I have GOT to talk this out or I'm going to lose my fucking mind 😅
Since I'm going to be talking about very recent manga chapters though, I'm tossing this all under the cut just in case people want to avoid spoilers - but I'm not going to talk about anyone not directly related to Marco, so take that as you need.
OKAY SO
Chapter 1162 give us this:
Okay, so either that's just a filler background character that has Marco's hair style for laughs, or it's a new character, OR it's a glimmer of "proof" that the Phoenix DF just resurrects it's owner, and it's been Marco the whole time.
Alas, it can't really be that last one.
As best as we know, The God Valley Incident happened 38 years ago (taking the timeskip into consideration), and Marco is 45 years old.
So he was 6 turning 7 years old during the God Valley Incident.
Alright, so brother/father or maybe there's like a Clan Thing going on, who knows? The possibilities are pretty wild cause we are talking about Oda.
BUT THEN
Then we get chapter 1165 - AND THIS MFER RIGHT HERE:
Okay, let me just say, Marco's dad is not a bad looker. Sorry sir, I am completely head over heels for your son, but thank you for passing on the good genes.
Okay.
Okay, so - jesus h christmas, is he really Marco Polo? I wouldn't be telling people my last name either (okay, but also that does give me like really bad(good) one shot ideas, MOVING ON).
So, it's quite possible that Mr. Polo here is just offering Newgate a lift off the island because he is actually a fan, and hey, Newgate needs a lift. He's also stupidly strong, and it's way smarter to offer the man a ride on your ship, than it would be to have the man just take your ship over. I can see a lot of reasons for making this move.
But also
If your young son has been kidnapped by celestials and you need help getting him back, you couldn't do better than a powerhouse like Newgate. Even if steering him toward what you want of him might be a bit of a lift.
Now, I'm assuming a bit of good natured-ness on Graham's part. And it could be a LOT LESS COMPLICATED than that. It could be that Marco is just a young boy on his father's ship and that's how he gets to know Edward Newgate, and after the crew falls to something else it's just Newgate and Marco.
But Oda rarely gives people a backstory so... gentle, honestly.
It's more likely that Marco was either enslaved, and his father died trying to rescue him, OR that Graham himself is a bad man and abuses Marco who ate the Phoenix fruit, and Newgate gets him away from that, OR it can be some complicated mix of who knows what.
There's still space in this lore for my headcanon that Marco was abandoned (or left for safety reasons) on an island much like Luffy and Usopp were left behind by their fathers for similar reasons. Marco's a bit of a pariah, especially after eating the fruit, and the islanders don't treat him well.
Graham tells Newgate about his son while they're sailing, and Newgate goes to find the boy after something goes wrong with Graham's crew and finds Marco about to be sacrificed or whatever by a mob of angry islanders and decides to save him.
IN THE END
There's a lot of room for a lot of possibilities as things are right now, but honestly that we're getting Marco Lore crumbs at this stage of the story makes me feel like we're going to see Marco back into the thick of things.
I'm not complaining - let that man retire, honestly, he deserves a lot of peace and quiet - but also I'm not going to complain about more Marco. He's kind of "cursed" to survive everything, so I don't think the last battle will be his last battle, whenever that grand finale of a fight happens, but my man has suffered enough T-T
Still though, eeeeeee <3 <3 <3 Marco Lore <3 <3<3 aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh \lol/
~almost immediately putting it into use to help people.
Kaidou getting his devil fruit (look at that maw. Ahahaha) and~
~almost immediately being able use it to harass (and maybe help) people. And ~
Law getting his devil fruit and ~
~almost immediately
~being able to activate it and put it into use to save his benefactor.
Right? RIGHT?
........
Never mind.
Okay, I know that his fruit isn't meant to work like that, needs to be mastered etc., and Law was sick, but Kuma wasn't in the best shape and didn't even know what his fruit was.
Kaidou's fruit was super-duper powered (imagine Iva as that dragon, though!).
Anyway, of course I don't mind the way the narrative's unfolded, and you could say that extreme circumstances forced Kuma and Dragon into getting a handle on their fruit fairly quickly. Kaidou says he needs to test his fruit~ fair enough, but he's still able to transform easily.
