8 great superhero series that have nothing to do with Marvel or DC

One-Punch Man — Adult Swim, available on Hulu

And we’re back to superhero satire. This anime series takes place in a world where superheroes and villains are carefully cataloged and categorized by a complicated bureaucracy, headed up by a council of heroes with their own agendas. Powerful forces threaten the planet Earth, coming from as far away as distant space and as close as our own oceans. Schemes are hatched and empires toppled…but it doesn’t matter because lead character Saitama blasts through any and all combatants with a single punch, no matter strong they are or how carefully they lay their plans.

A lot of the fun of One-Punch Man comes from that anti-climax: a threat is built up over the course of an episode, it seems that nothing can stop certain disaster, and then…Saitama downs it with one punch. It’s surprising how this doesn’t get old. Saitama wants a challenge. He wants to test his mettle against an opponent truly worthy of him, but he can’t. He’s not just too strong; he’s way, way too strong, which leads him straight through the thrill of victory and out the other side to melancholy. When nothing presents any challenge to you, limitless power becomes…boring. Saitama has more trouble with an ordinary run to the grocery store than he does with the supervillain of the week, or even the season.

So far, the show has been able to wring a lot of heart and humor out of this premise, although it must be said that the first season is better than the second. Still, One-Punch Man is well worth checking out.