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One Piece Chapter 1031 Review/Recap

Remember when Sanji started using that Germa Raid Suit, and how everyone thought that it was so cool? That may no longer be the case. On the one hand, it’s unlocked his latent super-soldier abilities. On the other hand, Sanji’s worried that it’s going to turn him into a psychopath like his brothers. As the fight for Wano reaches its climax, Sanji grapples with the notion that he’s becoming a soldier of science.

Recap

After burying Big Mom under a mountain of metal, everyone thinks that Law and Kid beat. Unfortunately, all they managed to do was make her angry. She gets up, sucks the souls out of any nearby Beast Pirates, turns them into Homies, and even drains a year from herself to power up even further. Thus, the two pirates continue to fight the Yonko.

In another section of the castle, Brook and Robin are fleeing from the CP0 Agent’s. Meanwhile, Drake rejects Apoo’s offer to team up, and holds him off while Yamato heads to the armory to stop it.

In another section of the Castle, Sanji’s freaking out. The more his body changes, the more he’s worried that he’s become a monster like his brothers. Not helping the fact is that he seemingly attacked an unarmed Geisha! When Queen finally corners him, Sanji does some soul-searching about being himself or this ‘soldier of science’, and then smashes his Germa suit. Afterwards, he calls Zoro and asks him that if he ends up losing it, then he wants Zoro to take him down. The two pirates agree, before continuing their battle, with Sanji unleashing his full fury on Queen.

Review

Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting things to get this bad for Sanji. I understand where he’s coming from on this. Having seen how sadistic his brothers are, I don’t want him to end up like them. If that means destroying the Germa suit, then it’s for the best. However, there’s two things that should be worth noting here. First, notice how Sanji’s eyebrows now curve in the opposite direction, like his brothers? That probably means his body’s awoken his latent enhancements. Secondly, there’s the fact that he seriously considered becoming a monster for Luffy’s sake. He’s willing to throw his code of honor away if it means helping Luffy. That just shows how Sanji is to his found family. Which is also why I know he won’t end up like his brothers.

We’ve all known Sanji for decades now, and the Straw Hats have known him for years. He’s not a monster, regardless of what he may think. More importantly, he’s got his real family, the Straw Hat Pirates, to keep him grounded. Also, I don’t buy that Sanji attacked that geisha. The moment came out of context; for all we know, she did that to herself to on Queen’s orders to mess with Sanji and get him to use the suit. It doesn’t matter if he’s a soldier of science or supreme chef; Sanji’s just Sanji.

Also, we all know that Sanji ends up becoming a jerk, Nami will kick his ass;).

Good chapter, overall. Didn’t expect it to be this emotional.

I Give “Soldier of Science” a 4/5

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One Piece Chapter 1007 Review/Recap

If you’ll recall, several chapters ago, Queen unleashed a deadly virus that turns people into ice zombies. And that he didn’t care if it would end up hurting his own men in the process. The virus has been kept at bay for a while, but unless Chopper creates a cure, everyone will die.

Fortunately, we all knew that Chopper wasn’t going to fail. Queen’s in a big surprise this week on One Piece.

Recap

Last chapter saw Boss Hyogoro use the Ice Virus to return to his prime and become a total badass. He managed to take down the captains of Orochi’s former samurai and ninja squads, but now the virus is about to claim him. Worse, his friends can’t bring themselves to kill him even as the ice virus is about claim everyone infected. When his men beg Queen to save them, the pirate cruelly calls them all cannon fodder meant who are only good for dying, destroying any loyalty they had left. Thankfully, Chopper arrives just in time and administers the cure, first to Hyogoro…

…and then to everyone else on the floor.

Furious that his plans were foiled, Queen lunges at Chopper. However, the now recovered Beast Pirates all turn on Queen and choose to protect Chopper, turning the tide in the Alliance’s favor. Oh, and Chopper gives Queen a sorely-deserved punch to the jaw.

In the storage room containing the Scabbards, the group’s woken up to find their injuries all treated. As for who did it, they are shocked to see that it appears to be….Oden Kozuki?!? WHAT THE HELL?

Review

Okay, what the hell is going on. Oden Kozuki is dead. We saw him get shot right through the head by Kaido. And even if he survived that, he was surrounded by enemies in boiling oil. There’s no way he should have escaped. Then again, I’ve seen Luffy escape from equally impossible scenarios. However, I’m going to assume that this guy is an imposter.

Possible imposters aside, everything that happened with Chopper and Queen is exactly as I predicted. Thanks to Chopper saving everyone, the Pleasures and Waiters in the Beast pirates have all defected to the Alliance. That’s potentially thousands of people joining the good guys. Factor in Otama turning the Gifters and Headliners to her side, and their numbers go up even further. The math checks out: the Yonko stand a real chance at losing this war.

As an aside note, this chapter gave us a rather interesting revelation about Momonosuke’s artificial Devil Fruit. Doctor Vegapunk created it using DNA obtained from Kaido himself. That explains why Momo can turn into a dragon. I know Oda wouldn’t drop this kind of information at random, either, so it must mean something. I just don’t know what.

Sadly, One Piece is on break next week, so we’ll have to wait to learn the truth. I can wait, though. I’ve got a lot to think over after today.

I Give “Tanuki-San” A 4/5. Very Cathartic

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