Law says he's not ready. Maybe Kuma was. He wanted off of that island and life (who wouldn't?). Law wanted to survive too. Momonosuke also had a lot of trouble leaning into his devil fruit. Maybe you've really gotta want it. But I can't see Law not wanting his fruit.
1162 has so much going on, popcorning around to different points is the approach I think will work best for it.
Starting with, a full circle moment with Whitebeard never paying his tab, because he was sending all his money back to his home island.
I love this consistency from Whitebeard in supporting Sphinx Island, plain and simple.
Imu being described this way is going to make me rethink every instance of the term "world" being used. Starting with one of my favorites. Luffy's declaration to Kaido in 1049.
Kaido being the bratty younger brother of the crew is on full display this chapter and it's great. Imagine making that shit eating grin while eating one of the least tasty things in the world, just from the satisfaction of getting a devil fruit that your older sibling didn't want to give to you.
And it's interesting that Linlin knew the devil fruit was the azure dragon fruit from the moment she found it.
Seeing Garling on the ground in pain is awesome. That's all, I just like seeing him suffer.
This line about something new being born reminds me a bit of the way the Elders talked about Luffy, just before his devil fruit awakened. It makes me curious if they were potentially expecting Joyboy to appear at God Valley for whatever reason.
Before we go any further, I demand you stop and look at a momentous moment in One Piece history I never thought we'd see. Roger's lil doodle diagram face! 10/10 chapter on that alone, nothing else to see here I'll get to the cover tomorrow...
Okay seriously, screw this chapter for making me love Kaido. He was mean to my samurai babies and that is unforgivable. But they don't know about this so shh. And for everything we've said about "Dragon's Marineford" it's his too. Easy parallel when Kaido enters the dragon at this turning point in history. Or the dragon enters him, very important to properly capitalize here. But still...something seems a little off with that comparison.
This is so damn funny though. I should have noticed the discrepancy but from their relationship I still kinda thought Big Mom ended up giving it to Kaido. Maybe I don't remember the Egghead flashback well but...damn he really did just pop out and klong. No subtlety, just klong. But then the way it comes full circle...I love this shit because it's just the same theme.
Still, to get there we touch in on Dragon. And Rayleigh was cute too by the way, I like Shakky just chilling like Luffy when Sanji's getting him out of Totland. But here, it's not just the parallel between Dragon and Eris (who is quite cool) it's that they have the same driving goal as Luffy did in Marineford. The whole solo story, the intermission of the series, Luffy's driving mission changes from being the king to saving Ace. Of course, interesting Shanks and Teach are these lil babies too.
But dammit Kaido...why do you have to go all Yamato on us this chapter? I'm not wrong am I? This version of Kaido has some big Yamato energy and I don't think that's just the cover serial ending on the top. This way you're just a kid thrilled to dive into this crossroads of history...God Valley wasn't Kaido's Marineford. It was his Onigashima. But this time he isn't the monster he's in Yamato's role.
The contrast is perfect for the same reasons I talked about last chapter. It's why Kaido did not need a long flashback after the Wano he created spoke for itself. So this late in the series, you just need that little touch to make the moment speak for itself. Dragon's the scared, single minded kid trying to charge through the chaos. Kaido's doing the noble thing but he feels like a kid who wants to play with his new ability more than Newgate. I think my favorite though has to be Kuma the saint being the real version of Captain Buggy! the Impel Down prisoners perceived.
Marineford was one throughline, just Luffy's perspective and seeing flashes of the wider world you're heading into. Onigashima was really focused on the drawn-out kaleidoscope of narratives in these big events. God Valley synthesizes that, the depth of Onigashima with the blistering pace of Marineford. And that is some pretty cool stuff.
Not much of a spoiler but a brief zonami thought after certain panel in chapter 1162...
What a chapter and all that, I'm more interested than ever on Shanks and Blackbeard's story together and once again Kaido and Big Mom the duo that you are but...
