One Piece 37

Eiichiro Oda – Viz – 2010 – 56+ volumes

Aww, I didn’t notice last time that Usopp is no longer in the grey “Straw Hat” box in the character introductions at the front of the book.  Robin still is, but she’s not gray, she’s just inside the box.

Huge confrontation with the members of CP9.  The masks are all off, and all the motives are out in the open.  The Straw Hats are not happy, and neither is Paulie.  Unfortunately for everyone involved, the members are all monster fighters of the first order, and there’s nothing to be done about it at this point.  Things end badly.  The fight moves to Franky.

Franky brings some levity back to the story.  We find out he’s not at all a bad guy, as he finds Usopp and, instead of beating him as promised, he helps him and the Merry into his secret hideout/shipbuilding headquarters.  He has a good time as Usopp explains current situations to him.  Uncharacteristically, Usopp doesn’t join in his wacky asides, which probably just proves how out-of-sorts and upset Usopp is.  Franky also has the unpleasant job of driving home just how unseaworthy the Merry truly is, and we get to hear a little legend and a sad story before the bad guys bust in.

Cue flashback to Tom, the legendary shipwright who build Gold Rodger’s ship and the sea train.  He’s one of those upright hero guys who always figure into these flashbacks, and we learn of how he built the sea train and raised Iceberg and Cutty Flam.  I’m… a little surprised that the identity of Cutty Flam was “secret,” after this flashback.  The whole weapons turning against them was a real sad thing for Cutty Flam, too, since he was so good at making them.  I mean, obviously his skill is alive and well in the present day, but… you know.  Not a good memory for him.

More.  More!  On to Enies Lobby, I’m sure!  Or at the very least, a regrouping of the Straw Hat pirates, who have scattered (haha, though “scattered” doesn’t begin to cover what happens later, I suppose).  Who knows how long it will take to find Zoro alone.  Good stuff, as always, and I’m glad everything was laid out so clearly.  Now there’s a bad guy to get, and someone to get back.  We have a goal.  Let’s do it!

This was a review copy provided by Viz.