The upcoming One Punch Man Season 3 has revealed a significant redesign for Superalloy Darkshine (also known as Superalloy Blackluster), the former Rank 11 S-Class Hero, leading to intense discussions within the fan base.
Known for his incredible strength and steel-like physique that makes him virtually impervious to attacks, Darkshine’s new appearance has divided the community.
Comparing Superalloy Darkshine’s Original and Adjusted Looks
The original design portrays Darkshine with exaggerated features, including fuller, more prominent donut lips and a glossier, darker skin tone.
This version emphasizes his over-the-top, almost caricatured physique, aligning with the manga style often used in earlier seasons.
The redesign, on the other hand, opts for a more realistic portrayal.
Darkshine’s lips are less pronounced, and his skin tone is slightly lighter, with a matte finish replacing the high gloss of the original.
These changes give him a more subdued and grounded appearance, moving away from the bold, hyper-stylized look.
Fan Reactions: A Split Between Praise and Criticism
Many fans have enthusiastically embraced the character’s updated design, praising its modern aesthetic and improved visual quality.
Supporters argue that the new look better represents Darkshine’s canonical background as a Japanese bodybuilder with an intense tan.
The gradient coloring style, carried over from Season 2, has received particular praise for enhancing the character’s overall appearance.
However, not all reactions have been positive. A significant portion of the fan base expresses disappointment with the departure from Darkshine’s original design.
Critics argue that the new version strays too far from his established appearance in the manga and previous seasons, potentially compromising the character’s iconic identity.
Representation and Design Choices
The redesign has sparked broader discussions about representation in anime.
Some fans suggest the changes were made to avoid potential controversies, particularly regarding racial stereotyping.
The modification of certain facial features, especially the lips, has become a focal point of debate, with opinions sharply divided between those who see it as a necessary update and others who view it as an unnecessary alteration.
Production Quality Concerns
Beyond the aesthetic debate, some fans have raised concerns about the production quality of Season 3.
Questions about adherence to the source material and speculation about rushed production schedules have emerged, though these remain speculative until the season’s release.
Origin of Darkshine
During his childhood, Darky was a frail, skinny, young kid who never won in sports because of his wimpy body.
He started lifting 3-kilogram dumbbells on his 15th birthday. He then turned it into 5 kg, 10 kg, 50 kg, 200 kg, 2 tons, and until his strength can never be quantified by numbers.
That’s when he joined the Hero Association to discover new, powerful foes that could challenge him.
His donut lips were already pronounced at a young age and on the first and second seasons, but they seemed to disappear on the redesign.
Looking Forward to Season 3
Despite the mixed reactions, anticipation for One Punch Man Season 3 remains high.
The controversy surrounding Darkshine’s redesign has actually increased interest in how the character will be portrayed in the upcoming season, with many fans reserving final judgment until they see the character in action.
Whether the new design will be embraced by the wider community once the season airs remains to be seen.
However, the passionate debate demonstrates the deep investment fans have in the series and its characters.
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