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One Piece Chapter 1138 Review/Recap

Just who was the Sun God, Nika? For that matter, who was the man known to history as Joy Boy? One Piece fans have known about Joy Boy since Fishman Island. However, it wasn’t until the Wano Country Arc that we learned about the existence of Nika. That arc would not only reveal that the two were one and the same, but Luffy inherited their powers. Everything we learned at Egghead only reaffirmed that Luffy was connected to Nika and Joy Boy. Yet it didn’t do much beyond reveal the basic details. That all ends with the latest chapter, “Harley”. Oda manages to drop a massive bombshell, revealing that Luffy is part of a story bigger than he can possibly imagine.

That, and it proved that a fan theory about Shanks was both right and wrong.

Recap

In the Underworld, Loki is left reeling from Gunko’s last attack. Despite being blindfolded, his Haki allows him to see that Shamrock is the spitting image of Shanks. Much to Loki’s fury, Shamrock reveals Shanks is his younger twin who abandoned the Celestial Dragons. As the Prince of Elbaph vows revenge, Shamrock’s sword transforms into a monstrous, three-headed dog that he sics on the Giant. Loki can only wait in horror as Shamrock and Gunko leave him to his fate as they fly off.

Back in the castle, Luffy refuses to believe that the person who attacked the guards was Shanks. Others present speculate it might have been a brother, but Luffy comments that Shanks never talked about his family. From what he understood, his mentor saw the Roger Pirates as his real family.

Elsewhere, Franky is looking at the Treasure Tree Adam with Ripley, marveling at its size. That, and noting the irony of how expensive it is despite its abundance. That’s when Franky notices this massive drawing carved into the tree bark, one that seems to defy what they know about Elbaph. Ripley explains that the drawing was left around the Void Century. What Franky sees in this mural compels him to want to get Robin right away.

Meanwhile, Saul pulls out an ancient book called the Harley detailing Elbaph’s myths and legends, including about the Sun God. Robin begins to read the text aloud, with the chapter ending as readers see what it was Franky is seeing. The mural, one of Oda’s greatest drawings ever, depicts the entire history of the world as the Giants know it!

Review

When the leaks for this week’s chapter of One Piece said this was one of the biggest in series history, they weren’t joking. In fact, even all the hype surrounding the chapter didn’t do it enough justice. Oda just gave us the biggest piece to the puzzle that is One Piece to date, and already, fans are going rabid trying to breakdown this entire mural! There’s so much to unpack from this chapter that I can only afford to cover the short version here. The longer version is getting its own post!

Yes this is the short version

To sum up everything we learned from the story and mural, the world of One Piece has had a pretty grim past. Twice now, someone wielding the power of the sun god tried to change the world for the better. And twice now, they lost their battle, which led to the world being destroyed, only to be rebuilt more divided than ever. It’s safe to say, though, that Nika the sun god and Joy Boy were two wholly separate people. With Luffy serving as their modern-day successor, it seems to fall to him to finish their fight against this great evil, presumably Imu or someone else. As bad as things are, though, the Harley ends on hopeful note, saying how this time, the sun will bring about the new dawn.

Beyond the hints at the past and future, what stood out to me most was the mention of the “Devil of the Forest.” My best guess is that is a hint to the origins of the Devil Fruits. That’s something many fans would like to learn the truth about, and it’s great that Oda is obliging our curiosity like this. In addition, fans have been quick to point out that the “half-crescent moon” in the Harley is a reference to the Will of D. See?

#ONEPIECE1138

The people of half the moon 🥹 pic.twitter.com/IPljfdSGz8

— RAKEEM | Shooter 📸 (@rakeem_madeit) January 30, 2025

There has to be a bigger story to this, and I can’t wait to find out what it is!

The Shanks Theories were true!

Besides the mural and Harley text, though, the best part of the chapter was confirming that Shanks is a Celestial Dragon by birth. People have been theorizing that for years now, and this chapter pretty much confirmed it. According to lore, Roger found him in a treasure chest they took after the God Valley incident. It’s likely that amidst the chaos of what happened on that day, Shanks was abandoned by the Celestial Dragons. Good! It proves that it’s the super-toxic influence of the World Nobles that make them turn out the way they do. And if Shamrock is as strong as Shanks, then Luffy’s going to be in for his toughest battle to date.

This arc is definitely giving me the idea that the Straw Hats will be fighting the God’s Knights for the freedom of Elbaph, and I look forward to seeing it. Any chance to knock the Celestial Dragons down a peg is good. Plus, seeing how they can’t afford to give up fighting now might be what convinces the Giants to take up arms en masse again.

This might be the best One Piece chapter that we’ve gotten since Luffy unlocked Gear Fifth. People will be spending weeks pouring over every little detail to be found, including the mystery man who’s approaching the castle. I, for one, am looking forward to listening to every part of this!

Now, as soon as it comes out, go read my longer breakdown on why the Elbaph mural is telling the One Piece equivalent to Ragnarok.

I Give “The Harley” a 1000000000000/50

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One Piece Chapters 1136 & 1137 Review/Recap

I apologize for not getting this out sooner, but my schedule has kept me busy since the new year. Thus, I decided to review the two latest chapters of One Piece as one, big review. Fortunately, fans have had plenty of time to stew on the revelation behind two major pieces of information that Oda dropped in each chapter. Firstly, Luffy and the Straw Hats learn from the Giants that there’s a deeper reason behind the many names of Joy Boy. Secondly…all those theories about Shanks having an evil twin brother have turned out to be true. And his name…is Shamrock.