Oda, bestie, diva... why would you draw Rayleigh holding Shakky like this in the same arc you did the same with Zoro and Nami? Like... why would you do that to me? I almost combust on the spot, why would you make me connect things like this?
It turns out that my thoughts about the Ringo covers have, unsurprisingly, taken up a ton of space, so here we go. Part four of my series of pinned posts about the Wano cover arc, focusing on the Ringo covers and beyond, weeeee!
Part one.
Part two.
Part three.
Arriving in Ringo leads to the delightful trio of Cho, Kiku, and Yamato meeting up, many pretty environment scenes, panels with cool perspectives, shoujo vibes, and us quickly learning about an interesting part of Wano's history.
The temple for Moria having a big piece missing out of the gate pillar and it generally being run down could suggest an attack. Perhaps Kaido and Orochi didn't allow it to be maintained during their reign. All of the swords and the axe around Moria's grave are not katana either. Maybe they are the weapons Moria's crew fought with and there was a battle nearby.
Even on the covers, Oda finds a way to make the contrast between Wano of the past and Wano of the present pretty interesting.
"Time to munch on apples and return to the Flower Capital!"
The group is preparing to leave Ringo while carrying a bushel of ringos. I like the wordplay. Onimaru appearance! He's a very sweet and precious fox. And it's really sweet how Wano's people have accepted Kaido's kid and also are not holding a grudge against Ulti and Page One, and have welcomed all three.
It's surprising to see these three casually here. This is a sudden shift away from learning about Moria, but they are still in Ringo. Something else may happen in the region or on the way to, possibly in the Capital. Perhaps the Beast Pirates we haven't seen are going to trouble. Or something to bring Kiku and Cho back into focus.
We've not gotten a cover blatantly saying the region we will go to this directly, at least not without having a defined goal at the next location. It makes me wonder if this is too easy, if there will be some last point made here in Ringo. A battle in the region, along the lines of Moria's and Kaido's battle, could be a fitting finale of this cover arc.
Or maybe we'll see Yamato pointing out the flaws of how Wano/the Daimyo system is currently run to Momo somehow. That would make good use of the fact that Yamato has seen the country and gotten to know the people now. Momo offering the Daimyo a chance to leave or do something else would be nice to see.
Remember, Wano is the kind of culture where they hide their problems behind a smile and don't mention them. Momo hides his hunger when we first meet him, Kin'emon says being bitten by a shark doesn't hurt, Tama also hides her hunger, Kiku gets insulted when Izo asks her if her injury hurts. The culture teaches its people that leaving is bad, toxic loyalty, and to hide their pain/problems. That's part of why the way Orochi used the Smile fruits was such an effective and cutting scheme.
If this isn't the final entry, a scenario where the flaws of the Daimyo system are brought up and addressed could work too. And in the long term, I'd enjoy seeing Moria return to Ringo and meet with Kiku and Cho.
"The shrine to Oden and his companions overlooking the Flower Capital."
1160's cover is here and it's quite the stunner. It's very sweet to see the completed shrine to honor Oden and everyone, that was mentioned as something the Kozuki folks want to have built in 1052. And this cover provides another really nice perspective with a wide view to look upon the beauty of the Flower Capital. How wondrous a sight Wano is.
The Moria reveal will likely be something that is focused more on in the main story, and we may also see the current flashback overlap with the Oden flashback. This cover arc seems about done however.
If we see Sukiyaki on the covers, aside from him potentially paying respects at the shrine built for his son and sharing some interesting history, I'd like seeing him commenting on how he maybe felt that he let Oden down in the past.
Sukiyaki never really supported Oden's desire to be able to leave Wano, didn't allow such a thing, especially not after he became a Daimyo, and it eventually lead to Oden wanting to leave so badly that he turned his back on his country when they needed him.
This is kinda weird to think about, though for the sake of an example, if Oden were still alive and a Daimyo, I wonder if Momo would have the law changed which makes it illegal for citizens to leave.
It would be good for Wano and for Momo for him to learn to avoid making the same mistakes that Sukiyaki did.
Chapter 1161's is a sentimental cover for this blog. I was hoping we'd see this. It's such a nice shrine dedicated to many of Wano's fallen heroes.
