# Who is Blast? The definitive guide to Blast, One-Punch Man‘s mysterious No. 1 hero. We cover his confirmed identity, powers, history, and crucial connection to ‘God.’
Ngetrenz – Picture the S-Class of the Hero Association: a gathering of the planet’s most powerful, bizarre, and often dysfunctional protectors. You have a telekinetic powerhouse who can twist cities into pretzels, a martial arts legend who can shatter mountains, and a cyborg whose dedication to upgrades is matched only by his loyalty.
Yet, for the longest time, the seat at the very top—S-Class Rank 1—remained conspicuously empty. This wasn’t just a vacant spot; it was a legend. It belonged to Blast, a figure spoken of only in whispers, the supposed ultimate line of defense who was, paradoxically, never around. The mystery was tantalizing: Where was he? Was he even real? For years, fans debated and theorized, trying to piece together the puzzle of who is Blast.
This article is your definitive deep dive. We’re pulling back the curtain on the enigma that is the One-Punch Man number 1 hero. Using every piece of canonical evidence from the manga, we’ll explore his true identity, unpack his reality-bending powers, reveal the secret cosmic war he’s been fighting for decades, and answer the ultimate question: who is Blast, OPM’s Number 1 Hero?
This article contains massive spoilers for the One-Punch Man manga, including events from the Monster Association arc, the Cosmic Garou fight, and the Ninja Village Leader arc. Proceed with caution if you are not caught up!
The Man, The Myth, The First Appearance
Before he was a name on a screen or a figure stepping out of a portal, Blast was a foundational concept in the world of heroes. His story begins long before the Hero Association even existed, and his eventual debut would change the scope of the series forever.
A Hero Before the Association
Long before the Hero Association was founded by the millionaire Agoni, Blast was already a legend. He was active as a hero for over a decade, a lone figure fighting threats in a world that hadn’t yet formalized its defense systems. He wasn’t just another super-powered individual; he was the hero, the one who set the standard. This pre-existing reputation is precisely why he was immediately and unanimously placed at S-Class Rank 1 when the Association was formed. He was a symbolic figurehead, the legendary hero who would only appear when humanity was truly in peril.
What’s truly shocking, however, is his core philosophy. In a quiet moment, Blast reveals a motivation that is eerily similar to Saitama’s. He states that he has a “proper job” and that being a hero is “more of a hobby”. This isn’t just a casual remark; it’s a thematic cornerstone of One-Punch Man. This shared mindset suggests that the greatest power in this universe isn’t born from a desire for fame, wealth, or even a sense of duty. Instead, it seems to stem from an intrinsic, pure, and personal drive. This philosophy may be the very thing that makes them incorruptible.
The entity known as ‘God’ offers power in exchange for servitude, preying on the ambitions and despair of its targets. By treating their heroism as a personal hobby, both Saitama and Blast are fundamentally immune to this kind of manipulation. Their power is their own, not a gift tied to an external system that ‘God’ can exploit.
The Flashback Reveal (Chapter 135)
For years, fans wondered when the Blast first appearance manga chapter would finally arrive. It came in a moment of profound vulnerability. During the chaotic climax of the Monster Association arc, Tatsumaki, the S-Class Rank 2 hero, lies defeated and unconscious after her cataclysmic battle with Psykos. Her mind drifts back 18 years to a traumatic memory: being held captive in a research facility, abandoned by her captors as a monster rampaged.
It is here, in this flashback in Chapter 135, that we get our first full, canonical look at Blast. He appears in a flash, effortlessly slaying the beast that threatened her, and delivers the words that would forge her entire worldview. He tells her, “When the time comes, don’t go thinking someone will save you,” and crucially, reminds her that she has a family—a sister—that she must protect. This pivotal moment explains everything about the Tatsumaki and Blast relationship; it’s the origin of her fierce, almost pathological independence and her complicated, overprotective love for her sister, Fubuki.
This advice, however, carries a deeper, more tragic weight. Knowing that Blast has been fighting a secret, lonely war against a cosmic entity for two decades re-contextualizes his words entirely. He wasn’t just giving her a generic, tough-love platitude. He was imparting his own lived reality. He is the ultimate savior for humanity against ‘God’, yet he operates in total secrecy, with no one to save him. His advice was a projection of his own burden and profound isolation, painting a portrait of a hero far more complex than just a “cool number 1 hero.”