Recap-Chapter 1136

The big welcome party for the Straw Hats is in full swing as the Giants are quick to befriend the crew members…and Road basically becomes Nani’s newest manservant. In the midst of their celebration, though, the topic of the Sun God comes up once again. Except this time, the Giants start arguing over whether the Sun God Nika was a savior or destroyer. The reason behind that is that their ancient texts claim that the world was already destroyed twice, with each time involving Nika in some form. Many Giants aspire to become the next Sun God Nika, including Loki.

When Luffy asks if Loki is really a good person, though, everyone says he isn’t and proceeds to list all the horrible things he did until Shanks captured him. Zoro’s perceptive enough to figure out what Luffy is up to, so he pulls Luffy aside and lets him know letting Loki go is a bad idea. However, since he can’t talk Luffy out of it, he decides to go with him. And Nami tags along to make sure they don’t get lost or cause two much trouble. With Road serving as their guide, they head to the abandoned castle of King Harald to find the keys to Loki’s chains.

Down in the Underworld, though, Loki already has company in the form of the two God’s Knights. They keep trying to force him to join their ranks, but all he does is spit in their faces. Even when they threaten to kill his wolf companion, he refuses to yield. In fact, he says that he will swallow that rage and use it feed his fire when he escapes and burns the world down.

Chapter 1137

In the next chapter, the Romance Dawn trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Nami) and Road break into the abandoned castle. There, they see the ruins of the battle where Loki supposedly slew his father, even coming across skeletal remains of Giants. Road explains how this deeply affected Elbaph, especially Hadrujin, Loki’s half-brother. Furthermore, it’s revealed that Hadrujin’s mother was a Giant from another land, leaving her unable to become Queen. Yet Road follows him for the same reasons the Straw Hats follow Luffy: they support his dreams.

In the Underworld, Gunko, the bandaged knight, keeps trying to beat Loki into submission with her Devil Fruit powers. Loki’s Observation Haki lets him see every attack coming, but his restraints mean he can’t defend himself. However, Loki still refuses to bow to their demands. Seeing that this is getting nowhere, her companion, captain of the God’s Knights Figarland Shamrock, decides to change tactics. Ordering Gunko to contact Mariejois, Shamrock proclaims that the World Government will bring Elbaph to heel, no matter what it takes.

Review

To all those who guessed that the mystery knight is Shanks’ evil twin, pat yourselves on the back. Chapter 1137 all but confirms that Shamrock is, in fact, Shanks twin brother. Which also means that Shanks is a Celestial Dragon by birth. Given how Roger was said to have found him in a chest after the God Valley incident, it’s likely Shanks was abandoned by Garling. Thank goodness for that, because it means that Shanks grew up away from the rot of the World Government. In contrast, Shamrock grew up amidst all the filth and corruption and buys into their delusions of godhood.

These two chapters confirm the worst fears that many fans have been having. In an attempt to prevent the Giants from getting involved in the coming war, the World Government is trying to conquer Elbaph. It’s likely they hoped to recruit Loki and use him as a means of bringing the Giants to heel, but they underestimated how much he would hate the Celestial Dragons. Which is natural, considering how the Sun God is the enemy of the so-called rulers of the world.

Luffy might just the latest incarnation of Nika

Chapter 1136 was a very important chapter in regards to the mystery of the original Joy Boy. If what the Giants say about their records are accurate, then the original Joy Boy may not have been the first person to wield the power of Nika. Someone else might have done so even further in the past, making Luffy simply the newest in a line of people who gained Nika’s powers. The fact that the Giants can’t agree on whether Nika is a hero and warrior of liberation, or bringer of destruction supports this idea. Luffy’s predecessors have likely been both saviors and destroyers of the world, just as he could end up becoming one. Then again, one’s destroyer could easily be another’s liberator. The World Government might see Luffy as the harbinger of the apocalypse, but that’s because he could tear down the corrupt regime they’ve used to enslave the world. To everyone else, that’s called being a hero.

In the end, what Luffy decides to do will likely be what decides how the world will look once the dust has settled. Given his track record of making places better everywhere he goes, though, his ultimate decision will likely be for the best. However, none of that will mean anything if the World Government gets control of Elbaph.

Shamrock Needs to be Stopped

It’s obvious to everyone reading why the World Government wants to take control of Elbaph. The Giants are among the strongest fighters in the world. If they went out in full force, they could give the Celestial Dragons some serious trouble. Shamrock and Gunko are likely only the first wave to a full-scale invasion, and the timing couldn’t be worse. With so many of the Giants becoming pacifists, Warland could fall. They’ll enslave the Giants, the ones who, in my opinion, have a major role to play in the coming war. Worse, they will seize the books from Ohara and destroy them for good, making the sacrifice of Robin’s mother and mentor be for nothing. In other words, Luffy is going to have to fight the God’s Knights. And if Shamrock is as strong as Shanks is, then Luffy will be in for his toughest battle yet.

Bring it on. Any chance to humiliate the Celestial Dragons is a chance worth taking. Shamrock is going to regret leaving Mariejois. As for Loki, if he isn’t as bad a person as everyone says he is, his chance to prove it may be coming soon.

I Give “The Country that Awaits the Sun” and “Shamrock takes the Stage” a 4.5/5 each

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