First post deserves a little anecdote on my first ever experience with One Piece. Funny to say I first heard about it through a short novel I read for free online. I was around 9-10 and obsessed with finding adventure novels to read, but being young and not so resourceful I turned to the home computer to try and find some free books online. I didnât know a single word of English and read the title in French and thought it made sense for a book about pirates to be called « one coin »âŠ
Anyways, itâs only a couple of years later that I first started the anime (around 2013-14, when I was 13) and realized that the little short novel I had read was in fact based on a manga. I wouldnât start reading the actual manga until many MANY years later.
Now for the actual post : I always wondered why the anime didnât start with this scene of Luffy stabbing himself which I find infinitely more telling of his character than what they actually went for anime wise.
I think the scene that actually introduced the anime also shows off Luffyâs courage and determination, so not so bad when u actually think about it. Also, my first impression of Shanks had been so overly positive that seeing him in recent chapters is somewhat bittersweet. Maybe all his wholesomeness was stored in the straw hatâŠ
Now about THEE character whom I think is really worth mentioning in this chapter: Ben Beckman. Back then, as well as now, I saw him as the coolest in that first chapter. I think he sets a pattern/theme of what a first mate should be like that is more or less respected throughout the whole story. I assume that Ben Beckmanâs personality and how he operates with his captain, as well as in general, is what makes Luffy pick Zoro as his first mate. After all, he promised to become a great pirate like Shanks, and it only makes sense that heâd use Beckman as a blueprint to judge of his first mateâs character. Of course, there will be many more reasons, but I think this introduction of what a first mate is like is not innocent. Also I feel it is relevant to mention that in the French translation, Luffy uses « vice-captain » to refer to BeckmanâŠmuch to think about<3 (itâs not secret that Iâd argue Zoro is the vice-captain as well, but I wonât discuss this until much later).
I always thought Shanksâ outfit was nothing short of cuntyâŠI mean look at those bedazzled flip flops. And LuffyâŠ.what are you holding thereâŠ
