is now free from Super S’s control. Bushi Drill, Okama Itachi and Iaian plot their escape, but threat level Demon monster Malong Hair appears before they can flee, and a fierce fight breaks out. Elsewhere, their master Atomic Samurai encounters a creepy opponent!

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

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2021

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

[Ostrava · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a complicated relationship with this manga. First loved it, but that was more so because of the concept and Saitama's charm than anything else. The other characters always seemed like background noise that has gotten more and more complex as the series progressed, though it's still... background. The more it advances the more the background gets a central stage, while Saitama is sort of pushed to the side, as a sort of reminder that you are, in fact, still reading One Punch Man.

I just want him to be a human again. Make him go eat some ramen, go back to the contrast between the mundane and the whacky life of superheroes.

Not this. Don't stretch these fights to ridiculousness, it's almost like a parody of itself at this point, ironically so.

Let it go. Move on from the arch already.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este manga lo conocí por su anime. Me lo vi en su momento y me reí bastante. Tenía momentos muy buenos y pasas un buen rato. También es el mismo autor de Mob Psycho así que cuando leí este último también ya tenía todas las papeletas a su favor.

One punch nos cuenta la historia de Saitama el hombre mas fuerte del mundo pero que debido a su apariencia nadie le toma en serio en un mundo donde no faltan ni superhéroes ni villanos. Al contrario que otro manga sobre este tipo, One Punch Man se mofa de este género y juega con el absurdo, sobretodo con el personaje principal.

Asimismo, el dibujo no escatima en detalles y es una maravilla. La única pega que podría comentar en este momento es que al ser un manga mensual, casi llevamos dos años en el mismo arco y parece que no ha avanzado mucho desde que lo pausé en 2018-2020 y hay algunos momentos donde sobra un poco el ecchi. En fin. La misma historia de siempre.

Sin embargo, a pesar de todo esto, me gusta bastante y voy a acabarlo progresivamente.

[Jesus Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

One punch man 23
Pues son simplemente más peleas en la guarida de los monstros.
Supongo que sirve para mostrar a otros héroes de la asociación, y considerando que en el tomo interior hubo algo de avance, queda, solo esperemos no se alargue mucho.
3 star

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good volume with the fighting.
After all the saves Saitama makes I'm starting to dislike the "Joke" that no one credits him for his powers or the times he saves the day. Team swords and the mercs had a good bit of banter. The Atomic Samurai fight was interesting but crushing the multiple copy monster probably would not kill it. The Zombie fight was more believable this time.
4.5 stars.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

As these heroes continue their journey deeper into the underground lair of villains, the S-level heroes find themselves up against odd yet challenging enemies. From Atomic Samurai to Zombieman, everyone has the perfect adversary to push them to their limits while Saitama leisurely walks his way around, waiting to find a worthy enemy to face.

Yours truly,

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

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

One-Punch Man, Vol. 23 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next six chapters (107–112) of the on-going manga series with a bonus story.

The tankōbon continues the Monster Association Arc. The tankōbon divides into approxamatley five battles: Iaian, Bushi Drill, and Okama Itachi vs. Devil Long Hair vs. Devil Long Hair, Atomic Samurai vs. Sword Devil Executioner and later Black Spermatozoon, Puri-Puri Prisoner vs. Baquma, Pig God vs. Gums, and Saitama vs. Overgrown Rover, which he knocks out in one punch.

During the foray, Child Emperor returns to the surface with Waganma, who was kidnapped by the Monster Association, to great praise only to find out that there was another child kidnapped that he did not know about and Waganma lied about in order to be rescued. So, Child Emperor, despite his fatigue returns into battle to rescue the other child.

This tankōbon is written by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. The tankōbon continues the battle with the Monster Association, which seems like it is taking forever. The focus is divided on many battles happening simultaneously, which gives the grandness of the fight. Finally, Saitama makes an appearance and predictably one-punches the guard to the Monster Assiciation Headquarters – a giant monstrous dog.

All in all, One-Punch Man, Vol. 23 is a good continuation to a new series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.

[Melia (she/her) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I’m ready for this fight to actually begin resolving and to feature more Saitama. There’s so many side characters and villains and I just don’t care about them as much if at all. Give me some more satisfying one punch combats, please.

[Sungyena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. Homeless Emperor! The duality of Saitama the bumpkin and Saitama the hero never fails to amaze me.

[AB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good volume but this volume included One Punch man has some pacing issues. It's very apparent in the manga format. And it is starting to get to me. This is the latest volume and I don't know how long we are all gonna have to wait for the next one to get released and I am sure that volume is going to have a lot of stuff nobody cares about. I hope that something can happen to remedy this.

[Adam M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just realizing I didn't get this marked as "read" sooner - oops. Bushi Drill, Okama Itachi, Iaian and their master Atomic Samurai all feature heavily in this volume. It's not a bad entry, but this particular portion of the story has been going on for some time and it's a little tiring. I'd like more Saitama and I'd really like to get out of the Monster Association underground.

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fun fights but the arc is definitely starting to fall under the weight of how loooooong it is. And I know we still have a lot more to go. A little exhausting tbh.

