Categories
Manga One Piece

Take a Picture, It’ll Last Longer [One Piece 1138]

So…uh…anyone know what The Harley is talking about?

Safe to say the Harley’s passages matches the mural. Let’s assume each area of mural under a Harley passage represents that particular message. If so, let’s try figuring out what’s going on based off of what we currently know about the One Piece world and its past.

The First World

Ok… Ah, the Mother Flame. Cities. …Maybe the world was advanced and that civilization discovered the Mother Flame. Things went downhill from there and somehow the planet was destroyed. Remember, we recently learned the One Piece world was destroyed twice. Once during the Void Century and the other, I presume, was way way WAY back in an advanced age.

If the Sun God is Nika, then the Earth God was Imu? Or, whoever had the Earth God powers during that time? And does all this earth talk symbolize the creation of the Red Line and it subsequent separation of the planet into four blues? Sure, let’s go with that.

The Second World

“The Forest God tamed demons” could mean during this low point in history, devil fruits somehow appeared in the world and were used to fight the demons? [Wait, wait, wait! Does that mean demons were unleashed because the ancient civilization dug too deep for the Mother Flame and awoke them? Like when the Dwarves in Lord of The Rings mined to deep and awoke the Balrog? Hmm…]

Those of the half-moon and moon dreamed? Hmm… Lunarians and…some other race of people, I guess. The sea god storming could mean devil fruit users gaining their water weakness. If so, it’s interesting something happened to give them that vulnerability rather than it always being there.

The World Tree also plays a role here but I’m not sure what that was. Unless… Were devil fruits born from it?! Devil fruits originated on Elbaph. A place where horned giants that could be mistaken for demons lived and has an area they call the Underworld… Fascinating!

Apocalyptic Graffiti. Usually you only see that in New Jersey.

We see flying arks in the mural similar to the one God Enel built (no doubt from ancient blueprints he found or stole somewhere). Did the Lunarians and others escape the demon infested planet in order to live peacefully on the moon? If so, are they still there? I don’t think it was ever confirmed if anyone was still alive up there except for the Space Pirates before Enel got there.

“Man killed the sun and became god” I take that as Team Imu (the united countries that founded the World Government) attacking the last remnant of the formerly vast ancient civilization (now only one island, Laugh Tale), flooding the planet, and taking over the world. Imu later moves into the Lunarians abandoned territory atop the Red Line and creates Marijoa. Basically, The Second World describes what happened during the Void Century.

Categories
Manga One Piece

Oh, Brother! [One Piece 1137]

Show, Don't Tell.

I guess Oda didn’t get the memo.

Lots of telling in this chapter, huh? It’s all setting up the upcoming conflict and the big Elbaph flashback, of course. Let’s see: Ancient Giants, Loki, Hajrudin, Other Giant Nations, Linlin, Saul, King Harald, King Harald’s Baby Mommas… That’s a lot of ground to cover. Put me down for at least ten Elbaph flashback chapters.

…Oh, what the heck? Make it twelve chapters!

Hajrudin wants to be King of the Pir—erm—Giants. Can we please have a democracy somewhere in One Piece? No? Okay, then.

Also, for someone carrying foreign blood, Hajrudin had the people cheering him on after making his king declaration at the feast. What happened to all the MAGA Giants? Is there a proud giant stealthy waiting in the background to ask Hajrudin for his birth certificate? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

The twist: Shanks is a triplet! See you in 100 chapters, Shamar.

I do like confirmation Giant territories exist outside Elbaph. Where are they? Are they part of the World Government? I hope those questions are answered soon.

Categories
anime Editorial Manga My Hero Vigilantes

5 Things You (Don’t) Need To Know Before Watching My Hero Vigilantes

What’s wrong, friend? That FOMO feeling’s got you down? Afraid all the cool kids know about My Hero Vigilantes and you don’t? Well, I say don’t fret about it!

Seriously don’t. Just watch the anime cold and enjoy yourself.

