Exploring the Enigma: Unraveling the Mystery of Garou in One Punch Man

Highlights

Saitama's overwhelming strength allows him to defeat any enemy with just one punch, making him unmatched by anyone else in the series.

Garou's transformation from a dissatisfied disciple to a formidable force capable of single-handedly overpowering high-ranking heroes and monstrous adversaries is a captivating journey. However, despite attaining incredible transformations and emulating Saitama's techniques, Garou ultimately succumbs to Saitama's unmatched development and sheer might.

Warning: The upcoming content includes spoilers for the One Punch Man manga.

From the very first scene of the initial episode of One Punch Man, it becomes evident that Saitama is a character of unmatched caliber. Possessing extraordinary strength, he has the ability to vanquish any opponent with a single strike, regardless of their immense power. This is most exemplified in episode 12 of One Punch Man season 1, titled "The Strongest Hero", where he confronts Lord Boros, an extraterrestrial pirate who would have easily overwhelmed any other hero in the entire Association. However, with just one mighty blow from Saitama, Boros is swiftly defeated.

Backstory

The Monster Association arc is where we witness Garou's gradual growth in strength, reaching a point where he becomes capable of single-handedly defeating Dragon Level threats. This remarkable advancement propels him to the pinnacle of power within the series. It culminates in his conversation with God, during which he attains Cosmic Fear Mode—an extraordinarily potent transformation. For a fleeting moment, Garou's strength rivals that of Saitama, and the mere radiation emanating from his body renders him capable of eliminating anyone else. Now, let's delve into his journey within the series.

From his childhood, Garou possessed an alternative mindset compared to the other kids he grew up with. In a world where super-powered heroes and monsters were commonplace, Garou grew weary of the world's biased narrative, where heroes were always seen as the virtuous ones and monsters were treated unfairly. Even during playtime with his peers, Garou consistently chose to embody the role of the monster.

In the future, this would play a significant role in shaping his philosophy. Growing up, he became a disciple of Bang, an S-Class hero with a Rank 3 status in the martial arts dojo. Under Bang's guidance, he mastered the formidable Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, which became his primary skill. However, an unfortunate incident occurred where Garou unleashed his fury and mercilessly attacked his fellow students, resulting in his expulsion from the dojo.

Following his expulsion, Garou participated in a martial arts tournament and emerged victorious, further enhancing his strength and abilities. However, it was his deep-rooted empathy for monsters and disdain for heroes that eventually became his ultimate objective. His goal was to attain such immense power that he could reach the unthinkable Disaster Level God, becoming the ultimate embodiment of evil. In doing so, he would eradicate true evil and suffering from the world on his own terms. Thus, Garou adopted the persona of the Hero Hunter and embarked on a relentless quest, defeating heroes from various classes along the way.

His exceptional talent in this regard earned him a place among the ranks of the Monster Association, where the process of 'monsterization' was initiated, ultimately resulting in his transformation into a monster. However, despite his newfound status, he found himself in disagreement with the goals of the Monster Association, creating a rift between them. Eventually, this conflict culminated in a resounding defeat at the hands of Monster King Orochi, which paradoxically only served to further augment Garou's strength.

Since his defeat at the hands of Orochi, Garou's strength has exponentially grown to the point where he has become a powerhouse capable of defeating even the strongest S-Class heroes and the toughest Dragon Level threats of the monster cadres. For a period of time, there was no one who could rival his power, except for Saitama, which eventually led to their legendary clash. Throughout the battle, Garou continuously grew stronger and evolved his forms, but ultimately, he was still no match for Saitama.

After the conclusion of the battle, Garou briefly encountered the enigmatic God, resulting in the activation of Cosmic Fear Mode. Upon accessing this transformative state and engaging Saitama in combat briefly, he utilized his mimicry ability to emulate Saitama and attain his most formidable form to date, referred to as the Saitama Mode. This allowed them to reach a state of equilibrium. However, even with this advancement, Garou's defeat was inevitable, as Saitama's exponential growth and unmatched power proved insurmountable.

Powers and Transformations

Garou's primary fighting style revolves around his unmatched martial arts skills. Having been trained in the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist by Bang, he has attained mastery in this technique and incorporates it into nearly all of his battles. Even when he assumes his human form as the Hero Hunter, Garou successfully employs this move to overcome formidable opponents like Tanktop Master, an S-Class Rank 15 hero, as well as the entire Tanktop gang.

Garou possesses a unique ability to mimic and adapt moves, allowing him to observe and flawlessly replicate any technique he sees. This skill enables him to effectively compete against opponents, even those who are more powerful. During his confrontation with Blast, Garou not only copied his gravity knuckle attack but also acquired Blast's mastery of portals and gravity manipulation. This was particularly significant as Blast employed these techniques in his battle against Saitama, whose moveset Garou had also previously assimilated to unlock his Saitama Mode.

Additionally, Garou exhibits various transformations and forms. As a human, his exceptional martial arts expertise enabled him to defeat some of the strongest heroes, already placing him at the S-Class level. After experiencing a frenzied state following his encounters with lower-tier heroes and battles against Bang and Bomb, Garou's power far surpassed that of his human form. In this heightened state, he demonstrated formidable ability by effectively battling Bang, Bomb, and Genos simultaneously.

Following his transfer to the Monster Association, Garou possessed crimson hair as he engaged in a battle against Orochi. Although he was ultimately defeated, a darkness began to radiate in a spiral pattern from the wound inflicted by Orochi's attack. As a result, many fans referred to this state as Spiral Garou. Remarkably powerful, this form proved capable of overpowering Superalloy Darkshine, the most resilient S-Class hero.

Subsequently, Garou emerged from the ruins of the Monster Association headquarters encased in a solid black shell, fully embodying his identity as Monster Garou. This form, recognized as his most iconic, achieved victories against both Bang and Bomb, constantly escalating in strength and speed. At its pinnacle, Garou swiftly incapacitated Platinum Sperm and Evil Natural Water in less than a single second. Ultimately, it was this state that led to the demise of Platinum Sperm and even Sage Centipede.

During his confrontation with Saitama, Garou underwent a dramatic and relentless monstrous transformation, expanding his ever-growing black exoskeleton to assume a progressively more horrific appearance. This intense battle showcased several new metamorphoses, each one evolving further, ultimately culminating in what enthusiasts have dubbed Gargoyle Garou. In this colossal form, Garou sprouted wings and manifested four arms, becoming the most formidable incarnation that had been witnessed up until that juncture. Despite wielding all of his previous formidable abilities, including the devastating "Massive Fa Jin" technique capable of obliterating mountains, Garou was ultimately overwhelmed by Saitama.

After his defeat, Garou received a divine vision and was briefly bestowed with God's power, transforming into Cosmic Fear Mode Garou. This elevated form surpassed even Blast's abilities and equaled the strength of Saitama. In their epic clash, Garou unlocked Saitama Mode, reaching the same level as his opponent, flawlessly imitating his deadly techniques and surpassing the speed of light. This ultimate form epitomized Garou's accumulated knowledge and extraordinary strength, yet he ultimately succumbed to Saitama's unbeatable rate of growth.

Presently, Garou undergoes rehabilitation under the guidance of Bang and has been reintegrated into his dojo. While his confident and audacious personality remains intact, he receives training to better control his immense power. With Bang's recent retirement from the S-Class, he envisions a reformed Garou taking his place in the esteemed Hero Association. Regardless of what the future holds for One Punch Man, it is truly refreshing to see Garou fighting on the side of justice.

One Punch Man is available to stream on Netflix & Hulu.