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Eiichiro Oda Manga One Piece

Pokémon From Hell [One Piece 1111]

Gotta catch ’em all? More like gotta escape ’em all!

Them, of course, being the Five Elders. They’re on Egghead Island to stop Dr. Vegapunk’s transmission from going full TMZ on their whole operation. And, maybe kill Monkey D. Luffy in the process. But that’s a bonus.

Flying/Dark Type, Saint Mars, found York The Greedy. If anyone knows where and how to stop the transmission it’s her. So, does that mean the World Government’s dirty laundry will remain safely locked up in history’s clothes hamper? Nope! This is the final saga, Y’all. At some point, the world must learn how awful the World Government is. It’s now or never from a narrative point of view. It’s happening!

But, it doesn’t mean York and Mars won’t try stopping the transmission. My guess is Vegapunk Stella, Shaka, and Pythagoras have a few more tricks up their dead sleeves. For example: Is it just a coincidence it’s the three dead Vegapunks broadcasting the message? Could this be happening live … inside Punk Records? Or, is there a back-up message ready to go if this one’s taken down? Basically, I’m expecting a last second twist that guarantees the message gets out.

Luckily, Jimbei hadn’t yet used his master ball.

My theory is Dr. Vegapunk snitches on the Five Elders, backing the World Government into a corner where Uranus (the weapon that instantly destroyed an entire country) is their final option in keeping the masses in check, ala Star War’s Death Star. The Revolutionaries begin making their final plays in response, leading to every country picking a side, then …World War One Piece.

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Eiichiro Oda Manga One Piece

Battle Of The Planets [One Piece 1110]

Imagine your grumpy, demonic powered grandpa telling you to turn off that blasted television or else. You choose else, so he and his four demon buddies decide to turn the TV off themselves. And, you along with it.

One Piece chapter 1110 is what I expected and more. Indeed, I expected to see the other four of the Five Elders appearing on Egghead. I didn’t, however, expect them to immediately get down to business. No threats. No monologuing. No hesitation. Say what you want about Boomers being out of touch, but they know how to get down to business.

Based on the chapter, St. Mars, the only flying member of the geriatric group, is trying to destroy the source of Dr. Vegapunk’s transmission located in the Labophase. St. Nusjuro’s disabling of the Pacifistas, my guess, is meant to flip the Navy back on the offensive. They’re now free to continue the Buster Call as well as fully pursue Jewelry Bonney. But lets be real, we’re in this arc’s endgame. They’re not making much of an impact going forward.

Forget Luffy. Somebody call the Ghostbusters!
Categories
Manga One Piece

Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You [One Piece 1109]

The classic narrative countdown returns.

Alabasta’s hidden bomb, Doflamingo’s string cage closing in on Dressrosa, Onigashima floating towards the Flower Capital. Almost, if not, all of One Piece’s major arcs have a something or someone creating a sense of urgency for our beloved Straw Hat Crew, while at the same time, raising the suspense for the reader as high as it’ll go until the arc’s climax concludes. Classic Oda. Classic storytelling.

And just like with most of One Piece’s previous arcs, I think it’s safe to say we’re past Egghead Arc’s halfway point. Just how far we are to the finish is anyone’s guess. And, since I’m anyone, I’ll guess we have between 10 – 25 more chapters left before we pass the climax. NOT finish the arc, but simply the Five Elders are defeated or delayed and Dr. Vegapunk’s message is delivered throughout the world. Basically, it’s gonna be awhile before Egghead wraps up, Y’all.

You can’t just summon four monsters in one turn. Cheater!

With the revelation Saint Saturn is UPS Same Day summoning the other four Elders to Egghead in order to stop Vegapunk’s transmission, I now understand why Oda has Dorry and Brogy making their way to Luffy who was having little trouble dealing with both Kizaru and Saturn. Five Elders plus Kizaru means there has to be at least six opponents fighting them. And among the Five Elders, at least one of them is heading straight for the Labophase to stop the transmission at its source. And it just so happens Zoro is still up there. Yeah. I think we all know where this is going. Lucci is the appetizer and one of the Five Elders (Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro?) is the main course.

