#eiichiro oda’s attention to details

[felixcloud6288]

This is a page from chapter 227 of One Piece, which was first released April 22, 2002:

The small detail of Sanji's origin would become a major plot point 14 years later and be the root of an entire story arc.However, I want to talk about my own ideas around why this scene ended up the way it did.

Let me preface this with an assumption. I do not believe Eiichiro Oda had Sanji's backstory planned out from the start, and I believe he only started creating it around the same time he started planning out this story arc.

For the arc this chapter is part of, the crew needed to open that storybook and read it. So the question Oda would have to answer is "How do I make the crew acknowledge and discuss the contents of the book?"

First of all, we have to consider who might even care about it. Luffy and Zoro are obviously out. Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper might notice it but not consider it anything of interest. Robin would not bring attention to the rest of the group. So that leaves Nami as the only one who would notice, take interest, and mention it.

Next, we have to have someone read and discuss it. And since Nami is the only one who would bring up the topic, she needs to also be curious about reading it. This means this needs to be a new book for her. So why would Nami have never heard a story about a famous folk character? The answer: It's not a book from the East Blue.

Now we need someone to convince her she should read it. And the most effective way is to have someone be familiar with it. But since the book isn't from the East Blue, Usopp and Sanji can't recommend it. That leaves only Robin and Chopper. Chopper likely wouldn't have read it and Oda probably wants to keep Robin's backstory as secret as possible for an upcoming arc so she can't be the one either.

And then the idea pops in. We know what Sanji was doing before he met Zeff, but we don't actually know anything about where he's from or his family. So why not say he's from somewhere else, like the North Blue and then he can be the one who recommends Nami read the book.

So the immediate problem is solved but now how do we explain Sanji coming from the North Blue? And that's the point where I'd say Sanji's background began. How did Sanji travel from North Blue to East Blue? He's from a wealthy family. Why was he working at a restaurant as a child? His family disowned him. Why did they disown him?

And Oda spent 14 years figuring all this out in the background until he was finally ready to integrate it into the story.

[bigmelonblog]

Title: "Setting Sail for Adventure: A Journey through the World of One Piece"

Introduction:

For over two decades, "One Piece" has captured the hearts and imaginations of fans worldwide, making it one of the most iconic and enduring manga and anime series of all time. Created by Eiichiro Oda, this epic tale of pirates, adventure, and dreams has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. In this article, we'll explore the vast and vibrant world of "One Piece," delving into its compelling characters, intricate storytelling, and its remarkable legacy.

The Grand Voyage Begins:

"One Piece" follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a young and ambitious pirate who aims to become the Pirate King by finding the ultimate treasure known as the One Piece. To achieve this dream, he assembles a diverse crew of skilled and memorable individuals, each with their own unique abilities and backgrounds. From the swordsman Roronoa Zoro to the navigator Nami and the chef Sanji, the Straw Hat Pirates are a testament to the power of camaraderie and friendship.

A World of Wonders:

The world of "One Piece" is a vast and imaginative place known as the Grand Line. It's a realm filled with countless islands, each harboring its own distinct culture, geography, and challenges. From the bustling streets of Water 7 to the sky islands of Skypiea and the underwater city of Fish-Man Island, the world-building in "One Piece" is a testament to Oda's creativity and attention to detail.

The Power of Devil Fruits:

One of the most unique aspects of "One Piece" is the presence of Devil Fruits, mysterious fruits that grant those who consume them incredible and often bizarre powers. Luffy himself gains the power to stretch like rubber after eating the Gum-Gum Fruit, while other characters possess abilities ranging from controlling fire to turning invisible. The variety of Devil Fruit powers adds depth and excitement to the battles and encounters throughout the series.

Intriguing Antagonists:

No epic tale is complete without formidable adversaries, and "One Piece" delivers in this regard. The series features a rogues' gallery of memorable villains, from the cunning Captain Buggy to the enigmatic Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile. The ultimate antagonist, the enigmatic Yonko and former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, continues to be a central figure in the overarching plot.

Themes of Friendship and Dreams:

At its core, "One Piece" is a story about the pursuit of dreams and the power of friendship. Luffy's unwavering commitment to his goal of becoming Pirate King, as well as his willingness to protect and stand by his friends, is an inspirational theme that resonates with fans of all ages. The series teaches that dreams are worth chasing, no matter how impossible they may seem.

A Lasting Legacy:

Beyond its captivating characters and thrilling adventures, "One Piece" has had a profound impact on the world of manga and anime. With a dedicated fanbase, an extensive merchandise line, and numerous adaptations, including an ongoing anime series and feature films, "One Piece" continues to thrive, proving its enduring appeal.

Conclusion:

"One Piece" is not merely a manga and anime series; it's a cultural phenomenon that has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. With its vibrant world, compelling characters, and overarching themes of friendship and dreams, "One Piece" invites fans on an epic voyage filled with laughter, tears, and unforgettable moments. As the story continues to unfold, one thing is certain: the legacy of "One Piece" will continue to influence and inspire generations of fans around the globe. So, set sail for adventure and join Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates on their quest for the ultimate treasure in the world of "One Piece."

Note*

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I'm on Instagram @bigmelonshop

Please check out my online store bigmelonshop.com to find these cool One Piece airpod cases and more.

[notsp1derman]

other musings: why one piece should never be adapted into live-action

There is a certain trend lately of adapting unusual pieces of media to live action, and while I usually don't give a fuck, this time it touched something very dear to me, which is One Piece. I could spend hours here talking about my love for this saga and how this is just another consequence of capitalism and the urge to just squeeze out every last drop of money out of everything, but after the trailer for the new Netflix series dropped I just had to vent about something simpler. And boy do I have opinions about this.

Despite its very real portraying of very human problems such as racism and political instability, One Piece is, at its core, an absurd manga. The characters have such ridiculous mannerisms, the proportions are so exaggerated, and there are interactions so unserious that it can be even quite jarring at first; but hidden in its straightforward and sometimes nonsensical narrative is a masterful and ingenious thought process by Eiichiro Oda. Everything is a tad over-the-top, from the cartoonish style of the characters to the attention for detail in the backgrounds, in order to compose an universe that looks magical and whimsical but feels cohesive, realistic in some way. And it's through this exaggeration that Oda manages to convey so much emotion, and still make his readers feel such strong connections to his creation, even though it's far from our real world.

Those hyperboles are a vital part of what makes One Piece one of the most unique works of fiction ever made, and one with such a strong personality, at that. So when forced to accept the heavy burden of making a live-action series of the best selling manga of all time, producers are faced with two choices: either to try and capture this absurdness as best as possible by being extremely loyal to the source, or to make adaptations to the characters and the world to make it a bit more realistic and appealing to the public.

And the thing is, there will never be a right answer to this. Being too loyal to the source would make it a ludicrous farce, and taking liberties would create something too different from the thing everyone already knows and loves. So Netflix chose the path of creative liberty, and the price paid was a stiff, void, and most importantly, uncanny take on something that should never be brought to the real world at all.

Don't get me wrong, I have much love for the cast and believe they are doing a great job, but unfortunately the feeling of just... wrongness will never fade, no matter the approach. The colorful characters feel like people in bad costumes, the special powers just feel weird, the colors feel wrong and the world doesn't feel vast, just empty. One that got me thinking a lot was Buggy. Of course, he was one of the most unserious characters of the whole manga, but even he was a bit intimidating at the beginning, and had his moments to shine. Live-action-Buggy is just some weirdo in a bright blue wig that looks like a sad cosplayer, and I can't take him seriously no matter how hard I try.

So what about the more bizarre parts of the cast, like Hannyabal or Blackbeard or just the overly huge Admirals? What about the huge sea monsters or the weird fish people of Arlong Park? The latter parts of the manga go without saying, because I seriously doubt the live action will get renewed for one more season. How can we expect any of this to be remotely close to the joy we feel reading or watching the original work?

And I think that's the whole problem with live actions from anime. The freedom to bend reality that is possible within the realms of manga and anime just will never be translated well into something so western as a modern tv show. These boring adaptations suck the soul out of the original source, and manage to transform even the most expressive and heartfelt ideas into uncreative remakes without a single ounce of personality, and it will be forever depressing to see it happening to yet another thing so well made like One PIece.

[one-piece-moments]

Eiichiro Oda’s attention to details: the sad fate of the octopus from the shipwreck near Jaya

In chapter 218, the Strawhats come across a shipwreck falling from the sky.

