Writing About All Things Pop Culture
You know that famous line from The Incredible Hulk TV series starring Bill Bixby? “Don’t make me angry. You won’t like me when I’m angry.” That line can be applied to anyone who’s mad. And if there’s one thing that will make the Straw Pirates mad, it’s messing with their friends and crewmates. Case in point: Nico Robin’s going to demolish the spider-lady who captured Sanji. This should be fun.
So, I think that we can all agree that after the knockdown, dragged out fight on Foresta, Shiki and the others all need training. If they’re going up against Justice, Ziggy, Shura, and Emperor Nero, they need to get stronger. Thankfully, Xenolith is going to train Shiki up to defeat his Grandpa, and the others are going to get in on this. But I should warn you guys: Xenolith’s training methods are a little…out there.
The war for Foresta’s come to an end, and all that’s left is for each faction to pick up the pieces. Now that Shiki knows what his Grandpa will do, he’s more determined than ever to stop him/bring him to his senses. However, Edens Zero isn’t the only group after Ziggy. Emperor Nero’s Elite Guard, the Oceans 6, have set their sights on the Demon King. In other words, the heroes will have a new enemy to fight in the near future! And what’s worse: Shura’s leading them!
You guys ever hear the story of Momotaro? It’s an old Japanese tale about a boy born from a giant peach. In the legend, Momotaro goes to Onigashima to defeat the demons residing there. And during his journey, he convinces three talking animals to join him in exchange for the Kibi Dango he has. The four beat up the demons, take their loot, and come home as heroes.
Why am I bringing this up? Because the latest chapter of One Piece made me realize that cute little Otama’s the manga’s version of Momotaro.
After about four months of fighting, more fighting, and confronting emotional trauma, the Foresta Arc seems to be coming to an end. Ziggy’s mad plans for Foresta have been thwarted, the machines have come to their senses, and the whole planet can begin to heal. And mourn the ones they lost. In the long-term, this will lead to potential strife and discord in the Aoi Cosmos. However, in the short-term, the Edens Zero gained an important victory with the defeat of Muller. Now, for the first time, we get to see Kleene truly smile. And it is beautiful!!
When we learned that the Alliance planned to storm Onigashima in a surprise attack and face an enemy force that was six times their size, I knew that Luffy and his friends were in for a tough fight. So far, they’ve held it together, with the Alliance already taking out some key members of the Beast Pirates. Plus, the Worst Generation of Pirates is now locked in combat with Big Mom and Kaido themselves. Even after all this, though, I know that the heroes face down long odds if they want to win. And unless they do something to thin out the enemy’s ranks, they’re going to get overwhelmed.
At long last, Muller is defeated, Foresta is saved, and Hermit affirms what’s important to her as the Foresta Arc hits its climax at last!
For those of you who enjoy One Piece for the sheer amount of action that it has, then you’re going to love this chapter. It’s nothing but action and fight scenes in what could end up being the most epic fights in shonen history. On one side, we have the Yonko, Kaido and Big Mom. Their opponents, from the New Generation of Pirates: Luffy, Zoro, Killer, Kid, and Law! Can our underdogs take down the monstrous Yonko before they destroy Wano? I don’t know, but I’m going to love seeing this!
At long last, the fight we’ve been waiting for is about to begin. It’s the Supernovas vs the Yonko in the smackdown of the century! LET’S GET IT ON, PEOPLE!!
So, I’m all for the concept of shipping fictional characters, but only if I think they have actual chemistry and I think they would work well together. Jerza in Fairy Tail worked well, so I ship them. As this chapter of Edens Zero shows, though, Jelsie may not work.
It’s hard to believe that we’re just one chapter away from One Piece hitting a historic 1,000, huh? Few manga ever reach such a milestone, and fewer still have been as popular as One Piece. But before we hit that milestone, this week, we’re focusing on the legacy of Luffy’s brother, Portgas D. Ace. It was established early on that Ace traveled to Wano in the past, but we never knew the full story about what he did there. That is, until today.
When I was growing up, one of my great loves was Dinosaurs. I must have spent hours watching Walking with Dinosaurs on my TV. And while I didn’t watch it until I was in my teens, I’m a big fan of the Jurassic Park franchise. Why am I bringing all this up right now? Because at this point in One Piece, the Beast Pirates are the anime equivalent to Jurassic Park. Especially as we see the powers of the Tobi Roppo.
Have you ever heard of the ‘Knight Templar’ trope? It’s a person or group in a work of fiction that think they’re on the side of good. However, their methods are so hardcore that they’re just as bad as the enemies they fight; sometimes worse! To my dismay, that Justice guy in Edens Zero falls right into the Knight Templar category as he picks a fight with someone that he should be (at least) neutral to: Shiki.
I’ve been a fan of Hiro Mashima’s work as a mangaka for several years now. And when you follow a particular writer or artist for some time, you tend to notice recurring themes in their work. Firstly, Mashima seems to be a fan of giving the main heroes traumatic backstories. Secondly, those backstories end up coming back to haunt the heroes in the present day. In this case, we see Hermit come face-to-face with the hideous man who made her the emotional wreck she was when Shiki found her.
One Piece Chapter 997 Review/Recap Last week on One Piece, we saw the fighting on Onigashima reach new levels of chaos. Big Mom returned to the fight and headed straight … Continue Reading 3 Reasons Why One Piece is Crazy Awesome Right Now.
In the two and a half years since Edens Zero started, I’ve gotten a good feel for Rebecca Bluegarden’s personality. The main heroine of the manga is many things: she’s brave and selfless; she’s great at video games. She can get a little ax-crazy when using her guns. And yes, she’s a little bit…kinky. But if there’s one thing that Rebecca isn’t, it’s a bimbo. Why bring this up? Because she uses the new chapter to prove why she’s not one, that’s why!
