Anime

English Dub Review: One Punch Man “Counterattack Signal”

By David King

December 22, 2025

OverviewThe heroes prepare for battle without Silverfang and Genos. Garou attacks the Monster Association…Our Take Picking up from the previous episode, this chapter leans firmly into setup, reintroducing major players within the Hero Association and reinforcing Garou’s importance moving forward. His presence gives the episode its strongest sense of direction, while the surrounding exposition works to position the arc rather than push it forward. The mix of seriousness and comedy remains uneven, with abrupt tonal shifts that disrupt flow, though the sound design continues to stand out as one of the episode’s more reliable elements.Much of the proceedings is dialogue-heavy, prioritizing character placement and planning over action. A few comedic group moments help break up the stiffness, but the pacing often feels padded, stretching scenes longer than necessary. While the animation and direction still lack polish, there are small signs of improvement compared to earlier entries, making the episode feel more stable even if it remains visually restrained.Overall, this is a transitional episode that does just enough to keep momentum alive while setting expectations for what lies ahead. It may frustrate viewers craving spectacle, but it succeeds in reinforcing character dynamics and building anticipation. While the execution still falls short of the series’ best, the foundation is solid enough to justify cautious optimism as the arc prepares to shift into higher gear.