It's sweet seeing Kin and Momo visiting the shrine. If this cover serial continues, I would enjoy seeing Kin'emon telling Yamato and Momo stories of some of the heroes they are less familiar with, and for the stories of them to be shared with all of Wano's kids. That locals and those from overseas all worked to fight for Wano.
We learned something new about Moria at his shrine, learning something new about some of the heroes here could be neat. If this counts as new, I noticed that Izo's family name, Hanayanagi, is not written on his lantern. Similar to Ace, he views Whitebeard as his father, and have left behind his family birth name.
"Sir Luffy, Wano is once again at peace!"
A nice cover to bring this pilgrimage to a close! Yamato is wearing the cloak that Kin and Momo wear and Momo and Yam look good enjoying their oden skewers. While Kiku, Ulti and Page One, have matching cloaks. I still do wonder about the potential meaning of those six being visually designated as two trios by their respective matching cloaks.
Kiku, Ulti, and Page One each have sun cloaks, Kin’emon-Momo-Yamato moon cloaks.
Kin’emon and Ulti having a chat is cute and since Page One is not here, I’m curious if he decided to spend more time in the Ringo region. Kin'emon and Momo and Yamato and Ulti would surely be a very loud and raucous quartet. The quiet company of Kiku and Cho would undoubtedly be preferable for Page One.
Kiku being perfect, and the reveals of Moria being raised in Wano and Kanjuro's betrayal being kept as a detail only the closest members of Kozuki clan are aware of aside, I think the part of the current covers I liked most is seeing everyone accepting Yamato, which Kaido said would not happen, and Yamato not repeating Oden's mistakes.
Moria not being included in the shrine with many other characters has me wondering if Kin is oblivious to Moria's history in Wano, but Kiku and Cho do know his history.
And it is nice that Yamato finally got to know people of Wano who are alive in the present and spend time in the place he prepared twenty years preparing to fight for. That connection felt missing during the arc to me, which is part of why the character didn't really resonate for me until this cover arc.
So all in all, we see the status of Wano and what the prominent characters are up to after the defeats of Kaido and Orochi, a detailed conflict with established baddie Who’s Who, which results in Ulti and Page One becoming allies, and a cool Tama kick! We learn a good amount of Moria’s past, that Kanjuro’s betrayal is seemingly not being made public knowledge, and the Kanjuro who the group knew as their friend is being honored, which is very very generous of Kin'emon. Yamato and Wano’s people also prove Kaido wrong by the fact that Yamato has been accepted by Wano. Yamato is given food, Kaido took it away.
Getting to see the characters finally relaxing, having had to deal with Ryokugyu attacking prior when they were having a party, is nice too.
Most importantly however, is that Kiku and Cho have formed a sweet and badass working relationship. Chrysanthemum and moonflower. Kiku and Shakky parallels have been established too. So I’m going to be keeping a close eye on Shakky’s story in the chapters. Pretty good for a cover serial if you ask me. A lot happened for one of these, it set up Wano's status and Moria's history for later, and I’m satisfied with it. Ulti and Page One being redeemed perhaps a bit too easily, and the locals not getting more focus with each other and their own established dynamics are the parts I didn't love, but it's still a very good cover arc to me.
The main hook I’m looking forward to seeing more of Ringo natives Kiku and Cho knowing so much about Moria, to the point I imagine they have met him and perhaps spent time with and helped him throughout his childhood. And Moria and Perona possibly traveling to Ringo now that Kaido is gone.
And that's a wrap! I'll do the full retrospective tomorrow, today we have our ending. Yamato gets a sweet retainer cloak of his own! And is still relentlessly snacking. God did relentless snacking do so much work for making Yamato more fun to me. Likewise with being at the top of a chapter that gave us Peak Baby Bro Kaido.
My favorite part though is Ulti and Kin in the background. He's clearly skeptical and Ully better not be sizing up a new surrogate daddy. This one's taken. I assume Page One recognized how loud the group was about to get, took the cool puppy, and went back to Ringo to hang out with Kiku & Cho.