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Manga One Piece

May I Have Your Attention Please? [One Piece 1108]

If you’re reading this, it means that I am dead.

Dead tired, that is! What a busy week he had! Oh, and Dr. Vegapunk: Stella Edition is dead. For real dead. Real/Fake Dead. Fictional Dead. You know what I mean. In any case, Dr. Vegapunk was smart enough to come up with a plan to stick it to the World Government if he did indeed die. And it looks like that plan involves broadcasting a pre-recorded Ted Talk revealing everything he knows about the history of the world. And, also how to overcome stage fright, but let’s focus on the former, shall we?

“And the truth is… all of the One Piece movies are canon and I can prove it!!!”
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Manga One Piece

Saturn Seeing Stars [One Piece 1107]

The old spider bastard can’t go one chapter without getting his head smashed in.

And, yet I bet when he starts getting desperate is when the crap will truly hit the fan. Can’t you see, fellow fans, that things are going too smoothly for our heroes? Pacifistas and the Giant Pirates are destroying Navy ships left and right, Luffy’s at full power, and Bonny’s been rescued. Sure, Dr. Vegapunk Stella is dying, but we don’t know if it’ll actually happen. This is One Piece after all. The odds are good VP Stella’s surviving, somehow. So… Where’s the tension? Where’s the conflict? One word: Saint Saturn.

I’m telling, Y’all. He’s gonna go ham at some point and turn the tables on this whole arc. I’m putting my reputation on it. All 2¢ worth. Defense. Defense. Defense. That’s what Saturn’s been mostly doing. Once he switches tactics you watch out Luffy!

If one more person punches Saturn in the face, he gets a free MRI scan and lollypop!

How the hell did Sanji stop Kizaru’s laser attack? And don’t say “love”. Like rapping unicorns on ice skates, I refuse to believe that’s the answer to anything in life I’m looking for. Maybe Sanji’s genetically altered body adapted to Kizaru’s lasers? Sure, let’s go with that for now. Whatever happened, it gives Sanji the ability to fight Kizaru, freeing Luffy to fight Saturn. See? It all makes sense! The voices in my head are right this time.

Categories
Manga One Piece

They Might Be Giants [One Piece 1106]

The Mr. 0 and Miss All Sunday reunion we’ve all been waiting for.

♫ Let me tell you the story about the Buster Call that changed my destiny
Me and my Navy boys went out just to end up in misery
Was about to attack when there she was falling in front of me
And said, “Dad
Please help me and my friends survive
Let us go?
I wish he said, “No
Saturn’s glaring at me,”
But then I got blasted instead ♫

So much for the Buster Call. Not that it was much of a threat in the first place against the Straw Hats. It couldn’t stop them at Enies Lobby and it sure won’t two years later with them being stronger.

Jewelry Bonney has total control of the Kuma Pacifistas. Wow! Talk about a huge advantage…for now. And, look. Bonney now knows Luffy is the rumored Sun God Nika. What does that mean for their relationship? At the very least they’re friends for life. I’m still not sure if Bonney will join the Straw Hat Alliance or the Revolutionaries, but I seriously doubt this arc is the last we see of her.

The “Giant” Pirates? Pretty on the nose there. What? Was “Shouting Viking Bros” already taken?

Quick side note: Does Bonney have top priority over S-Bear? I could see her taking care of him going forward. But, that leaves the question of what happens to the other Seraphim. Hmm…

It’s the Giant Pirates! Talk about a surprise! And it looks like Dorry and Brogy are there for Luffy. Why? It’s gotta be for more than just helping. I assume whatever the reason is will lead the Straw Hats to Elbaf.

