The premiere date and streaming service platform for One-Punch Man season 2 have finally been revealed. Based on the manga series by One and Yusuke Murata, One-Punch Man provides a sideways take on both the superhero genre and the world of anime, merging comedy and wit with exhilarating fight scenes and an imaginative roster of colorful characters. The story focuses on Saitama, a man who turned himself into a superhero for fun, but has now drifted into boredom after becoming so strong, he can decimate any foe with a single blow.
The first season of One-Punch Man's anime adaptation originally aired in late 2015 and became an immediate hit both in Japan and the West, adapting the manga up until the end of Saitama's fight against the evil alien invader, Boros. Development swiftly began on a second season but behind-the-scenes issues forced the project into changing both its director and production company, leading to an extended delay between seasons. After an agonizing wait, a short trailer was released last year that confirmed Saitama's return for sometime in April 2019.
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Viz Media have now announced that One-Punch Man season 2 will premiere on April 9th, the same day the series begins in Japan, exclusively on Hulu with English subtitles. A dubbed release is likely to follow later this year, but this remains unconfirmed for the moment. Along with the announcement, Viz also released a brand new One-Punch Man poster for season 2.
One-Punch fans will no doubt be delighted to finally hear a confirmed date for Saitama's return, and not having the traditional delay between Japanese and Western releases is an additional bonus. However, some may have preferred to see the series premiere on a more popular platform, such as Netflix where the first season of One-Punch Man has been available for streaming, or the anime-centric Crunchyroll. One of the biggest complaints in the era of ever-increasing streaming use is customers having to purchase a full subscription package just for one or two shows they actually like, in addition to the other services they're already signed up for.
As for what One-Punch Man season 2 may have in store for fans, the new poster provides several clues. The villain Garou is featured prominently, suggesting he'll be the main antagonist for the forthcoming run of episodes, and with his back turned, Suiryu is also heavily featured. This implies that the 'Martial Arts Tournament' arc will form the bulk of One-Punch Man's second season, with Garou's campaign of terror against the Heroes Association taking place simultaneously. Season 2 will therefore likely come to an end shortly before the emergence of the Monsters Association, which will almost certainly be saved for a potential third season.
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One-Punch Man season 2 premieres April 9th on Hulu.
Source: Viz Media