Guess I should back track before complaining about what happened to one of the best characters in the show, eh?
We start with Zombie Efrim taking Nora’s mind-controlled body out to meet their mother. Looks likes he’s all finished using Nora to whip up a portal between the World of Twelve and Necroworld, so taking a little personal time to hit mommy with a few emotional jabs is the perfect way to finish off his productive day. It also doubles as a convenient way to let our heroes know Efrim is a Necro and has been using Nora to create portals.
This family reunion also gives the heroes a heads-up that the main invasion is about to go down. Oops! Probably should’ve sent an e-mail instead, Efrim.
Poor Nora gets a one-way ticket to Necroworld. Hey? Guess who’s gonna be making portals to every planet with life for Team Toross after the World of Twelve gets Sunday brunch’d? Here’s a hint: It ain’t Chell.
What? You said you wanted to get “stoned”.
Nora learning her “dead” twin brother’s been using her to jump start an universal zombie apocalypse is harsh. Toross is loving it though. In his eyes everyone will be equal because anyone left will just be a hungry Necro looking for their next meal. In case you haven’t guessed…Toross is a bit crazy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you’re an average My Hero Academia fan, you’re probably happy your favorite series is getting an anime original sequel.
Well, I got some new for you:
My Hero Vigilantes is a prequel that begins roughly five years before the start of My Hero Academia. And…
The story is based on the spin-off manga, My Hero Vigilantes written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court.
Is it good? Yes. Yes! YES! It’s good. But, if you’re thinking this is just another battle shonen series like My Hero Academia, then think again.
My Hero Vigilantes is a more street-level character-focused series. Sure, it’s got action, but it’s not the focus. Think of it more as a Shonen slice-of-life series and you’ll be fine. The trade-off with there being less action is more time to develop the main and supporting characters. MHV draws it’s audience in with fun and interesting characters while expanding on the lore of the My Hero world. It’s not MHA’s successor. It’s an addendum to that universe.
Look, don’t think about it too hard, alright? It’s not My Hero Academia but a separate story taking place in that same world. When April rolls around, sit back, relax and have a good time watching it.
Then regret making Bakugo the World’s Best Hero and not Koichi. How DARE you not vote for him! Number 34?! You bastards! I’ll get you for this! I swear! You’ll PAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!
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.
Noximilien. Qilby. Oropo. Toross Mordal. The Big Bads of Wakfu. One of these baddies suck. Care to guess which one?
…Qilby?
WRONG! I’m so disappointed in you, dear reader. No Yugo energy dinner for you!
Last episode ended with Yugo’s capture by Mordal. We open this episode, not surprisingly, with our favorite hero confined to a Wakfu sucking tower for the nutritional enjoyment of the residents of evil in Necroworld. Talk about a biohazard.
If Yugo’s Wakfu energy’s completely drained he dies or becomes a Wakfu Zombie. But, not to worry because…
(1.) Mordal knows how to ration Wakfu and…
(2.) Yugo’s got help in the form of…Oropo.
You’ve seen it before, my fellow anime/anime-adjacent cartoon fans. The Big Bad is super powerful—almost unstoppable—so the hero(es) must find a way to level up their skills, train to become stronger, or simply bullsh*t their way to ultimate victory.
Little Yugo’s getting a bit of all three.
Welcome to adulthood, Yugo. Enjoy your complimentary stack of bills and bowl of responsibilities.
~Mind Training~
Yep. Yugo’s mind training to up his EXP Points thanks to Oropo and Bouillon, two of Yugo’s unplanned kids (I guess Bouillon’s a Eliatrope despite not having Wakfu horns. Maybe glowing eyes is enough?) living in Yugo’s subconscious? Consciousness? Whatever. It’s all bullsh*t to make Yugo powerful enough to stop Mordal once he escapes. And you KNOW he’s gonna escape at some point.
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.
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 