In chapter 219 they decide to explore it. Since it’s underwater, they use some “diving suits” designed by Usopp and jump into the sea:

While underwater, an octopus takes a liking to Zoro and sticks to his “diving suit”:

In chapter 220 it’s still sticking to him, even when he eventually takes off the “diving suit”:

At the end of the chapter, Zoro seems to finally become aware of the octopus’ presence:

In chapter 222, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji bring back on the Going Merry the “treasure” they found inside the shipwreck, along with the little octopus:

Here comes the sad part. Pay attention to what Luffy is saying in the background:

Then, in the next panel, we see Luffy eating some takoyaki:

And, at the end of the chapter, Usopp and Chopper are eating some takoyaki as well, and our octopus friend is nowhere to be seen:

In case you didn’t know, takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese appetizer made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion.

So... yeah... poor little octopus :(

[thewanderinglunarian]

Lucci x fem! reader x Kaku – (reader with DF powers) N/SFW

Whew, well, here it is as promised. I know it's not perfect, but I like it and this is a S/i fic that's going to be tied into a fic I'm working on atm, but for now, enjoy this sinful spicy fic💕

OP belongs to Eiichiro Oda

The Mind-Mind fruit belongs to me

Note: I haven't proofread this, so ignore any mistakes.

You had fallen for both Lucci and Kaku and they had fallen for you. They were more than happy to share you. The relationship worked like a well-oiled machine; it was honestly the best relationship you’d ever been in. Being a member of CP0 wasn’t the easiest job, but at least you came home to them every night and got to spend all your time with them, you know, being on the same guard duty and missions together. Today, however, you all were off duty, as Saint Charlos was recovering from the recent injuries he had received from Mjosgard during the whole Levely disaster. To be frank, you thought it was well deserved and wished it had been you inflicting pain on him. You couldn’t stand that creep and you made it known to Lucci and Kaku nearly every day. Saint Charlos had a very bad habit of running his grimy hand over your backside every chance he could get. Off duty, you were fuming to Kaku and Lucci that if he tried that one more time, you’d break every bone in his nasty little hand and use your powers to justify it as a mere accident. Although they weren’t happy about it, they both agreed that you should just over look the matter and that it wasn’t worth risking your life over something Lucci said was “trivial” and ordered you to “hold your tongue when in public.” You sat on a plush sofa watching them as they sat at a giant, luxe wooden table, they both had paperwork from a recent mission to catch up on, thankfully you had already finished yours. The scratching of pens on paper echoed through the spacious office. You let out a bored sigh as you crossed your legs and rested your palm on your cheek. You gazed off into nothing as you imagined having them both taking you right now without restraint. A thought crossed your mind and you grinned mischievously. You were going to get their attention, making a game out of it to see how much they could take before giving into you. You had a very rare, practically unknown devil fruit power, which was only told in legends, or so they say, but no one really knows due to its unique ability. You were the current and only known user of the Mind-Mind fruit since the times of Joyboy. The fruit gave you power to be nearly invincible, if used properly. It gave you the ability to read and mold minds to your will, making your targets feel and see what you wanted them to, along with creating barriers and weapons with psychic energy, telepathy, and other psychic abilities. You didn’t like them knowing when you would use your devil fruit power on them, so, you decided to be subtle about it and plant lewd thoughts into their unsuspecting minds. Your smile twisted deviously as you began the assault. You planted the idea of them both taking you on the table, paperwork being scattered all over the room. You grinned devilishly. Kaku cleared his throat, his cheeks and nose tinted with a deep red blush as he loosened his tie, you could tell that he was coming undone. His attention was now fully on you. You giggled to yourself as your plan was taking form. Lucci, however, merely shifted in his chair and continued scribbling down details on his report. Your face contorted into a pout. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, placing his pen down, “If you insist on playing games, I have a better one we could play.” he growled with a dastardly smirk. The two of them made their way towards you, but you found the perfect moment to flee to the bedroom. They chased after you, cornering you into submission. Lucci had slipped in front of you and Kaku behind you, you couldn’t escape, well, like you ever wanted too anyway. Lucci grabbed your wrists, a dark lust glimmering in his eye, you tried to back up, only to find yourself grinding on Kaku. He let out a soft moan as the curves of your ass rubbed against his already hard member. “Aren’t you a naughty girl. You got me so turned on and you haven’t even touched me yet. Using your powers on us too, what shall we do with you?” he moaned, breathing hotly in your ear. “Yes, what ever shall we do with you? Look what you’ve done to poor Kaku.” Kaku shoved you

forward with his body, pressing you against Lucci, your breasts smashed against his chiseled body, faces almost touching. His lips ghosted over yours, not touching, as he whispered “Such a needy slut.” You could feel his member hardening on your stomach. You whimpered. You needed them to do something, anything, your body was on fire with lust. Lucci’s eyes narrowed as he finally gave you what you wanted, what you desperately needed. His lips crashed into yours roughly, his tongue begging for entrance. Kaku began kissing your neck, hands roaming up your short, tight white dress. His hand running over your strappy backless black panties. “Oooh, my, my, what do we have here?” his voice dripping with desire. He flipped you around to face him as he kissed you and pulled your dress off, Lucci, grabbing it, threw it across the room. “Matching set” he grinned “We haven’t seen these before. When did you pick these up?” He kissed your neck trailing down to your breast as he palmed them through the strappy black fabric. Lucci suddenly smacked your luscious ass causing a jiggle to ripple up to your full breasts. “God, you’re perfect” Kaku whimpered, “but these have to come off.” “Agreed” Lucci said, ripping off your bra and panties. You gasped at the swift action, feeling vulnerable, yet still feeling like you had the upper hand…. for now, at least. “Now, how is this fair? I’m the only one undressed here.” you teased in a sultry voice as you pulled at Kaku’s tie, unknotting it and letting it drop to the floor. “Well, you’re not wrong. It is a bit unfair.” he said in a sexy tone and he helped you undress him. You knew better than to think Lucci would let you strip him like you were doing to Kaku, he was the dominant one in the relationship, he did things by his rules, which meant he was in charge of the situation at all times. You crouched down as you unbuckled Kaku’s belt and unzipped his pants. Lucci watched your every movement with lust filled eyes like a predator stalking its prey. Kaku’s cock sprang free from its fabric confines and swung upward. You licked your lips at the sight as he stepped out of his pants, now completely nude. You looked up at him, eyes taking in his lean, muscular physique. You took his cock in your hand and started pumping it lightly. He moaned, precum dripping from his swollen tip. You used your devil fruit power on Lucci to read his mind, since he was being so stoic. You knew him well enough by now that his patience was running thin. He needed your attention and he needed it now. You peeked into his mind and felt his urgency to take you now, not even wanting to give Kaku a chance to take you too. You decided now would be the time to have Kaku lie back and watch momentarily while you shifted your attention to Lucci. “Kaku, my love, why don’t you lie down and stroke yourself for me.” You said with a lick to Kaku’s cock, tasting his precum on your tongue. He moaned breathlessly and obeyed you, making his way to the bed. Kaku stretched out on the bed, stroking his cock, eyes glazed with lust. You turned to face Lucci, his eyes were wild with relentless lust, he smashed his lips into yours, nearly bruising yours. Lucci smirked in his kiss, hands gripping every inch of your luscious curves he could reach, all the while slowly pushing you toward the bed. You felt the back of your knees hit the soft mattress, forcing you to a sitting position. Lucci grinned deviously and started unbuttoning his pants. His bulge twitching behind its luxurious fabric cage. Finally, his weeping cock, freed from its restraint, was facing you. You let out a slight gasp at the sheer size while unconsciously licking your lips. He smirked and rubbed the head of his cock against your lips, begging for entrance. You swirled your tongue around his tip teasingly, kissing it before licking up his length. You began taking him in your mouth slowly, but as you did, he snaked his hand into your hair and forced himself deep in your throat. Gagging, you took it, as tears and drool dripped from your face. You felt weight shifting on the bed.

