One-Punch Man Illustrator On Who'd Win Between Saitama And Goku

03/14/2017 12:51 am EDT

In the world of shonen anime, there is one fan-debate continues that refuses to die. Over the years, fans of both Dragon Ball and One-Punch Man continue to go rounds online where they spar between arguments. Since the latter anime made its debut, fans have been split over one simple argument: Could One-Punch Man defeat Son Goku in a battle? The question may appear easy, but anime fans have proved time and again that the scenario is a difficult one to assess.

And, now, the illustrator of One-Punch Man is commenting on the extended debacle.

Thanks to one Reddit user, a translation of a live-stream Yusuke Murata did recently has made its way online. It was during the stream that the manga artist whether Saitama could beat Goku in a fight. Here is what Murata had to say:

"I don't know."

Well, it seems like fans are back to square one then.

According to the translator's notes, Murata answered the question seriously, so it seems like the artist is split between the heroes and their power. However, his response is not an all-too surprising one; Murata is a diehard Dragon Ball fan after all.

In other streams, the illustrator has talked at length about what kind of inspiration he draws from Dragon Ball. "My kids love Dragon Ball," Murata told fans once. "I'll bring a copy back after I completed it, and tell him daddy drew Dragon Ball. It's truly amazing that people from all generations watch Dragon Ball."

For now, the debate over Saitama and Goku will have to continue as is. There's no denying that Goku is a formidable opponent. In anime, there are no other fighters are popular as Goku, and the Saiyan has a seemingly endless amount of energy at his disposal. However, when it comes to One-Punch Man, Saitama was created to parody powerful warriors like Goku by being laughably stronger than them all.

If you're not familiar with One-Punch Man, then you may want to check it on out. Created in 2009, the franchise began as a webcomic created by an author who uses the pseudyonym ONE.

One-Punch Man follows a hero named Saitama in a disaster-filled world. The character is known as the strongest superhero of Z-City since he can easily defeat anyone - or anything - with a single punch. However, Saitama misses the thrill of battle and becomes desperate to find a villain who can actually challenge him. One-Punch Man then tells the story of Saitama and his fellow heroes as they take on horrifying monsters, struggle to save the world, and gain recognition for their heroic efforts.

Fans flocked to the webcomic, so Shueisha adapted the series into a manga with ONE and Murata. The new story debuted in 2012, and Madhouse then used the manga as the basis for a One-Punch Man anime. The show, which debuted in 2015, was praised by fans and critics who enjoyed the show's action and parodic humor. The anime's popularity has helped One-Punch Man thrive over the past few years as its manga houses more than 65 chapters. Its U.S. debut put One-Punch Man on the New York Times Best-Sellers list, and it has even been nominated for an Eisner Award.

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