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One Piece Chapter 1123 Review/Recap

It’s finally over. After almost two years, the Egghead Island Arc has come to an end, and what an ending it was! The Straw Hats, Bonney, Kuma, Lilith, and Giant Pirates have made it out safely, but the feeling remains bittersweet. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t save the original Dr. Vegapunk, and this chapter confirms that he did, indeed, die. In a surprising twist, though, we learn just how thoroughly Vegapunk played the World Government without even remembering it. He made sure that he didn’t, and sacrificed himself to tell the world the truth.

Recap

Thanks to Emeth’s final attack, the Navy Fleet at Egghead Island is out cold. None of them can pursue the Straw Hats or Giants! Thanking Emeth for what he did, Luffy and the others make for all ahead full and sail away from Egghead Island. But while most are celebrating, Sanji looks at Vegapunk’s lifeless body, uneasy about what he said to him earlier.

In a flashback two weeks ago, Vegapunk, Shaka, and Pythagoras were reviewing data when they realized something: someone had stolen part of the Mother Flame! Knowing only a Vegapunk could do that (and thinking it was Lilith), they kept quiet about it. A week later, Pythagoras confirmed that the real traitor was York. She stole part of the Mother Flame and ratted on the Vegapunk’s to the World Government. Then, a day later, the unthinkable happened: Lulusia was destroyed.

Realizing this could have only happened if the World Government had used the Mother Flame to power an Ancient Weapon, Vegapunk could only conclude that it was due to York gave it to them. Horrified by this, but knowing that they’re already dead men walking, Vegapunk chooses not to run. Instead, he will turn the coming second Ohara into a giant “F you” to the World Government. So, the three of them get to work.

Two days before the Straw Hats arrive, they make the recording and program it to go out once Vegapunk’s heart stops beating. Then, they erase their memories to ensure no one can catch onto them. The only evidence they leave behind is a warning that the World Government is coming for them and that they should have faith in themselves. So, Vegapunk told Sanji he would stay behind while everyone else escaped.

In the present day, everyone left celebrates their reunion, escape, and the journey to Elbaf that awaits them.

Review

This was my legit reaction when I read this chapter. Even before the Straw Hat’s and Bonney set foot on Egghead Island, Vegapunk had already won. He made sure that no matter what happened, he would get the last laugh!!! Bravo, Dr. Vegapunk. You really were the smartest man in the world for pulling one over on the Five Elders like that. And thanks to your final message, no one will forget your name.

Vegapunk Had Won Before the Game Even Started

As much as I want to gush about the entire arc right now, I’ll keep things as brief as possible and save the rest for later. To put it simply, the revelation that Vegapunk had planned to sacrifice himself from the get-go re-contextualizes everything about the arc. Even though Vegapunk and most of his Satellites are either dead, turned traitor, or MIA, he did everything he could to ensure at least one of them would get off the island. And I’m very happy with the fact that it wound up being my favorite of the Vegapunk’s, Lilith. She’s the most fun out of the entire group, and thanks to Atlas faking her death, she can continue their research in hiding. It would be awesome if she joined the Straw Hats, but my guess is that she’ll come to reside in Elbaf with the Giants.

It should also be noted that Vegapunk is now the latest in a line of well-known people who were hunted by the World Government, only to use their deaths to de-stabilize even further. Roger lit the fire, Whitebeard confirmed that the One Piece exists, and Vegapunk confirmed what fans already knew: the One Piece is the key to unraveling everything. And hopefully, it will help bring about the fall of the World Government.

I’m not joking. Now more than ever, the World Government cannot be allowed to survive as it is before the series ends. And thanks to Vegapunk’s truth bombs, I foresee most of the world panicking and turning on them. Their reign is coming to an end. My only regret is that Vegapunk won’t live to see his dream of a world with unlimited energy.

Then again, Lilith and others will see it through.

Egghead is Done, Onward to Elbaf

So, it looks like it’s over. After almost two years, the Egghead Island Arc has come to an end. Considering how feels much longer than that, it feels surreal to think that the arc that had so many breaks between it is over. But how was it in the grand scheme of the story?

Honestly, I’d rate it among my top five favorite arcs from the series thus far. Yes, it did continue longer than some fans wanted, but there’s a good reason for that! With One Piece entering the endgame, Oda had to make sure that all the people were where he needed them to be. And considering the massive roster of the series, that’s a lot of people! With how thorough Oda is, it makes sense he would want to cover as much as possible. And it was worth it! From everything we learned about the Void Century and Joyboy thanks to Vegapunk as well as the potential apocalypse, to Kuma and Bonney’s absolutely heartwrenching backstories, this arc ranks among the series best. And the craziest part is that many of us didn’t think it would go on this long. We thought it was the prologue to what would come next at Elbaf.

Elbaf, the fabled land of the Giants. Next to Laugh Tale itself, that’s the place that One Piece fans have been wanting to see the most. But everything that’s happened, I don’t even know if it’s possible to top what happened on Egghead. Then again, this is Oda. He’s good at outdoing himself.

I’m gonna miss Egghead Island, without a doubt. My only regret about how things ended is the fact that the World Government has possession of the Mother Flame and Vegapunk’s database, meaning they’ll likely go full dictator now.

I Give “The Void Fortnight” a 4.5/5

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One Piece Chapter 1120 Review/Recap

When Vegapunk asked the Straw Hats to escort him off Egghead Island, I dont think any of us expected it to get like this. First, Shaka was murdered. Then York was revealed to be a traitor willing to work for the Celestial Dragons. And now, Vegapunk himself might be dead, and almost all his Satellites along with him! The only ones left are Lilith, Atlas, and York, and after this chapter, another one is gone. To save everyone, Atlas just made the ultimate sacrifice!