'Hey, don't forget about me, now' Kaku said in a sultry tone as he sat on his calves behind you, hands trailing from your hips to your breasts, kneading and pinching your nipples. His hard member pressing against your back. 'Can't let Lucci have all the fun' he chuckles. You moaned onto Lucci's cock, the vibrations causing him to lose his composure slightly and grunt. Kaku's hands wandered down your body to your slick folds. 'Already so wet for us' he teased as he kissed your neck, inserting a finger into your wet heat. You moaned and rocked your hips onto Kaku's skillful hand. Lucci ceased the rough assault on your throat and pulled out his cock, precum and spit intertwined leaving a small trail from his tip to your lips. His eyes darkened like an animal cornering its prey, ready to attack. He licked his lips in the most sinful way, 'Let's see if your cunt feels as good as your throat.' Kaku still prodding deeply into your core slipped a finger into your ass. You yelped in unexpected pleasure as he began to loosen up your tight hole. He removed his skillful fingers from your orifices and stretched back out on the bed, this time leading you with him. You straddled him with your front facing Lucci. Kaku guided you down on his long, thick, smooth cock. You let out a tense moan as he slowly guided your hips deeper onto his cock. He bottomed out and pulled you back against his chest, giving you time to adjust to him. 'Such a good girl, taking all of me like that. You feel so, soooo good and tight. I could stay like this forever'. He moaned as he kissed your neck, showing you a tender, sweet side you'd ever rarely ever get from Lucci. Without warning Lucci slammed his thick cock into your tight, sopping pussy. You moaned loudly, never feeling so full. Kaku rocked his hips, thrusting into you at a steady pace, Lucci, on the other hand, pounded into you hard and deep, without restraint. 'Such a good little slut. Take it all.' he commanded in a lusty tone through gritted teeth. You felt a knot of pleasure taking hold of you, ready to snap at any moment. The feeling of both cocks in you, thrusting and hitting all the right spots, was divine. You threw your head back with a loud moan as you gripped around the two men, your cum coating Lucci's, still pounding, cock and dripping down to on Kaku's. 'Fuck' Kaku moaned 'I don't know how much longer I can last with you getting tighter like that'. His thrust grew sloppy and needy. Lucci grinned dastardly as he fucked through your first orgasm. 'Surely you have more in you' his thrusts never wavering. Kaku's hips began to stutter as he thrusted deep into you. You felt his cock twitch as he moaned and filled you up with his hot cum, painting your insides white. Panting, he lifted you off his cock and laid to the side, catching his breath, sweat glistening over his chiseled chest and abs. Lucci's hips snapped into yours at an almost animalistic pace. His eyes fixed on you, like a predator ready to devour his prey, pupils blown out wide. His pace began to falter as you felt his cock hit your cervix. You tightened around him again, coating his cock with your glistening fluids. His head fell back as he reached his sweet release, filling you up to the brim with hot, sticky cum. He ran his hand through his disheveled hair as he caught his breath, 'Don't think we're finished with you yet, the game has just begun.' he leaned down whispering in your ear in a seductive tone, pecking your cheek as he did. Kaku leaned up placing a kiss on your neck. 'We're not done yet, not by a long shot, my sweet giraffe.'

[dropintomanga]

Mangaka Are Flawed People Like You and I

If Shonen Jump is considered to be the “World’s Most Popular Manga,” then you can bet that the creators behind the magazine’s landmark series are some of the most popular people in the world today.

Of course, with the attention Shonen Jump series get, there always comes the chance of a big problem that gets exposed. 

And recently, this was the case as Nobuhiko Watsuki, creator of Rurouni Kenshin, had a big exhibition for the series in Japan. This comes off his conviction of having child pornography in his possession and not having to be in jail for an indefinite period of time (compared to what he would face in the West). What got many fans talking was the fact that 14 notable mangaka with ties to Shueisha wrote congratulatory messages for Watsuki and causing (mostly Western) fans of those mangaka to have conflicting feelings over their favorite creators for celebrating someone who’s a convicted pedophile.

Eiichiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, Hideaki Sorachi, Yusei Matsui, Takeshi Obata, Hiroyuki Takei are just some of the familiar names many manga fans will recognize that praised Watsuki. Seeing Sorachi’s name does worry me a bit since I know he’s done jokes about lolicons and such. I think what it comes down to is how close-knit mangaka are with each other. The manga industry is extremely rough and insular. There’s little room for social interaction outside of work, so it’s usually your co-workers that you talk to the most at times. I know Oda was an assistant under Watsuki before creating One Piece, so there’s also the senpai-kouhai relationship in play here as well.

This doesn’t excuse Watsuki for what he did. I’m not sure if he’s truly apologetic for his actions. I did hear that one of the major reasons that Watsuki was let off the hook was because Shueisha felt that they had to honor the contract they made with Warner Bros. regarding the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin movie based on the Jinchu Arc. It sounds like some warped sense of honor needed to be preserved over a very serious issue that needs more attention.

Some fans have said, “Thank god Tite Kubo or Yoshihiro Togashi didn’t write anything for Watsuki.” The thing is they can’t assume those creators are righteous just because they didn’t say anything. Fans seem so desperate for heroes because they feel like the whole world is full of awful people. To be fair, the inability of societal institutions to actually help people and encourage that help can give someone a legit reason to be angry.

But treating creators like they’re pure and holy gods that will never do any wrong isn’t the way to channel that frustration. Creators aren’t your friends. They will mess up. Think about it this way - why do you think are there are hierarchal levels of friendship? For starters, you can’t just bombard new potential friends with heavy details about your personal life. Not everyone’s going to get you. There’s probably some people you want in your life that make you forget your vulnerabilities for a bit, so you want different types of friends for your varied needs. Creators usually feel more connected among other creators due to shared experiences. The creator/fan relationship is parasocial at best.

I read this blog post from Steven Savage, author of Fan to Pro and many other notable books about fandom, about the desire for heroes in our world and he said it best.

“We hate real heroes, so we often seek false heroes. We find some person who has the right pose, the right words, and follow them instead. We worship the fakers, the actors, the deceivers, and the grifters.

Fake heroes are clean. They present the way we want, act the way we want, say the things we want. There’s no moral ambiguity – unless you look at their actions.

Fake heroes often have money and fame, and the right looks. They have all the worldly things we want, and we decide that’s heroism. The image is there – as long as you don’t ask how they got there.

Fake heroes don’t have any apparent ambiguity because they lie about it or cover it up. Fake heroes are an act, and we don’t have to deal with moral complications because we buy into it. Fake heroes are so much easier.

Fake heroes fit all we expect. They’re the right age, right sexual preference, right skin tone, etc. Fake heroes are a confidence game that looks just enough like us that we’re confident in believing in them.

We so prefer fake heroes in America. They’re so much easier, and the internet and media will help us find them or turn them out for us.”

I know it sounds like I’m suggesting that mangaka are “fake heroes.” In some ways, they are. We, the people, are the ones who place them as heroic by nature. It’s not entirely our fault as most media and word-of-mouth marketing sing their praises. I’m not saying that we should stop having role models, but I wish people were more reflective about who they should really revere.

I sometimes feel like fans love parasocial relationships a bit too much. I wonder now if it’s because they have no cognitive framework of what proper boundaries are. This can be a huge issue at times especially when you feel lonely and socially isolated. When I think about how people fall into extremism and/or start to do things that hurt other people, I think about that lack of emphasis on enforcing boundaries in a healthy way.

I do think some of the mangaka did feel uncomfortable in writing to support Watsuki. They probably had no choice since ethics and capitalism (especially geek capitalism) never mix well. People who think they’re always “right” don’t really preach ethics unless it directly benefits their reputation.

I already voiced my thoughts about Watsuki before in this 2017 post. I’ll say this as final words - so many things (the brands you like, the famous people you like, the nerd media you like, etc.) will have always some kind of dirty psychological stain on it. Over the past few years, some powerful folks who explicitly say they’re inclusive and diverse turn out to be the ones who aren’t. Someone on Twitter recently asked what if every manga creator has some kind of belief system that doesn’t fall in our line with our beliefs. Do we start to justify pirating their work just to prove our moral superiority?

I’m not sure how to feel about that because you can’t remove every little thing in your life that you don’t agree with. It’s impossible. It’s also a terrible way to live because we need some level of disagreement in order to become better people. We will all mess up and say/do the wrong thing over and over again. I know some “experts” say to cut out toxic people in your life, but if they’re not being abusive/troll-ish and genuinely wish to see you well, then I think you need to stand by them because those folks are the heroes we truly need, not an influential figure who uses their clout to only benefit themselves.

If you want a great post about how to separate art from the artist, this is my favorite post on how to do so.