Categories
Manga One Piece

Why Isn’t Dr. Vegapunk Dead? [One Piece 1105]

First the Kuma slow-motion punch last chapter, now this.

Oda’s really taking narrative liberties to a whole new level these days. Dr. Vegapunk, the OG version, is standing right in front of St. Saturn and Kizaru and they’re just talking? That makes NO sense! None! Vegapunk should be burnt to a crisp by Kizaru or impaled by one of Saturn’s gross spider legs by now. You’re in this arc’s last-ish inning, Oda. Stop missing your logic free throws! Wait, that’s basketball. Well, you know what I mean.

That’s right, Sanji. Vegapunk’s distracting his would-be killers by standing directly in front of them, defenseless. Seriously. What the hell are you smokin’?
Categories
Manga One Piece

Never Too Old To Catch These Hands [One Piece 1104]

I was afraid we wouldn’t see Kuma’s punch follow through. Thankfully, we got it all in its face breaking glory!

St. Saturn definitely got it. Too bad the old bastard has regeneration abilities. I wonder if it’s just him or do all five Elders have that ability. We still don’t know what devil fruit Saturn ate. I wonder when Oda’s gonna reveal it? And, yes, I’m still predicting it’s a demon-demon fruit model (In case you asked).

Just who or what is taking down Saturn? You know how this works: Luffy battles the biggest threat. Zoro fights the second strongest, and Sanji, the third most powerful. Depending on his devil fruit, Saturn may be the “strongest” antagonist there, meaning Luffy gets final crack at him. If not, then Luffy returns to battle Kizaru, possibly wearing the light gloves for an advantage. Hmm… It’s still too early to know who’s the true Egghead final boss. Early? Just how much longer is this arc lasting?!

Evil Santa came down the wrong chimney
Categories
Manga One Piece

Would You Like Some Punch? [One Piece 1103]

I didn’t expect to see you so soon, Kuma.

I thought Oda would drag the St. Saturn situation out more, but here we are. Bartholomew Kuma landed on Egghead and is ready to give Saturn the beating of a lifetime. Yeah, right! I know better. Do you really think Saturn’s getting taken out this easily? We don’t even know his devil fruit’s name. And, whatever it is, I’m sure it’s one of the most powerful we’ve seen so far. I’m still putting my money on it being a demon-demon fruit class or something like that. Basically, whatever the opposite of the human-human fruit class is. If I’m right I’m giving myself a million dollars. Aren’t I generous?

We get confirmation Saturn isn’t Bonney’s father. Good. But, the old bastard experimented on both Ginny and Bonney. Bad. My question is why? I doubt Marijoa had no shortage of slaves from back then, so why use the eighth wife of a Celestial Dragon? My guess is Ginny’s sexual assaulter/husband couldn’t deal with Ginny’s rebellious nature and gave her to Saturn as punishment. Will we ever learn the Celestial Sleazebag’s identity? Probably. Like with most info reveals, Oda’s waiting for the right time to tell us. No doubt this person is an important character connected to world building tidbits we’re not meant to see yet. Be patient, my friends. It’s coming.

Saturn forgot that today is Bring Your Daughter To Work Day.
Categories
Manga One Piece

Forget Me Not RoboCop [One Piece 1102]

Bartholomew Kuma. A great Warlord. A greater father.

And there we have it. The life of Kuma fully revealed to us. What I absolutely love is how Kuma continued to secretly pursue his personal agenda behind the World Government’s back. Not only by helping out the Revolutionary Army (As shown in a previous chapter), but by putting his faith in Monkey D. Luffy by giving him a chance to survive in order for him to reach his full potential.

Dragon going to Roguetown. Kuma helping Luffy in secret. Gotta say I love that Luffy has had help from others along his path to become Pirate King. It makes his journey more believable that someone so young could even hope to achieve such a difficult goal.

Bonney’s also crying after realizing now she’ll never get an Xbox for her birthday.
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