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The following contains spoilers for One Punch Man.
Anime-only watchers ofOne Punch Manwill get to experience the joy of one of the most adorable monster characters that will be introduced to the series in Season 3. Although initially seen as a menacing Monster Cadre, Overgrown Rover, a giant monster dog, will quickly become one of the series' best additionsafter a brief clash with Saitama.
Despite giving many characters trouble in the arc in which he is introduced, Rover eventually becomes an adorable but vicious ally of Saitama, whose diligence and loyalty make him one of the cutest, albeit creepiest, additions to the Saitama group. While being an odd development, Rover’s inclusion feels perfectly at home in the world ofOne Punch Man. It only makes sense that a person with monstrous strength like Saitama deserves a monstrous pet like Rover to follow him around.
Rover’s Introduction
An Unmatched Fearsome Being
We get our first proper introduction to Overgrown Rover in chapter 90of theOne Punch Manmanga. After Garou manages to locate Tareo and attempts to lead him away from the Monster Association, the hero hunter is confronted with the overwhelmingly huge figure of Rover. Sporting several eyes and approaching the pair menacingly, it seems like a fight between Rover and Garou is inevitable. However, despite Garou usually being up for a challenge, he seems uncharacteristically afraid of the large monster dog.
“Accelerated heart rate and tightened skin. My body is sending my wearing signals. It’s really strong… I absolutely must avoid an immediate confrontation…” -Garou’s internal monologue while observing Overgrown Rover in Chapter 91 of the manga.
However, we soon see Rover introduced as a dragon-level threat as it fires a destructive beam from its mouth down the hallway. What follows isan intense battle between Garou and Rover, resulting in Garou getting completely bodied despite drawing on his own seemingly awakened monster powers. Garou attempts to crush Rover with a full-strength punch, but his attack has absolutely no effect.Rover then buries Garou further underground, defeating him and causing him to be captured by Gyoro Gyoro.
Later, after being effortlessly defeated by Saitama, Rover wakes up and recognizes him while running away in fear. Rover, still injured by Saitama, manages to hold his own against the combined efforts of S-Rank hero Bang, B-Rank hero Fubuki, and martial arts master Bang. Overgrown Rover is regarded as extremely powerful, having never suffered a loss to anyone except Saitama itself. It is only because Bang told Rover to sit that his group was spared from its wrath, and Rover eventually becomes one of the few monsters in the series that is allowed to live and continue in the story.
Fans Love Rover
Saitama’s Number One Pet
After the conclusion of the Monster Association arc, Rover survives and makes his way to the surface. He is eventually found by Saitama and Genos, now in a reduced and cuter size. Rover immediately takes to Saitama, following him around until Saitama accepts him. Even though Saitama lives at the hero association headquarters, he takes in Rover as his dog, and the monster becomes a regular member of the high-level crew that always meets in his room.
“Dogs’re nice!” -Saitama picking up Rover from the rubble of the Monster Association in Chapter 171 of the manga.
Rover gets many more endearing moments in the future story, with Saitama even commissioning a dog house to be made for him. Rover also likes to bother his house guests, leading to humorous interactions with Fubuki’s Blizzard group, who eventually “recruit” Rover by bribing it with high-quality beef.
“Rover joined the Blizzard Group. Currently, the Blizzard Group has the absolute strongest pet dog.” -A narration box from Chapter 192 of the manga.
Eventually, Rover proves his loyalty to Saitama and his new companions by firing his energy beam at the four divine beastsunder the direct service of an entity known as God, who attacked the heroes out of nowhere. Overall, Rover becomes a welcome addition to Saitama’s crew, whose monstrous nature becomes one of his cuter aspects after he shrinks in size and gets to stay at the Hero Association. After his introduction, Rover quickly became one of the series’ beloved mascots amongOne Punch Manfans.
