Tag: One Piece

Who cares about him? I’m loving all the stuff about the Whitebeard and Roger Pirates!

Let’s get into the meat of the chapter, Orochi Kurozumi’s rise to power. It was all due to an old woman I assume to be Orochi’s grandmother. It looks like she escaped Wano after Orochi’s grandfather got busted for murdering his fellow Daimyos all to take the Shogun title. What’s interesting to me is how someone from Wano not only learned all about devil fruits, but managed to get at least two, one for herself, and one, a mythical devil fruit, for Orochi. There’s definitely more going on here, y’all. Maybe the Kurozumi Family had access to ancient knowledge just like the Kozuki Clan.

Using her Clone-Clone fruit (Yes, the same devil fruit used by Bentham AKA Bon Clay AKA Mr. 2 today.), the Old Lady hatched a plan to have Orochi work his way up the hierarchy as an assistant, all while amassing as much money as possible to build weapons to sell abroad. This is how he got Kaido on his side. Well, that and having him set up his base on Wano. It’s a win-win for both. And, with Sukiyaki Oden dead and Orochi running the country in Kozuki’s absence, he’s pretty much won the game. Killing Kozuki as punishment for leaving Wano when he returns is simply a formally now.

What was I thinking? Oh, I know. I was thinking Oda would go the extra mile designing what could possibly be the one character in the world other than select members of the World Government and what remains of Roger’s Crew who knows what went down during the Void Century. Oh well, instead say hello to Robin Clone #127.

This is the chapter where we learn how Oden ended up sailing with the Whitebeard Pirates. As an Official Card-Carrying Oden Hater (meetings every Tuesday and Friday), even I thought Whitebeard making him hold onto a chain behind the Moby Dick was cold. Anyway, Izo’s there and it’s great seeing him mad at his future daddy. We later learn Cat Viper and Dogstorm stowed away, predicting Oden would sneak aboard too. Good call, guys. Why is Kin’emon in charge again?

We meet Robin’s Ancestor who is saved from Captain Karma who I assume has a devil fruit or one of his parents is a fish person. It doesn’t matter, because Oden is ready to protect her and the Whitebeard Pirates show up too. McWhitey knows Oden failed his test in order to save Dr. Who so he’s letting him join anyway. Boo! No, no, I kid. This flashback’s much better with Whitebeard in it.

A group of people trying to be superstars, learning different things and changing their looks to wow people all so they can perform on stage (or procession in this case). Yeah, it’s basically that show. Good on you, Oda.

Cat Viper, Dogstorm and Kawatmatsu join the Oden Party. We’re reminded of the pact between the Kozuki Clan and Minks. Yep, something serious went down hundreds of years ago. Can you say Void Century? You can? Well, excuuuse me. Moving on.

We see the full scene of Oden’s vassals getting caught and offered the money they were trying to steal from Lord Yasuie. It all ends up being an investment on his part to turn a bunch of thugs not only into proper vassals but the protectors of Wano as a whole. Talk about seeing the big picture. See kids? That’s the difference between being a proper investor and playing the lottery. Stupid scratch-off tickets always giving me 2 gold bars. I’m so close to winning! …Ahem! Moving on.

We learn Orochi’s no longer Yasuie’s attendant and is working for Lord Sukiyaki, poisoning the crap out of him. Okay, that last part’s not confirmed but we know that’s what’s happening. The slimeball also keeps begging for money from Oden. So what’s all this money for? What’s he trying to buy? Poison? People through bribes? Information? Weapons? Well, it ain’t a Disney+ subscription I can tell you that (He stole Yasuie’s password.).

♪Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? K-O-Z-U-K-I  O-D-E-N-N.♪

…Eh? Close enough.

This chapter reveals how Kozuki Oden met up with most of his samurai. Holy crap, Oda’s moving 90 KPH through this flashback! I still don’t care about them. There’s no time to care! Why? Because we have to see Oden’s epic fight against Ashura Doji in Kuri—and it got skipped. Whatever, Oda.

But, hey! Oden turned all the criminals in Kuri into his followers and fixed up the area! How? You see he… Damn it, Oda! You skipped that too?! Is this a flashback or a Netflix intro?

Is that why everyone in Wano’s gaga for Oden? I’ll admit they are pretty hot.

Kozuki Oden. I still can’t tell if he’s a joke character or not. Is it a Japanese thing? Is it a male stereotype thing? I don’t want to harp on it but Oda tends to lean on gender stereotypes more often than not. Women are super skinny, super sexy, and all about love. Yet, we have Nami and Robin who fill the first two requirements but not the third. Then we have men who are super buff and super tough like Kaido or Zoro, but we have Luffy who’s more on the lean side. And Usopp was a skinny dude before the time skip. What I’m trying to say is what the heck is up with Oden?

I can’t take him seriously. Everyone in the chapter is harping on how manly he is and women are fawning over his words and body. But, after seeing all the craziness in One Piece, the wacky devil fruit powers, the insane feats of strength delivered by the Straw Hat crew and their allies and enemies, Oden isn’t all that special. Yeah, he’s really strong but his I don’t care personality isn’t anything to write home about. Maybe it is a cultural thing. Or, maybe Oda is rushing through the arc. Or, both.

Oda sure spent a long time building up Kozuki Oden. It wasn’t worth it.

What the hell is Oden? Seriously. I can’t tell if he’s a joke character or not. That exposition dump at the beginning of the chapter sure didn’t help. Why is a vessel of Kozuki Sukiyaki, he’s Oden’s daddy, getting a report on his own son’s life? Most of the stuff mentioned seems to be public knowledge. Nope. Didn’t like that at all. It was a lazy way to convey information to the audience. Maybe Oda’s trying to rush to the good part by doing that, but whether or not that’s true, it really annoyed me.