[soyouareandrewdobson]

Alex ze Pirate Mini Review 5: Why I love One Piece and my final verdict

(Warning. Post contains initial geek out about One Piece that is meant to correlate to my opinion on Alex in general)

When I started this series of posts, one thing I asked myself was, how could I sum up my problems with the Sam story while also tackling some general issues with AzP without redundantly repeating major points of my previous posts.

… So I decided instead of giving a straight answer, I would first tell you how I came to fall in love with One Piece.

Around 14+ years ago, I began reading manga, with works such as Ranma 1/2, Pokemon and Dragon Ball being my starting point. You know, the average stuff everyone had read at some point. One Piece, already back then consisting of over 25+ volumes,  was only something a friend started to lend me and I read the first seven volumes, not really quite getting why it was that popular. I did not hate what I read, but there was nothing outright standing out to me the way the story was told that got to me. And then I hit the Arlong arc with volume 8 and onwards. While it was mostly the adventure of Luffy with his crew against Crocodile and his Baroque Corporation that totally sold me on the manga later on, the Arlong arc was what really got my attention. Seeing the character of Nami betray her friends, pieces of worldbuilding that would years later play a role and so much more, made me curious where things were going. Particularly, why Nami would betray Luffy. And when I reached chapter 77 to 81, where I got to read Nami’s backstory, how Arlong killed her adoptive mother in front of her eyes when she was just a little kid and Luffy declaring he was going to help her and her village, I was hooked. This was the first time in my life as a manga reader, I was not just entertained, I was emotionally invested. Because not only was Nami’s backstory genuinely saddening to me, but seeing Luffy determined to help her and the ensuing battles was exciting. Exciting because it truly showed to me, how awesome of a character this goofball with stretching powers really is. Not because he was physically strong, but because he was willing to do all of that for someone just “because” he considers that person a friend. Seeing Luffy not just beat up Arlong, but destroying everything this bastard had build on the suffering of the village and in doing so setting Nami free of the past that haunted her, because he cared for her as a person not in a romantic but platonic manner, was satisfying on so many levels.

 And ever since then Eiichiro Oda proved to me time and time again, even if he hits a bump in the road (seriously, fuck most of the Fishmen Island arc) he knows how to write a world that doesn’t just manage to be cartoonishly entertaining, but also filled with heartfelt moments, where true heroism is not defined just by physical strength, but the willingness of the main characters to help and care for each other and the people they meet across the journey. There are many stories out there where the power of friendship as a virtue, and the virtues it is build on are a theme. But in the world of shonen manga, One Piece for me is still the top.

 And Andrew Dobson’s Alex ze Pirate is the complete antithesis to everything Oda EVER created in One Piece.

 While One Piece has one of the most complex worlds I have ever seen in fiction, with Oda often times setting building stones for future story arcs years in advance (seriously, the thing with Brook and Laboon alone is worth mentioning) , Dobson can’t even bother to properly tell us in what part of the ocean Alex has her adventure or why there is a beaver dog thing walking around a bunch of humans.

 While One Piece has some gorgeous artwork and unique designs with an insane level of cartoonish detail, Dobson has some very generic designs and draws like a 15 year old girl that read Spirou and manga too much and now starts doing scribble artwork.

 While Oda draws chapters for over 20 years now, Dobson could not even bother to finish up the adventure of the crew getting properly together back in 2004, as only one volume was released.

 While One piece tells a story that defines the shonen genre for over a decade, Dobson tells stupid newspaper strip jokes that are not even interconnected much.

 While Oda’s Strawhats are the embodiment of the word nakama, Dobson’s characters only bring the following old saying to mind:

 With friends like this, who needs enemies?

 Bottom line, Alex ze Pirate is absolute garbage as a work of entertainment, particularly in the world of kids entertainment. It was so already long before Dobson wrote the three part story I reviewed in detail, but this story in my opinion was for anyone with a bit of brains the last nail in the coffin. Cause overall, this was likely Dobson’s last chance in his and the eyes of the readers.

 The last chance, because he was going to put all his talent as a writer and artist into this one story to prove his critics wrong; That he could tell an engaging and emotionally fulfilling story in a multi part story, longer than his 15 pagers. But like with everything else I have seen so far, he failed.

 He failed artistically, because damn does this not look even remotely professional compared to other professionally published work or even other silly webcomics like Cludscratcher or Housepets (which I highly recommend you to read).

 He failed as a storywriter, because instead of emotionally engaging and well paced, this shit is rushed, works more on “tell, don’t show” than anything else and really just magnifies the worst aspects of his characters and Dobson’s mean spirited humor in general. Cause this is not a tale where we feel like Sam genuinely has found a family and friends in Alex and her crew. It is the tale of Sam just accepting that he has nothing better going on in his life.

 He failed, because instead of actually putting care, effort and love for his characters and work into this, he likely just wanted to get it out and hope that just because he “put effort” into this more than usual, he would already get praise by default.

 And once this thing was out, all that happened was the following: Even more people realized what kind of hack he is, that this project was not going to be salvaged even if actual stories instead of strip based jokes are told and he misinterpreted the disinterest as reason to just completely give up, instead of trying harder.

 And as a result, even if Dobson still went on to do shitty redesigns and a few more pages for it, Alex ze Pirate soon after ended. Put into everlasting hiatus, where it joins such work as Pilote Candidate or Frank Millers All Star Batman and Robin.

 Dobson, if you ever read this, let me just say it how it is: You failing to make even the most basic story about people appreciating their friends, particularly when within the last decade there has been an entire fandom of manchildren out there that was build on a show with “Friendship is Magic” in the title, just shows how bad of a storyteller and creator you are. You shouldn’t have gone to college in order to become an animator, you should have joined fanfiction.net in order to get some basic understanding on how to even write. Cause your writing is so bad, it makes fanfiction look genuinely complex and thoughtful. Well that and you should perhaps go out and find genuinely friends and not just online supporters that mistake you for some persecuted innocent artist, when in reality you are just a toxic idiot who attempts to manipulate people so he can profit of them and their fleeting interest in his substandard comics based on the lowest common denominator cartoons.

 I wrap this review up. We will revisit Alex one day again, but for now, I just want to focus on something more positive. So within the next weeks, if I post something, I will try to make it focused on something NOT Dobson related. You know, stuff to genuinely enjoy. Till then, I just want to say thank you. Thank you @hypocricyofandrewdobson for reblogging my entries. Thank you to everyone who liked this, reblogged this or started to follow me because of it. I hope I managed to educate and entertain you all in a positive manner, without making myself come off too much like an assholish nerd with too many interests. Stay safe.

 And hey, if any of you has his own two cents on Sam, Alex or the others, even ideas how to make them genuinely better, I am always open.

 See ya.

[monkey-d-momo]

Another swordsman

Title: Another swordsman

Characters: Zoro and Sanji

Disclaimer: The characters and the univers belongs to Eiichiro Oda

Notes: It is the translation of my fic Un autre épéiste. I wrote it back in 2019, but I translated it recently. It was edited by @nopleaseexplain

You can also read it on ao3 or ff.net 

------------

“Oi! Sanji, I’m hungry!” screamed a young man with disheveled raven hair.

 The apprehended man sighed in annoyance. It was at least the ninth time today that the captain repeated this sentence. Before answering, he put down the refreshment he was carrying to his ladies who were sunbathing.

“I know, I know!” he screamed back. “There’s a snack in the kitchen.”

In a cry of joy, he rushed out towards the stairs to go to the kitchen and while not paying attention to the swordsman who was in the way.

“Luffy, be caref…!”

The pirate collided with a green haired man. With the shock, one of the swordsman’s katanas flew out of its scabbard and started to fall towards the deck, exactly where the cook and the two women of the crew were. The protective instinct of the blonde flared up and without thinking, he caught the sword, stopping it in its fall.

“Shitty marimo bastard!” he screamed. “Be careful, you could have harmed Nami-san and Robin-chan!”

“You’re the bastard!” answered Zoro back. “You be careful with my sword, it’s not a toy!”

“Don’t worry marimo! It’s not the first time I've handled a katana!”

Sanji had spoken thoughtlessly. He didn't immediately understand why everyone went silent...and was looking at him with big eyes.

“What? What did I say?”

“Since when have you handled a katana?” the swordsman asked, clearly surprised by this new information regarding his rival.

The cook felt his heart stopping.

“Knife! I said knife” he tried to take it back, “I’m a cook!”

