Overview |
| — Sonic's view of heroes[1] |
Speed-o'-Sound Sonic (音速のソニック, Onsoku no Sonikku), more commonly called Sonic (ソニック, Sonikku), is a recurring villain and occasional anti-hero. He first appeared as a bodyguard hired by Zeniru.[5] He is a former member of the 44th Graduation Class of the Ninja Village, nicknamed The End (終わり, Owari; Viz: The Final).[6] Sonic is also a self-declared eternal rival of Saitama.[7]
Appearance[]
Sonic is a slim young man. His long black hair is normally tied up in a topknot, and bangs fall over his face. A noticeable feature of his is the purple marks underneath his large gray eyes. He usually wears a tight black latex bodysuit highlighted by metal plating on his shins, arms, shoulders, chest, and waist, as well as a long purple scarf that falls to his legs. During his fight with Genos, Genos ripped his scarf and tore off his topknot, leaving the ninja with short hair.[8] In the manga, when Sonic later appears during the fight between Saitama and Tatsumaki, he is seen with his long purple scarf and long hair again.[9]
Personality[]
Sonic excited to test his skills on Saitama
Despite his normally calm demeanor, Sonic loves fighting, as he is motivated by bloodlust against weak opponents, the thrill of battle and his superiority against strong opponents he can beat, as well as competition against a strong opponent he can't beat. Sonic has a large ego; when he sets his mind to killing someone, he refuses to give up until he succeeds and is unwilling to tolerate the existence of someone more capable who has defeated him. Sonic has no regards for human life other than his own, and even takes pride in the fact that he has never let an opponent live.[10] To that end, he holds considerable disdain for the world, being quite cynical, especially towards heroes. This is shown when he meets Genos for the first time, he tells him that heroes can neither win against a truly strong opponent nor can they truly protect anything.
Despite the way he presents himself, Sonic has a soft side, as seen when he trains to fight against Saitama. During this period, he spent a great deal of time with Frank, a hunter who had almost been killed by a bear and confides with him his inner turmoil. While he is pacing himself, Speed-o-Sound finds and befriends a little piglet as well, naming it Ino, thus showing his more noble side. When Sonic leaves to search for Saitama, he gives his words of wisdom to Frank, saying that if he is too confident in his fighting style and loses, the result will always be the same. It is unclear as to how far this side of him goes to, as he was willing to warn Genos of the Deep Sea King, yet fought him when Genos interfered with his battle with Saitama.
Due to constantly losing to Saitama, Sonic is shown willing to do anything, even trading his own humanity, to defeat him by becoming a monster through the consumption of a Monster Cell provided by Gale Wind and Hellfire Flame.[11] Sonic also respects Saitama for fighting monsters and even promised to himself to never fight Saitama while the hero is fighting monsters. He holds a very negative view of the Hero Association and some S-Class heroes after observing how they treat a powerful hero like Saitama like a low-ranked and worthless hero because of his looks. Ironically, he is also rather judgmental as he assumes Tatsumaki exploits her childish cuteness and that those with benign appearances are weaker than himself, displayed in his fight against Saitama and Kamikaze.[12]
In his youth, Sonic was a passionate boy who strove for a better life and did not allow the torturous training of the Ninja Village to turn him into a machine. He wanted to become the highest-ranking officer of the Ninja Village to change the institution and allow the trainees to live more freely.[13] He expressed that the true value lies in living freely and hoped that Flash would support his dreams.
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
Sonic's disdain for heroes appears to stem from an incident at the Village nine years ago, when Blast arrived to eliminate the hidden sect, massacring all of the Class 5 ninjas regardless of their age. Sonic was able to escape thanks to being the strongest in the group, although the experience was rather traumatizing as it changed his perception of the world and heroes.[14] He believes that the moniker of "hero" isn't really suited for anyone, feeling none are worthy of such a lofty title. Furthermore, Sonic feels what the hero industry does isn't at all different from what the assassination business of the Ninja Village did, with heroes merely acting as though they do it for the greater good.
