RJ Writing Ink

One Piece Chapter 1101 Review/Recap

The backstories of Kuma and Bonney, two of the most heartbreaking in all of One Piece (and that’s saying something), are almost over. To save Bonney from the disease that killed her mother, Kuma agreed to become a cyborg and work for the World Government. In exchange, Bonney would serve as an unwitting hostage to keep her father in line, but thankfully, that deal fell through. Bonney eventually escaped and became one of the Worst Generation of pirates. How she did so, though, was left up in the air until now. Bonney’s escape to the seas unfolds, and it’s as amazing as everyone hoped.

Also, the World Government sucks. Remember that. 

Recap

A year before Luffy sets sail, Kuma observes him training from afar and remembers how he saw him once before. When he brought this up with Dragon, though, he told him to keep his mouth shut; Kuma immediately realized that Luffy was Dragon’s son. As Luffy continued training, Kuma took his leave to help some merchants who were being attacked by pirates.

Kuma would continue doing the World Government’s work even as he came closer to losing his free will while Egghead Island continued to be built up. He sent letter after letter to Bonney back home, trying to pour a lifetime of love into the time that he had left. What he didn’t know was that the letters never got to his daughter. Alpha, the WG agent overseeing Bonney, destroyed them before the girl could even read them. 

As Bonney eventually turns 9, her disease is now fully cured, but Alpha won’t let her go outside. Conney, Gyogyo, and the rest of Kuma and Bonney’s friends have already figured out the World Government doesn’t plan to let Bonney go free. Thus, using her powers (which she’s kept secret), Bonney swaps herself for Conney and slips out right under Alpha’s nose. For the first time ever, Bonney’s able to go outside without fear of the sun.

As Bonney heads to the port where her friends wait with a new ship ready to sail and find her father, Alpha catches onto them. She tries to recapture the only leverage they have against Kuma, but using her Devil Fruit powers to mimic a future where she’s Nika, Bonney punches the woman into the ground! Free at last, Bonney thus set sail to find her father, becoming one of the rising stars of the new age of pirates!

Review

The World Government’s always been full of the lowest of the low, but ripping up the letters a father sent to his daughter? That’s messed up, even for them! It also made seeing what Bonney did to Alpha at the end of the chapter all the more cathartic!

This chapter seems to support my theory from the end to the previous one. Having heard of the legend of Nika/Joy Boy from his own father, Kuma must have realized that Luffy was likely the next Joy Boy. Seeing him use the same powers that Nika was said to have, and knowing that he was Dragon’s son, was enough proof for him. In hindsight, that also makes Kuma’s interactions with the Straw Hat’s all the more important. He knew Luffy would lay down his life for his friends, so he had to make sure they’d do the same. In other words, he was testing them, and they passed. Even if Kuma never regains his free will, he’ll have gone out knowing that Luffy could be the one to free everyone. 

Bonney’s Freedom and Joy in Life.

Beyond that revelation, this chapter was significant for explaining the start of Bonney’s journey as a pirate. After witnessing the fate of her mother and how she had to avoid it all her life, seeing Bonney set foot under the sun without fear for the first time brought a smile to my face. It’s little miracles like this that help me keep faith in a higher power. 

In addition to the heartwarming site of Bonney’s escape to freedom, this chapter also shows how powerful her Devil Fruit can be in her hands. It’s already been established Bonney can use it to turn into versions of herself from an alternate timeline. However, seeing her mimic Luffy’s rubbery powers implies this could extend to versions of her that ate a different Devil Fruit. She could copy any other power her possible counterparts could have! That’s broken as heck, and thus awesome.

On another note: despite Alpha destroying Kuma’s letters to Bonney, the Egghead Island Arc shows that they got the last laugh. By viewing her father’s memories, not only does Bonney know everything about him and her mother; she also knows everything Kuma wrote into her letters. She knows how much her father loves her. I don’t care how painful it’s been: knowing Bonney finally got her Dad’s letters brings tears to my eyes.

End of flashbacks or not?

With the manga going on break next week, there’s likely only time for one more chapter in 2023. The question is: will the flashbacks continue, or will things return to the present day?

While many fans would like to see the story in the present-day continue, given how Saturn has Bonney at his mercy, Kuma’s story isn’t over. Despite catching up to the start of One Piece, we have yet to see Kuma’s perspective on the events at Thriller Bark, Sabaody, or the final operation that made him a full cyborg. That could be the key to understanding his actions in the present-day. Moreover, it would be nice to see if Kuma got to see Bonney again or how Bonney escaped during the timeskip. Bottom line is that I still want to see things, and I hope Oda gives them to us. Great, heartwarming chapter!

I Give “Dear Bonney” a 4.5/5

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