[Dr Rashmit Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heroes are all in fix , it's all really cool to think that so many cool heroes and scenarios are created by ONE

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ascending from a pit of doom

With Waganma rescued Child Emperor and Saitama make their way to the surface but they reach a temporary issue that as usual is handled unexpectedly and was equally misunderstood how it got resolved allowing them to return to the surface. However Saitama is not done yet as he creates a new temporary entrance to the underground labyrinth of the Monster Association and hops in for who knows what kind of misadventure yet to come.

In the mean time of the S class heroes we get to see some action from Pig God, Atomic Samurai, more Zombie Man , Puri-Puri Prisoner, and Superalloy Blackluster. Elsewhere Narinki's private force (now free of Super S) is working with Atomic Samurai's pupils causing trouble unaware that their target has already made it top side. Plenty of action and humor make for another fun volume as all sorts of monsters try to step up to take on the forces of the Hero Association. :)

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although still highly enjoyable and engaging to read, OPM Vol. 23 at times feels padded, streching the arc a bit longer to showcase the skills of other heroes. Saitama has made himself extremely scarce in this volume, appearing only on a few chapters. The way that it is paced, I am very hopeful that the next volumes would offer a larger payoff.

In the absence of our bald caped hero, what volume 23 needed really, really is more of Puri Puri Prisoner! His charming performance alone is of a five-star quality, and it wouldn't be a problem at all if ONE and Yusuke Murata devoted more pages with him, like what they did to Flashy Flash before.

Overall, One-Punch Man volume 23 is still a great read.

[Diogo Muller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another volume that's... not the strongest. While it has it's good and funny moments, they are not the main focus here. Prisioner also keeps being creepy in a not fun way. This plot is dragging a bit too much.

This can get better, but that was kinda of a meh volume.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

November 2024
Kindle edition

Since I upgraded my phone, the only app I have issues with is Kindle. It's slower and apart from downloading, its really noticeable when reading manga. Got two volumes and then realised I only had four left until the latest so got them too. Binge read them all.

This one starts with the samurai crew playing brainwashed and the hair demon. The breakthrough to the surface and the other child reveal. The multiplying monster was gross. Another Zombieman fight, the prisoner guy and pig god. Ends with Alloy. I liked the bonus at the end with Amai mask, Pig god and Saitama.

[Ady Weasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niño emperador logra salir a la superficie y cumplir la misión de rescate, sin embargo bajo la superficie todavía hay varios héroes S que están batallando.

Saitama regresa a los niveles bajos para ver qué es lo que causa tanto alboroto

[Oscar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Está bastante bueno, sigue la historia y profundiza en muchos secundarios. Las ilustraciones en las batallas uff también buenísimas. Cuando llegue en anime a estas partes va a estar interesante.

Peeeeeero la falta de minutos de Saitama (a diferencia de lo que la portada indica) me decepcionó. ¡¿Por qué me esconden al pelón de oro?! O minimo King o Genos, pero tampoco.

[Ken Yuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, but minimal Saitama and no Garou at all :(

[DonutKnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I’m still waiting for more Saitama! He’s such a beast 💪💪

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st reading : 26th April 2022
Rating : 5 out of 5
- 34th book in the month of April 2022
- 109th book in 2022 reading challenge

[✡Weed Dragon✡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🐉

The redrawings are confusing me more than a whore on a church

[Rin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Getting really sick of how the last several volumes are just fight scenes

[Danny™️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is crazy

[Katherinne Medina (unafandeghibli) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puri Puri Prisoner es muy divertido. "Vibración angelical" y "armadura de cerdas de ángel" oh por el ángel, me hace reír mucho.
Los otros enfrentamientos estuvieron más bien meh.

[David Harriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief

This volume is full of action but not much progress. Heroes and monsters continue their epic battle underground, but the story moves slowly.

[Giulia B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So… no.
I get it, Saitama solves everything with a punch and it’s anticlimactic so you can’t have him there if you want a good fight. The point is, if I wanted a good fight, I would read Dragon Ball or another random battle shonen.
This was a parody manga, and now it’s taking itself too seriously. I signed up for an apathetic character too strong for his own psyche that becomes a hero “for a hobby” and that’s not what this is anymore.

Mind me, it’s not that I dislike the backstories of all these heroes, Zombieman is a candy, Child Emperor was cute, Amai Mask is shady and I want to know what’s his deal, but… Less, maybe? With more Saitama in between.
It’s been more than 20 chapters from the Chinese cabbage/Nabe thing and Saitama has appeared in what, 5 of them? You know, the guy this manga was named after?

Honestly, the only thing still close to what it was before is King, and he’s also barely there, while the other characters I was supposed to care about are MIA:
- where is Garou?
- I forgot what Sonic was doing,
- I want Mumen Rider back,
- Genos is an overpowered little shit (again) and I’m betting his new body getting destroyed in a few chapters because why would we have character development when we could have the umpteenth battle? (Crossing my fingers to be so wrong about this.)
- WHERE IS GAROU?

[JK · Rating 2 out of 5]

2
I think the face that I remember nothing about this volume speaks volumes (ha).

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and great art, but portraying the one gay man as a sexual harasser and promiscuous is really homophobic and annoying. There still are not many lgbt characters in manag, especially not shonen protagonists, so the few that there is matter. For young teens this could be the first time they see a character gay like them and see how society perceive them as a joke and a threat at the same time.

[C.M. Chafin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m kind of bored with this fight already. I think I said it last time. I want more One Punch and Garo. I was hoping because this was longer, the fight would finally be over. Hopefully it ends next volume.