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My Hero Academia: Vigilantes S2 Ep 9 Review

Don’t you just love parties? I may not be the most social of people in real life, but I’ve grown to appreciate the value of parties. People coming together to eat, drink, and celebrate while forgetting about their problems and stress! And it looks like Captain Celebrity is planning to end his time in Japan with a great big party, courtesy of Makoto and the Narufest folks! But there might be trouble in paradise.

Captain Celebrity is Going Home Soon

It’s already Christmas in Japan, and Koichi, Pop, Makoto, CC and the other Narufest folks all get together for a nice party. I just love seeing people enjoying themselves like this! But it’s also a sign of the beginning of the end for Captain Celebrity. In Japan, that is.

If you recall, the whole reason Captain Celebrity left America is because he was dealing with a ton of lawsuits. The good news is that Makoto and his legal team discovered that most of them were just people taking advantage of him and his good-nature. What a bunch of scumbags. More importantly, though, Makoto was able to smooth things over with his wife. Even better, the Captain had found out that he’s about to become a father! Life is good!

But then a monster controlled by the Scarred Man shows up and tries to abduct the three little girls that are part of the Narufest group. He saves them, but he takes the brunt of the attack to save the girls. As a result, his popularity skyrockets! He starts trending online like crazy, all his merch sells out, everything! That inspires Makoto to turn his farewell party into a big event at the Tokyo Sky Egg, a venue capable of holding 50,000 people at once! There will be a massive stage for Pop and the others to perform, and as we see in a montage, a bunch of Pro Heroes that we know get invites!

But there’s a problem that no one realizes: the Scarred Man figured out Captain Celebrity’s weakness.

CC Has a Weakness, After All!

As CC revealed in private, the main thing about his Quirk is that it creates a barrier around him to protect himself while he’s flying. That’s why he’s not affected by bad weather. In addition, he can extend this barrier to other people to protect them, but he has a limit. Keeping those girls safe meant he had to get himself injured in the process. And the Scarred Man figured all of that out.

The one upside to all of this is that Tsukauchi and Eraser Head’s investigation into the Villain Factory gets a major break. Thanks to Knuckleduster’s intel and records that Koichi and Pop provide anonymously, they learn more about the organization. It’s also nice to know that Midnight and Eraser are willing to cover for the two using legal loopholes like citizens’ arrest. They know they mean well and do good. Hopefully, that will stick for the time being!

I Give “Farewell Party!” a 3/5

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One Piece Chapter 1151 Review/Recap

All right, Imu. This has gone on long enough. The God’s Knights have been running rampant across Elbaph for less than a day, and they’ve already managed to do so much damage. They’re holding the future of the Giants hostage, have unleashed a horde of nightmares, and are trying to burn their schools and libraries to the ground. And now that Imu themself is getting involved, they’ve turned most of the Giant Pirates into their personal demon army. But now that Oda has established how royally screwed everyone is, its time for Luffy to move out.

Recap

Everything in Elbaph is falling apart thanks to Imu. Most of the Giant Pirates have been turned into demons and are running wild and without care. What’s even worse is that when the nightmares created by Qillingham die, he just recreates them. There’s now an entire army of monsters and demons burning Elbaph to the ground, and Imu is not going to stop. Not until they break Elbaph’s spirit and ability to fight back whatsoever.

Unbeknownst to Imu, they missed a spot.

Minutes earlier, as Gaban was falling to what looked to be his death in the Underworld, Chopper decided it was not his day today. Without thinking, he had jumped down after Gaban and, using his Guard Point, managed to save them both from what could’ve been a fatal fall. Their arrival in the Underworld did not go unnoticed, either. The Monster Trio and New Giant Warrior Pirates are watching over Loki when they sense Chopper’s fall and investigate.

After dragging him and Gaban back to their location, Luffy freaks out when he learns the latter was one of the Roger Pirates. However, Chopper quickly fills them in on the chaos that’s happening up top, right as they all feel a massive burst of Haki from Imu. That one blast was all the warriors needed to know, though. Taking charge of the situation, Luffy and Hadrujin tell everyone that they need to move out immediately. Elbaph, its people, and their friends are in danger, and they need to save it!

