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- One punch man : Blast's Identity Revealed
One-Punch Man Theory: Blast Is Connected
To Saitama’s Power
One-Punch Man's two biggest mysteries are the identity of Blast
and the source of Saitama's power. Could these plot points be connected?
Could Blast's identity be connected to the source of Saitama's
power in One-Punch Man? As
the world of One-Punch Man continues to expand, the colorful
cast of S-class heroes has grown and some of these
characters possess truly frightening power. Perhaps the most noteworthy is
Tatsumaki, the Tornado of Terror, whose psychic abilities appear virtually
limitless and could perhaps even give Saitama himself a tough time if the duo
ever come to blows. However, the Hero Association's highest ranked warrior, the
enigmatic Blast, has yet to appear in One-Punch Man and is only
ever whispered about in hushed, ominous tones.
If Blast represents the biggest unknown in One-Punch Man, the second question fans desperately
want answered is the source of Saitama's monstrous power. One of the story's
best recurring gags is Saitama's claim that he became strong by doing "100
push-ups, 100 sit-ups and a 10km run every single day." Neither Saitama's
friends or foes believe that such power could come from a workout so mundane
(by superhero standards, at least) and while Genos continues to probe for the true source of
his master's strength, exactly how the Caped
Baldy went from directionless university graduate to the world's
strongest fighter remains a mystery.While these two plot points may seem
separate, there's a good chance Blast could hold some connection to
Saitama's power. Firstly, Blast's continued absence in One-Punch Man season
2 is a strong indication that the character will have a
significant impact on the series. The No. 1 ranked superhero has been built up
as a source of intrigue and will surely offer something special to justify
the aura of mystery around him.
One strong possibility is that Blast and Saitama are related, most likely father
and son, and there are several clues in the manga that hint towards this. In
the original One-Punch Man web comic, Saitama and Blast are
shown to have very similar personalities. Much like Saitama, a flashback
sequence sees Blast describe fighting crime as a hobby, only turning up when it
suits him or when humanity is truly in peril. Blast also offers Tatsumaki some
direct, straight-forward advice in a manner very similar to Saitama's
unintentionally inspirational teachings to Genos.
It's perhaps also significant that One-Punch Man has
revealed absolutely nothing about
Saitama's origins or family and, given that Blast was active 18
years before the start of the series, the ages and dates would also line up.
The brief image the One-Punch Man manga has provided of Blast
shows him to be a regular human in a standard superhero outfit, similar in
style and appearance to Saitama.
Blast being Saitama's father makes sense from a thematic
perspective too. One-Punch Man is built on the premise of
subverting typical anime and manga tropes and one of the most common twists,
especially in Shonen series, is revealing the protagonist to secretly have
prestigious or powerful lineage. Examples of this can be found in One
Piece, Naruto, Attack on Titan, Bleach and many
more. Given One-Punch Man's semi-parody approach, it wouldn't be
surprising if the series put its own unique, comedic spin on this trope,
with Saitama perhaps refusing to acknowledge his
father's return or, heading in the complete opposite direction, showing a rare,
dramatic outpouring of emotion.
Even without the familial connection, there are plenty of other
ways Saitama and Blast could be connected. One-Punch Man has
shown various ways humans can enhance their own power.
scientifically and some fans have speculated that Saitama may
have been a test subject for one such experiment as an infant. Blast may have
received his strength in much the same manner, and his arrival in the series
could herald the reveal of Saitama's own backstory. Alternatively, perhaps time
travel will become a factor, and Saitama and Blast will be revealed as the same
person - explaining the top hero's absence.