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One Piece Chapter 1045 Review (No Recap this one time)

Okay, I know that this is the part where I give some big introduction speech, but I just can’t with this chapter of One Piece. Why? Because words would fail to properly describe the joy we all got from seeing what Luffy does in this chapter. Forget being a Shonen protagonist. Luffy has ascended to become a rubber hose god!

Review

I’m breaking my formula this week of doing a recap and review, because there simply no words that can describe what Luffy manages to do in this chapter. It’s the kind of thing that you simply have to see first-hand, and it is jaw-dropping and gut-busting at the same time!

Last week confirmed the theory that Luffy is the next Joy Boy, and his Gum Gum Fruit, or rather, Human Human Fruit solidifies this. Having unlocked what he calls Gear Fifth, Luffy now has the power of a rubber hose cartoon character, with all that it entails. He can do things that the laws that run the natural world just by thinking it. He turns into a GIANT AND THEN USES KAIDO AS A JUMPROPE! In a series that thrives on insanity and chaos, this is one of the most insane things we’ve ever seen!

Oda likely meant for Gear Fifth to the pinnacle of what Luffy can do, and thus planned on having Luffy at his absolute silliest. And that has paid off in every way imaginable. At it’s heart, Luffy’s powers were always meant to make us smile no matter how bad things get. However, this one chapter has left the majority of the readers in stitches from laughter. If you’re not reading this chapter, then you’re doing yourself a disservice on April Fool’s Day.

The writing’s on the wall: Kaido is so screwed now!

I Give “Next Level” a 5/5

One Piece Chapter 1044 Review/Recap

Eichiro Oda, you magnificent, magnificent man! Whenever One Piece goes on a two-week break, the manga comes back with a chapter that blows everyone’s minds. Chapter 1043 ended on a cliffhanger that had readers, myself included, on the edge of our seats. Now, we get a chapter that, in a nutshell, has me grinning from ear to ear. The Drum of Liberation has begun to beat, Joy Boy has returned, and the true power of the Gum-Gum Fruit awakens! The warrior of liberation appears after 800 years!

Recap

Despite being beaten down by Kaido and left for dead for the third time now, Luffy miraculously awakens. His heart’s beating like a drum, black lightning comes out of him, and he can’t stop laughing. And somehow, all of Luffy’s friends on Onigashima realize that Luffy’s still alive.

In Marie Geoise, though, the Five Elders are horrorified at how things have potentially taken a turn for the worse for them. They have been trying to seize the Gum-Gum Fruit for 800 years, but it always evades them. There’s a secret behind that Fruit. It’s name isn’t actually the Gum-Gum Fruit. In reality, it’s a mythical Zoan Fruit called the Human-Human Fruit, Model : Nika. Whoever wields its power will gain a body like rubber and the ability to bring smiles to everyone. In other words, they become the Warrior of Liberation, the “Sun God” Nika!

Luffy immediately puts his new form, dubbed Gear Fifth, to good use, breaking through the skull dome and grabbing Kaido in his Dragon form and then…you know what, I’m not even going to bother describing it. Just let the imagery speak for itself.

Review

It’s been hours since I first read this chapter, and whenever I recall it, I can’t stop grinning. Oda, you amazing mangaka! Not only have you proven that my theories about Joy Boy and Sun God Nika being one and the same were correct, but you just gave us another big clue as to what One Piece is.

No, seriously. This chapter all but confirms that Luffy is either a reincarnation of Joy Boy or the one who inherited his will. Heck, at this point, I would not be surprised to learn that Joy Boy was once the wielder of the Gum-Gum Fruit. Such an incredibly silly power that can bring smiles to the faces of everyone. It really is the power of the Warrior of Liberation.

More than that, though, in his Gear Fifth form, Luffy has, for all intents and purposes, become the Shonen equivalent to Popeye the Sailor Man. Popeye, the rubber-hose cartoon character who can pretty much do whatever he wants, no matter how ridicilous. The fact that Luffy’s awakened abilities let him give his surroundings the same cartoonish properties only reinforces that mindset.

I’m Ready to Call This Fight Won

I know that I may be calling it too soon, but right now, I honestly think that Luffy’s about to win the fight for Wano for the Alliance. He’s about to beat the snot out of Kaido! Meanwhile, in the basement, Orochi faces judgement at the hands of Hiyori Kozuki, who watches as what’s left of Kanjuro’s fire demon burns him alive. A fitting end for such a cowardly and wretched man; at least, I hope.

Now is the best possible time to be a fan of One Piece, you guys! The Warrior of Liberation has awakened, and Luffy is ready to bring laughter and smiles to the entire world!

I Give “Warrior of Liberation” a 5/5

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