Sonic greatly loathes individuals who think highly of themselves because they are more powerful, often touting it as incentive to be self-righteous jerks.[14] He even expresses his deep disgust and dismay at the Hero Association and the Neo Heroes, saying that they have become more corrupt than the criminal underworld, and that they recruit degenerates, while the former strikes deals with ne'er-do-wells and psychopaths as a means to an end.[15]
Abilities and Powers[]
As a veteran ninja and assassin, Sonic excels in ninja weaponry, possesses remarkable speed, and is adept at hiding his presence. Fubuki comments that Sonic's combat prowess is that of an S-Class individual.[4] However, he was rather helpless against Dragon-level monsters, as seen in his fights with Gale Wind, Hellfire Flame, and Energiser. After each defeat by Saitama, Sonic dedicates himself to intense training, resulting in significant improvements in his capabilities. He now stands capable of holding his own against Flashy Flash, a powerful S-Class hero, and withstanding two of the hero's most powerful techniques. Additionally, while fighting alongside Flash, Sonic proved strong enough to eliminate all 21 members of the Heavenly Ninja Party.
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
As a child, Sonic was relatively weak compared to other ninjas, always placed in the lowest class and unable to progress despite receiving intense training in Class 5. However, he revealed that, similar to Flash, he feigned weakness to endure the harshest training.[16] With the Legendary Demon Blade, he could easily defeat Shunpo, a Dragon-level threat and Machine God battle robot created by The Organization.
Physical Abilities[]
Sonic dodging Deep Sea King's attacks
Immense Speed and Reflexes: Sonic possesses superhuman speed and agility. When confronting the Paradisers, he was capable of easily moving faster than they could react, and decapitating every single member of the group apart from their leader Hammerhead, in only mere moments.[17] He was also able to easily dodge all attacks from Deep Sea King, a Demon-level monster capable of outmaneuvering A-Class heroes with ease, only having difficulty when the sea monster entered its true form.[18] During his fight with Genos, an S-Class hero, Sonic was capable of keeping up with the cyborg in combat, their movements being too fast for Fubuki to perceive.[19]
Over time, Sonic underwent significant strengthening and increased speed thanks to his fights with Saitama and consistent training. This was shown when was able to keep up with Flash, a hero renowned for his exceptional speed, during a brief battle, managing to react to and defend against two of the hero's ultimate techniques.[20][21]
Enhanced Strength: Despite his thin build, Sonic is stronger than the average human. He was able to dislocate Base B's shoulder and incapacitate Special Moves Mile with no apparent effort.[22]
Enhanced Durability: Sonic's durability is greater than the average human's. He withstood Base B's shoulder and dislocated the prisoner's shoulder in turn.[22] During a brief fight with Flash, he was capable of enduring a lot of punches from the fellow ninja and getting back up without severe injuries.
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
He also withstood Brawny Muscle's special punch, who can be considered the Heavenly Ninja Party's physically strongest member. He credited this durability to having experienced Saitama's attacks over a dozen times.
Fighting Style[]
Ninjutsu Master: Sonic is a master of ninjutsu and has knowledge of various deadly techniques.
- Full Frontal Attack (正面からまっすぐに狩る, Shōmen kara massugu ni karu): Sonic takes a low stance and rushes forward at speeds that make him impossible to be seen. The effect of this attack is not known because it was interrupted by Hammerhead.[23]
Wind Blade Kick
- Wind Blade Kick (風刃脚, Fū Jin Kyaku): Sonic flips forward multiple times extremely quickly and uses his momentum to deliver a kick to his opponent.[24]
- Hail of Carnage (殺戮乱陣, Satsuriku Ran-jin): Sonic throws a hail of Exploding Shuriken, causing destruction to his surroundings.[25]
- Exploding Shuriken Ferocious Barrage (爆裂手裏剣猛襲陣, Bakuretsu Shuriken Mōshū-jin): Sonic throws a barrage of Homing Exploding Shuriken that chase down and explode upon impact with his target.
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
- Two Shadows Burial (二影葬, Niei-sō): Sonic creates two afterimages.