Review

Imu, you done fucked up. After all that time you spent berating Saturn for letting Luffy escape, you’ve made a mistake just as big, if not bigger. Not only did you choose to invade a country full of people that the Straw Hats consider their friends, but you’ve held their kids hostage, tried to destroy their history, and turned many of said friends into brainwashed demons. And you did this all while Luffy was already present, and you didn’t know about it. And by the time the Straw Hats are done, you and your idiotic minions are going to be eating through tubes!

And me and the fans are going to be laughing and eating popcorn while we watch.

All hyping up aside, I think most fans already realized that with the way things are going, only the strongest fighters in Elbaph have a chance of stopping the God’s Knights and Imu. And its doing it in the best way possible, to boot. While the Monster Trio will inevitably focus on each of the Knights, the demonic giants will have to be handled by another group. And with Hadrujin and the New Giant Warrior Pirates representing the next generation of Elbaph’s warriors, they are in the best position to do so. Not only will this show how strong they truly are, but it could also demonstrate that Hadrujin is worthy of being the rightful king of Elbaph. The Straw Hats will need the giants on their side if they want to win the coming war, and this will cement that.

The God’s Knights are Going Down

As for the God’s Knights themselves, its, again, obvious that the only ones who can stop them are the Monster Trio of the Straw Hats. Zoro will be pitted against Qillingham, matching sword for sword. Sanji, with his haki and enhanced body, stands the best chance of taking down Sommers. However, the real fight that everyone will focus on is between Luffy and Imu. Whether they’re one of the original founders of the World Government or the actual Devil, Imu is the ancient nemesis of Joy Boy. This could be the first time in eight hundred years that the two have faced off! Granted, Imu is only using Gunko as a puppet, but the point still stands. Next to Blackbeard, Imu is the person I consider the most worthy of being the ultimate big bad of One Piece, so a clash between him and Luffy will be legendary. Luffy will need to push himself harder than he ever has before if he wants to win.

We might have a break for the next chapter, but when we get back, we’re in for the fight of the century. This is going to be so much fun!

KICK THEIR BUTTS, LUFFY!!!!

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One Piece Chapter 1140 Review/Recap

All of Elbaph is in grave danger, and they don’t even know it yet. While the Giants are busy celebrating the arrival of the Straw Hats, the evil that rules from Mariejois is already in their midst. The God’s Knights have infiltrated Warland with orders to seize control of it using any means necessary. Being the awful people they are, they’re willing to take kids hostage to force the adults to submit to World Government rule. Meanwhile, the ones who might be able to stop them don’t fully grasp how much trouble they’re in.

Suddenly, letting Loki out might not be a bad idea.

Recap

After hearing Scopper challenge him to a fight, Luffy is left confused why he can’t just give the key to him. Once Scopper taunts him, though, he doesn’t hesitate to try and force his way past the older Pirate. To everyone’s surprise, though, the former Roger Pirate proceeds to run roughshod until Zoro intervenes. Much to Road and Nami’s shock, Scopper’s last attack manages to slice part of the tower clean off!

Forced to take things seriously, Luffy turns into his Gear Fifth form as he and Zoro prepare to take on Scopper. Except…Scopper gives up right away, much to their irritation. As the two say they never want to see him again, Scopper tells them to come find him if Elbaph is still safe before they leave, and departs.

Back at the school, the kids notice a bird flying overhead that manages to disappear. That bird is actually Gunko and Shamrock, who proceed to summon two more God’s Knights, Summers and Qinglam. While Shamrock is ordered to return to HQ, the remaining three are ordered to kidnap the Giant kids and bring them back to Mariejois.

Oh no…

Review

Firstly, that was pretty cool fight between Scopper, Luffy, and Zoro. It may not have lasted long, but the fact that Scopper forced Luffy to enter Gear Fifth is a testament to his strength. If he were to face Luffy and Zoro in a serious fight, he could stand a very good chance of winning! It’s a reminder of how strong the Roger Pirates were at their peak and that the Straw Hats still have some growing left to do.