Recap

26 years ago, on Punk Hazard, Professor Clover confronts Dr. Vegapunk’s, begging him to aid him in researching the Void Century. However, Vegapunk refuses to help him, saying the only reason Clover’s alive is so he can lure out his colleagues so the World Government can eliminate them. In response, Clover reveals his real name…is Claiohh D. Clover. When he was a kid, the World Government killed his big brother in front of him, and Clover lied to save himself. He can’t accept a world where having the wrong name could get him killed.

Vegapunk decides to forget what he just heard and tells Clover to do the same, but Clover says that, one day, the voices of the past will call for him and he won’t be able to ignore it.

Four years later, Vegapunk learns of the genocide of Ohara and Clover’s death, horrifying him.

In the present day, Vegapunk echoes Clover’s words, saying how the history of the vanquished can endure in the hearts of the oppressed. Now Vegapunk is bringing that truth to light, the same truth that the Roger Pirates discovered for themselves. He also shocks the world by revealing Gold Roger’s true name of Gol D. Roger.

Emeth and Atlas’ Sacrifices

Elsewhere, Emeth speaks to Luffy and says how happy he is to fight for him once more, calling him Joy Boy. He doesn’t know what Emeth’s talking about, but he takes the chance to escape to the Giant Pirates’ ship, though no one else heard the voice. Unfortunately, 900 years of wear and tear have broken down Emeth’s weapons, letting the Elders take a chunk of him! But he still has a backup plan.

Elsewhere, the Sunny is ready to make the jump to the sea. However, with Nusjuro still after them, if he tries to attack even once, the Sunny will miss the jump. That’s when Atlas knows what to do. She knocks out Lilith and then shuts off some kind of device that connects her to Punk Records. Then, Atlas charges right at Nusjuro and while the Sunny launches, she self-destructs, much to everyone’s sadness!

Review

And then there were two. We still dont know if Dr Vegapunk is truly dead or if he can pull through, but does that matter at this point? Most of the Satellites are dead or presumably dead. The traitor responsible for all this looks set to join the World Government and give them control of Punk Records. Now the only good Satellite left standing is Lilith. Ironic, considering how she’s the “evil” aspect of Vegapunk. However, even if the Straw Hats can only save Lilith, that will still be a victory.

That, and Lilith is my favorite of the Satellites. I like her personality a lot, so I dont want to see her die!

Even if this is it for Vegapunk, though, he’s already won against the Five Elders. Like Clover wanted years ago, Vegapunk chose not to ignore the past and ensured the whole world would know the truth. The Void Century, the conspiracy of the World Government, and surpringsly, Roger’s true name. Even if he didn’t expose the truth about Ohara, I think plenty of people will be able to connect the dots and realize the truth. The Five Elders have lost thanks to the Will of D.

The Will of D Continues to Amaze Me

Speaking of which, I was surprised to learn that Clover was a bearer of the D. That does explain why he was so willing to defy the World Government, though. Besides Garp (to an extent), everyone with the Will of D seems to defy the World Government. And, knowing Oda, Joy Boy was likely a bearer of the Will of D.

Speaking of which, its nice to see Emeth acknowledge Luffy as the new Joy Boy. However, I’m hoping that someone explains what that is to him, if only for the readers sake. I doubt he’ll care about something like that.

Atlas, Your Sacrifice Will not Be in Vain

As for Atlas, I am so sad about her sacrifice. Atlas might have been Vegapunk’s anger, but she was one of the friendliest of the Satellites. She gave Luffy and the others food and clothes, and tried to stand up to Rob Lucci. Atlas sacrificing herself is going to be tough pill to swallow, but the Straw Hats can’t afford to fight any longer. If they don’t escape Egghead Island now, the sacrifice Atlas made will be for naught.

I know I’ve been saying it for awhile, but it feels like the Egghead Island Arc is nearing its end. The next few chapters will show us how the Straw Hats and their allies escape. After that, we’ll probably get a few chapters showing the aftermath and fallout of the incident. And I hope that this marks the beginning of the end for the World Government. They need to go down!

F in the chat for Atlas. She was a true friend.

I Give “Atlas” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1119 Review/Recap

Have you ever heard the story of the Golem of Prague? Centuries ago, the Jewish community of Prague was threatened by enemies who spread lies and slander about them. Their leading Rabbi and his assistants thus crafted a great golem, a man made of clay, to serve as their protector. To bring him to life, he inscribed the word “Emeth” onto its forehead. In Hebrew, Emeth means “Truth.”

Why bring that up now? Because Emeth is the name of the Iron Giant that now fights to protect Egghead Island!

Recap

In the lab itself, Kaku tells Stussy to get lost. He says they were never friends, but more importantly, when Lucci shows up, there’s no telling what he might do.

Near the Giant Pirates ship, Mars is surprised by the sight of two Nikas, but realizes Bonney is just imitating Luffy. On the other hand, Luffy learns that nothing they do can put a dent in the Five Elders. Thus, they can’t beat them. The only way to stop them is to send them as far away as possible. So Luffy changes tactics. Inflating himself up like a balloon and grabbing onto Mars, he tells Sanji, Franky, and Bonney to hit him as hard as they can. So they do.

The kinetic energy they build up in Luffy then ripples out to Mars. As a result, the monster is sent flying over the horizon! It does tire Bonney out, though, and she returns to her younger self. However, then Peter shows up. He spits out the captured Seraphim and CP agents, then tries to suck up the Giant Pirates ship, but Luffy isn’t having that. He punches Peter, but then Warcury charges right for the boat!

