#ch563

[aldiwali]

chopper & the birds <3

[opbackgrounds]

Out of all of these reactions, my favorite is Moriah. The man's just here for the vibes, and I think that's great.

But I also like Buggy's. He knew Whitebeard in his prime. I can't imagine seeing a superhuman figure from your childhood fall in such an ignoble way, but you can see some of that emotion in his expression.

Lastly, I think ending the spread with a panel of a den den mushi is important. I think the large, unblinking eyes and ever-present frown of the snail portrays the essence of what it's like to live in a world where it feels like everything is on video. The camera doesn't care. It doesn't have feelings. But it's watching. Always, always watching.

[opbackgrounds]

Whitebeard's beard is very powerful and holds many secrets (and bananas, apparently)

[opbackgrounds]

The framing of this scene continues to be on point. The shading on Squard makes it look almost like Whitebeard's face is shining down on him with heavenly light.

I find this moment to be an important followup to Franky's conversation with Robin on the train ride to Enies Lobby. Existence isn't a crime, but the only thing Olvia and the other archeologists did wrong was some illegal research. They weren't trying to use the weapons for themselves and as far as we know never hurt anyone in their pursuit of knowledge.

Roger ruined Squard's life. There is a legitimate grievance there that would make it even harder to push away those negative feelings Squard is feeling towards Ace. But even in these circumstances Oda is telling his audience that it's wrong to hate Ace for what his father did, even as he acknowledges the very real pain Roger caused.

This idea gets expanded upon during the Fishman Island chapters with the idea of the younger generation not being exposed to the continuous cycle of hate and revenge of their elders, without ever expecting the older generation to forgive or forget the pain they've endured

[opbackgrounds]

I can't believe Oda made Whitebeard a literal bleeding heart

[opbackgrounds]

I love the contrast between Whitebeard here…

…and Whitebeard here.

The war disappears. The world fades away. All that matters is a moment between a loving father and his idiot son

[opbackgrounds]

I think that it's important that Roger made enemies out of other pirates and the Government alike. Ace has to contend with his father's reputation even as a pirate.

I also believe that this scene with Squard is very prescient with what's happening in the real world right now. Ace was never Squard's enemy, but the world powers were able to take Squard's very real issues with Roger and twist them into a weapon to use against himself. Powers and governments can and do make convenient scapegoats and sow divisions with the intent on drawing attention away from their own corruption and incompetence. If the enemy is squabbling amongst themselves, they can't collate into a problem to the establishment.

[opbackgrounds]

I think this might is the best volume cover in the series. The composition and colors are on point, and it's not too busy like many of Oda's covers tend to be