…Still here? Fine. Here’re five spoiler-free things you can know about My Hero Vigilantes (assuming it’s a faithful adaption of the manga).

1.) You don’t need to have watched and/or read My Hero Academia to enjoy the series.

My Hero Academia (manga) started in July 2014. My Hero Vigilantes (manga) began in August 2016. The two-year old world of MHA had already established itself enough to carry a spin-off without relying on the main characters or plots from the main series.

Not to mention, the creators of My Hero Vigilantes (writer, Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrator, Betten Court) could always run any questions or ideas by Horikoshi, ensuring nothing they did broke the main series’ continuity. Basically: Vigilantes taking place in the same world as MHA is all you need to know.

Sure, your enjoyment may be enhanced with knowledge from the main series, but it isn’t essential. My Hero Vigilantes contains it’s own story with it’s own main characters for you to invest in and join on their journey. Dekus and Bakugos need not apply!

2.) My Hero Vigilantes takes place five years before the start of My Hero Academia.

MHV is a prequel. That way its creators don’t have to keep changing course if something major happens to the world in the present main series. It gave the MHV creators additional free-reign over their story. And as a byproduct, it allowed readers to see some supporting characters from the main series when they were a bit younger, learning some things about them we never would’ve learned in MHA. A win-win for everyone.

Categories
Manga One Piece

Ain’t No Party Like An Elbaph Party [One Piece 1136]

Cause an Elbaph party don’t stop!

And not just any ole party: A Lore Dump Party!

Someone pass me the Hennessey! Woo!

So, Loki was a jerk since day one, huh? Who wanna bet he did all of those “pranks” as a way to toughen up the people of Elbaph? Don’t get me wrong, Loki’s absolutely an arc antagonistic but the Celestial Dragons will always be the worst of the worst in One Piece. I bet the Holy Knights want Loki to kill Luffy AKA Nika 2.0. Why else would they offer him a place at the inbred Celestial Dragon knights table?

Start the countdown for Shank’s flashback, Y’all. It’s gotta happen this arc with his (most likely) brother appearing on the island. I wonder will Shanks himself return to Elbaph and reunite with Luffy? Hmm…

Look. She was in a hurry, okay?! Not everyone has time to put on pants you know.
Categories
Manga One Piece

Hi, Kids, Do You Like Violence? [One Piece 1135]

Peace? That’s no fun!

It takes chapters like this to remind me just how chaotic Luffy really his, wanting Elbaph to be a warrior nation instead of peaceful. What a jerk! No wonder he’s a pirate. Next time I see him I’m snitching to the Navy.

Biblo the Owl. Is it a creature like Zunesha? Meaning, has it been around since the Void Century? Won’t be surprised if it’s true. Putting a lore pin in that until later in the arc.

Got confirmation Collun’s dad is a former human pirate. Scopper Gaban? A former pirate who’s powerful and had a reason to hide on a non World Government affiliated island like Elbaph? Yep, it’s him. Trust me. When have I ever let you down? Well, let you down this year?

“We hate vylence!! Except for Fortnite. And Marvel movies. And cats slapping dogs YouTube videos. And…”

Bonney and Lilith are looking for residency status on Elbaph. And while they’re at it, they can move into background character status. Your arc’s over. Oda will call you for the plot if he needs ya.

Categories
Manga One Piece

Library of Progress [One Piece 1134]

Everyone’s so happy. It’d be a shame if a couple baddies teleported down onto a magic pentagram circle to ruin it.

Let’s jump right into the last pages. Dark lightning/energy? A summoning circle we’ve seen only the Five Elders previously use? Someone looking like Shanks appears? It’s gotta be Saint Figarland Garling!

Makes since if the theory he’s Shank’s father is true. King Imu gives him the power to look younger and BLAM! He’s on Elbaph disguised as Shanks on the same island he knows the Straw Hat Crew escaped to. Now he can hunt down Lilith, destroy Ohara’s books (if he finds out they still exist), and geniuely be a pain in the butt to any and everyone on Elbaph. Perfect. I’m such a genius!