At that moment, though, the Iron Giant, Emeth, reawakens, restarting the broadcast. It’s garbled and incomplete, but it mentions things about the Will of D. At that moment, Emeth remembers the voice of Joy Boy, telling him that “the time” is at hand. Rising up out of the depths of the water, Emeth unleashes a mighty blow upon Warcury. So powerful, in fact, that it does actual damage to the monster, breaking one of his tusks!

Review

Before we start, I know that some fans think the short length of this chapter is a bad sign about Oda’s health. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire, so I’m not going to speculate. Keep in mind that, for a few years now, Oda has released One Piece for two-three weeks and then taken a break. That’s his right. But when does end up doing this, he’s proven capable of leaving fans satisified, and this chapter’s no exception.

Another Golem, This One Made of Metal

I first learned about the Golem of Prague in a picture book I read as a kid, and in hindsight, it’s rather apparent that Oda took inspiration from the story for the Iron Giant. A massive entity made from material found in the earth (iron, in this case) with superhuman strength that serves as a protector for the oppressed? That fits the story of the Golem of Prague to a tee!

In addition, the fact that it reactivates due to Luffy entering Gear Fifth is a reference to the ending to the story of Prague’s Golem. After it was no longer needed, it was turned back into lifeless clay and hidden away. But the legend also said that when its strength was required once more, it would return to protect the Jews. Now compare that to what’s happened on Egghead Island. The people of the island, and the world, are being threatened by the World Government when the new Joy Boy arrives. His arrival is what leads the Iron Giant to return!

Truth Comes to Wipe Away the Lies

I also really liked the meaning of the Iron Giant’s name, Emeth. Like I said at the start, “Emeth” means “truth” or “truthfullness” in Hebrew. By returning now, Emeth is fighting to help Vegapunk expose the truth of the world and put an end to the lies of the World Government. It’s just really symbolic, and something that I enjoyed. That, and we finally get to see the Iron Giant fight.

Much like the Golem, the Iron Giant possesses superhuman strength. Since the Five Elders showed up on Egghead, we’ve seen them tank hit after hit from Kuma, Luffy, and many others, and act like its nothing. Warcury losing one of his tusks is the first time we’ve seen some actual damage done to them. Either it has some extraordinary power or material, or it possesses Haki strong enough to hurt the Five Elders. Either way, it could be what helps the Straw Hats, Vegapunks, Bonney, and Giants escape.

No, Bonney is Not OP

As for Bonney’s Nika Form wearing off so quickly, I expected this to happen. While Bonney’s powers let her imitate Luffy’s Gear Fifth, that’s all it is; an imitation. It’s not going to be as strong as the real deal, nor last as long. Plus, this is something she only just figured out how to do. It makes sense that she wouldn’t be able to hold it for long.

In other words, all those people who said that this made Bonney a broken character, calm down. She ain’t replacing Luffy.

It’s a shame that we’ll have to wait an extra week for the next chapter, but I won’t complain. Oda should look out for his health. If not for himself, then for his wife and kids.

I Give “Emeth” a 3.5/5

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One Piece Chapter 1118 Review/Recap

When Bonney set out to sea to become a pirate, she had three goals in mind: see the world, find her dad, and find Nika, the warrior from her dad’s stories. Flash forward to the present day on Egghead Island, and she’s managed to fulfill all three goals. She’s reunited with her father and discovers that Nika was by her side the whole time in the form of Luffy. And now, she’s getting the chance to fight alongside her hero and become truly free. The Five Elders now have to deal with not just one Nika, but two?!?!

Recap

After being blasted into the sky by the Five Elders, the Iron Giant comes crashing back down into the ocean, shutting off the broadcast. As the robot sinks into the ocean, it wonders where Joy Boy has gone. Around the world, though, everyone wonders what could’ve happened. And unfortunately, thanks to his vague wording and the World Government’s propaganda, many start to think that Luffy is responsible for the whole mess.

With the main issue out of the way, the Five Elders re-focus their efforts on eliminating the remaining Vegapunks, all of whom are on the Sunny or the Giant Pirates ship. Fortunately, Luffy, Dorry, and Brogy finally make it to the Giant Pirates ship and start setting sail. However, they have to wait for the Sunny to join them, and Mars is closing in on the Giant Pirates Ship! Left with no choice, the Giants have to fend off Mars and keep him from following them.

Fortunately, Luffy makes it to the mess hall, where the Giants have a ton of food ready. One quick snack, and he’s able to re-enter Gear Fifth. That’s when he turns to Bonney and asks if she wants to help him fight the Elders. At first, Bonney thinks she can’t keep up with him, but Luffy says that she can with her powers (even if he doesn’t get them.) Remembering what Luffy said about being truly free, Bonney used Distorted Future to give her a future where she’s totally free! Suddenly, the ship is filled with the sounds of drumbeats. As Mars and Warcury look on shock, two Nika’s, Luffy and Bonney, appear before their eyes!

In the ocean depths, the Iron Giant stirs once more.

Recap

I have several things I want to say, but first and foremost: I want Bonney to join the Straw Hats. I dont know what happened to her crew, and I hope they’re safe, but right now, I really want Bonney to join the Straw Hat Pirates. Better yet, I want Luffy to adopt Bonney as his little sister! For Bonney, it would be a dream come true to get to sail alongside the hero her dad told her stories about!

In all seriousness, though, what Bonney managed to do here is a potential game changer. If she can fully copy Luffy’s Gear Fifth with her Distorted Future, we’ll have two people with toonforce powers! One of them was enough to keep the Five Elders hands full, but two of them? I wouldn’t be surprised if they sank the entire fleet and threw the Elders into the sea where they belong! Though, in all likelihood, they’ll have to settle for keeping them from following their ships as they escape. Though, even that might not be good enough.