The Present-Day Debut (Chapter 139)
After the flashback, Blast’s true debut in the present timeline was just as dramatic. In the rubble-strewn aftermath of the Monster Association raid, Saitama, Flashy Flash, and the monster Manako stumble upon a mysterious, humming black cube. As they puzzle over it, reality itself seems to bend, and Blast emerges from a swirling dimensional portal.
His entrance is a masterclass in narrative efficiency. He immediately recognizes the cube, refers to it as a “communication device,” and addresses the ominous presence of ‘God’ connected to it. In these few panels, the series confirms that Blast is not just another Earth-bound hero dealing with monsters. He is a cosmic warrior engaged in a conflict on a scale previously unimaginable. The myth had finally become a man, and he brought with him the true endgame of One-Punch Man.
The Cosmic Arsenal: Deconstructing Blast’s Powers
Blast’s position as the One-Punch Man number 1 hero isn’t just based on reputation; it’s backed by a set of abilities so powerful they operate on the fundamental laws of physics. The full scope of the Blast powers and abilities is still being revealed, but what we’ve seen so far places him in a league of his own.
Master of Space-Time
This is Blast’s signature power. He can manipulate the very fabric of space-time, allowing him to create portals for instantaneous travel across vast distances and even between dimensions. This isn’t just for getting around; it’s a formidable combat tool. During his brief but stunning clash with Cosmic Garou, starting in Chapter 166, Blast demonstrated this by creating a rapid succession of portals around Garou, using them to land inescapable blows and redirect Garou’s own devastating attacks. He can also create “Hyperspace Gates” to trap opponents or move them to other dimensions, a tactic he attempted on Garou and later used against his former partner, Empty Void.
Gravity Manipulation
Complementing his control over space is his mastery of gravity. This power is most clearly showcased through his “Gravity Knuckles” attack, where he channels immense gravitational force into his fists to damage and immobilize incredibly durable foes like Cosmic Garou. This ability also explains how he can casually handle the mysterious God Cubes, which are described as being incredibly dense and heavy, even leaving craters when dropped. His suit and gauntlets seem to be the focus for these powers, allowing him to manipulate one of the universe’s fundamental forces at will.
Superhuman Physicality and Other Abilities
Beyond his exotic powers, Blast possesses physical attributes that are off the charts, even by S-Class standards.
- Speed: He is demonstrably faster than Flashy Flash, a hero whose entire identity is built on speed. Blast appeared behind him so quickly that Flashy Flash couldn’t even perceive his movement.
- Strength & Durability: He was able to trade blows with Cosmic Garou, a being empowered by ‘God’ who could contend with Saitama. With the help of his team, he was able to redirect the combined energy of Saitama and Garou’s “Serious Punch Squared,” an attack that would have obliterated the Earth. Furthermore, he is completely immune to the lethal radiation emitted by Garou’s cosmic form.
- Psychic Resistance/Awareness: During his first meeting with a young Tatsumaki, he seemed to instantly grasp her immense psychic potential, hinting at some form of extrasensory perception or awareness.
This entire suite of Blast powers and abilities seems almost perfectly tailored for his mission. ‘God’ is a being trapped in another dimension that influences reality through its avatars and communication cubes. A simple brute-force hero would be useless against such a threat. Blast’s powers—dimensional travel, portal manipulation, and gravity control—are the perfect toolkit for this specific enemy. He can traverse the dimensions where ‘God’ is sealed, collect the cubes that act as ‘God’s’ communication lines, and directly counter the reality-warping attacks of ‘God’s’ champions. This suggests his abilities may have been acquired or developed specifically for this cosmic war, making him the OPM’s Number 1 Hero not just by raw strength, but by strategic necessity.
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The Secret War: Blast’s 20-Year Crusade Against ‘God’
The reason for Blast’s long absence is the single most important piece of his story: he has been fighting a secret, lonely war for two decades to protect a humanity that is completely unaware of the true threat it faces. The Blast vs God OPM conflict is the central, overarching plot of the series.
The Enemy Known as ‘God’
The entity known simply as ‘God’ is the ultimate antagonist of One-Punch Man. It is a malevolent, trans-dimensional being that appears to be sealed away, seeking to wipe out humanity for unknown reasons. Its primary method of attack is not direct assault, but temptation. It offers immense power to individuals in moments of desperation, ambition, or despair, twisting them into monstrous pawns to carry out its will. We’ve seen its handiwork in characters like Homeless Emperor, Psykos, and most terrifyingly, Cosmic Garou, all of whom were granted world-ending power through a dark bargain.
