Concerning One-Punch Man's Allegedly Gay Character

One-Punch Man showcases a myriad of surprising characters, but two, in particular, have stirred controversy. Originating from ONE's crudely-drawn webcomic, the narrative of One-Punch Man is now a globally acclaimed anime and manga franchise, with art by Yusuke Murata. Subverting traditional Shonen and superhero archetypes, One-Punch Man centers on Saitama, a hero of unparalleled strength, yet he rarely receives the recognition and public acclaim he deserves.

At the heart of One-Punch Man, there's both a Heroes Association and a Monster Association; the characters in each sport some of anime's most eccentric, outlandish designs. The Monster Association, particularly, incorporates a figure dubbed Black Sperm, depicted precisely as its name suggests, and a dominatrix-esque character clad scantily who controls others using her whip. The heroes themselves are no more conventional. Pig God is a gigantic, constantly-eating glutton who consumes his foes entirely, while an entire team of heroes are uniquely defined by their affection for tank tops.

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While One-Punch Man's ensemble is renowned for being an unconventional group, some have proposed that two specific heroes may overstep boundaries: Puri-Puri Prisoner and Superalloy Darkshine. Both characters are alleged to perpetuate detrimental stereotypes, the first pertaining to homosexuality, and the second regarding racial stereotypes.

Puri-Puri Prisoner is essentially a substantial, muscular inmate who can leave jail whenever he desires, but elects to stay, because he enjoys the "companionship" of his male cellmates. A strong implication exists that Puri's relationships are not consensual, pressuring them to become part of his harem, and they eventually turn against their leader in retaliation for years of abuse. Several people have contended that Puri-Puri Prisoner is an overstated take on the archetypal, burly homosexual prisoner "don't drop the soap" caricature, and that the absence of more realistic gay characters in One-Punch Man means there's nothing to counter Puri's potentially offensive portrayal.

Comparable problems exist with Superalloy Darkshine. There are very few black characters in One-Punch Man (or, truth be told, anime generally), and Darkshine is alleged to be a stereotypical representation, that encompasses numerous historical prejudices related to blackface. This issue became more conspicuous when the character made his debut in One-Punch Man season 2 last year, and the series' global fan base responded negatively to the Darkshine (or "Blackluster" for TV) design, which they claimed was more offensive than in the original manga.

First and foremost, it's important to recognize that both characters are illustrative of problems not just in One-Punch Man, but across anime as a whole. Whether it's Bon Clay from One Piece or Mr. Popo from Dragon Ball Z, the art form possesses a checkered past in its depiction of race, gender, and sexuality. It's an unfortunate, uncomfortable truth that many anime enthusiasts delve into a new series almost expecting a deficit of racial diversity, over-sexualized female characters, and exaggeratedly camp portrayals of homosexuality. Yet, while some series have the advantage of age, One-Punch Man is a remarkably modern series that swiftly gained international acclaim.

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Part of the issue lies in a sharp contrast in social cultures between Japanese and Western audiences. For instance, Japanese fans are generally less concerned when white actors are cast as previously Asian characters (Ghost In The Shell, Death Note), whereas whitewashing is a central concern in Hollywood at the present. Japan encompasses a less racially diverse populace than the West and Europe, so it's arguably predictable that these issues are more pressing elsewhere. In addition, LBGT rights are advancing somewhat slower in Japan compared to Western nations, with same-sex marriage presently not legalized.

While the dissimilarity in cultures certainly is not an explanation for offensive stereotypes in One-Punch Man or any other anime, especially with the medium now very much catering for a worldwide audience, it perhaps does at least offer some degree of explanation as to why Puri-Puri Prisoner and Superalloy Darkshine, who assuredly wouldn't be tolerated in even the most mature Marvel or DC comic, exist. However, that is not to suggest the anime industry doesn't need to improve its representation, particularly as its global viewership continues to rise.

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