One Punch Man Manga: Garou’s Portrayal vs. Webcomic Version

Thanks to the manga’s success, the series’ popularity was propelled even further when an anime adaptation was announced.

Garou is highly favored by fans who have delved into both the source material and the manga adaptation. He plays a crucial role in the Monster Association arc and viewers will soon have the chance to witness his magnificence in the upcoming third season of the anime series.

The manga took a different approach to the character development of Garou, diverging from the source material. In comparison, the manga’s approach did justice to Garou in a way that the webcomic was unable to achieve.

Please be aware that this article contains major spoilers from both the One Punch Man source material and the manga adaptations.

Understanding the Effectiveness of the One Punch Man Manga’s Approach to Developing Garou’s Character

Garou, as seen in the One Punch Man webcomic series (Image via ONE)

Despite some differences, the manga and the original webcomic were largely similar. In the webcomic series, Garou’s beliefs were shattered by the Caped Baldy, leading him to a state of absolute despair. Due to his past, Garou had a desire to change the world, but his methods were twisted as he aimed to become a hero.

The immense strength demonstrated by Saitama left Garou in complete despair. The individual who had once aspired to revolutionize the world in his own manner finally realized that it was no longer possible. The webcomic revealed a previously unseen side of Garou that surprised fans. He was deeply impacted by this experience, leading him to ultimately give up.

Despite feeling helpless, Garou eventually came to the realization that he was being hypocritical. The effects of his past bullying experiences had a profound impact on him, and he was determined to make a positive change in the world. Although he initially aspired to be a hero and set a good example, his journey led him down a different path, ultimately resulting in him presenting himself as a monster to society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eylFHt3jaCE

Despite being featured in the webcomic, the Garou continued to live each day with a complete lack of hope. It was evident that he had completely abandoned any sense of self-worth.

In the One Punch Man manga, Garou was portrayed differently. Despite having a similar backstory, he faced some different challenges. Saitama, while still displaying his immense power, was not as aggressive towards Garou. In fact, he was able to bring attention to Garou’s delusional behavior.

In the manga, Garou’s demeanor underwent a subtle change that altered both his and the fans’ perception of the Caped Baldy. Additionally, the manga also portrayed a significant difference in Bang’s role in Garou’s life. Unlike in the webcomic where Bang only pretended to defeat Garou, in the manga he was his master who had nurtured his abilities since a young age. Bang had hoped that the heroes would view Garou’s defeat as a sufficient punishment.

In the One Punch Man manga, Garou defeated Bang, which was a major turning point. However, his defeat at the hands of Saitama had a profound effect on him. Surprisingly, Bang sought out Garou and took on the role of a mentor. This changed Garou’s outlook, as he was no longer portrayed as someone who had given up. He reconciled with his mentor and began to focus on self-improvement. Garou not only regained his hope, but he also took the initiative to apologize to everyone he had wronged.

As his bond with his mentor grew stronger, he felt a newfound sense of hope. He was determined to train harder and improve his strength without resorting to monsterization. Bang officially adopted Garou as his guardian, and witnessing Garou’s transformation in the manga was a satisfying conclusion to the Monster Association arc.