The Five Elders cannot gain anything from this!

This chapter revealed a few key things about Punk Records and the Vegapunks. Firstly, only three Vegapunks are now linked to Punk Records: Lilith, Atlas, and the traitor York. In addition, it seems Punk Records was programmed to keep growing and working even if Vegapunk himself were to die. If the Five Elders seized full control of it, it would be catastrophic for the entire world. Lilith and Atlas could keep using it even if they escape, but I fear it might be better to destroy it altogether.

As for the rest of the world, I hate to admit it, but it seems like too many people will believe that Luffy and the others are responsible for all of this. Since Vegapunk intentionally left his attackers vague, the World Government could twist the truth and fool the masses…to an extent. I dont think they’ll be able to deny everything Vegapunk revealed, and those who know Luffy and the Straw Hats will see through the lies.

Luffy and Bonney are Ready to Rumble!

There’s also the matter of the Iron Giant. Its pretty clear now that they were an ally of Joy Boy, and that the Drums of Liberation help to power it. I’m willing to bet it will make it out of the ocean and return to cover the heroes escape. Until then, though, I’m looking forward to seeing Luffy and Bonney kick some serious ass!! Considering the absolute hell they put her and her family through, this is going to be cathartic.

I Give “Be Free” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1117 Review/Recap

Do you ever get one of those moments enjoying a work of fiction, only for it to just blueball you? To leave you hanging at the worst possible time and just wanting more? For better or for worse, Eichiro Oda has become very proficient in the art of cliffhangers, and that can leave some fans feeling blueballed. I understand that he does it to increase anticipation for what comes next, but in this case, I still feel pretty blueballed. And

it’s not just the readers. Thanks to the Five Elders, the entire world has gotten blueballed, and I dont think the fans are happy about it. Read on and you’ll see why.

Recap

More and more people around the world continue to show their reactions to all the bombshells that Vegapunk’s dropped. Some are ecstatic about what they’ve heard and wonder what treasures may lie at the bottom of the sea. Others have a hard time processing everything. But many want to hear more, shouting at Vegapunk to tell them more (they’ve been blueballed.)

On Egghead Island, the Straw Hats and their remaining allies are at the breaking point. On the shoreline, the Marines are close to overrunning the Giant Pirates ship. On the sky island above, the Sunny’s in position to set sail; they just have to wait on everyone. Suddenly, Nusjuro comes charging in, ready to slash the ship apart. Thankfully, Zoro and Jinbei show up in the nick of time, stopping the attack. However, there’s no time for them to climb aboard. Zoro tells them to cast off; they’ll jump aboard! Meanwhile, Luffy, Dorry and Brogy have almost made it to the Giant Pirates ship, only to discover Warcury isn’t following them anymore.

Vegapunk’s recording has one last message, though. This time, its for those who carry the initial “D.” All he manages to say, though, is “Among you, there is-” before the broadcast is interrupted. Warcury made it to the Iron Giant and tossed it into the air before letting it crash down to the ground. As a result, the broadcast shuts off! No one in the outside world knows what he wanted to say!

Review

What the heck, Oda? You didn’t just blueball your fans; you blueballed the entire world of One Piece in one fell swoop! Not cool, man! Not cool!

Well, I do understand why Oda might have done this, from a storytelling perspective. The Will of D. has been one of the greatest mysteries behind the entire story of One Piece. We’ve only learned bits and pieces of it as he’s sprinkled them throughout the story. And knowing him, we won’t know the full extent of the puzzle until we reach Laugh Tale. So, this is one mystery that will stay as such; for now, at least. And this isn’t the first time Oda’s blueballed us, so should we really be upset about it?  

That being said, I’m a little upset about this myself. I was hoping that Vegapunk would use this broadcast to clear the name of the people of Ohara. To let the world know that what happened to them was not an act of justice, but of genocide and mass murder. However, I’m content with the knowledge that, after everything Vegapunk revealed, the World Government will lose almost all control of the world. Everyone who has either met Luffy or is aware of the corrupt practices of the World Government will realize that they’re the ones at fault. And that open revolt is the only way to stop this madness.

So Many Old faces Coming Back

All that said, though, I appreciate how this chapter continued this arc’s theme of bringing back old characters. If you notice, Don Krieg and his crew were among those present on Pirate Island. I dont know how they got to the New World, but it’s impressive to see.

As for the fighting on Egghead Island, the Straw Hats need to leave. NOW. They’ve already gotten plenty of lucky breaks, and I dont think they’re going to get any more, save for the Iron Giant itself. Still, it was really cool seeing Zoro and Jinbei block Nusjuro’s attack. However, I can’t help but worry that Zoro intends to stay to get his hands on the blade that Nosjuro is using. He did say it was a Kitetsu blade, so it makes sense he would want it.

This story is getting down to the wire right now. Vega punk’s broadcast might have ended, but that leaves the Five Elders distracted. If Luffy and the others can get to sea, they can finally escape. Then, the Elders failure will be total. That eases the pain of being blueballed a little, in my opinion.

I Give “Mo-” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1114 Review/Recap

Monkey D. Luffy is a lot of things. He’s the future King of the Pirates, a bearer of the ‘Will of D,’ and a goofy idiot who’s changed many people for the better. But ever since the events in Wano, One Piece fans have known him to be the second coming of the ancient figure Joyboy. And despite knowing little about him beyond his powers and legacy, we’ve debated like crazy about who Joyboy was. Most agree that Joyboy was a messianic figure, a pirate Jesus. That logic would make Luffy the second coming of pirate Jesus, meant to save the world from evil. As Dr. Vegapunk explains in his potentially posthumous message to the world, that belief might be correct. As the Five Elders become desperate to stop him from blowing the whistle on them, Vegapunk begins to explain his “sins” to the world, and spreads the name of the original Joyboy. And anyone who has met Luffy is going to figure out that he’s the next pirate Jesus!

