How Kuma Got Blackmailed into Being a Cyborg

One Piece Chapter 1100 Review/Recap

So, at the end of the last chapter of One Piece, Kuma seemed to catch a lucky break at last. After meeting with Dr. Vegapunk, the super-genius promised to cure Bonney for free if Kuma agreed to be the template for his Pacifista project. Unfortunately, the monster that’s determined to rip away all of Kuma’s happiness, Jaygarcia Saturn, learned about this deal. After that, the fandom knew what where this was headed. Kuma got blackmailed: his life and freedom were exchanged for Bonney’s.

Before this arc is out, I want to see Saturn get beaten to a pulp. Way to kick off the 1,100 chapter of the manga, Oda!

Recap

After learning about Vegapunk’s backroom deal with Kuma, Admiral Kizaru has no choice but to come to Egghead Island and lay down the law on Saturn’s behalf. Despite his past, Saturn agrees to allow Vegapunk to cure Bonney (and serve as the Pacifista template) on three conditions.

1. Kuma joins the Warlords because one of them got kicked out for losing to Ace (Sweet).
2. Kuma agrees to be converted into a cyborg.
3. He agrees to have his free will and individuality erased.

Vegapunk’s outraged at this, calling it tantamount to murder. Kuma, on the other hand, agrees without hesitation, surprising everyone present (even Kizaru.) Furthermore, Bonney would have to remain in WG custody in Sorbet Kingdom, an unwitting hostage to ensure Kuma’s compliance, and Kuma would be unable to see her again. Kuma has no choice but to agree, so, everyone gets to work.

It takes six months for the treatment to be successful, but once it is, Kuma returns Bonney to their church and says goodbye, thanking her for being born. Thus, Kuma becomes one of the Seven Warlords, with everyone reacting to his appointment differently.

From then on, Kuma does missions for the World Government while writing letters to Bonney. Eventually, though, his travels take him to the East Blue to none other than Foosha Village.

Review

This has already happened several times since this flashback started, but this chapter had me mentally crying my eyes out. Bless your heart, Kuma! That man is the ideal that every Dad should strive to be, and I hope that if I have kids, I can be half as good a Dad as he is! His Jolly Roger is even based on the drawing Bonney made of him! That is the sweetest thing ever!

In any case, the events that transpire should come as no surprise to anyone reading. From the moment Ginny was kidnapped, we all knew that the World Government would somehow manage to blackmail Kuma into becoming their puppet. It may not have happened due to Ginny, but most of us guessed it would be due to Bonney’s illness. As if we needed any further reasons to hate the Gorosei, this chapter elevates Saturn to new levels of evil. That demon is determined to take any happiness away from Kuma.

Despite how sad it is knowing Kuma’s ultimate fate, this chapter was filled with some heartwarming moments. Kizaru was just as surprised as Vegapunk was to see Kuma agree to Saturn’s demands. In addition, seeing Bonney, Kuma, Vegapunk, Kizaru, and Sentomaru eat and dance together shows how close they genuinely got. Kizaru seemed to have formed a genuine friendship with all of them, which only makes what Saturn’s ordering him to do harder to watch. I’d never thought I’d say this, but after this chapter, my hatred for Kizaru is primarily gone. He doesn’t like what he’s doing, but he does it because it’s his job.  

Despite Saturn’s best efforts to keep Kuma and Bonney under his thumb, though, we know that he will inevitably fail. Bonney eventually escapes to become a pirate, albeit too late for Kuma to back out of his deal. However, there’s one bright spot for Kuma at the end of the chapter in the form of Luffy.

Kuma Knew Before Most that Luffy Was the New Joy Boy

The end to the chapter doesn’t make it clear what Kuma’s new orders are, but they might have something to do with the likes of Luffy. I wouldn’t put it past the Gorosei to have learned in advance about Luffy’s Devil Fruit powers, and thus, wanted Kuma to kill him before he even set out to sea. If that’s true, then the next chapter could see a younger Luffy running into Kuma, only for him to ignore his orders.

My guess is that Kuma realized who Luffy could be before almost anyone else did. Kuma knew from his father’s stories the legends of Joy Boy and his powers, and after seeing Luffy inheriting those powers, realized that he was meant to become the next Joy Boy. That’s the equivalent of a holy man meeting the reincarnation of his people’s prophet. 

Whether my theory is correct or not, this flashback about Kuma’s life has turned him into one of One Piece‘s most important side characters. The man has gone through hell for the sake of others, and while he may not regain his free will, he’ll have gone out knowing that the man the Buccaneer’s waited for is here in the form of Luffy.

Also, there’s this moment with Vegapunk. And next year, the anime will make it to Egghead Island!

I Give “Thank You, Bonney” a 4.5/5

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