One-Punch Man's Manga Confirms It's Going in a Whole New Direction From the Webcomic

Warning: Spoilers for One-Punch Man Chapter #210 (JP release)

It's well-known that One-Punch Man started as a webcomic published by ONE in 2009, and after gaining a massive number of followers, it was adapted into manga format illustrated by the recognized artist Yusuke Murata. Although this collaboration was initially dedicated to redrawing the story, as with any adaptation, the manga started to introduce changes to the original story. But even though the manga version always returned to the original plot after these divergences, One-Punch Man’s latest chapter has confirmed that it's getting further away from the webcomic.

From changes in the simple character design of ONE to a more detailed one, to altering the order of events and including slight changes to the story, One-Punch Man's manga has always strived to be an improved version of the webcomic. However, One-Punch Man’s chapter #210 proved that the manga has stopped being an just an expanded version of ONE’s original work to become a different story on its own by taking a whole different direction with the new developments in the Ninjas Village Arc.

Blast and Empty Void’s Flashback Shows the Manga Is Rippling Away From the Webcomic

One-Punch Man’s Ninja Village Arc Confirms That the Manga Won’t Stick So Close to the Original Plot

Close

While during the final chapters of the Monster Association Arc, One-Punch Man’s manga changed many aspects of the webcomic, Yusuke Murata’s version eventually went back to match the source material after the end of the arc. However, after entering the Neo Heroes Saga, the manga started to deviate again by expanding the Ninjas Arc, which was a small part of the webcomic with only 7 chapters, to a storyline that deepens into Blast’s past and develops relevant lore of the series.

This new narrative direction is proved by how the manga unveiled Empty Void’s backstory, his connection with God, and how he met Blast in One-Punch Man chapter #210, when in the webcomic version, not even his name was revealed, and it was said he was 300 years old. Moreover, in chapter #209, the manga changed how Saitama overpowered Empty Void by easily stopping his dimensional slash when their encounter was off-screen in the webcomic.

Related Viral One-Punch Man Theory Suggests We Haven't Seen One Hero's Full Power...Yet One-Punch Man leaves plenty of room for fan theories, but with Blast's fight with Void, a new possibility could be put to the test.

Furthermore, by showcasing the complex relationship between Empty Void and Blast and the truth behind the Class S number one hero family in the latest chapter of the manga, it confirms that One-Punch Man’s authors are comfortable including major plot changes going forward, which means that readers can enjoy both versions as separate stories, each one with its own appeal.

One-Punch Man's Manga Being Different From the Webcomic Is the Best News for Fans

Enjoying Both OPM’s Versions Is the Ultimate Experience for Fans of the Series

Additionally, OPM's manga is switching to a completely different plotline than the one currently being developed in the webcomic. While the webcomic's plot is currently deep into the confrontation between the Neo leaders and the Hero Association after disclosing Metal Knight's real nature, the manga is raising the stakes in the fight against god, first by emphasizing the unknown power limits of the mysterious entity with the fact that Empty Void overwhelmed Blast in battle, who was one of the strongest characters after Saitama, injuring him to the verge of losing, and later by revealing more details about god and his plan.

Related 15 Strongest One-Punch Man Characters Of All Time, Ranked One-Punch Man may be centered on one overpowered protagonist, but many of its characters have also displayed absurd levels of strength.

This raises the possibility for fans of the importance of reading both versions, which was something dismissed by many, preferring exclusively OPM's manga due to ONE's particular art style and because of the belief that it features the same story with better art, which was debunked thanks to the different narratives. Not only is reading both versions the way to go for those wanting to enjoy the complete One-Punch Man experience, but it also gives fans a double dose of the story now that the webcomic has recently released a new chapter after a hiatus that started at the beginning of the year.

The story of the Ninja Village is one of the most intriguing arcs of One-Punch Man so far, which shows that the decision of ONE and Murata to redraw the arc and make a different version helped the manga reach its true potential, instead of rushing the developments like many manga artists are forced to do because of the exhaustion of serialization. However, One-Punch Man keeps pleasantly surprising fans who can't wait to see what the future will bring for the franchise.