Piece

Rumor has it that Fishman Island will be destroyed, and from the looks of it Luffy might have his rubbery hands in it’s destruction. Of course most of us diehard One Piece fans know that this has to be a fat out lie, for our Luffy couldn’t hurt a fly. Is this fortune teller a flat out lier, or will Luffy be dining on the fishman populace?

THE GOOD

A lot of great things this chapter, one of them being the introduction to the major villains in this arc. Here we see the major characters in the New Fishman Pirates, mainly the captain himself, Hodi Jones. Now Hodi Jones is in fact not Arlong like we all wanted, but he is a great white shark, so that’s even better. Not only that, but he is twenty times more racist than Arlong and he does drugs as well; what a dastardly villain! With the help of his drugs he is able to rip apart a shit with his mouth alone, a feat I believe he could have done without the use of drugs seeing as Arlong could have done the same as well.

Their goal is to continue Arlong’s will and basically eat all the humans. But first they need to send a message to all those landlubbers about the savagery of the fishmen. Which is pretty stupid if you ask me; for if they keep on torturing humans, all it will take is one Admiral to wipe the fishman pirates off the map.

Not only are we introduced to some of the bad guys, but also the king of the Ryuuguu Kingdom himself, Sea God Neptune, and his Hoe. This merman is ten times more manly than any human could ever be. He has a beard the size of Franky for god’s sake! He made a special appearance down to the lower waters to ask Luffy and crew to come with them up to Ryuuguu palace.

THE BAD

A part of me died when the leader of the fishman pirates was not Arlong. But oh well, maybe we will see him at a later point in time. Maybe he will even help the Straw Hats? Maybe he will even marry Nami? Oh the possibilities.

THE VERDICT 4/5

Shit is going down in One Piece, and I’m glad we will finally see some one on one battles in the future with our favorite Straw Hats. Neptune most likely will ask them for help dealing with these home grown terrorists, and Luffy will accept, for that’s what he does.

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It has been quite some time since I’ve read One Piece, well at least it feels that way for me. Wow, where did we leave off? Something about a mermaid cove and lots of blood and punching if I remember correctly. Oh yes, Sanji is in a bit of trouble right now after almost loosing half of his blood due to a nose bleed of epic proportions. Will Sanji finally kick the bucket, sending Luffy in a mermaid killing rage, or is this all just a joke?

THE GOOD

Thank god Sanji did not die, I swear I wasn’t scared… even for a minute *wipes tears from eyes*. It appears as if his life was saved, once more, by gay men. Now with their blood running through his veins, I’m sure we are about to see a new side to Sanji we have never seen before. Though now that I think about it, perhaps this new blood will help dampen the mermaid’s beauty allowing him to live a normal life. But right now he is out of the picture.

Remember when Luffy punched those Fishman Pirates? Well, Hyouzou, that badass octopus man had actually blocked the blow, and attacked Luffy at the same time. However, since Luffy now has a tolerance toward all poison attacks, this really did nothing.

During this chapter we also learn more about Van Der Decken, and how he really isn’t a hundred-year-old man, but the grandson of the famous pirate. My senses are telling me that he might be a final boss near the end of this arc.

We also meet a new character, a gypsy mermaid who can predict the future pretty accurately named Madam Shirley. As the Straw Hats take a tour of the island searching for food, Shirley takes a look into the future and doesn’t like what she sees. It appears as if a man with a straw hat will destroy Fishman Island.

THE BAD

Other than another chapter without Zoro, there wasn’t a lot of bad things about this chapter to complain about.

THE VERDICT 3/5

So Madam Shirley is never wrong, according to popular belief, but the person who is going to destroy Fishman Island does not necessarily have to be Luffy. She either (A)could of just seen Luffy standing their as it was being destroyed by someone else, (B) could have seen Luffy in mid-battle with the person destroying the island, or (C) seen someone else entirely. After all, Van Der Decken can be seen wearing a hat that sort of resembles a straw hat on the wanted poster, maybe it could be him?

