Summary
One-Punch Man reveals Speed-o’-Sound Sonic’s tragic past in Ninja Village, showing a more positive and heroic side of the character. Flashy Flash and Sonic connect in a flashback and both share a disdain for the way the Ninja Village operates, with Sonic dreaming of raising future ninjas in a kinder and fairer manner. The story adds depth to Sonic’s character, making him more than just a nasty villain but also raising questions about what drove him away from his previous heroic desires.
Warning: Spoilers for One-Punch Man Ch. #196 (JP)/Ch. #194 (EN)One of Man one punchThe world’s funniest villain, the ninja known as Speed-o’-Sound Sonic, has a Team Rocket-style determination to defeat Saitama, despite repeated defeats. However, this character has just been given more depth with the revelation of his tragic past in the Ninja Village.
In One-Punch Man chapter #196, Flashy-Flash and number one hero Blast end up discussing the Ninja Village where the former grew up, which turns out to be founded by Blast’s old partner, a ninja named Empty Void. Flashy Flash receives a challenge letter from Sonic, stating that the village founder has awakened and demands that Flashy Flash die. Sonic provides a location for them to meet and fight, and that location turns out to have some significance for Flashy Flash and Sonic.
This chapter switches to a brief flashback to when Flashy Flash and Sonic were both kids in the Ninja Village and reveals a surprising version of the goofy villain.
Sonic’s past isn’t as villainous as fans expected
In a flashback, Flashy Flash and Sonic connect, as they appear to be the only ones in the ninja training class who have retained their individual identities. Both seem to despise the way the Ninja Village operates and Sonic dreams of one day taking over the village and instead of forcing the children through brutal training, raise them in a kinder and fairer way.. He even has plans for a location where he wants to establish his new ninja village, which he eagerly shows off to Flashy Flash. It’s a much more positive, upbeat approach to Sonic than the version fans have come to know through One-Punch Man, proving he wasn’t always who he is today.
The plot between Flashy Flash and Sonic seems to be inspired by Naruto and is very similar to the founding of Konoha by Hashirama Senju and Madara Sasuke. Despite that similarity, the story still adds depth to Sonic’s character; He’s no longer simply an annoying villain who shows up to waste Saitama’s time. Instead of, Sonic once had positive, even heroic desires to save other orphans who were being subjected to cruel training. in Ninja Village. There was a time when Sonic cared about others, so what happened to him that eventually caused him to move away from that and become a villain?
For a character who started out suffering from an embarrassingly involuntary groin pain in his first appearance, it’s a surprising change in character to now give him a realistic and explanation of his condition. It’s unclear how much this story arc will further explore Sonic and Flashy Flash’s past, but as the two prepare to clash, it’s likely that fans will learn a little more about what drove Sonic to become become the person we are today. Speed-o’-Sound Sonic may still be a goofy character after it’s all over, but Man one punch did the character a great favor by providing him with a sympathetic past.
