Is Boros really back? As the One-Punch Man universe lore opens up, let’s talk about Boros’ society (chapter 164/209)
TL;DR. No, he isn’t, but his kindred brings much more to the lore of OPM.
Note: this article was wrote before the redraw of chapter 164. Our alien friend now makes his first appearance in chapter 167/212.
So, we now know that there’s a representative from Boros’ species within the Blast’s companions. Many think that Boros himself has returned, perhaps rescued and recruited by Blast after the fight against Saitama, as they are the only one smirking among the concerned group watching the distortion of Earth’s spacetime field.
However, this would not make sense as Blast would then be aware of Saitama and his unspeakable power, yet he didn’t pique Blast’s interest in the slightest when they first met. The smirk of the Broros must simply be a display of curiosity. They also have different hair and “eyeliner” (must have been borrowed from Gouketsu) from Boros, but a design change isn’t unthinkable when we’re talking about resuscitating a mummy.
What do we know about Boros’ society?
Excluding the possibility that the Broros is Boros from another universe because it’s a wild theory that is impossible to prove nor disprove, we can conclude that they must be from the same species, perhaps even relatives.
Now, there’s not much we know about their civilization except that they’re particularly strong. There’s no evidence that they’re endangered, so it’d be safe to assume that their society is pretty flourishing, even in a harsh environment, judging from the technology of the Dark Matter Thieves who possess the means of intergalactic traveling. It’d be a civilization of type II at the very least (Kardashev scale).
A society this strong and advanced would have no problem colonizing and conquering even a galaxy. One in which Boros would be either a ruler (since he’s presumedly the strongest individual, otherwise he’d find a good match amongst his kind) or an exiled pirate who would be captured as he sets foot in his homeworld (meaning that he can be overpowered when faced against multiples of his kind).
We don’t know if that society is advanced and peaceful or formed by merciless warmongers, but I’d opt for the first as they’d be seemingly unstoppable unless there’s a bigger threat to their advance, such as an intergalactic organization or an omnipotent God-like entity. Or perhaps… they have already been wiped out?
As for the Broros, do you think they are an ambassador of their world sent to stop a stronger evil? A lone wolf seeking for revenge? Or just a trifling wayfarer recruited by Blast for their power? Anyway, I’m personally excited for the possibility of an expansion to the lore of the One-Punch Man universe, and hoping particularly to get some backstory of my favourite villain of the franchise (I’m still waiting for a Dark Matter Thieves adventures OVA, ONE & Murata!).
On a side note, I’m calling that the Broros’ name will be Ouros (ウロ, Uro), as in ouroboros (ウロボロス, Uroborosu), the tail-eating serpent. Works in Japanese as well! Though Boros is supposedly named after Ballos (ボロス, Borosu) from Cave Story.
