#ch515

[opbackgrounds]

I will keep repeating this as the arc goes along, because I think it is absolutely critical when understanding Hancock's character: When she says that she can do stuff because she's beautiful, in the language of the Kuja that means it's because she's strong. No one has been able to stop her from getting her way in a long time not just because she's pretty, but because of her own power and ability. Yes, part of that is the ability to manipulate people to her will, but soft power is still power.

For someone who has experienced true powerlessness, that sort of strength is potent and dangerous. It also leaves her strangely vulnerable because if that facade of power, of beauty, were ever to go away, then she'd lose everything.

[everychojuro]

[opbackgrounds]

This "strength is beauty" idea is interesting when one looks at Hancock. When she says she can do whatever she wants because she's beautiful, you can substitute it as saying she can do whatever she wants because she's strong. And for someone who has gone through what she has, you can see how that'd be an attractive (pun fully intended) mindset.

[opbackgrounds]

It is kind of sad that the big bad assassins are scared of a girl with a flower

[opbackgrounds]

Luffy in general has always shown gratitude to the people who help him, but it feels a little like Oda's going out of his way to show Luffy at his best and most kind before getting into all the Hancock stuff

[opbackgrounds]

I kind of like how Oda rendered this panel. He's simplified the bars of the jail cell as well as the arrows. It emphasizes the feeling of Luffy being trapped without his crew rather than the acute danger, since the arrows themselves aren't all that dangerous

[opbackgrounds]

Sweetpea wearing the Straw Hat is one of those random things that forever trips people up when taking One Piece trivia quizzes

[opbackgrounds]

Man, they all just got the crap beat out of them, but Luffy still has such faith in his crew