“No, you did say katana”Namie replied. 

“Yeah, we all heard it clearly” Luffy added, finally showing up after everything.

All confirmed the captain’s words. Sanji cursed.

“So, care to explain?” Zoro asked eagerly. The one who wanted to be the best swordsman in the world was very interested that his rival in the crew could also use a sword, especially after defending the fact of not using his hands or a blade in combat and fighting only with his legs. And why was he trying to hide this at all cost ?

“It’s been a while” the blond replied. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

With these last words, he stuck the sword he still had in his hand in the ground and went to lock himself in the men’s quarters, slamming the door behind him and leaving the pirate crew speechless. The cook never acted this way.

“I think it’s a sensitive subject for him” commented Robin after a moment.

“Me, I’m hungry” declared the captain, going to the kitchen for a second time.

The common lethargy wore off and all resumed their activities. Zoro, however, was not finished. There was another swordsman on board, besides him and Brook, and he wanted to get to the bottom of this mystery.

He went downstairs to get back his katana before going to take a bottle of alcohol from the pantry. The cook would maybe be more prone to talk with some sake. His goal in mind, he entered the men’s quarters. The blond was lying down in his bed, using his hands as a pillow, looking up, lost in his thoughts. He still noticed the swordsman coming pretty quickly.

“Go away! I said I don’t wanna talk about it!”

“No.”

Sanji grew annoyed. “No what!?”

“I’m staying.”

He took a seat on his own bed which was right next to his rival’s – got to find out why it was chosen that way – and filled two cups of sake before offering one to the other man.

“You want to get me drunk so I’ll talk…”

“Maybe. But alcohol has always been good to keep bad memories away,” replied the green haired man. 

The cook sighed before taking the cup and drinking it in one shot. “How did you know it reminded me of bad memories?” he asked after a while.

“It was the most obvious option,” Zoro replied, filling the blonde’s cup once again 

“You’re not so stupid, it seems” Sanji mocked.

“And you’re trying to change the subject by starting a fight.”

“What a shame, it normally works.”

“Not this time. I’m serious.”

Indeed. The swordsman was looking at him in the eyes with a stern look. He was extremely stubborn and the cook knew that he would not drop the issue.

“Why do you want to know?” he sighed.

“You know why.”

Yes, Sanji knew. Despite their rivalry, the two men were like brothers. And he knew Zoro felt the same. When one was hurt, the other was hurt as well. He would not let go before the cook told him everything. It was his way of demonstrating his support and giving a little comfort.

The blond sat up in the bed. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. After taking a drag, he spoke.

“I won’t go into detail,” he started, “but my biological father is the head of an army..Basically”

“Your biological father!?” Zoro exclaimed, surprised. “You’ve never talked about him, I thought Zeff was your father!”

“Zeff is my dad. At least, I consider him as that.”

“And he’s at the head of an army? He’s a king?!”

“Yeah…”

“So, you’re a prince!? All my respect, your majesty” Zoro joked.

“Stop that,” Sanji said menacingly. He wasn’t in the mood for that. “I rejected my family long ago. I’m not a prince anymore.”

“Sorry, sorry. Go on.” To encourage him, Zoro served him another cup of sake. The cook looked at him suspiciously before accepting the cup and drinking it in one shot. He preferred wine, but at this moment, the rice alcohol was helping him feel better.

“So, my brothers and I…”

“You even have brothers!?”

“Yes, we’re four twins. And a big sister.”

“So, there are more like you?” Zoro laughed.

“No. I’m different.” The green haired man felt a hint of sadness in his rival’s voice. He didn’t like it. Sanji was obviously hiding a deep scar and he hated seeing that it was still hurting him. He filled the cups once more.

“Anyway. At a pretty young age, our father was training us to become commanders for his army” the blonde continued. “I was assigned as a swordsman. I trained for it until… I left my family.”

Zoro couldn’t believe it. His friend could have been a swordsman too. “How good were you?”

“Plain bad. Let’s just say my father wasn’t pleased about it.”

“What did he do?”

He shook his head. “I’ve said too much. Maybe another time.” He closed himself off. He wasn’t going to say any more, for now.

“Don’t worry. It’s in the past. You’re here now.”

Sanji looked up at the ceiling once more while laying down in his bed again. His rival did the same and the room became quiet. In the swordsman’s head, however, it was not quiet at all. He was really curious to know what his friend has been through and he was imagining so many scenarios. It wasn’t going to help him much. An idea popped in his mind.

“Let’s have a fight,”Zoro suggested, breaking the silence that had been going for few minutes now.

“We do that at least ten times a day, marimo.”

“I mean, a sword fight.” The concerned one looked at his crewmate like he'd grown a second head.

“Have you lost your mind? I’m not a swordsman! And I never use my hands while fighting, you know that!”

“A friendly sparring match,” he justified himself. “You’ll at least have a good memory of sword training.” 

Sanji was speechless. He didn’t know what to do with the marimo’s proposition. The latter then handed him one of his katana.

“Come on!” he insisted “see it as a revanche on your father.”

The blonde’s heart squeezed. How did his friend understand how many scars his biological father left him with? He looked at the sword in Zoro’s extended hand. It was Wado Ichimonji. The young man’s biggest treasure. He was dead serious and had just given the cook a great sign of trust.

“Okay” he obliged, not able to say “no” any more. He took the katana and the two men went to the ship’s deck under the surprised eyes of their crewmates. The whole crew had fallen silent when the two rivals each drew out a sword.

Zoro noticed that Sanji’s position was perfect. His hands were holding the handle at a good height, the blade in front of him. His feet were at a good distance apart and his whole body looked like it was ready to parry any attack. Everything in him showed sword training. How had he not noticed before? How had he not made the link with his cutting skills when he was cooking?

The green haired man did not have time to think, the cook was coming with a front attack. He didn’t have any difficulties blocking it, but was surprised by the precision and the strength of the strike. He counterattacked, but the blonde saw it coming and parried it effectively.

The match went on for a few minutes before the two men stopped. The whole crew stayed quiet during the fight.

“You could have been a really good swordsman,” Zoro commented, “you got skills.”

Sanji knew his rival hadn’t used his full potential, but he knew that he wasn’t the type to give compliments out of nowhere.

“I’m leaving the role to you” he said back with a smile in his voice.

“Uhh.. can somebody explain this to me?” asked Usopp. The crew looked like they were waiting for the answer eagerly. They were obviously confused by the whole scene they just saw.

“No,” the swordsman replied. “It’s between the cook and me.”

Life on the boat went on, as lively as usual. In the evening, when Zoro went up to the crow’s-nest, he saw a bottle of sake and some perfectly sculpted onigiri.

----------------

Thank for reading!

[recentanimenews]

QUEST: Celebrate One Piece Episode 1,000 By Becoming The Pirate King

  To celebrate the momentous event that is Episode 1,000 of the One Piece anime, Crunchyroll is sending you on a quest to see if you have what it takes to become the Pirate King. Call upon all of your knowledge of One Piece and the adventures of the Straw Hat Crew and see if you can answer questions based around eight different subjects relating to the anime’s universe (Geography, History, Science, Culture, Combat, Family, Government, and Anatomy.)

    Once you take all of these, you’ll receive a final code to enter and win your ultimate prize: the Straw Hats’ jolly roger and the title of Pirate King. So let’s set sail again as we test your One Piece memory in order to find your destiny!

  One Piece Geography Quiz

  The world of One Piece is vast, and contains a number of islands that have provided the setting for copious Straw Hat Crew adventures. Along the way, they’ve seen everything from the snowy landscape of Drum Island, to the deserts of Alabasta, to the rainforest atop a giant elephant called Zou, to the candy-coated Whole Cake Island. And now, it’s time to test your knowledge of them. Take this quiz below to see just how well you remember all the ins and outs of the world of One Piece!

        One Piece History Quiz

  Whether we’re dealing with flashbacks, explanations or simple references, it’s clear that the backstory of One Piece is anything but simple. And rather than distract from what’s going on, these tales of the past always manage to strengthen the current narrative, from the execution of Gol D. Roger to the childhood lives of beloved characters like Nami, Robin and Sanji. Now, it’s time to test your knowledge of it all. Take the quiz to see just how much you’ve paid attention to history lesson that is One Piece!