- Sonic Heavy Barrage (音速重連拳, Onsoku Jūren Ken): Sonic delivers multiple punches to his opponent.
- Four Shadows Burial (四影葬, Shiei-sō; Viz: Fourfold Funeral): Sonic creates four afterimages using a special movement technique.[26]
- Scattered Flash Slash (散閃斬, Sansenzan): Used in a conjunction with Four Shadows Burial; Sonic attacks his opponent with his four afterimages. This was used against Genos. However, the effectiveness of the attack is unknown, as Saitama interrupted before Sonic could hit the cyborg.[27]
Sonic performs Ten Shadows Burial
- Ten Shadows Burial (十影葬, Jūei-sō; Viz: Tenfold Funeral): A technique that Sonic has developed to defeat Saitama. He refers to this as his ultimate technique.[28] Upon using the Ten Shadows Burial, Sonic creates ten afterimages and reaches super-supersonic speeds.[29]
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
- Thirteen Shadows Burial (十三影葬, Jūsan-ei-sō): Sonic creates thirteen afterimages using a special movement technique.[30]
- Serious Side Hops (マジ反復横とび, Maji Hanpukuyokotobi): Sonic can perform an inferior imitation of Saitama's killer move, Serious Side Hops. Sonic hops from side-to-side rapidly. Doing so creates a multitude of afterimages in the form of a wall. Sonic then charges at his opponent, however, the resulting shock wave was not strong enough to take down any members of the Heavenly Ninja Party and left Sonic exhausted.
- Speed of Sound Electric Discharge Fist (音速放雷拳, Onsoku Hōrai Ken): Sonic extends his finger and pokes his opponents on the head, unleashing powerful shots of electricity and killing them.[31] This move managed to easily kill all the Neo Heroes sent to eliminate him despite possessing their battle suits.
Equipment[]
Sonic's Ninja Weapon arsenal
Ninja Weaponry: Sonic uses a variety of ninja-based weaponry in combat.
- Ninjatō: Sonic's primary weapon. The sword has a straight blade and a hilt and is sheathed in a black scabbard. It is extremely sharp and capable of cutting through bone.[32]
- Kunai: Sonic carries a number of kunai and is exceptionally skilled in their usage.[32]
- Mizugumo (水蜘蛛): Literally translated to "Water Spider", wooden sandals used to walk on water.
- Exploding Shuriken (爆裂手裏剣, Bakuretsu shuriken): Shuriken that explode upon impact.[33]
- Homing Exploding Shuriken (ホーミング爆裂手裏剣, Hōmingu Bakuretsu Shuriken): Shuriken that home onto a target and explode upon impact.[34]
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
- Lightning Wrapped Dragon Guided Widespread Exploding Giant Shuriken (雷纏龍導拡域炸裂大手裏剣, Raiden Ryūdō Kakuiki Sakuretsu Dai Shuriken): Giant shuriken that can discharge electricity to shock and electrocute the opponents in Sonic's vicinity.[30]
- Katana: Saitama stole two katanas from the Ninja Village Leader called Legendary Demon Swords (伝説妖刀, Densetsu Yōtō) and gave one each to Sonic and Flash.
- Smokescreen Shuriken (煙幕手裏剣, Enmaku shuriken): Shuriken that leave a trail of smoke. Sonic uses them to conceal his position.[35]
Miscellaneous Abilities[]
Culinary Skills: Sonic appears to possess some level of culinary skill, as shown when he cooks a monster cell as his fancy dinner.[36]
Quotes[]
- (To Frank) "If you are too confident in your fighting style but lose, the result will always be the same."[37]
- (Referring to Saitama) "Whenever I face you, I cannot picture myself winning for some reason. Unless I defeat you and wipe out this thought, I cannot move on."[38]
- (While holding a monster cell) "It will cost me my humanity, but... the moment I lost to that guy... it was the same as dying. I don't have any reason to continue living as I am..."[39]
- (To Flashy Flash) "I have a dream for the future. I'm going to climb to the top of management and take over the village. I'm going to destroy the organizational structure... and raise orphans who had the same circumstances as us in a more free and open environment. Assassination techniques are useless for anything but killing people. What I think has true value... is the power to live life as you please. We don't have that right now."[40]
Trivia[]
- Sonic is ranked 3rd in the character popularity poll.