…Hm? What is it, fellow reader? Last page of One Piece 1121? No, I don’t reme—

Shanks’s twin brother, Spanks. He likes it rough.

Oh.

Well maybe I am over thinking things and it’s just Shanks’ brother.

Categories
Manga One Piece

When Nico Robin’s Happy, We’re Happy [One Piece 1133]

It’s a long time coming. Good for you, Robin!

Nico Robin reunites with her childhood friend, Saul. A very straightforward chapter that needed to be this way.

Oda’s got no problem jumping scene-to-scene within an One Piece chapter. A chapter can feature dozens of named characters shown in different parts of an island or even throughout the entire world in order to advance the plot. The fact that Oda focused most of this chapter exclusively on Robin shows just how important she and her reunion with Saul is to the series.

When we first saw Robin’s childhood flashback we had little information on why the Five Elders were willing to destroy an entire island just to cover up the past. Looking back at it now with what we currently know about the history of Planet…um…One Piece, I understand why the World Government is so determined to find her.

“Actually, it’s Dr. Saul now. Dereshi Shi Shi!!”
Categories
Manga One Piece

Sun Wooorld Over The Rainbow♪ [One Piece 1132]

Luffy’s gonna free Loki, isn’t he?

Obviously Luffy’s been tricked by Loki into helping him escape. Loki even mentions in a previous chapter that the key to his chains is located somewhere in the Elbaph village.

It makes sense Luffy got duped given Loki’s also referred to as the God of Mischief. A Trickster God, if you will. Yep, ole Luffy’s been Gum-Gum Bamboozled.

I’m interested in seeing if most or all of the giants will turn on the Straw Hat Pirates if Luffy does indeed free Loki. Either way, Loki is bringing harsh conflict, violent Sun God battles, and a world-ending Ragnarök. Yay!

Blue Shell incoming!
Categories
Manga One Piece

Luffy’s Frosty Rubber Nips [One Piece 1131]

Seriously, isn’t he cold out there?

At first I thought Prince Loki wasn’t a Sun God, just someone impersonating one. You know. Since Luffy is the Sun God. But! What if Luffy’s A sun god, not THE sun god? Luffy ate the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. It’s possible Loki’s family passed down another Human-Human devil fruit similar to Joy Boy’s version. Well, I doubt Loki’s a rubber man, but seeing as he’s in Elbaph’s “Underworld” with no sun, I bet he feeds on its power. Think Oda’s version of an evil Superman. The more solar energy Loki absorbs, the stronger he gets. A good theory, if I say so myself.

Shanks and Loki know each other, huh? Did Shanks have a hand in stopping Loki six years ago? Probably. No doubt it’s why the Red-Haired Pirates are allies with the giants of Elbaph since Warland sure as heck doesn’t need protection on a regular basis. Gotta say, I’m liking Luffy meeting the possible Big Bad of the arc early. Yep, I’m still not 100% sold on Loki being the final villain of the arc, but he’s still up there. Like a 90% chance it’s gonna be him. Anything other than that will be Oda fooling us all, which can happen.

Luffy unlocked Thermal Haki
Categories
Manga One Piece

Loki: Season 3 [One Piece 1130]

Why is Loki so hot?!

And not just him. Both Gerd and Goldberg are good looking too. Gerd’s rockin’ your standard cute but organ-less Oda woman body-type while Goldberg’s happy-go-lucky attitude would make anyone want to give that hunk of chunk a squeeze.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about Princess Vivi’s message to the crew. You know? The “X” on Gear Five Luffy’s arm? Quite the coincidence the Straw Hats who would recognize and understand the significance of that mark aren’t there to see it, huh? Oh, well, it’s just to let the Straw Hats know Vivi’s alive and well. We probably won’t see the other Straw Hat crew members’ reaction to it until much later.

…Unless, Vivi reunites with them on Elbaph.

So horny. The hat I mean! Not me. Definitely…not me.
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