SUMMARY
Garou continues to defeat Superalloy Darkshine. He slips past a strike from Darkshine and delivers a blow that makes the hero cough up blood. Garou taunts Darkshine who looks at him in fear. The narrative recounts Darkshin’s past. When Darkshine was a child, he was a fragile weakling, incapable of sports and other physical activities. His fragility did not allow him to build self-confidence. For his 15th birthday, his parents gave him a set of 3kg dumbbells. He lifted every day and gradually increased the weight until the amount he could lift was immeasurable. His progress built his confidence. He eventually joined the Hero Association and continued to search for an opponent who could push him to his limit.
As the Garou continue their attack, Darkshine realizes that he was never looking for a real fight. Rather, he was looking for a fight that could bring him a satisfying victory. The moment the thought of being hurt crosses Darkshine’s mind, a fear he had long since forgotten begins to rise and overwhelm him. He desperately strikes and knocks the Garou back, but the wounds are covered in dark spirals and the Garou instantly recovers. Garou kicks him in the stomach and follows up with a chain kick to pin him to the ground. He moves to punch Darkshine in the ears, but pulls back as the hero yelps in fear. Garou judges his attack to be akin to bullying, a pathetic evil compared to what he wants to become.
Suddenly the Garou’s knuckles begin to crack and dark marks on his body crawl towards his face. A psychic barrier created by Tatsumaki surrounds Darkshine and pulls him up as the ceiling collapses, leaving the Garou on the ground amidst the falling rubble. Rising higher, Darkshine tells the Garou to run. When he loses sight of the Garou, he hangs his head in shame.
REVIEW
Chapter 129 of One Punch Man delivers an exciting and suspenseful turn of events, introducing readers to a new enemy that poses a significant challenge to our beloved heroes. The chapter effectively builds anticipation and intrigue as the Hero Association unveils the existence of the Dark Order and their creation of powerful monsters. The pacing of the chapter is well-executed, shifting smoothly between the emergency meeting, the flashback, and Saitama’s nonchalant participation. It captures the essence of the series, blending intense action with humor and subtle character development. Saitama’s carefree attitude provides a refreshing contrast to the seriousness of the situation, adding a lighthearted touch that fans have come to appreciate.
The artwork continues to impress, with detailed illustrations that bring the monsters and characters to life. The action sequences are dynamic and visually stunning, showcasing the prowess of both heroes and villains alike. The panel layouts effectively convey the tension and suspense, further enhancing the reading experience. The introduction of the Dark Order and their artificial monsters adds a new layer of complexity to the story, expanding the overarching narrative beyond individual encounters with villains. This development hints at deeper conspiracies and raises the stakes for our heroes, ensuring that readers will be eagerly anticipating the next chapter. Overall, Chapter 129 of One Punch Man excels in delivering an engaging storyline and captivating artwork. It successfully sets the stage for an epic battle between the Hero Association and the Dark Order’s formidable monsters, leaving readers excited for what’s to come.