One Piece (Beware, spoilers)

[FelixSH]

I like that thought, about Devil Fruits channelling something from the past. And yeah, makes sense. I think you might have read a different translation than I, because looking at it, the mural is definitely translated differently now, than when I first read it.

I can't shake the feeling, that the bit from The Second World paints Joyboy in a not perfect light. He clearly started the war. But then, that might not be a bad thing, if the "Gods of the Forest" used devil fruits. Would be an interesting twist, if the conflict of the Lost Century was a bit more complicated, and Imu and not just a monster back then. Maybe a bit of a fake saviour, who used the legend of Nika to gain support by the people? Dunno, not that Joyboy is supposed to be EVIL now, I just would find it nice if the conflict was a bit more complex than what we (or at least I) expect it to be at the moment, with clear heroes and villains.

This is the lore drop of all lore drops, isn't it? That panel alone contains so, so much.

 

[Pombar]

Fun chapter, and a surprise reveal of the Wano-hat Roger crewmate at last!

 

[FelixSH]

I can't even remember where we saw him up to now. I remember the design, but elsewise, no idea. Wouldn't have realized who it is, without Oda explicitely telling us.

Still, pretty cool. I assume Luffy now gets another mentor? I really wonder wht his role in this arc will be.

 

[Pombar]

We’ve seen his old self wearing the Wano hat on the cover of Chapter 631, drinking with Crocus and Laboon, and then he talks to Marco before the latter came to Wano. His younger self appears in all the major Roger Crew flashback but hadn’t been connected to this older self until now

 

[FelixSH]

That last page, Loki standing, his face in shadow and blood - and then his grinning face. Amazing. Love it. And it's kinda crazy, that he is now (nearly) free. Kinda insane, that we are already there.

Sorry for repeating myself once more, but I just can't help it - I love the design of the giants, and seeing these specific ones in that boat together is such a nice panel. I'm still so happy, to be in Elbaf. It's such a cool place.

I want to see Loki now wreck something. Not necessarily the other giants, I want to see how strong he is, fighting against some actual enemies, like one of the holy knights. I generally trust Oda, but at the moment, I fear a bit that Loki might be a letdown (maybe that's why there is still some seastone on him, and he is deadly wounded, too). He is supposed to be this monster, nearly unbeatable giant of giants. But he can't just defeat that bandage woman whose name I forgot. Dunno, we'll see.

Oh, and I really enjoy Luffy/Zorro time. I really enjoy their chemistry and the way they work together.

 

[Pombar]

I have little to add beyond what you already said, but I will say that I’m loving how Usopp is just as overjoyed to be there as we the audience are for him to be.

 

[FelixSH]

Wow, didn't understand how gigantic Loki is, until now. Great panel. Also, didn't expect him to go all in immediately, starting to wreck stuff. This seems really bad. But again, he is heavily hurt, so it should be possible to bring him down. But whatever happens, I expect the giants will, at least for now, have a different opinion of Luffy.

That, and the situation with the children - things going bad fast.

Also, a devil fruit that lets someone manifest nightmares of a person is a pretty cool idea. And the monsters don't seem to be that trivial to defeat.

 

[FelixSH]

Read through it a second time, and wanted to add a bit.

I love the design of the nightmare creatures. They look so goofy, but the way they are drawn in that panel, dwarfing the giants, is great, and makes them actively horrifying. Still, great, great designs. Don't even know which is my favourite, but I guess it's that wolf. Low-key favorite is the mum, which I missed the first time, hidden on the left between two speech bubbles.

Also, Oda is so good at drawing hits, where you can feel the impact. The panel, where the principal wrecks the snake with his giant hammer is awesome, as is Sauls punch. But also, Lokis hit against Yggdrasil is insane. And it's a beautiful panel, the way Loki is drawn, with his pelt, or whatever his cape is made out of.

Oh, and love the desing of the walrus giant, the principal. Not much to say, it's great, I love it. Especially after seeing him first in his role as principal, sitting peacefully at his chair, looking like a harmless, old dude. And then coming in, and hitting that snake with his giant hammer.