Recap

After hearing Vegapunk’s warnings about the world sinking into the sea, the reactions of people around the world are all over the place. 

Some start freaking out. Others (like the people of Mocktown and the Marine fleet at Egghead) think he’s full of it or lying. Many are skeptical of his claims, though. Until, that is, the recording of Vegapunk accurately predicted the “earthquake” that led the sea to rise by a meter. It wasn’t a normal natural disaster.

The Five Elders, though, enter full-blown panic mode. They desperately try to find wherever Vegapunk’s sending out the broadcast and kill everyone left on the island. Saturn plows past the Straw Hats to make it to the power room that houses the Mother Flame. Luffy, meanwhile, re-enters Gear Fifth and tries to damage Warcury. Once again, it doesn’t work. 

As the chaos continues to unfold, the recording of Vegapunk explains his two great sins. Firstly, he wanted to create a source of infinite energy, only to fly “too close to the sun” as he puts it. His second sin? To pursue his dream, he defied the World Government and studied the Poneglyphs and the Void Century, and even he could only learn a fraction of what happened. What he was able to learn, though, is the key to what may come. Nine hundred years ago, a man was born in an advanced and bountiful kingdom, and like the Sun God, Nika, from Elbaf’s myths, he had a rubbery and stretchy body. That man, Joyboy, became the first to take to the seas, the first to become a pirate.

Pirate. Jesus.

Review

…Holy cow. I can’t…I don’t even know where to start with this! There’s just so much that I have to talk about. Luffy being the Second Coming of pirate Jesus is just a small part of this insane chapter. First, though, we gotta give Oda props once more. When we first started this arc, we thought it would be a breather after the events in Wano, but in a series that’s already seen plenty of chaos, this is peak!

First things first, though: Dr. Vegapunk’s explanation about the “earthquake.” We already knew it was caused by Im using the Mother Flame to wipe an entire island from existence. Since that made the sea rise by a single meter, most fans put two and two together. If the Celestial Dragons keep using the Mother Flame, any land below the Red Line will be swallowed by the sea. And, as Doflamingo point out, all it would take is five meters to do so. It may not sound like much, but given how real-life scientists are saying the same thing thanks to climate change, we know Vegapunk’s right. 

A&Mu: Atlantis and Mu, or Atomu?

I’ve seen some fan reviews speculate that this is Im’s ultimate endgame for the world, and judging by how badly the Five Elders are panicking, they might be right. And the Mother Flame could be their means of doing so!

Speaking of which, this chapter gave us our first look at the Mother Flame, and fans had a lot to say about it. Firstly, there’s its appearance itself. I’ve seen people on the Reddit Discord note how similar it is to depictions of the sun in Enel’s cover story. Then there are the initials on the machine containing the Mother Flame: “A&Mu.” 

I’ve seen two theories what Oda wants those to mean. One theory thinks it’s a reference to “Atomu”, or “atom.” As in the atom bomb. In real life, the atomic bomb was created by a group of scientists that included Oppenheimer and Einstein. The latter of whom came to regret his role in doing so, since it gave humanity the means to destroy itself. 

The other theory is the initials are a reference to Atlantis and Mu, two advanced civilizations that people have tried to find for decades. Either theory could be right, but we won’t know until Oda decides to tell us.

Luffy’s Friends Will Know He’s Pirate Jesus

What’s most important about this chapter, though, is that the recording of Vegapunk has begun to reveal the existence of Joyboy during the Void Century. Again, we still need to learn more about Joyboy beyond what Oda’s hinted at, so if Vegapunk’s about to tell everyone about him, that’s big news, for two reasons. First, just telling the world about Joyboy and the Void Century might be enough to wake a lot of people up to the World Government’s lies and deceptions. Global revolution would begin! Secondly, anyone who’s met Luffy is going to realize the same thing we have: Luffy is the next pirate Jesus.

I’m not joking. Anyone who has met and gotten to personally know Monkey D. Luffy will likely put two and two together. They’ll realize that he’s the second coming of pirate Jesus, and, hopefully, openly throw their support behind him. Not that Luffy would care about being called pirate Jesus, though. 

Governments Rise, Governments Fall, the World Government Shall Lose it All

This chapter was straight-up fire and more than worth the wait. The revelation that Joyboy was the first pirate. The sight of the Five Elders unable to stop Vegapunk from exposing them. The Iron Giant walking across Egghead. And most importantly, thanks to Edison, the Straw Hats have a way to get the Sunny into the sea! The World Government is on the verge of losing everything in one fell swoop. Not bad for a man who compared his dream of unlimited energy to the sin of flying too close to the sun.

I loved the name to this chapter, by the way. I know that the story of Icarus is meant as a lesson on arrogance, but in this context, I say Icarus shouldn’t regret what he did. If anything, he should’ve made his wings harder to melt! And the surprise appearance of Saul in Elbaf!

I’m more than happy to wait another two weeks for this!

I Give “Wings of Icarus” a 5/5

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One Piece Chapter 1113 Review/Recap

For weeks now, fans have been speculating about what message Dr. Vegapunk planned to give the world. Would he expose the crimes of the World Government? The conspiracy to cover up the Ancient Kingdom? The truth about Ohara’s destruction? While the manga neither confirms nor denies that Vegapunk’s message will cover any of those topics, the initial reveal has left One Piece fans shocked. The world could be in greater danger than anyone has realized, and it might not even be because of Blackbeard or the World Government!

