One Piece 19
Posted: December 8, 2008 Filed under: One Piece 5 Comments »Just a warning, again, this is still my favorite series ever. I’m going to gush and embarass myself.
So I often flip through the volume and read the title page mini-stories first. The current volume featured the end of the Fullbody-Django Dance Party/Best Buddies story. I was looking at the last panel, and noticed Koby and Helmeppo in the background, which I thought was a cool detail, until I noticed Garp with them, and totally lost it. I had forgotten Garp was called out to deal with Helmeppo’s dad at the end of their mini-story a few volumes ago, but the reason I got excited is because Garp winds up being a VERY IMPORTANT character, like, 25 or so volumes from now. It’s insane that he’s around this early in the story as a background character. I even knew and remembered his connection with Koby and Helmeppo, because they appear with him later, but I was still shocked to see him. That’s some true and thorough planning.
And, as always, I would much rather talk about what’s currently going on in One Piece, one of the only series I keep up with current chapters. I suspect it’s winding down, or we’re getting ready to see one of the final battles, but cool characters and stuff have been introduced. Boa Hancock and her Amazons are a story for another day, unfortunately.
Most of this volume is spent in Crocodile’s prison, underneath Rain Dinners with the Bananadiles. After a chase scene, Smoker along with Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp wind up in a cage, and Vivi is the one left to negotiate things with Crocodile, who basically has it in for the Straw Hats and Vivi’s kingdom. I’m not exactly sure why it is Crocodile feels compelled to ruin Alabasta, unless it is because he wants to be king himself and the nation suits his powers perfectly. That makes sense, I guess, but I’m not sure why you would start all that business with the Baroque works otherwise.
Speaking of the Baroque Works, he sets things in motion with a fair imitation of the King getting the revolutionaries all stirred up. Two of the captains of the guard, Chaka and Pell, are introduced, and they are out looking for the King, stopping Baroque Works, trying to get everyone to see reason, etc.
Sanji and Chopper, unknown to the Baroque Works and not in prison with them, put a good one over on Crocodile. I also liked the way everyone regrouped at the end, with Chopper driving a big leering crab with Nami’s creepy camel on its back.
Next volume: Luffy vs. Crocodile! Will it be everything promised? Probably not, but it will still be awesome.
Winding down? I think the whole Imple Down thing in the latest chapters is a turning point, and that the story is only probably a little more than half over. (I mean, they’re only halfway through the grandline!)
Do villans in One Piece need a reason for anything? They’re eeeeeeeviiillll.
Sonicbug: I don’t know, this whole thing just has an element of finality to it. Coming back to Ace after all that time, introducing all seven of the Shichibukai, and having what seems more and more like a final stand before the balance of power is tipped for good towards the pirates or marines… it just seems like a lot of things that have been hinted at for a long time are coming to pass. Of course, Luffy still needs to collect his crew, and they have only gone over half of the Grand Line, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the thing ran forever.
Mark: It’s true, I guess I don’t really question the motives of lesser people like Klahadore, so why Crocodile? They’re just a bunch of pirates.
We find out later why Crocodile is stirring up a civil war on this particular island. But that volume won’t come out until June next year. Is being seven years behind not enough for Viz?
Yeah… as much as I like the fact that running in Jump USA probably keeps its popularity up higher than it normally would be (I’m really sad it’s not more popular in English), I would kill for bimonthly volumes.
I can’t quite remember… now that I think about it, did Crocodile have some political reason for forming the Baroque Works? Like he was trying to overthrow the World Government or the Marine power or something? That sounds right, but it’s also the most obvious thing, so I have no doubt I probably got something wrong.