Kara Dennison
September 22, 2020 
When it comes to anime heroes, we love them larger-than-life. Epic space battles, feats of strength, magical or technical prowess — we’ll take it all, and the universe-shattering fights that come with them. But once in a while, you run across a hero who’s a little too OP… to the point that you’re mainly glad they’re on our side. (Because they are on our side… right?)
Here’s a trio of anime heroes you couldn’t pay us to fight. We’ll just sit back and watch them drag their enemies through the dirt. How about that?
Lina Inverse (The Slayers)
It seems only right to kick the list off with the birthday girl, Lina Inverse! Lina and the other heroes of the anime (and light novel series) The Slayers are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, which means 30 years of Fireballs and Dragon Slaves (or “Drag Slaves,” officially, but we’re in the habit now).
Lina is not a spell-slinger to be sneezed at. She deals damage faster than people can take it. And that Dragon Slave? Kiss your house/block/town goodbye, because she’s calling on the power of a demon god — and possibly more if she’s feeling spicy.
Mile (Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!)
Among the many heroes of isekai anime is Mile, who by all accounts looks to be an adorable girl doing her best. And she is… but she’s also 50% as powerful as the world’s strongest dragon god.
Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! is a title and a question, as Mile was just looking to be the norm when she was reborn. Thanks to her new world’s nanomachines not knowing the difference between “mean” and “median,” though, she now has godlike powers mitigated only by her desire to not stand out.
Saitama (One-Punch Man)
We wouldn’t finish this piece out without name-checking that most powerful of anime heroes by definition, Saitama himself. The One-Punch Man protagonist does what he says on the tin, thanks to training so hard his hair fell out and he nearly died multiple times. Now, of course, the thrill of combat is lost for him. It’s a rare person who can withstand one of Saitama’s punches.
One wonders… could Lina or Mile pose a threat to Saitama? We’d theorize, but that’s way above our pay grade.
What other anime heroes do you know who are just too powerful?