Well, not most of them.

Recap

With thirty seconds left before the broadcast begins, Mars gets taken aback by the sight of the actual Punk Records, AKA Vegapunk’s brain. AKA, something the size of a giant. He smashes the transponder snail to stop the broadcast, but it’s quickly revealed to be a decoy, enraging Mars. The Five Elders fly into a panic, not knowing what Vegapunk could be about to tell the world, but fearing the worst (for them!) 

Saturn comes climbing up the Labophase and tries to reach Punk Records while also killing Robin, but the Straw Hats rush to her defense. 

Meanwhile, Nusjuro is unable to kill Bonney thanks to Sanji intervening.

As the chaos continues, the recording of Vegapunk reveals a few things to the world. Firstly, because he’s created two grave sins, he expects to die soon. Hence, he programmed this broadcast to go out when his heart stopped beating, shocking the world. As the Five Elders continue panicking, Vegapunk stops waxing about his would-be killers and cuts straight to the chase. One day, very soon, most likely, their world is going to sink into the ocean. 

…I’m sorry, what?!?!

Review

I will be blunt: when I saw the leaks for this chapter, I had a hard time believing them to be true. Of all the things that Vegapunk could begin to tell the world, it was a warning about the world being swallowed by the sea. Suddenly, the giant ark from Fishman Island might make a lot more sense. Now, let us breakdown everything about this chapter, because there’s a lot to unpack. 

Firstly, even though most of us guessed that the Elders couldn’t stop Vegapunk’s broadcast, it was still satisfying to see it unfold. Vegapunk had not one, but two decoys in place to distract anyone trying to stop the broadcast. He played the Five Elders like fools! To see beings that consider themselves gods get outwitted by a human is still immensely satisfying. And this isn’t even the first time, either. Vegapunk already managed to pull one over on Saturn with Kuma. This just shows how Vegapunk is the smartest person alive. Though given how he set this broadcast to go off when his heart stopped beating, that can be disputed.  

On a side note, the fact that Vegapunk’s recording explicitly proves that the World Government was lying about the Straw Hats holding Vegapunk hostage is also a big blow to them.

Guess Who’s Probably Responsible for This?

Now, as for the big reveal: according to Vegapunk, the world as everyone knows it will sink into the ocean. While the chapter ends before he can go into further detail, it doesn’t take much to guess why this is happening: because of Im. This YouTuber I follow, Artur of Ohara, speculates that, whatever plan Im and the Five Elders have for the world, it involves flooding it and killing everyone who isn’t living on the Red Line. And you know what? I think he’s right! With how fast they’re losing control of the world, Im might resort to wiping out everyone that lives down below, leaving only the Celestial Dragons and those unlucky enough to be their slaves. Not counting the Fishmen, that is, but that would still include the majority of all life on the planet.

As shocking as this revelation is, Oda’s put a number of hints as to Im’s endgame throughout the series. Aqua Laguna flooding Water 7. the recent rising sea level thanks to the Mother Flame. The fact that Fishman Island has a giant ark named Noah! Either Oda is great at making this up as he goes along, or he’s a master at the long game of foreshadowing. Either way, this is awesome.

Sadly, we have to wait two weeks to learn more, as most manga is on break for Golden Week in Japan. Give what we’ve learned, though, I’m willing to wait. Especially if it means that this is the beginning of the end for the World Government!

I Give “Stalemate” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1112 Review/Recap

It’s been three weeks now, but Oda is back from vacation, recharged, and ready to bring us the endgame to the Egghead Island arc! On the last piece of One Piece, the Straw Hats and their allies continued fighting the might of the Five Elders and their Buster Call fleet. Try as they might, though, they can’t put a dent in the monstrous Gorosei, and their Pacifista support is being cut to ribbons. This week, things start to get even worse as the Five Elders and Navy close in on the Straw Hats and Giants. In addition, they’re on the verge of shutting off the transmission that Vegapunk is sending out worldwide! 

Oda knows how to cook after a vacation.

Recap

The events on Egghead Island are down to the wire! The last of the Pacifistas are cut down by Nusjuro, taking them out of the fight. At the northeastern end of the island, Bonney and Franky’s group makes it to the Giant Pirates ship and fights off the Vice-Admirals in their way. Before they can even get aboard, though, Nusjuro reaches their position.

Up above, Nami and Usopp’s group is waiting on Stussy, who remained behind, to open the barrier, but the Sunny won’t make it to the sea. Thats when Edison gets an idea, flying down to the barrier to make sure they can make it. Before they can do so, though, they see a familiar set of spider-legs climbing up the clouds.

Luffy, Dorry, and Brogy narrowly escape being sucked up by St. Peter, only for Luffy’s Gear Five to run out. The Giants feed him fermented shark that gives him back some energy, but in his normal form, Luffy can’t punch the Elders without hurting his hand.

Near the lab itself, Mars and York find the room from Vegapunk’s broadcast and destroy it, but it does nothing. York realizes the real source is coming from Punk Records itself, prompting Mara to fly inside to see the transponder snail being used. As he does so, though, he hears a strange noise coming from above him…

Welcome Back, Oda

Firstly, I want to say I’m happy to hear that Oda is feeling rested and pumped up. The recent passing of Akira Toriyama drove home how important it is for him to maintain his health. It would break the hearts of his friends, his family, and his fans if he were to work himself to an early grave. 

Review

Secondly, the tide has swung back into the World Government’s favor for the umpteenth time since this arc started. The Pacifistas were the Straw Hats’ best way to fend off the hordes of marines. With them gone, Egghead’s destruction might be inevitable. And to top it off, the Five Elders either have the Straw Hats/Giants/Bonney/Satellites cornered or are about to do so. And, regrettably, they’re incapable of stopping the Five Elders as they are now, but that’s awesome!

