English Dub Review: One Punch Man “Counterstrike”

Overview

Heroes arrive in Z City but face a monster ambush. A-class aids while Gyoro-Gyoro watches the fight.


Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, we now get an installment that puts a spotlight on the mid-tier heroes and sets the stage for the S-Class, blending monster skirmishes, character quirks, and some humor. The animation remained uneven, leaning heavily on still frames, speedlines, and minimal backgrounds, which made many fights feel stiff, though creative character designs and punchy sound effects kept things entertaining. Small highlights like Atomic Samurai’s precision, Captain Mizuki’s showcase, and the antics of Class A and B heroes added charm despite the production shortcuts.

The S-Class heroes stole the spotlight, easily outmatching the monsters and emphasizing the power gap, while Gyoro-Gyoro’s looming presence kept tension alive. Comedic beats and interactions between the heroes helped balance the episode, giving it personality even when the action lacked fluidity. Though the fights were visually inconsistent, the episode still managed to convey stakes, scale, and a sense of looming conflict.

Overall, this episode serves as a setup-heavy bridge, introducing key heroes, showcasing minor skirmishes, and mapping out the hierarchy and scale of the monster threat. Despite inconsistent animation, it remains engaging through character moments, humor, and hints of S-Class involvement, effectively establishing context, stakes, and personalities while teasing larger confrontations yet to come without giving away major plot points.