        One Piece Science Quiz

  The fascinating things found in the One Piece world go further than just Devil Fruits. There are inventions of all kinds, some created for good and others concocted for nefarious reasons that can be just as fascinating. Ranging from Nami’s Clima-Tact to Chopper’s Rumble Balls, the way they’re wielded are always entertaining. And now, it’s time to test your knowledge of them! Take the quiz below to see if you remember the various science experiments of One Piece?

        One Piece Culture Quiz

  Just like in the real world, the world of One Piece is full of culture - beliefs, entertainment, societal aspects that, when combined, give us a deeper look into what it’s like to live in the world of One Piece. Without these details, places like Dressrosa, Sabaody, and Skypiea just wouldn’t be as interesting. And now, it’s time to test your knowledge of these cool additions! Take the quiz below to test your memory of the rich culture found in Eiichiro Oda’s wonderful story.

        One Piece Family Quiz

  Whether you're dealing with found families or the bonds of blood, One Piece has a lot to say about the relationships we make and how important some connections can be. Every member of the Straw Hat Crew is defined by their experiences regarding this, experiences that set them up for the lives they want to live and the goals they want to pursue. Now it's time to test your knowledge regarding them! Take this quiz to see how much you remember about One Piece's special approach to family and friends!

        One Piece Anatomy Quiz

  From the very first episode of One Piece, we've been astounded by the use of Devil Fruits. Ever since it was revealed that Luffy was just as much rubber as he was man, the series has taken the powers granted by these mysterious things and gone in amazing, interesting and sometimes hilarious places with them. Sand, fire, ice, poison,..you name it, there's likely a Devil Fruit that delivers it. And now it's time to test your memory about the ins and outs of them. Take this quiz to see how much you remember about them and their many users!

        One Piece Combat Quiz

  One Piece features some of the most fun and thrilling scenes of combat around, taking people with amazing skills, awe-inspiring strength and impenetrable will and pitting them against one another in clashes around the Grand Line. You know when Luffy's fists start flying, it's about to get good. And now, it's time to test your knowledge about those many battles. Take this quiz to see how much you remember about One Piece's fantastic fight scenes!

        One Piece Government Quiz

  The world of One Piece is full of kingdoms, nations and organizations, all of which form an interconnected system that dictates power around the Grand Line. Of course, with so many dreams and strong individuals, there's always a chance for those systems to be overthrown and for chaos to emerge. And now, it's time to test your memory of how the government of this interesting world runs. Take this quiz to see what you've taken from the people and groups that run the sea. 

        FINAL QUIZ: INPUT YOUR CODES BELOW

    And make sure to check out One Piece Episode 1,000 this Saturday on Crunchyroll!

      Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

  By: Daniel Dockery

[mars-marshall-crouch]

One Piece

One Piece is created by Eiichiro Oda. And is a long running series in shounen jump magazine. First release in 1997 with 1001 chapter's over 24years.

It's one of my favourite manga series. It's really funny and serious. All the characters and the secondnary characters are rememberbel.

The story is long so I'm going to simplify its. Is about a boy name Luffy and he wants to be the king of the pirate king. Because he believes that the person to is the pirate king has the most freedom in the world.

The pages layout is busy but not confusing.

It's has lots of details but it's draw your attention to the importance part, by being bigger than ever thing else on the page.

I took the photo use for this research page.

I was lucky to go to the manga museum in London. It's was awesome seeing the original iconic scene from one piece. Looking at his work give me some ideas for my comic book.

[tsvalingprompts]

Marks

An anon requested the prompt “Having their hair washed by the other” for Hancock and Nami, and specified that it be platonic intimacy. The prompt request included a lot of details and extra characters that I felt were to restrictive to the nature of these prompts, so I did not stick to them, I’m sorry. There was also a request to hint at, or mention multiple pairings (4 total), and when I posted this list, I had specifically said only one pairing per ask, per prompt. So, I focused on the platonic intimacy between Hancock and Nami, and the only ship I allude to is LuHan because this is set in canon, thus Hancock’s affection for Luffy is a part of her character. I make zero mention of other pairings, though I will say, with the way I wrote it, Nami’s gay might be showing... a lot.

I personally feel that the direction I went in better encompasses the theme of intimacy, even platonic intimacy, so I hope the anon can forgive my decision not to follow their full request. 

Title: Marks Pairing: Boa Hancock/Nami Genre: Friendship, Comfort Rating: T Word Count: 1749 Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or the characters, they belong to Eiichiro Oda.

Nami never imagined that she would meet the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock. She knew the woman was fond of Luffy, heard all that she had done to help him when his crew could not. She wanted to meet her, to thank her for taking care of their captain, her best friend, because she never wanted to imagination a world without him in it.

But there she was, in all her glory, at the other end of the bathhouse, lounging with her sisters and snake after she helped cover their escape from the marines. She was captivating, intimidating. She knew Hancock was a beautiful woman, she knew all the stories of the men turned to stone, the men that fell at her feet, overcome with lust and desire. Those stories and the pictures in the papers didn’t do the real thing justice. No words or film could ever capture just how striking she was.

Nami wanted to talk to her, but she was scared. The woman was powerful, even stronger than she was beautiful. She was cold and distant, mistrusting, and the icy visage only added to her allure while terrifying her at the same time. She knew that wasn’t all there was to her. She had heard her swoon at the sight of Luffy, had seen her smile and sigh and radiate like a woman in love. There was warmth to her.

She was desperate to talk to this woman. She wanted to know her. She wanted to know why she was so cold. She wanted to know what had happened to make her hate so many men. She wanted to see the woman beneath, the woman who smiled and blushed all because the boy she liked said her name.

She gathered up every ounce of her courage and slipped through the water, toward the other side of the massive pool. Robin sat near her and arched a brow at Nami’s sudden boldness, but said nothing.

Hancock’s snake perked up and hissed, drawing the attention of the three women to the intruder. She and Robin had been graciously permitted to share the bath with them, but there had been a silent understanding that they were not to get too close.

Nami swallowed down her fear and stammered as the full weight of the Empress’ gaze landed on her. “Ah… Miss Empress… Your Grace? Ah…” She nearly bit her tongue to quiet her shriek when Hancock glared impatiently. “I was wondering… I… Can I wash your hair?” she finally squeaked out.

Her sisters gaped in surprise while Hancock’s perfectly shaped brow arched. Nami was terrified that she might be in danger of turning to stone at any given moment. Did her abilities work on women? She only heard of it working on men who lusted for the Empress. But rumors were rarely reliable.

“I would be most honored,” Nami added with a nervous laugh.

Hancock tilted her head to the side, bemused. “Why?”

“I… uh…” She glanced over her shoulder at Robin. Her friend gave her a reassuring nod. She turned back, shoulders straight, and held tight to false bravado. “If it weren’t for you, we might never have seen our captain again. The whole crew owes you more than we can ever repay for everything you’ve done for him.” She sighed as she stared at Hancock’s straight black hair as he floated around her in the water. “And your hair is so beautiful and silky, I need to touch it,” she thoughtlessly added before slapping her hands over her mouth to keep herself from saying more. She hadn’t meant to say that part out loud. It was true, but some things you just don’t say.

Not unless you want to be turned to stone.

She jumped at Hancock’s initial laugh. The woman kept a hand over her mouth and giggled, and despite being afraid for her life, Nami couldn’t help but find it cute.

“All right,” she agreed once she had calmed down. “I suppose you may.”

Nami grinned and slipped closer. Hancock’s sisters moved to allow Nami to sit on the edge of the bath behind her. The snake hissed another warning and coiled around his mistress, until she was comfortably settled on him like a throne. He placed his head on Hancock’s chest, smiled when she scratched his nose, and then closed his eyes to nap.

“That one there,” Hancock said as she pointed to a bottle of shampoo.

The whole gesture and her tone was so regal and graceful, it made Nami’s heart flutter. This woman was truly an Empress, carrying herself with the poise of royalty.

Nami snatched the bottle and gathered Hancock’s long hair in her lap. It was as silky as it looked, slipped through her fingers as easily as the water in the bath. Her shampoo was soft and fragrant, with a subtle earthy scent that soothed Nami’s nerves as she breathed it in. She began to lather it into Hancock’s scalp, and heard her breathe in deep before she relaxed into her snake with a long sigh. Nami dared to peek over the woman’s shoulder and saw that her eyes were shut, her lips quirked in a gentle smile.

She was so pretty, no wonder men lost their minds to lust when they saw her.

