I could use our bone boi getting stepped on, head cruelly cocked back so he can't see dem panties. Part of me wanted the image to be them all tied with with Nami hilariously giving Jinbei shit because he's supposed to be able to handle things. But no. Boney get a "whiteout" panel and that makes this a true red-letter day. This is subtle, but it is exactly what I wanted to see out of Brook & Gunko. He seems to recognize something about her. He's able to learn she's a fan. So even given this tense situation, he's very polite in his rejection to be a music slave. But specifically highlighting how Luffy gave him a new lease on life.
We've established the idea that Gunko might be somewhat a victim in the sense of never really knowing she had a choice. Brook is providing proof that circumstances can change and relationships can change them. Do you know how badly I wanted Brook to have a moment like this with Kiku? Obviously Gunko is an antagonist and that makes things very different in a lot of ways, but I love how even the framing here and following that bit from Nami serve to highlight what we talked about last time. Brook is getting a chance to show where his specific experience and wisdom can do what Jinbei cannot. And that is something very cool and very hard to express so I want to highlight it and admire it when it happens.
With that out of the way...iconic. You know what? No. It's peak "Wife Bad" Boomer Humor™ but it works because it is so unabashedly peak Boomer Humor™ and doesn't feel like it needs to put on pretentious airs of justifying itself. This is hilarious. The real monsters have awoken from the children's dreams...THEIR MOTHERS!!!
Fuck it, based. I have mother issues, stopped being scared of a pathetic drunk as I got older but when I was a kid that shit was terrifying. I don't think these giant moms are that bad, but they sure seem strict and imposing. A serious challenge indeed. We also have Spooky Gregg back hanging around a few panels so that's nice. It seems our eulogy was premature. But he is already a ghost so it's never fully inaccurate to honor his memory.
Jokes and personal trauma aside, there's a bit more thematic harmony with this gag than just lol scary moms. A land like Elbaph is now where kids are well behaved and focused on education kinda sounds like a land of strict, strong moms keeping them in line. Not a huge deal, the gag is good on its own, if they were actually Dorry/Brogy's wives I'd be on their side because you better not have run of on a 100yr duel if you're married. But it does connect more to what's going on than just being a silly goof.
Speaking of cool, very impressive Collun. He's jumped up to the front of the line and willingly got involved in the compulsion to follow the arrow just for a chance to help and keep things calm. Down below with Ripley & Scopper finding this out is hilarious...and kinda feeds back into that point about parents. Gaban's all like, hell yeah that's mah boy. Ripley's not having it and demanding he go save the kid. Hilarious and they're cute together.
And it leads to the cool part at the end! Sure there's a former Roger Pirate heavyweight jumping into the fray but they have angered the Devil Child and that is not a smart thing to do if you like things like being alive. I will never ever ever not love the series treating Robin like a core threat on the Straw Hats rather than a smart pawn to try and capture. Show Saul how far you've come by showing how fiercely you'll protect the friends you've found girl.
Okay, the Brook, Gunko, God's Knights connection is intriguing
Seems Brook might have some knowledge of her (Soul King days, or way before?)
And look at Usopp and Jinbei's exchange (Nami in the mix)
Hell of a groupie for sure. I hope she keeps being horrible so that I don't grow fond of her (or maybe because of it).
And the last page!!!
Robin and Ya-San to the rescue, and look at how amazing (but traumatised) our Robin looks. I'm not sure why Ripley's trying to stop Gaban/Gyaban though! I cannot wait for next week, and let me check! Yup, no break next week! (although, there usually is a break during Golden Week, I think).
Also, it was hilarious (but also stereotypical) that mother monster fears, or monster mother fears, wiped out the strongest warriors of Elbaf. I'm guessing/hoping that those dreams can be turned on the creators too, perhaps!
A quick round up of the Wano cover arc and the new Daimyo.
We have Denjiro in Kibi.
Followed by Inuarashi in Kuri.
And Raizo in Udon.
Hakumai is the next region on the route, which in the context of the covers, is most notable for being where Yasuie's sword will be delivered, and in the past, where Oden's former retainers, sans the lovely Kiku, attempted to steal from Yasu.
That trend of Kiku being uninvolved during scenes about Yasu, while the rest of the group are, continues with Kiku being the only one of the group to be in a place where Yasu's execution is not able to be seen, either in person or from the broadcast. All that is to say, Kiku appearing in Hakumai on a cover feels unlikely.
Once Hakumai has been visited, we have Ringo up next, where I hope to see Kawamatsu appear alongside Onimaru. For no other reason than they are a good and wholesome duo with a lot of history. And perhaps for the sake of learning a bit of the history of the Shimotsuki clan.
I was feeling pretty normal about this chapter and then that last panel hit me like a ton of bricks, like are you fucking kidding ??????????????? I gasped so loud I almost choke and I literally started crying ???????????????????????????
I was reading the chapter lying in bed and I sat up as if I had been resurrected as soon as I saw it, I prayed for times like these.
Spoilers from One Piece chapter 1147 below.
WHAT A FUCKING DUO I WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE A GOD'S KNIGHT RIGHT NOW
Brook is the MVP of the chapter. Him disregarding Gunko's wishes here is awesome. And it's interesting that she seems pained to hurt Brook, the person who makes the music she likes.
Gaban and Ripley meet up this chapter! He's a proud dad, awww!
I'm really excited to see him in action. Gaban seems pretty levelheaded and someone who thinks things through.
He's aware of the Knights being here due to sensing them, even while they are attempting to hide their presence.
I think he may have a plan to put a stop to the kids being taken, though it will be pretty different from what Luffy, being more reckless, would do.
Thought this was very funny. Love to see badass mothers, even of the illusory sort.
Hey buddy! I want to give Raizo a hug like Tama. I am now jealous. Speaking of, daww. So here's our new Daimzo of Udon coming in clutch with the food. And now we snack! We're happy to see Raizo and Tama happy. And I feel like I've said this a bit but this probably does mean we're about to move on to Hakumai and returning the sword. It'll be fun to see all the maples again.
Been a while since we checked in on this too but...here we are. Late in the serial. Raizo's shown up for Udon. That means we're moving into the end game with the last two retainers being Kawamatsu and Kiku. Ever since Academy played a similar shell game I've really figured we'll see something weird with the foils at the end. Few ways you could take that for a cool effect, but our girl's still a mystery even as we come towards the end.
