One Punch Man Season 3 Episode 10 Recap: Can Atomic Samurai Kill Black S?

Being a “One Punch Man” fan is quite a tough ordeal these days; just when things started to look a bit better compared to how the third season has shaped up so far, we are back in the cesspool of badly animated, poorly edited episodes, which only ruins the masterful art of its source material. There’s no point in complaining anymore when only three episodes are left in this season; let’s just hope the anime series survives and gets picked up by MAPPA or Bones for the next season, who can do justice to the world created by ONE and Yusuke Murata.

Spoilers Ahead

After showcasing the heroics of Child Emperor in the previous chapter, the tenth episode of the ongoing season of “One Punch Man” shifts focus on other S-class heroes—starting with the undead hero, Zombieman. Being extensively experimented on and modified by Dr. Genus in the House of Evolution, Zombieman gained such incredible degeneration and healing ability that he literally cannot die. An ability like this is both a blessing and a curse, as seen in this episode as Zombieman takes on an undead threat similar to himself. Clearing hordes of minnows, Zombieman faces a Demon-level threat, a purebred vampire who feeds on monsters and humans alike. There are some obvious similarities these monsters share. Even though the vampire has an advantage over him in every aspect, the bloodsucking monster is faster, stronger, and has similar regenerative power, even though he needs to feed to heal himself. The only thing Zombieman has going for himself is unreal perseverance and the temperament to carry on fighting even after being dismembered, maimed, and decapitated for the nth time. The fact that Zombieman can feel pain and gets gassed out on several occasions while regenerating makes his immortality appear more like a curse. However, he proves his reputation as an S-class hero by outliving the vampire following a thirty-minute-long battle. It’s a shame that the majority of the battle takes place off screen, and the sequences that are animated as well don’t hold a candle to the art of the manga. For viewers who are interested, I suggest checking up on the panels from the manga to recognize the classic vampire illustration references, which enriched the battle of the undead monsters that much more. 

Too exhausted to move, Zombieman has to continue fighting hordes of monsters waiting for him even after the grueling fight. In the end, Zombieman emerges victorious and, while taking a much-deserved break, replies to Child Emperor’s message, who reveals to have secured Waganma. 

Atomic Samurai’s A-class apprentices, Iaian, Bushidrill, and Okamaitachi, three skilled swordspersons, face off against manipulative Demon-level monster, Do-S, and the cavalry of Narinki’s private enforcers being mind-controlled by her. The trio struggle against them and nearly get themselves caught in Do-S’s trap when top-ranking A-class hero Amai Mask steps in. Strangely enough, Do-S’s powers have no effect on Amai Mask, who asks his A-class comrades to leave this fight to him. Showing his immense physical strength, Mask takes down Narinki’s brainwashed militia within seconds, before apparently killing a petrified Do-S, who begs for mercy at the sight of Mask’s true, vicious self. Once again, crucial panels from the manga have not been adapted in the episode, making this fight much less exciting than it was supposed to be. Fans who so far considered Amai Mask to be just a good-for-nothing showboat will be surprised to see that he is not a no-show hero after all. There is a very sneaky reference to Amai Mask’s true identity, which will be revealed in later seasons following the Monster Association arc. 

The apprentice trio witness Pig God literally devouring a giant demon-level monster whole, a sight they are not going to forget anytime soon. Moments later, they end up reaching a lower level of the monster lair after a demon-level threat, Malong Hair, destroys the platform above. With powers to weaponize his hair in numerous ways, Malong Hair promises to be a credible opponent, and at one point, as all the swordspeople struggle against him, it almost seems something unexpected will happen. Iaian remembers Atomic Samurai’s words about pushing their limit when the reference to late prophet Shibabawa’s Earthdoom prophecy is mentioned in a flashback scene. It’s hilarious that Iaian actually considered Malong Hair as a threat who can pose a threat to the planet, as the monster gets folded within seconds after three warriors use their attack in unison to cut off his hair. Both the villain and the fight scene prove to be incredibly underwhelming in the end. 

In the final moments of the episode, the narrative shifts to focus on Atomic Samurai, as the master swordsman kills several monsters without breaking a sweat. Given how skilled he is, no threat seems to be credible enough to pose a challenge. Machine God G5, the armored cyborg monster, tries to put up a fight and survives longer than most by copying Atomic Samurai’s skills, but the moment the katana-wielding hero decides to get serious, G5 gets destroyed within moments. 

As it turns out, Tareo, the kid whom King Ripper had abducted and to save whom Garou had re-entered the Monster Association in the first place, couldn’t leave the dungeons after all. Atomic Samurai sees Tareo trying to flee from a very goofy-looking monster, Black S, and intercepts the monster. For viewers who are unaware, Black S’s appearance is intentionally goofy to mimic ONE’s original illustrations in his webcomics, and he is one of the strongest monsters to exist. Due to his appearance, Black S doesn’t seem like a strong enough foe for Atomic Samurai, who prepares to take him on in a fight as the episode comes to a close. The next episode is going to be intense, as Atomic Samurai is going to realize how strong an upper-tier Dragon-level monster can be. It should be mentioned, without spoiling anything major, that Gyoro Gyoro specifically selected Black S to counter Atomic Samurai’s skills.