Even though we, as readers, know that something will happen to get the Straw Hats and their allies out of this, the series has done a great job of keeping us guessing how that will happen. Oda’s storytelling is pretty impressive. He knows things will work out, but he still manages to keep us enthralled. 

Vegapunk Probably has One Last Card to Play

As for how they will get out of this, the protagonists have more cards left to play. The first is the Iron Giant. It’s disappointing that they didn’t appear in this chapter after all the hype around their appearance at the end of the last one. However, it’s still going to be what helps the heroes escape. And that might not even be their biggest trump card. What Mars heard and saw in the room with the transponder snail needs to be clarified. It is managing to distract him from stopping the broadcast. Who or whatever’s in the room, Vegapunk likely put it there as a trump card to protect the snail. And with only one minute left before Vegapunk starts the big reveal, the timing couldn’t be better. 

This chapter was filled with incredible moments for the protagonists, and I ate it up. From Franky beating one Vice-Admiral to Bonney beating another for calling her dad a weapon, Luffy’s Gear Five made me smile, even if it ended too soon. Vegapunk and Satellites, who aren’t York, especially, deserve a shoutout for ensuring the World Government can’t win. This makes me more hyped for next week’s chapter, and I can’t wait! 

I Give “Hard Aspect” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1111 Review/Recap

Good grief, Oda! This battle has spun back and forth so many times I’m getting dizzy trying to keep track! On the last piece of One Piece, the remaining Five Elders arrived on Egghead Island in their true, monstrous forms. Caught off-guard, Luffy came close to biting it until Dorry and Brogy saved him. However, any chance Luffy has of beating the Elders now has gone out the window. All the Straw Hats, Vegapunks, Giants, and Bonney can do is run for it! But all might not be lost, as a giant, familiar robot finally appears on the battlefield. The Iron Giant comes!

Recap

Even though Zoro beat Rob Lucci, the CP0 agent refuses to fall, so the swordsman refuses to leave with Jinbei. Fed up, Jinbei blasts Lucci away with his Fishman Karate. The two of them go right as Mars breaches the barrier to the Lab. Initially shocked to see the monster, Lucci can still tell him everything he knows about who’s in the Lab, how much time remains, and to try and save Kaku. Mars, though, makes no promises as he goes to find York.

Meanwhile, Luffy is overjoyed to be reunited with Dorry and Brogy, though he doesn’t know what they mean when they ask about his appearance. Nonetheless, having done what they came there for, the captains sound the horn to retreat. In response, Warcury tries blowing everyone away with a Conquerer’s Haki-powered roar!

Warcury and Saturn go on the offensive, but Luffy…well, see for yourself.

Even after that, it’s not enough to put them down. Thus, the Captains decide to run for it. Everyone begins to make for the ships at this point. However, Bonney’s group is blocked by a group of Navy Vice-Admirals in sight of the Giant’s ship. 

Everyone’s attention, though, is shifted when the Marines notice something. Amidst the fires, something larger than a giant appears. The Iron Giant that once attacked Mariejois lives again, growling something: “Joyboy, forgive me.”

Review

I knew that the Iron Giant would play some role in this arc! I’ve been saying it for months now! And right now, it seems all but confirmed that the robot’s power source is connected to Joyboy, AKA Nika. However, the connection between the Iron Giant and the original Joyboy has yet to be determined. Perhaps, like Zunesha, it was one of Joyboy’s comrades. If that’s true, it would explain why it’s awoken now. With Luffy having awakened his Devil Fruit, it makes sense.

Speaking of which, I nearly exploded with laughter as I saw what Luffy did this week. From how he was blown back by Warcury’s roar to making that giant baseball bat, it was something straight out of a Looney Tunes short! At this point, the man is the personification of toon force!

As strong as he and the Giants are, they can’t beat the Five Elders as they are now. They shrug off any attempts to injure them. At this point, they may be immortal. That, or their Haki is so strong they can shrug off everything. The Iron Giant may have better luck, though. 

At this point, the Iron Gaint might be the best chance everyone has at getting off the island alive. And, just as important, for Vegapunk’s broadcast to go out. If the doctor means to expose the truth about the World Government to the world, then we may never get another chance at this. It’s risky, but they need to finish the broadcast. 

Oda Needs to Process Toriyama’s Passing

One last thing to note is that Oda will be on a three-week break. That in itself isn’t out of the ordinary. In recent years, Oda has frequently gone on breaks ranging from two weeks to a month. What stands out this time is that it has to do with the passing of his mentor, inspiration, and friend, Akira Toriyama.

It’s been said to death by now, but without Akira Toriyama, the Shonen genre wouldn’t be what it is today. Mangaka, like Oda and Kishimoto, grew up reading Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, and it inspired them to follow in his footsteps. As adults, they were lucky enough to work alongside Toriyama; like countless others, his death has hit them hard. 

Being a mangaka can be incredibly stressful and even lead to an early death. Oda is well aware of this, so he’s taken frequent breaks to look after himself in recent years. However, Toriyama’s passing has made him even more mindful of the importance of looking after himself. And, as I’ve made clear many times, I wholeheartedly support that. I love reading One Piece, but if Oda were to work himself to an early grave because of it, I’d never be able to look at it the same way again. If he wants to take a vacation to process Toriyama’s passing and spend time with his family, he has the right to do so. And judging by what I’ve seen online, fans agree. Oda, take all the time you need! We miss Toriyama, too, and we’ll wait for you. 

Besides, when he does come back, he cooks a feast for us every time. 