The Mission: Collecting the God Cubes
For the past 20 years, Blast’s primary mission has been to scour the universe for mysterious black cubes. These “God Cubes” are not weapons, but two-way communication devices that allow ‘God’ to speak to and influence beings in our dimension. Blast’s quest is essentially a cosmic game of keep-away on an unimaginable scale. By finding and securing these cubes, he is cutting ‘God’s’ lines of communication, preventing it from corrupting more individuals and gaining a stronger foothold in reality. This war is fundamentally an ideological one; he isn’t just punching monsters, he’s fighting to preserve free will and stop them from ever being created in the first place.
The First Encounter (Chapter 173)
The official start of the direct Blast vs God OPM conflict was revealed in a pivotal flashback during Sitch’s exposition in Chapter 173. Two years before the main story, Blast was engaged in a fierce battle with the Dragon-level threat Elder Centipede. In the midst of the fight, ‘God’ itself appeared and offered Blast its power. Blast’s unequivocal refusal marked the moment he declared himself an enemy of the entity. The prominent scar on his face is heavily implied to be a result of the confrontation that followed. This moment is crucial, as it proves Blast’s immense willpower and solidifies his role as humanity’s true protector on a scale no other hero can comprehend.
The Dimensional Seal
This cosmic war revolves around a concept known as the “Dimensional Seal”—a barrier that keeps ‘God’ trapped in its dimension. Blast and his team dedicate their efforts to maintaining this seal. The apocalyptic battle between Saitama and Cosmic Garou generated so much raw energy that it threatened to weaken the seal, which is why Blast had to intervene so dramatically.
This single act highlights the incredible stakes he manages daily. For years, Blast was likely the only major power signature on ‘God’s’ radar. However, when Saitama broke his limiter, he created an unprecedented beacon of power on Earth. This may explain the sudden escalation in monster threats and ‘God’s’ more direct interventions. Saitama’s very existence has likely accelerated the timeline of ‘God’s’ plans, forcing Blast’s secret war out of the shadows.
Allies and Adversaries on a Cosmic Scale
For all his talk of not needing a savior, Blast is not entirely alone in his fight. He has gathered a team of powerful beings and made a powerful enemy, expanding the cast of One-Punch Man to a galactic scale.
The “Blast Force”: An Interdimensional Justice League
Blast is the leader of a mysterious nine-member team dedicated to fighting ‘God’. While most members remain unnamed, we have seen a few: an elf-like woman with a crystal ball, a massive anthropomorphic lion-man, and most shockingly, a warrior from the exact same species as the alien tyrant Boros.
This has given rise to one of the most popular fan theories: that Blast’s team is composed of heroic, alternate-universe versions of villains that Saitama has defeated. The Boros-like member (nicknamed “Boris” by fans) and the lion-man (a potential heroic Beast King) are the prime pieces of evidence for this “multiverse” theory. This team of cosmic heroes assists Blast in his mission to collect the God Cubes and maintain the dimensional seal.
Empty Void: The Fallen Partner
The most significant figure in Blast’s past is Empty Void, the leader of the Ninja Village. He was once Blast’s trusted partner in the hunt for the God Cubes. However, Empty Void was eventually corrupted by ‘God’s’ influence, leading to a tragic confrontation where Blast was forced to defeat his friend, leaving him in a coma for 15 years. Now, Empty Void has awakened, further empowered by absorbing the residual cosmic energy from the Saitama vs. Garou fight. He has become a primary antagonist, a living embodiment of Blast’s greatest failure, forcing the hero to confront his past on the battlefield.
To better understand Blast’s journey and impact on the story, here is a consolidated timeline of his major feats and appearances in the manga:
| Manga Chapter(s) | Event / Context | Abilities Demonstrated | Narrative Significance |
| Ch. 135, 137 | Flashback: Rescues a young Tatsumaki. | Superhuman strength (destroys monster easily), potential psychic awareness. | Establishes his long history as a hero and his foundational influence on Tatsumaki’s character. |
| Ch. 139 | Present-Day Debut: Appears before Saitama & Flashy Flash. | Dimensional portal creation, senses ‘God’s’ influence from the cube. | Confirms his existence, reveals his cosmic mission, and introduces the God Cubes. |
| Ch. 166-168 | Intervenes in the Saitama vs. Cosmic Garou fight. | Gravity Knuckles, Hyperspace Gates (offensive portals), extreme speed, durability, energy redirection. | First major combat display, showcasing the sheer scale of his power and his role in protecting the Dimensional Seal. |
| Ch. 173 | Flashback: Sitch’s exposition of Blast vs. Elder Centipede. | (Implied) Immense power, willpower to refuse ‘God’. | Reveals the origin of his war with ‘God’ and his true motives for being absent. |
| Ch. 195 onwards | Confronts the awakened Empty Void. | Portal manipulation, energy negation, advanced combat tactics. | Expands on his personal history and shows him fighting a peer-level threat with shared powers. |
The Biggest Fan Theories: Connecting the Dots
A character as mysterious as Blast is bound to generate countless fan theories. While many have been debunked by his official appearance, a few compelling ideas still dominate community discussions.