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In case you have been in a cave or spending your time on an island training, the Straw Hat Pirates have finally made it into Fishman island, with mermaids and all! Even though the crew has split up once again it is not a sad event, for their are mermaids everywhere–life is good. Will Sanji be able to leave heaven, or will they have to find another chef? Alton Brown would be a fantastic choice.
    

THE GOOD

Now that they are on Fishman island, Luffy wants to reunite with the man who helped pull him from the depths of depression, Jinbe. Unfortunately he isn’t here right now, for if we remember it correctly he made quite the stink during the war and is now a wanted criminal. Sanji is having the time of his life here. Seriously, I don’t think he can be happier anywhere else besides here. After a lengthy frolic session with the beautiful girls, warning of a royal ship coming their way is raised.

Scared that this ship is after the Straw Hats’ illegal entrance, Keimi hides the crew. Inside the ship are the three most handsome mermen I have ever laid eyes on, the three neptune brothers, who are the princes of this fine kingdom. After a brief questioning about the whereabouts of the Straw Hats, they decided they are not there and leave. However, as they are leaving Sanji’s nosebleed caused by the close proximity of breasts to his head alerts the princes.

However, the funny thing here is that this is really not a gag anymore, Sanji really did loose a lot of blood and he will die if someone doesn’t give him more. Unlucky for him, he has rare blood. Of course the Fishmen pirates show up at this time and tell the crew that they can’t give them blood because its a rule us ground dwellers set up in the past that caused them much pain. Stupidity he tries to capture the pirates with a Scooby-Doo net gun, which earns him and his crew a punch in the face via Luffy. The crew jumps on board the royal ship and heads towards an area that might have humans within it. The princes on the other hand are angry that they never had the opportunity to deliver the message from Jinbe, which was their original objective.

THE BAD

I can’t say there was anything bad about this chapter, except for the fact that Luffy is now Superman and can probably punch God in the face if he wanted. Wait that isn’t bad either.

THE VERDICT 4/5

What I really love about this chapter is that they took a silly joke that most anime and manga draw on and use it as a super important plot point! Every anime and manga character has nose bleeds, but no one has almost died because of one. That my friends is genius. Perhaps this is the reason why Sanji can not stay on this island, because if he does he has a very good chance of dying. We have been introduced to tons of new characters for this arc, and I’m sure a ton more will be introduced as well. I’m excited to see how they will all gel together.

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It wouldn’t be One Piece if the Straw Hat crew was perfectly safe on their cruise ship of fun. So naturally this time the crew is once again in another pickle, this time involving giant sea creatures and fishmen pirates. These pirates have mixed feelings about the Straw Hat crew, so they give them the option to join their crew instead of just killing them outright. Luffy of course shot down this offer, which instantly angered the fishmen. Will Luffy kill them now, or later?

THE GOOD

Lucky for the Straw Hats they have an amazing ship that can pretty much get them away from any bad situation using their ‘coup de burst’. They used it right in time, escaping the jaws of a giant sea lion. However, this seals away almost all the air left in the Thousand Sunny, but lucky for them they make it to Fishman Island. Yet this island is protected by two bubbles, and the ship travels through both seeing as it is moving so fast. So the crew is back into the water, but this time they have no air, and are all scattered into the current.

One Piece isn’t over yet, for Keimi has saved a good number of the crew members, though there are some still missing. The crew head out from Keimi’s house in search for the missing members, and to check out this new island. First stop is Mermaid Cove, which practically kills Sanji. This appears to be the happiest moment in Sanji’s life, declaring that this cove is in fact the All Blue he has been searching for this entire time.

However, in the depths of Fishman Island, Hammond informs his boss about the arrival of the Straw Hats, a fishman that looks almost exactly like Arlong. Is this Arlong, or could this be a relative of some sort. I hope it is him, Arlong deserves another ass kicking.

THE BAD

Thanks to this cover, I’ll never look at Brook in the same way ever again.

THE VERDICT 3/5

The crew has finally arrived, something I have been waiting for ever since they brought it up like two years ago. This new town is wonderfully drawn, and is wonderfully thought up. I’m getting some Water 7 vibes here, but maybe because there is water here too. Best of yet we might be able to see Arlong again, so I’m a happy camper.