I Give “The Sun’s Shield” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1107 Review/Recap

How the mighty are falling, Saturn! Ever since Kuma appeared on Egghead Island, the Marines assault has begun to fall apart. Kuma sent the wicked Saturn flying with a punch. The Pacifistas have now turned against the Marines for good, thanks to Bonney. Luffy’s up in his Gear Fifth form again. And, to top it off, the Giant Warrior Pirates have come to drive off the Marines and save Luffy, AKA Nika. The only bad thing is that Vegapunk’s badly wounded, but Luffy is about to make Saturn regret that. Moreover, Bonney is fulfilling her and her father’s dream of meeting Nika! 

I vote that Luffy adopts Bonney as his little sister and has her join the Straw Hats!

Recap

The reunited Giant Warrior Pirates make landfall on Egghead Island and begin laying waste to any Marine ship they can find. At the same time, Usopp looks in awe at his idol’s return. Edison deduces that they must have heard about events in the news, while Usopp says they came to help them escape. With Brook and Lilith moving the Sunny, Jinbei goes to get Zoro, who’s busy fighting Lucci. As for the Marines, things continue falling apart for them. With 30 of their small-medium-sized ships destroyed by the Pacifistas, they have no choice but to open fire on them.

Meanwhile, Bonney can’t stop crying tears of joy at the sight of Luffy, who she now knows to be Nika. Luffy doesn’t know who Nika is, but he gets mad when he sees what Saturn did to Vegapunk. Saturn tries to blow up Luffy’s head, but Luffy no-sells it as Bonney asks him to show her how to hit like him. Luffy happily does so, giving Saturn the beatdown he deserves in a glorious, double-spread image that sends him flying. Unfortunately, Vegapunk’s injuries are too severe for him to move. 

Kizaru tries to take advantage of things to kill Bonney and Vegapunk (again), but this time, Sanji blocks, much to Franky’s (and even Kizaru’s) shock. Now tied down by Luffy and Sanji guarding Vegapunk, Kizaru’s forced to let the others flee. 

Elsewhere, a dazed Saturn’s confronted by none other than Van Augur and Catarina Devon of the Blackbeard Pirates. The latter manages to touch Saturn, fulfilling some goal of theirs. They promptly take their leave, only to be met by Caribou. The swampy pirate proclaims himself to be a massive fan of Blackbeard, citing him as his idol and reason for wanting to be a pirate, and begs to join them. 

Review

Once again, this chapter left me grinning from ear to ear as Saturn’s plans continued to fall apart. I’ve been saying it several times, but it shows how foolish Saturn is for thinking he can control what’s happening. Anyone who’s followed One Piece long enough knows that’s impossible. The Straw Hats have gotten so good at doing things others see as impossible that Luffy’s starting to defy the laws of reality. 

With his foot, Sanji managed to block the once-dreaded Kizaru’s attack, made of pure light, which only cemented this idea. That shows how Sanji’s likely as strong as a Marine Admiral at this point. And while Franky’s Enel face was hilarious, Kizaru’s reaction nails how awesome this is. 

That’s the first time we’ve seen Kizaru look surprised about anything! That face will reach meme status when the anime gets to this point! And while Vegapunk remains in critical condition, I’m still holding out hope for him. With Luffy and Sanji guarding him, Kizaru will likely have to retreat. And Saturn is screwed!

Speaking of Saturn, the moment when Luffy let his fists loose onto the monster made the months of seeing his horrendous actions worth it. Doubly so, since Bonney cried tears of joy knowing that the stories her Dad told her about Nika were true. As dark as Kuma and Bonney’s lives have been, this moment makes it all worth it. The situation is even more heartwarming because Luffy speaks to Bonney like he would a little sister. If Bonney no longer has her own crew, she needs to join the Straw Hats. Heck, Luffy should adopt her as his little sister!

The World Government is Going to Lose it all.

At this point, it should be evident to all readers that A.) the Marines and Saturn will lose, and B.) we’re headed to Elbaf next. If the fleet size is accurate, then between the Giants and the Pacifistas, the Marines have lost %30 of their forces. And with the Giants around, they’re going to lose more. Even if they still destroy Egghead Island, though, they’ll take out the Pacifistas and ensure they can’t create anymore. 

We’ve heard stories before about how the Giant Warrior Pirates were feared by everyone back in their day, but this is the first time we see them in action as a fighting force. One of them can take down a Marine Battleship with melee weapons. An entire crew of them could take a whole fleet! Plus, seeing Dorry, Brogy, Oimo, and Kashii again will make for a joyous reunion for the Straw Hats.

Not everything about this chapter, though, should be worth smiling at.

Blackbeard is Still Dangerous

I’ve had it in my head for years now that the Blackbeard Pirates will be the Straw Hat’s final challenge in making it to Laugh Tale. The parallels between the two crews are too significant to ignore. The end of this chapter, and Catarina touching Saturn, only cements this. Now, her Devil Fruit power will let her disguise herself as one of the Five Elders. That means that Blackbeard could infiltrate Mariejois itself if he wanted to. So, while the World Government might be more prominent, Blackbeard’s potentially more dangerous. And if Caribou joins them, he’ll be even more dangerous.

Caribou revealing himself to be a super-fan of Blackbeard reinforces the parallels to Luffy (Barto’s biggest fan) and could make him even more powerful. Caribou could tell Blackbeard everything he knows about the Ancient Weapons. Shirahoshi, Momonosuke, and everyone in Wano Country and Fishman Island could be in danger!

For now, though, the immediate threat is Saturn and the Marines. Either the Straw Hat’s have to drive them off or get off Egghead Island soon. Either way, the current arc might be nearing its conclusion.

I Give “I’ve Been Looking for You” a 5/5

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