I not even gonna list all the stuff Oden’s done. Basically, he’s an uber strong badass whose also well-meaning but no one understands him. Translation: He’s an asshole but we’re supposed to like him. And, what’s with the kidnapping of women to put in a harem resulting in a war where people died? What the what? Of course, Oda added a line saying the women were free to go at any time, trying to smooth over that rocky road. It’s…it’s like Oda poured everything he thinks a man should be into this character in an attempt to make the ultimate badass but instead creating a Japanese Gaston.

Seems like we got an update on everyone except him this chapter. He can’t be the traitor, right? That’d be too deep for One Piece. The traitor has to be someone we don’t give a crap about or a female because, according to Oda, women are backstabbers who all have tragic backstories so they can be forgiven. Woah! Where did that Oda rant come from? I need to start meditating again.

We turn the clock two days back and work our way up to the present this chapter, in the process learning more how Kin’emon’s plan went to shit. It was traitor, basically. Whoever that person is tipped off Orochi who blew up all the bridges leading to Itachi Port. A pretty smart move. The guy’s paranoid but he ain’t no idiot. That means the weapons and fighters have no way of reaching the port in time. Did I also mention Orochi blew up the ships Franky and Usopp were rebuilding and the freaking Thousand Sunny! Holy crap! Whoever snitched on the Alliance needs a bloody good spanking.

What the hell’s going on?!

Don’t you just hate being stood up? You meticulously plan out the evening with your friends. You put on your best and/or cleanest clothes. Everyone agrees on where to go. And, when finally it’s the promised date you’ve been waiting weeks or months for to get your party on…an unexpected change of plans.

Well, Kin’emon and the rest of Team Samurai understand all too well. They’ve arrived at Tokage Port ready to sail to Onigashima and whoop-ass but no one else is there. Luffy and the Strawhat Crew. Law. Cat Viper. Even Jibuemon isn’t there! And, he’s my favorite (Who the hell is Jibuemon?)!

All we know is there was an “incident” the previous night that obviously threw Kin’mon’s plans out the window and on to the street where a tractor-trailer ran it over then exploded. We know Orochi was getting intel from a traitor. Looks like he used it to seemingly crush the Rebellion in one fell swoop. Welcome the Wano: Act Three. Ouch!

Most of this chapter was just a glorified meeting. And, I loved every bit of it!

Before reading this chapter, I was wondering what we’d get. More around the world reactions? Warlord shenanigans? Wano: Part Three? Nope. Instead, we got a big ‘ole exposition dump which makes me wonder if Oda’s really good at making TED Talks or if I’m so disinterested in Wano I’d rather read wanted posters. Okay, that’s not fair. Those are some mega important bounty reveals. I’m sorry, Wano. No more below the belt pop shots from me. I’ll save them for your flashback. Ooooh! I’m such a meanie~

Continuing the trend of half-explaining unknown events from the last chapter, we listen in on Sakazuki and Fujitora talking about the Seven Warlords no longer working for the World Government and get a clue about their replacement. Or, I should say, the special science team building whatever’s going to replace the Warlords, the SSG. Special Science Team? Special Science Group. There we go, that fits better. I think most people guessed at some point Vegapunk would step in and create something to replace the Warlords, assuming he’s running this group. I mean, yeah, there’s no one else but Vegapunk that could be important enough to lead it but I’m trying to be diplomatic here, y’all.

What could the SSG be cooking up to replace the Seven Warlords? I’ve said in the past it may be a weapon or weapons made out of seastone. It could be a new line of Pacifistas. Maybe even replicas of an ancient weapon. Whatever it is Vegapunk’s official introduction into the story is inchin’ closer and it looks like it’ll be worth the wait.

At New Marineford, Brannew updates the class on Big Mom and Kaido teaming up in Wano. Prof. Sengoku takes over, revealing more about the two Yonko’s connections as former members of the Rocks Pirates, the Foo Fighters of pirate crews. Now, there’s really no point in talking about what’s happening outside of all this juicy new information we’re given by Sengoku this chapter, so I’m just gonna dive deep into my thoughts on everything I think is worth talking about.

Fullalead Island. Is it a coincidence Blackbeard controls the same island where the Rocks Pirates formed? Could Captain Rocks have left something there Blackbeard wants to find? Or, is the island located in a very convenient part of the New World? Hm.

Or, Shichibyekai if you prefer the Japanese name. In any case, it’s gone and with it a big hole in the Three Great Powers…for now.

Let’s save the replacement talk for later. There’s too much that happened in this chapter I want to discuss. Firstly, Sabo and Vivi. What went down? We know Im, the secret ruler of the World Government, has the Alabasta Princess on its radar. Did they follow through with an assassination attempt and blame it on Sabo? Is Sabo still alive? YES! I’m won’t even try drumming up tension with that one. No way is Oda off-paneling Sabo’s death. He’s alive, for now, but at the very least he’s in Marine custody.

Could the theorized assassination attempt be the news the World Government wanted taken out of the papers? Probably. I doubt the WG wanted info on Sabo’s status and the possible assassination attempt out in the open too soon. I’m sure they didn’t want to tip off Dragon and the other Revolutionaries this soon. But, the same could be said for them not wanting to tip off the Warlords. Ah, so much to cover up, and so little time.

So, what’s Blackbeard after now? It’s something the Marines are about to get or recently obtained. Could it be Pluton or Ploton’s plans that’s rumored to be hidden in Alabasta? Maybe. I got no clue what else it can be.