And Luffy was oblivious, but she supposed that was part of his appeal. He saw Hancock as a friend, a human being, an independent person who was strong and helpful. Hancock could be herself with him. Not the Pirate Empress, just Boa Hancock. It had to be a relief.

As Nami worked her way through Hancock’s hair, combing her fingers through it with the utmost care, she noticed a splash of color on her back. At first, she thought it was a birthmark, but as she moved her hair out of the way, she saw the familiar red claws of the Celestial Dragon’s slave mark.

She couldn’t stifle her gasp of surprise.

Hancock stiffened and tilted her head back. She saw a flash of fear before the Empress hid it behind an icy mask, a hint of ire.

Nami let her hair fall back into place to cover the mark and raised a trembling hand to her mouth as she sought something to say that might set her at ease. She could not imagine the life she had lived to have that mark on her. She remembered Jinbei’s story of Fisher Tiger, of Koala. She knew the trauma they endured.

“I…” she began, but Hancock turned forward with a dismissive wave.

“Since you are Luffy’s navigator, I will not turn you to stone,” she said, her tone sharp with a warning. “I expect you to remain silent.”

“Of course,” she breathed out. “I would never…”

She released a long, shaky breath and set back to work on Hancock’s hair. The ease of the gesture was gone, neither of them were comfortable with the intimacy any longer. Nami hadn’t intended that. She just wanted to know and understand the woman. She supposed she knew far more than she bargained for now.

“I…” she began to whisper, grappling for something to connect them, to end the tense silence.

She knew what it was like to be marked as property, though she also knew that no matter how awful a monster Arlong was, he was not as cruel as the Celestial Dragons. She witnessed how they treated their slaves first hand on Sabaody.

Fisher Tiger was a brother to him. Jinbei had once been, too.

“I was part of Arlong’s crew,” she whispered to Hancock. The woman’s head tilted, just enough to say that she was listening. “He’s a fishman… Was once a member of the Sun Pirates.”

“Hmm, the one Jinbei released when he became a warlord,” Hancock said. Of course, she would know about that. She was a warlord. “Fisher Tiger is the reason I am here,” she added so softly, Nami had to strain to hear. Hancock glanced back at her. “I saw him fight his owners and the others. He was vicious. It was terrifying. But… if he had not done what he did…” She trailed off, her eyes darted to her back. The mark. Fisher Tiger was the reason she was free.

Nami nodded in understanding. The tension leaked away a fraction as Hancock turned forward.

“Jinbei has told me of his guilt over Arlong,” Hancock said. “He regrets what he did.”

Nami sighed. “He attacked my village,” she told her. “Killed my mother. And took me for his crew at ten.” Hancock’s head snapped back, eyes wide in surprise. Nami forced a sullen smile. “He tattooed his mark to me.”

She did not have to say more for Hancock to understand. She pursed her lips, let her gaze search over Nami’s body until she turned enough for her to see the scar on her shoulder, masked by her pinwheel tattoo.

“I tried to cut it off,” she explained when Hancock’s lips parted in a silent gasp. “Luffy is the reason I’m here.”

Hancock stared at her, did not speak a word as she considered what Nami shared. She hadn’t spoken so much about Arlong with anyone since Luffy freed her. She had not been a slave as Hancock had, but she had been enslaved in another way. She had sold herself willingly, for the sake of her island, her village, her family. She had been afforded some freedom, there had been no ring around her neck. But, there was an invisible noose, a constant reminder that he could destroy her. Not her body. He would never kill her, she was too valuable for that. He could destroy her heart, though. He had shown her how easily he could do it. Just one bullet. That was all it would take. Her world would shatter, and she would have nothing left. She did not need a ring, only the lives that depended on her for peace and hope.

After a long minute, Hancock smiled. It was gentle, sweet, kind. She turned forward again and reclined into her snake.

“Finish my hair so I may wash yours next,” she said. “I want to hear everything you know about Luffy.”

Nami giggled. She had no doubt Hancock wanted to know as much about her captain as Nami could tell, but she knew that was not the reason she would wash her hair.

She could safely say that she had just made friends with the Pirate Empress.

[creative-type]

Building up to Arlong Part II

 In my previous post I started my analysis of the East Blue Saga, looking at the arcs leading up to Arlong Park to see how Eiichiro Oda grew as both an author and an artist in those early chapters as he built the series slowly towards the first “epic” moments of One Piece. 

I ended that post with Orange Town and how Buggy managed to do something no villain before him had done (be memorable and interesting). It’s interesting to see how Oda follows up on this breakthrough with...well, this guy

I don’t really have much to say about Gaimon’s arc...chapter...whatever the heck it is. It’s completely random and doesn’t fit well with the rest of the East Blue chapters.To be fair to Oda, he does  cut loose and show off some of his wacky creativity, and there is some world building as the Red Line gets its first inauspicious mention.

There’s also something to be said about Luffy and Nami getting to know one another better and further insight into Luffy as a character, but it’s not anything that isn’t accomplished better in other places

I will admit this made me laugh, though

Syrup Village

Moving on, we jump to Usopp’s recruitment arc. This one is one of the more intriguing of the East Blue arcs (intriguing not equaling good) in that I liked a lot of the individual pieces but found the overall product to be a little lackluster. 

I think part of this is the setting. One Piece is at its best when it’s exploring wild and crazy new places, but Oda hasn’t gotten to that point in the series yet. This arc’s supporting cast is also pretty generic. Usopp’s Pirate Gang aren’t the most annoying little kids I’ve ever seen, but they are annoying little kids. Kaya is...okay. She shows some real gumption after Kuro shows his true colors, but I’m not sure that makes up for all the time she spent being boring early on.

Usopp himself can be hard to like, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Usopp is the everyman of One Piece. He’s not a power fantasy like Luffy or Zoro nor supernaturally talented like Nami. He has the greatest personal flaws of any of the Straw Hats, and his dream is the only one in the crew to be internal rather than external. With that in mind, firmly establishing Usopp’s foibles and his weaknesses makes his victories - both in this arc and later in the series - all the sweeter, even if it makes these chapters a bit of a slog to get through.

This arc does manage two things that would later become staples of the series, and once again we have our villains to thank

There are some very specific trends in One Piece’s villainous organizations. Most are headed by the main antagonist of the arc and are fought by Luffy. Below the leader there’s usually an annoying, but decently strong character taken out relatively early on (think Pearl, Mr.5/Miss Valentine, Satori, etc). This character acts as both hype and a teaser for bigger fights to come, but also carry some narrative weight by giving insight into the plans/mindset/priorities of the enemy organization as a whole. 

Lastly, Oda usually adds a lovable, quirky villain who, if not the second in command, is one of the strongest fighters in the arc. These characters humanize the Straw Hat’s enemies, add levity, and are generally really fun - so much so that more often then not they return later in the series as a recurring character.

The Nyaban brothers fit into the annoying but decently strong category, but Jango steals the show as the first lovable, quirky minion of the series (I think Oda tried with Buggy’s crew, but they lack the necessary charm to pull it off). Heck, the first thing we see him do is accidentally hypnotize himself after moonwalking down the path to Usopp’s village. Later on it’s hard not to feel at least a little bit sorry for the guy when we see the hopeless position Kuro has put him in. Jango may be an antagonist, but he’s fun and likable and honestly having him join the marines through the power of dance is amazing.

Gin, Hatchan, Betham, and Kaku all fit to one degree of another into this mold, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Jango.

Secondly, Kuro is the first cerebral villain of the series. Alvida and Morgan relied on brute strength, and while Buggy exhibited a certain amount of cunning he, too, was focused on overwhelming firepower and his Devil Fruit to win the day. 

Kuro of a Thousand Plans. His epithet says it all. Kuro is conniving, sneaky, underhanded, and without a shred of honor to hold him back as he meticulously plans to murder a sickly girl for nothing more than his own peace and comfort. 

All of Oda’s most memorable villains have this Machiavellian mindset. Crocodile, Doflamingo, and most of all Blackbeard are all chess masters to one degree or another. Though their end goals are completely different, you can see a lot of Crocodile especially in how Kuro built up an unshakable reputation while biding his time to strike. They even share a penchant for breaking speeches

It’s such a little thing, but the words “I suffered” elevate Kuro to one of my favorite East Blue villains, well above even Buggy. It’s so needlessly cruel, twisting the knife right where he knows it will hurt most, just because he can, and I freaking love it.

