Slightly Biased Manga

I really, REALLY got into this series hard again after rereading the entirety of the newest story arc in Japan.  This series is so far 50 volumes long, and as far as I’m concerned, the quality has not suffered.  Thriller Bark was my favorite story arc so far, and also… just… Brooke.  There are no words.

Anyway.  In this volume, we have the end of the Drum Island story and the very beginning of the Alabasta arc.  Drum Island is still one of my favorite story segments, mostly because I like Chopper so much.  Unfortunately, the final battle between King Wapol and Luffy/Chopper isn’t all that exciting compared to some other final battles.  What I do like is just how happy everyone on Drum Island is after King Wapol is taken care of.  I know that happens at the end of every battle where a dictator is disposed of, but for some reason I like it best here.  There are some vague story hints (Dr. Kureha mentions something cryptic about “D” which still hasn’t been answered, and there’s a character who will pop up shortly looking for Luffy), and I always kind of like those, especially in retrospect.  I also always like the parties that happen on board the Straw Hat ship whenever someone new comes along, and that’s mostly because every single character in this series is amazing.

The best part of Drum Island, though, is the way Chopper gets sent off by Dr. Kureha and Dr. Hiriluk’s research.  Both the farewell and the sendoff were just fantastic.  I love One Piece for reasons like this.

The beginning of the Alabasta arc is basically just introducing us to Mr. 0 (Sir Crocodile) and everything he’s doing in Vivi’s homeland.  The most important thing that happens, however, is that we get to meet. Mr. 2 Bon Clay.  I’ve been wondering for quite awhile how he would be dealt with.  Apparently he’s a follower of the “Oh Come My Way” lifestyle, which is only half of the Japanese pun (”Okama Way” being the other half of the pun, which I understand is a slang term for a drag queen and explains why he’s the only officer agent with both names and no female partner).  It’s important to know that I’ve had an unnatural love for Mr. 2 Bon Clay ever since I read this part of the story five years ago.  But I think I’ll talk more about him later.  Just know that he’s important to me.