The Ultimate Question: Is Blast the Mad Cyborg?
This is perhaps the most popular and dramatic theory surrounding Blast. It posits that he is secretly the “Mad Cyborg” that destroyed Genos’s hometown and family, the very being Genos has dedicated his life to destroying.
- The Case FOR: The arguments for this theory are mostly circumstantial but narratively compelling. Blast’s armor has a somewhat old-school, robotic look, and his long, unexplained absence leaves room for a dark secret. The plot twist would be staggering, turning Genos’s quest for revenge into a tragic irony and creating a deep, personal conflict for one of the series’ main characters.
- The Case AGAINST: The canonical evidence strongly refutes this theory. Blast’s established powers are dimensional and gravity-based, with no hint of cybernetics. Furthermore, the S-Class hero Drive Knight has already explicitly told Genos that Metal Knight is his true enemy, making him the far more likely culprit.
- Verdict: While it’s an incredibly juicy and dramatic idea, there is currently no concrete evidence to support the theory that Blast is the Mad Cyborg. It remains one of the fandom’s favorite “what ifs.”
The Heir to the Mission: Blast’s Son, Blue
In the original webcomic, a new hero group called the Neo Heroes emerges, led by a young man named Blue who claims to be Blast’s son. While this has yet to be fully integrated into the manga, it opens up fascinating possibilities. Some fans theorize that Blast’s high-tech suit may actually be a power limiter to keep his immense abilities in check, and that his son Blue wears a similar, albeit less powerful, version. This would connect Blast to a major future arc and introduce themes of legacy and inherited responsibility.
The Hero the Universe Needs
So, after all the mystery and speculation, who is Blast? He is far more than just the OPM’s Number 1 Hero by rank; he holds that title because of the immense responsibility he carries. He is a man fighting a lonely, multi-decade war on a cosmic scale, driven not by fame or glory, but by a personal sense of duty that mirrors Saitama’s own simple desire to be a hero “for a hobby.” He is the gatekeeper to the final act of One-Punch Man.
As the story inevitably moves towards its endgame with ‘God’ as the likely final villain, Blast’s role will only become more central. The narrative has already laid the groundwork for his and Saitama’s paths to converge. The fact that Saitama has demonstrated the same rare ability to interact with dimensional portals is no coincidence; it’s a clear sign that he is destined to join this cosmic war.
The most anticipated development in the series is no longer just seeing Saitama find a good fight, but seeing him stand alongside Blast against a threat to all of reality. With an enemy like ‘God’ looming, is even Blast’s incredible power enough, or will it ultimately take a hero who can break any and every limit to save existence itself?
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Summary of Who is Blast? Everything We Know About OPM’s Number 1 Hero
- Identity and History: Blast is the S-Class Rank 1 hero, active for over a decade before the Hero Association’s founding. Like Saitama, he considers being a hero a “hobby.”
- First Appearance: He was first fully revealed in a flashback in Chapter 135, where he saved a young Tatsumaki, shaping her worldview. His present-day debut was in Chapter 139.
- Powers and Abilities: Blast is a master of space-time and gravity, using dimensional portals and gravity manipulation in combat. He also possesses superhuman speed, strength, and durability, and is immune to radiation.
- The War Against ‘God’: For 20 years, Blast has been fighting a secret war against a malevolent cosmic entity called ‘God.’ His primary mission is to collect “God Cubes,” which are communication devices for the entity, to prevent its influence from spreading.
- Key Relationships: He is the leader of a nine-member interdimensional team. His former partner, Empty Void, was corrupted by ‘God’ and is now a major antagonist. His advice to Tatsumaki was a defining moment in her life.
- Major Fan Theories: Popular theories speculate that his team members are heroic alternate-universe versions of past villains and, most famously, that he could be the “Mad Cyborg” from Genos’s backstory, though evidence for the latter is scarce.