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The Straw Hats have made it to the bottom of the sea, but that doesn’t mean they are safe. Not only have they run into the legendary Flying Dutchman led by Captain Wan Der Dekken, but an undersea volcano is about to erupt! Will the Straw Hats make it to Fishman Island in one piece, or will One Piece be over as we know it?

THE GOOD

The undersea volcano is about to erupt, and that definitely is a bad thing. You would think it wouldn’t be too bad because the volcano is far away, but when the water starts heating up and cooking everyone, well its best not to be there. So both crews do their best to get out of there. Their only escape is to fall into a pitch-black trench that will supposedly lead the crew to Fishman Island. They fall into the trench, but the volcano doesn’t let them go just yet, causing an avalanche of sand and rock to fall on the boat.

Zoro isn’t the one to save the crew this time, but our true bro Usopp. Using his new flower power, he creates a net of seaweed to help catch the rocks, but it isn’t enough and one slips through and bops the kraken Surume on his head. They all plummet the the sea floor, where they are greeted by an insanely bright light that emanates from Fishman Island. However, a gang of sea monsters and fishermen await the Straw Hats on the bottom. They guilt Surume to throw away the boat for he shouldn’t be helping humans in the first place.

The one in charge of these colossal monsters who even make the kraken look small is named Hammond. He asks the Straw Hats if they are with them, or against them for they have both helped and hampered Fishmen in the past. Hammond demands they join their crew, but the Straw Hats refuse, and blast themselves away toward Fishman Island.

THE BAD 

Well it looks like Surume has forsaken the crew and given in to peer pressure. Which is a pity because I thought he was kind of cool. Hopefully he will reconsider what he has done and help the crew once more. Also Arlong just might be back again, and that makes me angry for Arlong was the biggest ass hole within East Blue.

THE VERDICT 3/5

The Straw Hats have finally made it to Fishman Island, but I have a funny feeling that this will be their toughest island yet. I mean its 10,000 meters under the sea, if anything goes wrong they all drown! Will they even make it to the island and make it past these pirates? Most likely is my answer, but we haven’t seen the last of them for sure.

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Just look at the world around the Straw Hats, right here on the ocean floor. Such wonderful things surround them, what more are they lookin’ for? Under the sea, under the sea, darling it’s better down here it’s wetter, take it from me. Sorry. Under the sea Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro are lost and separated from the crew trying to make the kraken their pet. Will Franky’s nipple lights find them, or will they be fish food?

THE GOOD

The Straw Hats are not doing so hot at the moment. Not only have the three monsters of the crew gone missing, but the ship itself is now near the bottom of the ocean where weird and aggressive sea creatures are lurking. Though we all know that all the Straw Hats have changed since the time skip, so I’m sure anyone of them can take out one of those monsters by themselves. Either way, things have gotten worse, for Caribou has gone missing.

However, Caribou is stupid, and a very poor hider, and is quickly found hiding in a barrel not even ten feet away from the place he was last seen. Franky quickly seals the barrel, locking him in there for now; though he knows his devil fruit power has something to do with turning into liquid.

Things are heating up as the Thousand Sunny heads toward an underwater volcanic region. Here the crew runs into some kind of underwater giant known as an umibouzu, who saves their ship from a giant fish. Yet the monster quickly turns on them when his master Captain Wan Der Dekken orders him to smash the Thousand Sunny. But before he can Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro come back with the kraken who instantly attacks the umibouzu. Luffy has done it, the pet is theres, but before they can celebrate a tremor through the water alert the crew to an underwater volcano eruption.

THE BAD

I really wish Caribou was smarter, and started to pick off the crew one by one. Though perhaps this still could happen. Maybe this was all just an act to get them to lower their defenses, or maybe I’m thinking about this too hard.

THE VERDICT 4/5

Great chapter, especially when the kraken gave the umibouzu an epic uppercut with its tentacle. I kind of am hoping for the Kraken to stay with the crew from now on, but am afraid it will just stay with them for just this arc. But the real question on my mind is the identity of Dekken and the Flying Dutchman. This villain just might be the enemy that gives the Straw Hats a run for their money. Also, kudos to Oda for pulling from real mythology, I guess that means this crew isn’t going to be a push over.