- Sonic's prisoner number was 4188.[41][22]
- ONE has said that Sonic with a weapon could have defeated the Deep Sea King pre-rain form.[42]
- ONE stated that a fight between Sonic and Genos would end in a draw.[42]
- As proof of this statement, when Genos and Sonic fight it ends in a draw, although technically Saitama intervened in this battle, preventing it from being settled.[19]
- Sonic buys his weapons from a weapon shop.[43]
- Sonic's black lines under his eyes are a reference to an American football player and are inspired by Eyeshield 21, another manga by Yusuke Murata.[43]
- It has been stated by Murata that Sonic is faster than the S-Class hero Metal Bat.[44]
- Murata revealed during a stream that Sonic and Flashy Flash are "somewhat" related. Chapters 78 and 98 later confirmed this directly, revealing that the two were from the Ninja Village's 44th graduation class, "The End." [45]
- In the 2017 One-Punch Man Halloween cover,[46] Sonic is depicted as a black cat, possibly a reference to the Bakeneko and therefore matching the depiction of Flashy Flash as a feline mythological creature.
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
- Further information in webcomic chapters 114-116 reveals that during their class graduation, Flashy Flash killed all the other members of his class, but Sonic was sick and spared from death by Flash as both of them were friends.
- Sonic is the one who taught Flashy Flash how to use a sword.
References[]
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 25, page 55, and Episode 8
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 21, page 1
- ↑ One-Punch Man Season 2 PV1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 44, page 32
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 12, page 20-21, and Episode 4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 78, page 13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 15, page 8, and Episode 4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 44, page 7-8, 14-16
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 181 (Online), page 10
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 12, page 23
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 78, and Episode 21
- ↑ One-Punch Man Audio Book; Sonic, Becoming Saitama
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 115, page 6
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 118, page 12
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 132, page 4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 117, page 16
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 13, and Episode 4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 25, and Episode 8
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 44, and Episode 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 116
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 197 (Online)
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 One-Punch Man Manga; Prison
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 13, page 19
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 15, page 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 19, page 21
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 44, page 21-22
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 44, page 22
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 44, page 30-31, and Episode 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Encyclopedia; One-Punch Man: Hero Encyclopedia, page 173
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 148
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 132, page 7
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 13, page 6
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 19, page 19
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 104, page 13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Sense
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 78, page 39
- ↑ One-Punch Man OVA; The Ninja Who is Too Complicated
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 44, page 33
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 78, page 24
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 197 (Online), page 23-24
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 24, page 22
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 One-Punch Man Interview; Niconico Interview
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 One-Punch Man Interview; One Punch-Man: Hero Encyclopedia Q&A
- ↑ One-Punch Man Stream; 12/12/2015
- ↑ One-Punch Man Stream; Early 2016
- ↑ tonarinoyj.hatenablog.com
[]
| Villains | |
|---|---|
| S-Class | Gale Wind • Hellfire Flame • Speed-o'-Sound Sonic |
| A-Class | Big Iron • Bull-Bull • Serial Bomber |
| B-Class | Hyaha Axe |
| C-Class | Banero • Don Pacino • Pacino Family |
| Ex-Villains | Dr. Genus • Hammerhead • Men's Esthetician Man |
| Undetermined Class | Aburabozu • Apollo • Base B • Brut • Burigura • Calf-Calf • Chemonille • Chimagusa • Coalition of Assassins • Cow-Cow • Cow's Stomach • Demolition John • Devil Storm • Enjoe • Fukegao • Garou • Harold • Iron Fist • Paradise Group • Smelly Lid Old Man • Special Moves Mile • The Mediocre Ability Users • Tsukuyomi • Tsukuyomi Spy |
| Ninjas | |
|---|---|
| Heroes | Flashy Flash • Shadow Ring |
| Villains | Gale Wind • Hellfire Flame • Speed-o'-Sound Sonic |