As a side note before moving on, Oda’s attention to detail is also to be commended during this arc. The way Kuro adjusts his glasses makes for an excellent and chilling re-read bonus, and connecting Morgan’s past to Kuro’s gives the former a little more depth than before.

The Baratie

It’s interesting to compare the Baratie to Syrup village because in many ways these arcs have opposite strengths and weaknesses. Where Syrup village had strong antagonists and a weak setting/side characters, the Baratie is the most memorable locale of the East Blue Saga and has an extremely strong secondary cast.

The Baratie as a concept brilliantly fits into the world of One Piece. The idea of a floating restaurant in a world that’s 90% ocean makes perfect sense, and it’s one of the times that Oda integrates the setting with his characterization. It’s not creativity for creativity’s sake, and unlike Gaimon’s sub-arc...chapter...whatever that was there’s a method behind the madness. 

This excellent setup is the backdrop to some superb character writing. Sanji is by no means my favorite Straw Hat, but his strained relationship between Zeff and the rest of the Baratie is done extremely well. It’s one of those situations where no one is 100% right or wrong and you just wish they’d all enter counseling or something so they could figure out how to talk to one another without resorting to violence.

It doesn’t hurt that this is when Oda figures out how to properly use the power of Tragic Backstory (tm) to its most devastating effect. While no (named) characters die, Sanji’s backstory is raw, painful, and emotional in all the right places. It’s in expressing these extreme emotions where Oda’s cartoony style is at its most effective. Oda’s characters don’t just cry, they cry ugly, and that’s so important when setting the tone of these heavy moments.

I don’t have much to say on Kreig or his crew because he’s boring and I despise Pearl with every fiber of my being, but once again we get some fun fight choreography. I especially like the sequence when Sanji spits his cigarette into Gin’s face before kicking him halfway across the deck, only to get a tonfa to the ribs for his effort. 

Also this happens, and it’s soooo satisfying to see Kreig get punched in the face. 10/10, would watch again

But the one thing that the Baratie does best of all the East Blue arcs - better than even Arlong Park - is world building. The entire series people have been telling Luffy and co. that the Grand Line is super dangerous and that he shouldn’t go, but it’s only here that we see that we see that played out in real time with Mihawk’s introduction to the plot. The Straw Hats have thus far been presented as invincible badasses when they’re nothing more than a big fish in a little pond.

All the stuff with Mihawk is big-picture storytelling and one of Zoro’s best moments. I don’t think that anyone who follows One Piece needs to be told how well Oda does at developing his world. More important to the build up to Arlong Park is Oda’s use of immediate foreshadowing. Right about the time Mihawk shows up Johnny and Yosaku catch Nami checking out bounties, specifically Arlong’s though he’s never named and we don’t see his picture. Immediately after Nami steals the Going Merry so she can run away, and we see her facade start to crack a little under pressure. Note especially how utterly exhausted she looks in this panel here

This all happens in the same chapter Zoro challenges Mihawk, and the action cuts between the swordsman’s pre-fight banter and the story of how Johnny and Yosaku lost the Merry. Zoro’s fight is the more immediate concern, but when constructing the chapter, instead of going out on that high note Oda cuts back to Nami a second time, this time sailing alone on the open ocean

If it weren’t already obvious by the whole rest of the series, this scene proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that there’s more to Nami than meets the eye. This is the first time we see her truly vulnerable, almost to the point of being broken, and it puts a completely different meaning to all her actions previous and what we’ll see coming up in later chapters.

I do think there is some significance to putting the Nami scene last over Zoro’s, because as the last thing the audience reads it’s what tends to stick in their mind longest week to week. We don’t see Nami again for a long time, and when we do all her defensive walls are firmly back in place. This is the Nami Oda wants us to remember when she’s going around Cocoyashi village telling Luffy to leave her the hell alone.

The Conclusion

What really stands out to me when going over these early chapters leading up to Arlong Park is Oda’s vision for the series from the word go, even when his execution isn’t as consistent as later on in the series. The whole East Blue saga exists to do two things 1) build the core of the Straw Hat Pirates 2) answer the question Who is Luffy.

Each antagonist from the lowly Alvida to Arlong himself has a weakness in their leadership ability that directly foils Luffy. These chapters show us what kind of pirate, what kind of captain, and most of all what kind of man Monkey D Luffy is, and what values he will and will not stand for. 

Arlong Park is the emotional peak of the East Blue saga, and it works because Oda has taken the time to build up to that peak. The impact would not have been the same if it had been placed earlier in the series because it would not feel earned without seeing Nami interact with the rest of the crew for as long as she did. Nor would it have worked if Oda hadn’t placed the breadcrumbs of her story for the audience to pick up along the way. 

It’s impossible for every arc to hit all the high points that Arlong Park does, because not all arcs are designed to do so, nor should they. That being said, there’s a steady increase in quality seen even in these early chapters as Oda gets his sea legs and figures out exactly what story he’s trying to tell.

[one-piece-moments]

Eiichiro Oda’s attention to details: Luffy’s hercules beetle

In chapter 235, the Strawhats are about to set sail to catch the Knock-Up Stream that is going to take them up to Skypiea. Luffy is late, since the night before he went to Mock Town to bring back the golden treasure that Bellamy stole from Montblanc Cricket after beating him up. However, that issue was quickly resolved. This is the real reason Luffy was late:

He learns that Cricket and his men have modified the Going Merry to be able to carry the Strawhats to the sky, and this is how he decides to thank them:

Later, in chapter 299, Luffy finally rings the golden bell, proving that Montblanc Noland (Cricket’s ancestor) was not a liar.

If you look at the bottom left corner, you will see that they placed Luffy’s beetle in a little cage:

So then, in the cover story for chapter 643, we get a look at Cricket, Masira and Shoujou after the two-year timeskip, and take a look at what Shoujou is carrying on a strap:

Adorable.

[one-piece-moments]

Eiichiro Oda’s attention to details: Michael and Hoichael from Water 7

In chapter 366, while on the road to Enies Lobby aboard the Rocket Man, Peeply Lulu and Tilestone ask Paulie to fill them in on the details regarding the betrayal that happened within the Galley LA. We readers already know that the CP9 undercover agents were Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa and Blueno.

Peeply Lulu and Tilestone feel like they’ve also figured out the truth, however...

Later in chapter 432, after Luffy has successfully defeated Lucci and the Strawhats were able to safely return to Water 7, Zoro is chilling by the shoreline and spots a Marine warship. He rushes back to town to warn his friends. However, being Zoro, he gets lost and has to rely on the help of two strangers (who attempt to mug him) to get back to his friends.

Now take a look at who these strangers happen to be, especially pay attention to the shirts they’re wearing:

No wonder Peeply Lulu and Tilestone thought they were the moles! They look super sketchy!

[recentanimenews]

One Piece Art Exhibition "BUSTERCALL=ONE PIECE" will Arrive at Yokohama This Spring

    "BUSTERCALL Project" is an art project dedicated to the One Piece manga/anime franchise that has expanded to the world for more than 20 years. Artists in Japan and around the world have joined the project to express its overwhelming story, messages, and contents in completely new forms.

  The project's official Instagram writes:

  "This Project, in collaboration with Japanese and global artists, will recreate the identity of the ONE PIECE manga and anime series that has been a global phenomenon for over 20 years with it’s irresistibly passionate story lines, messages and content. The global artists’ free and diversely humorous creations will revitalise our traditional society and through ONE PIECE we aim to create a new sense of values."

  The project started on Instagram on October 4, 2019. Then its booth was exhibited at events in two cities, "ComplexCon Long Beach" held in Los Angeles in November 2019 and "innersect Shanghai" in Shanghai in the following December, attracting the attention of many visitors, mainly One Piece fans from around the world.

  Its first exhibition event in Japan, titled "BUSTERCALL=ONE PIECE Exhibition" is set to be held at the entertainment complex building "ASOBUILD" in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefcture, from March 29 to April 12, 2020, for a limited time of two weeks. More details will be revealed at a later date. 

  The catchphrase for the event is "A will to be inherited. People's Dream, the wave of times. As long as people ask for the answer of 'freedom,' they will never stop. "

    Announcement PV:

      "One Piece" manga visual by the original author Eiichiro Oda:

    Source: "BUSTERCALL" PR Executive Office press release

  "One Piece" visual (C)Eiichiro Oda/SHUEIHSA

  By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com