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It has been awhile One Piece fans. One week off to be exact, which feels like forever for us diehard One Piece followers. Last time Luffy and crew began their journey toward Fisherman Island by sinking their ship toward the bottom of the sea. This wouldn’t be One Piece if there wasn’t a problem, and that problem is a giant kraken waiting for them near the bottom. Will Luffy be able to tame it like he promises, or will it become their next meal?

The Good

Luffy will do anything to make this creature his pet. The only way he will be able to do so is by beating it up, otherwise the kraken would rip the ship to shreds. The best way to do this is to send Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy outside the bubble in their own personal bubbles. However, this idea was constructed by our friend Caribou, so he probably has ulterior motives.

The crew begins their battle with the sea creature. We finally get a taste of everyone’s time skip power levels, and they increased double fold. Out of everyone’s new powers, Luffy’s seems to strike the most wonder in me. We see him use the “Color of Armanentes, Hardening” power, which seems to have made his gigantic fist into something made out of metal, like a cannon ball. This new attack called the “Elephant Gun” knocks the Kraken out with one punch, sending him sinking toward the ocean floor. The attack freed some kind of a shark with a t-shirt on; I’m sure this character will play a more important role in the future.

After the fight everyone gets caught into the downward stream and plummets deeper in to the ocean, with Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy separated from the Thousand Sunny. Also Franky has nipple lights now.

The Bad

Even though it made the most sense at the time, I’m upset that Caribou got his way and convinced the three most powerful Straw Hats to get off the boat. Now I doubt Caribou would be able to take the remaining Straw Hats by himself, but this is bringing him one step closer to taking control. Feed him to the kraken already!

The Verdict 3/5

Whether you like it or not, the kraken will become Luffy’s pet. I realized halfway through this chapter that Luffy also tamed that entire island full of dangerous animals by himself, so this pitiful thing should be simple. The shark is probable not a fishman, but a person who ate a devil fruit. He or she will probably find the three who are floating in the ocean and bring them back to the ship. Who knows, maybe he or she will become the next Straw Hat member? Though most likely this character will just be their inside man the Straw Hats meet at every island.

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Luffy and crew are heading under the sea! (cue Little Mermaid music) Finally the time to move on to new and better things is here for One Piece, starting out with their trip to Fishman Island. However trouble heads their way as the Caribou pirates are in close pursuit of the crew. Will they put up a good fight, or will they be used as punching bags to show off their new powers?

The Good

Caribou wants the Straw Hats dead. Seriously he wants to cut off their heads and show them to people (which is seriously a bad idea seeing as they have many, many friends). As they pull up next to the Straw Hats, Nami recognizes an old friend, Arlong’s Moh Moo. Though Moh Moo also recognizes the Straw Hats, and remembers all the punishment he received from them, and instantly takes off. But before he could Caribou boards the Thousand Sunny alone.

After making a brash statement about the Straw Hat’s deaths, he soon realizes that he is all alone. Caribou puts up no fight as he is taken prisoner, and quickly changes his story around saying he is the victim in all of this. The Straw Hats are too kind, and don’t think about throwing him off the ship, because we all know that trouble will ensue once Caribou escapes and begins to pick off the crew one member at a time.

They continue on with their journey, toward the bottom of the sea via a cold sea current. However, camping at the bottom of this sea current is a giant kraken, who has already victimized other passing ships. This does not bother Luffy, for he plans on making it his pet.

The Bad

I am kind of upset that we weren’t able to see Caribou fight, though it was funny the way things turned out. Despite my complaints I do know that he will fight in the future against the crew, so everything works out in the end. Or he might throw away his evil ways and join them.

Verdict 3/5

This kraken will become Luffy’s pet, or at least die by his hands. Though this creature might distract the crew long enough for Caribou to escape and begin his plan to kill the Straw Hats. Now that I think about it, it would be bad ass if the kraken would become their pet and would follow around the ship like Laboon did with Rumbar Pirates, maybe it will become the next crew member?

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