The real highlight of the chapter, though, was the arrival of more God’s Knights. They may have had a goofy entrance, but fans should know by now not to underestimate someone for that. The God’s Knights are the Celestial Dragon’s top enforcers, meaning that they’re among the best fighters in the world. We have yet to see how they compare to the Straw Hats, but given how badly Shamrock hurt Loki, it’s safe to say they’re a threat. And now that there are four of them, Elbaph is in serious danger. The only consolation is the fact that Shamrock is being ordered to return to Mariejois. Though, that’s more of a disappointment since it means we may not get to see Luffy and Shamrock fight.

Seriously Important Details

As scary as the presence of such powerful figures is, their conversation did reveal two key details. Firstly, in order to travel through those summoning circles, one needs some sort of mark. Presumably, the God’s Knights and the Five Elders have this mark on them, but since the Giant Kids don’t, they plan on taking them away by ship. In addition, one of the Knights asked Gunko and Shamrock if they came to Elbaph to visit Harald’s grave. Several fans have suspected that Harald might have collaborating with the World Government in secret, and this statement has only added fuel to the fire. If that’s the case, then Loki’s decision to fight and kill his father takes on a whole new meaning.

As of now, Luffy has the means to free Loki if he wants to. Should he do so, though, he risks having to fight someone that only Shanks managed to beat. However, if the fans are right about Loki not being as bad as his people think, then he could be a valuable ally. It should also be noted that, right now, Loki is going to be more interested in getting revenge on the Knights for hurting him and killing his animal friends. So long as that remains the case, he might choose to work with Luffy. Fingers crossed that that is the case!

Sadly, it looks like Elbaph is about to become a battlefield, one the Straw Hats cannot afford to lose. From its people to its historical records, Elbaph is too important to fall into the hands of the Celestial Dragons. The Straw Hats will have to fight harder than ever if they want to protect this mythical land, and I can’t wait to see them humble the God’s Knights!

I Give “Scopper Gaban” a 4.5/5

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One Piece Chapter 1068 Review/Recap

If it wasn’t already clear, now it’s official: Dr. Vegapunk no longer works for the World Government. The genius has outlived his usefulness, and since he knows too much to be left alive, they seek to kill him. Given how CP0, their deadliest group of assassins, is after him, not even Vegapunk could stop them. However, the Straw Hats are one of the genius’ trump card and best chance to fulfill his dream. 

Recap

CP0 arrives on the shores of Egghead Island, ostensibly to return the Kuma Seraphim. However, Vegapunk knows their goal is to assassinate him, and refuses to let them dock. Regardless, Rob Lucci orders CP0 to prepare to land anyway. Realizing they’ve got a fight on their hands, Shaka calls everyone to battle stations. In addition to evacuating the civilians, Shaka deploys the Seraphim they have on the island and for Atlas to get back to the lab.

Meanwhile, Vegapunk explains why he wants Luffy to get him off the island. In essence, his dream’s to provide the whole world with free energy. However, his quest to do so led him to research the Ancient Kingdom, leading for the World Government to mark him for death. While Luffy doesn’t understand, he agrees to take Vegapunk with them. The Dr agrees to meet with them at the Lab Stratum, and the genius takes his leave. 

Amidst all this, CP0 makes landfall on Egghead Island and try to hunt down Vegapunk. While the defenses keep them from getting to the lab, Punk Atlas tries to fight them herself. As a result, Lucci horrifically injures her. As everyone begins to panic and evacuate, Luffy’s group arrives on the scene, with Luffy and Lucci recognizing each other.

Review

Well, that escalated quickly. It looks like the World Government’s not playing around about killing the smartest man in the world. Then again, given how much of a genius Vegapunk is, bringing your A-game is a requirement. And as we’ve seen since Dressrosa, CP0 are the deadliest assassin’s the World Government has. 

Exhibit A: one of their agents killed Izo, a former commander of the Whitebeard Pirates and a samurai of Wano Country. That alone is scary. 

Exhibit B: Another agent got the drop on Luffy while he was fighting Kaido. I still haven’t forgotten about that.

And given how Kaku and Rob Lucci are among the agents invading Egghead Island, Vegapunk’s defenses won’t stand a chance. Best case, they would slow them down. What I’m more concerned about is the Seraph of Kuma they have in their possession. We’ve already seen how dangerous they are at Amazon Lily and, more recently, Egghead Island itself. However, this chapter confirms my worst fears: Vegapunk’s not only managed to perfect his artificial Devil Fruit recreation, he’s found a way to give it to other beings even when the real fruit’s still in production. In other words, that Kuma Seraph has the real one’s Paw-Paw powers.