I'm hoping the Straw Hats that aren't with Luffy now will be shown fighting against the nightmares. Not sure, how effective some of them can be against these gigantic monsters, but then, they were able to fight against Orz, even before the time skip. I mean, Nami can throw thunderbolts, Usopp has his fun shooty seeds which should be able to do weird stuff, chopper can become pretty big himself, Robin too, when she isn't just in demon form, Jinbei is a powerhouse and Brook might be able to counter whatever sleep spell is on the kids, being a bard with weird, musical abilities. It would be a great opportunity to give them all a chance to shine.

 

[Pombar]

I feel like we may not see proper fights here in this arc, given we had extended ones in Wano and presumably have ones coming up against the Blackbeard Pirates and possibly some senior marines, the Elders, and Imu. So I’m expecting more showcasey big hits and quick resolutions rather than fights where each crewmate shows their stuff.

But yeah, more good chapters rolling in. Interested where Oda is going with these Gods’ Knights, as they seem a late addition on top of all the stuff that wants wrapping up in the next few years.

 

[FelixSH]

Oh, I didn't mean one on one fights. I meant more, that despite their size and power, these nightmares are essentially trashmobs, and I want to see the Strawhats crash them. With some work, but not as extended fights. I think that would be fun. Maybe over one or two chapters, were we jump between Loki, and then we see one or two pages of Nami throwing a thunderbolt at the wolf, then back to Loki, than show Chopper wreck another nightmare. Something like that. But I think that's kinda similar to what you mean anyway.

The Gods Knights are interesting in any case. They just aren't the regular Celestial Dragons, these people are powerful. And the one who is transformed into a Kirin, I think, confuses me. Seems like someone like that wouldn't be accepted around the Celestial Dragons, having eaten a devil fruit (think that's taboo for them, isn't it?).

But yeah, I get a bit of a Worst Generation feeling from them, where Oda felt the need to add some spice, so he needed some extra group. Which makes sense, this way the Strawhats can actually interact with these assholes. And I assume Shamrock, and generally Shanks family, was always planned to be Celestial Dragons, and he needed a way for them to actively participate in the story, instead of just sitting around. And instead of just this one family, he probably thought "why not make up some more weirdos?", as he seemingly likes to do.

 

[FelixSH]

I had to laugh, when Loki went down. Just like that. And we already get to some truth. I guess it's time for a flashback? Short, I guess, but still.

I still don't get how some of the Celestial Dragons become people like this. The Gods Knights are so different, from how regular CDs behave. And there's no way, that Kirin-dude can live near "regular" looking CDs, he would be an abomination to them. I wonder, with them expecting people to be perfect, or something, maybe if a kid doesn't fulfill some weird, arbitrary standard, it might get killed. Or taken in to become a Gods Knight, someone outside of the regular society.

 

[Pombar]

I suppose that God's Knights end up a bit quirkier and more human by spending time in the outside world and not just settling for a pampered life. Though they still clearly have the same total disregard for the lives of regular people. As for the Kirin dude I'm assuming this is him in a mixed Zoan state rather than his default human form.

 

[FelixSH]

That is a good thought, makes sense that being around other people might make you a bit more normal. Honestly, with them it hits even harder for me, when they act like normal people are garbage. I want to like them, at least the thorn dude, but he's just another ass.

Also, I'm watching a video about Smoker at the moment, and he is probably the character I miss the most. I hope he will get some time in the spotlight, at some point again, at least on the side. I loved his and Tashigis role in Alabasta, and he was such a powerful presence, when he first appeared (plus the way how he then apologizes to the girl who runs into him with the icecream is adorable).

I really like Smoker and Tashigi, it's a shame that he mainly vanished. I forgot, is he part of that fraction of the marines where Coby and Helmeppo are? Sword, I think?

Also, I can't stop thinking that he, at least the way he started out and hunted Luffy, is inspired by Les Miserables Javert.

 

[Pombar]

He is in Sword as far as I know, yeah.

I wonder if Punk Hazard was meant to be the big Smoker arc and he’s more or less done now. Certainly his main intimidation factor early on was being a Logia and using Seastone, neither of which are all that scary anymore.