The artist returns on October 9 with Versus, a new manga that mixes offbeat humor and epic stories. The opportunity to draw the portrait of this discreet author, but essential in the industry.
The name Saitama now resonates as obvious. This hero, who was first known as unemployed, depressed, and wandering in a dreary daily life, became, after relentless training, an invincible force, capable of pulverizing any opponent with a single blow. Over the volumes and episodes, One Punch Man has conquered the world, seducing millions of readers and spectators, elevating Seinen to the rank of phenomenon.
But the most fascinating enigma of this saga perhaps lies behind its creator, a name that we can barely guess… One. A discreet but implacable signature, today synonymous with creative genius. After hitting hard with One Punch Man and the astonishing Mob Psycho 100, the anonymous author has been working since 2022 on Versus, a work pre-published in Monthly Shōnen Sirius. Good news for French readers: the first volume arrives on October 9 from Pika editions.
An original style and wacky stories
While his real name remains a mystery, this enigmatic creator has given some clues as to his identity. Born on October 29, 1986, in Niigata, Japan, One grew up in Konsou, in Saitama Prefecture. A nod of course to his hero, named in homage to the city where one sketched the first lines of what would become One Punch Man. Very early on, he seemed destined to become a mangaka, constantly scribbling wacky stories in his notebooks, preferring crazy stories to any other genre.
Initially, One became known on the Internet. Self-taught, he uses a graphics tablet to bring his ideas to life, producing one-shots like Sun Man and Tennis Player Ryu, which, although not serialized, already reveal his offbeat tone. This unique style allows him to stand out in the crowd of young authors. In 2009, at the age of 23, he began what would propel him onto the international scene: One Punch Man, a simple web series at first, telling the story of a hero capable of defeating his enemies with a single punch.
From One Punch Man to Mob Psycho 100
In 2012, when the webcomic reached 10 million visits, Yusuke Murata, a renowned illustrator at Shūeisha, asked One to redraw his manga for the general public. This collaboration proved to be a lifesaver, as the mangaka was going through a difficult financial period. Thanks to Murata and Shūeisha, the work was born in a revised form. In 2015, the animated adaptation by Madhouse won over a global audience and confirmed the One Punch Man phenomenon.
In 2012, while Saitama continued to conquer the crowds, One began the pre-publication of Mob Psycho 100, a series that consolidated his reputation. This time, he took us into the strange world of Kageyama Shigeo, a middle school student with overwhelming psychic powers, awkwardly in love with a classmate.
Through this discreet hero, the author continued his reflection on solitude and self-acceptance, while cultivating his unique style, made of absurd humor and derision. The animated adaptation in 2016 propelled Mob Psycho 100 to the forefront, confirming the audacity and talent of its creator.
In 2016, One and Yusuke Murata won the prestigious Sugoi Japan Award for One Punch Man, rewarding a manga with universality and originality capable of conquering a wide international audience. The same year, the mangaka received the 62nd Shōgakukan Award for Mob Psycho 100 in the shōnen category, one of the most respected distinctions in the Japanese industry.
The fight for the survival of humanity
In Versus, One immerses us from the first pages in a universe dominated by Demonic Forces, where humanity is subjected to the tyranny of its 47 demon kings. To counter this horde, 47 heroes, including Hallow, an intrepid warrior accompanied by Groingroin, his fairy assistant, go into battle.
But after a humiliating defeat, the mages decide to go for broke: they open an interdimensional portal to summon help from another world. It is then that Hallow discovers that these new allies, far from being saviors, are themselves cornered by other enemies, different from demons, but no less formidable.
In Versus, 13 worlds, each threatened by apocalypse, see their heroes fight for the survival of their species. One mixes epic battles, alliances, and unexpected rivalries, where the heroes defy enemies from other worlds or orchestrate clashes between themselves. True to his style, he slips touches of offbeat humor into the middle of poignant action and emotional scenes. Camaraderie, perseverance, and sacrifice punctuate this story, promising twists at each stage of the fight to save humanity.