Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this manga review. Please read with caution.

One-sentence summary: Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, the series follows Monkey D. Luffy traveling to the Grand Line—with his pirate crew—in search of the world’s ultimate treasure called “One Piece” in order to become the King of Pirates.

On November 2, 2020, I started and finished One Piece’s “Loguetown Arc”—the final canon story arc in the East Blue Saga. The first six days out at fictional sea reading One Piece’s first 100 chapters had been an amazing journey to get on the journey toward Grand Line.

The short arc centered around Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates—the official name—stopping at Loguetown to gather supplies before finally going to the Grand Line to fulfill all their individual dreams.

While a short arc—five chapters—it was a necessary one to tie up all the loose-ends before heading into the Grand Line. Luffy also gained an official bounty on his head for all the trouble he caused in the previous arcs, and old enemies like Captain Buggy and Alvida also made a comeback in this arc wanting revenge against Luffy. Seeing Cabaji the Acrobat and Mohji the Beast Trainer again was also awesome—their names are so entertaining and memorable. It’s good to see Buggy and his pirate crew again for sure!

Alvida has a new sexier character design—skinny figure, showing bra, and no more freckles—as she ate a Devil’s Fruit. Of course, Luffy wouldn’t recognize you, Alvida—I didn’t recognize you. This abrupt change with design on female characters is something I mentioned in my last manga review—the “Arlong Park Arc”—when Oda changed it up with Nami. At least in this case, Alvida had a “plot” reason by eating the Devil’s Fruit, but I do feel it sends the wrong—maybe, harmful—message about beauty standards.

Marines Smoker the White Hunter and Tashigi are some new antagonists introduced in this arc, with Tashigi bearing a great resemblance to Kuina—Zoro’s childhood friend who died going down some stairs. I will never get over her needlessly fridged death—Tashigi could’ve easily been his friend instead of doing this lookalike approach.

I also did enjoy how Luffy couldn’t beat Smoker the White Hunter—who is also a Devil Fruit user—and had to run away with the boys—the storm that saved him was pure Deus Ex Machina but it was still pretty cool to be honest. Luffy being ready to die on the same execution stand as Gol. D Roger and then he didn’t is plot convenience in plain sight.

Shanks and Mihawk making cameos in the arc to celebrate Luffy’s official bounty was also a great full-circle moment in addition to revisiting Luffy’s hometown when they heard the “great” news. Shanks is looking forward to Luffy officially entering the pirate scene. Similar to Tower of God’s first season—in both Webtoon and anime—One Piece was just setting up the world, plot, and characters for the real pirate story to come with its first 100 chapters.

How all the characters stating their dreams for the Grand Line—Luffy wanting the “One Piece” to become King of the Pirates, Zoro wanting to become the “World’s Greatest Swordsman”, Nami wanting to draw the world’s map, Sanji wanting to find “All Blue”, and Usopp wanting to become a brave warrior of the sea—was an amazing way to conclude the arc and its 100th chapter in addition to establishing these five as our main protagonists going into the Alabasta Saga.

Thanks for reading this manga review, everyone! Let’s keep it sailing! After six days out on this fictional sea, I’m finally heading into the Grand Line! After I read another 100 chapters, and I’m buying myself an awesome Luffy Figure! Believe it!

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