Fortunately, Vegapunk has three wildcards up his sleeve: the Straw Hats, the Seraphs, and Kuma himself.

The Straw Hats Aren’t Even Vegapunk’s Best Option

The World Government wasn’t expecting the Straw Hat Pirates to arrive on Egghead Island right before they showed up. While I doubt that Luffy’s newfound status as a Yonko will deter them, they should know by now that when the Straw Hats get involved, things go bad for them. In addition, they’ve beaten Rob Lucci and Kaku in the past. While the two have gotten stronger, so have Luffy and the others. It will come down to who’s gotten stronger, and I’m betting on the Straw Hats.  

In addition, Vegapunk seems to have a number of Seraphs already present on Egghead Island. Unless the World Government has control over them, they’ll fight for his side. However, the biggest wildcard might end up being the real Kuma himself. This chapter saw him use his powers to teleport away from the Revolutionary Army. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s heading towards Egghead Island to protect Vegapunk. Whether this is of his own free will or the result of a failsafe Vegapunk added remains to be seen. Either way, it’s convenient for the plot.

The Genius of Vegapunk Must Not Die

I’ve already respected Dr. Vegapunk for a long time now. Despite working for the World Government, all he’s wanted to do is make the world a better place. His genius is such that he wants to give the world unlimited energy so that no more wars over resources need to be fought. That’s something I wish would happen in our world. However, the World Government’s so desperate to keep control that they’re willing to crush that dream. For the sake of the world, the genius of Vegapunk must not die.

I don’t know if Vegapunk will truly join the Straw Hat Pirates, but if he does, Luffy will be getting a powerful ally. What matters is keeping him safe from the World Government. The fight to protect a genius is on, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the Straw Hats will do.

I Give “A Genius’ Dream” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1033 Review/Recap

Interesting fact about the Straw Hat Pirates. Oda once told fans what country the Straw Hats would be from if they were from the real world. With his samurai demeanor and skill with the sword, Zoro would be from Japan. In-universe, though, it’s been speculated that Zoro has a strong connection to Wano that he didn’t know about. In this chapter, we see that connection grow even stronger, as Zoro learns more about his new sword, Enma, and why it’s so aggressive.

Recap

As Queen and Sanji continue their fight, Queen drops something interesting about King. He’s the last of the Lunarian’s, a species so tough, they could survive anywhere. Meanwhile, Zoro has trouble getting Enma under control as it continues draining his Haki. As a result of the sword’s power, Zoro almost loses his other swords, including the one that belonged to Kuina’s family. As Zoro thinks about his new sword, he remembers something from his hometown in the East Blue.

Once, there was an old blacksmith that Zoro met a few times. He explained how a sword is made to fight others, and a swordsman is someone that tames them. Moreover, “cursed swords” are just something people call a sword that’s too strong for them to control. That old man was actually Kuina’s grandfather, and he emigrated from Wano fifty years beforehand: Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the one who crafted Enma. Realizing that Enma’s merely testing him, Zoro resolves to give Oden’s blade what it wants and stops holding back against the legendary blade. If he wants to be the world’s finest swordsman, he can’t settle for anything less.

Review

Well, that settles it: Zoro has been connected to Wano long before he ever set foot in the country. The town where he learned how to be a swordsman was founded by immigrants from Wano, and the sword’s he uses all come from Wano. If my suspicions about that person from Yamato’s flashback are correct, then Zoro might be a descendant of Wano samurai.

I’ve said it several times now: Oda never adds anything into One Piece without a reason. It all ends up connecting back to each other. It’s part of what makes One Piece so great: everything’s connected and has a purpose in a greater puzzle. Zoro was meant to come to Wano, and the sword that once belonged to Oden was meant to belong to him. He’s going to master Enma and defeat King, and when he does, he’ll be closer than ever to his dream.

A lot of people are probably wanting One Piece to start focusing on the fight between Luffy and Kaido, but we need to be patient. Oda’s making sure there are no loose ends before giving us the fight of the century. It will be worth it.

I Give “Shimotsuki Kozaburo” a 4/5

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