You know, some stories are written in a way where the supporting characters end up being loved by the audience just as much as the main protagonist. That's definitely the case with One-Punch Man. In fact, if you think about it, Saitama's actual screen time is probably a lot less than some of the other characters who surround him. One of the most important of these is Genos, the cyborg who is not only Saitama's friend but also considers himself his disciple(...). Now, to be fair, Saitama doesn't really "teach" him much it anything at all, but he is without a doubt his friend—probably the first real friend we ever see Saitama make.
Genos has a background that is as tragic as they come. He was originally a regular teenager living a peaceful life until a single, catastrophic day when a mysterious and crazy robot went on a rampage in his hometown. It destroyed everything and everyone he knew, including his family. His happy life was erased in an instant. He himself was on the brink of death, lying in the rubble, when he was discovered by Dr. Kuseno, a brilliant scientist who saved his life by giving him powerful new cyborg body.
This devastating past is exactly what fuels him and drives every single one of his actions. His entire existence is now dedicated to one goal: finding the rogue robot that destroyed his life and getting his revenge. It's a classic motivation, but it's executed with such sincerity that you can't help but feel for him.
Throughout the One-Punch Man manga and anime, we see Genos go through a constant cycle of upgrades. Thanks to Dr. Kuseno's genius, he keeps getting new parts and weapons, becoming stronger and more powerful every time. But here's the strangest, and funniest, part of his character: even though he is incredibly powerful at every stage of the series, he rarely ever wins a major fight. It's become a running joke at this point! Most of the time, he charges into battle with immense confidence... only to get absolutely demolished, losing his arms, legs, and other parts in the process. He then gets patched up by the ever-patient Dr. Kuseno, receives an upgrade, and the whole cycle starts again.
But what makes Genos so admirable is that he never lets this constant defeat break his spirit. He never gives up. He continues to move resolutely toward his twin goals: achieving his vengeance and, more importantly, becoming strong enough to be acknowledged by his master, Saitama. His dedication is inspiring.
From a design perspective, I've always liked his look a lot. Ever since I first watched the One-Punch Man anime a few years ago, I thought he looked incredibly cool. And with time, he just becomes cooler. I think kuseno isn't only a scientist but also an artsits. His mechanical body is detailed and sleek, but it's his intense eyes that really sell the character—you can feel his determination through them. Damn, that sounds weird.
If I had to point out one small problem with his character, it's that he can feel a little one-dimensional at times. He is almost always deathly serious. I don't think we've ever seen him tell a joke or even genuinely laugh. But then again, that's probably a direct result of the immense trauma he carries. I do hope that when the story eventually ends, he finds some peace, gets his revenge, and finally learns how to laugh and enjoy life a little. He deserves that closure, and I think it will happen because of Saitama. He has already changed a little .
About the Artwork
On this page, you will find two digital artworks of Genos that I created. Both are suited for use as a desktop wallpaper because of their wide aspect ratio. I'm quite happy with how both of them turned out. The base images are true to how he looks in the series—I didn't change his core design, just interpreted it in my own textual art style. I hope you like them. You are welcome to download these Genos wallpapers for any personal use you like!
Well, that's it from my side. I hope you liked my artwork and my little rant about the Demon Cyborg of Justice. Thanks for reading!
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