Just some random notes while reading the chapter
- What a chapter! Stellar artwork again this week and double page spreads to relay the magnitude and scale of the impending war. Oda’s perspective artwork has reached a new level recently. The reader’s eye being forced to look up at an intimidating sobered up Dragon Kaido, as if you’re among the scabbards. The snow fall on a moonlit night just adds a touch of mysticism and romance to the encounter.
- I’m loving that interaction between mental and physical scars isn't strictly metaphorical. Shanks with BB, Luffy with Akainu, Big Mom with Mother Caramel, etc... Kaido still fearful of Oden’s words and presence even after he’s dead. Add to that being ambushed, drunk and you get a golden opportunity to take him down.
You can almost see Kaido mourning the fact that Oden isn’t alive, maybe he’s suicidal because he feels incapable of achieving a grander death than the “Hour of Legend”. He mentioned his respect for traditional Wano samurai spirit, and nobody embodied that more than Oden. Kaido has portrayed the immovable block to victory role so far, looking forward to delving deeper into his psyche when he starts getting at it with Luffy. What’s his philosophy on what it means to be PK?
I also got the feeling Kaido was reminiscing about Rocks here
Was their defeat aided by betrayal? Big Mom nonchalantly saying “Is Kaido dead?” lets you know Rocks was more of a business deal that comradery. It’s inevitable that Big Mom and Kaido’s alliance will fail. Perospero is already rebelling and forming a side alliance with Marco. The expected result of Mom’s dysfunctional parenting is her offspring lacking true loyalty that (see Zeus, Katakuri, Opera). Smoothie has been portrayed as a follower, it’ll be interesting to see if she becomes more assertive and has to make a decision about choosing between Mom or Perospero
- Savage cliffhanger too, Neko already looks like an absolute beast in silhouette. Sulong allows the mink’s feral nature to take over, we’re in for an amazing Kaiju scene next chapter. Dragon Kaido vs an entire enraged army of Sulong Minks
I never thought the Sulong trump card would be dealt this early. Jack vs Sulong Minks revenge rematch was the popular prediction, but this is more exciting as the first official fight of the war. Just gotta get through these breaks
- The paneling here with the scabbards attacking downwards, you can feel the sense of force of Kaido crashing into the underground.
- Nice to see Jinbei finally featured in the color page. Oda keeps baiting the Frobin shippers though, he knows exactly what he’s doing with their placement in his color spreads lol
- Don’t let the war distract you from the fact that Law’s plan actually worked. The idiots as distraction, and sneak the scabbards to get a free shot at an unsuspecting Kaido. Let’s not forget that he started all of this 300 chapters ago. We’re finally here at the finish line
- I said if Yamato and Ulti appear in the same panel it’s already a 10/10 chapter, so you already know my horny chapter rating
Yamato accepted Kaido is no fitting parent. Now she needs to understand that she can’t be Oden because she wants to be Oden. It's fake. The man Roger/Joy Boy is waiting needs an authentic take on becoming king
Luffy's declaring an all out war was just that. Authentic King shit
Maybe Yamato will observe and realize what conviction is. Two chapters ago she told Luffy “Ok you be Oden” Do you ever imagine Luffy saying “Ok you be Pirate King”?
- Every time I see the moon I want Enel descending with his army of Space pirates. I had a theory about Enel, the moon and King's race but never had the chance to write it. No idea how Enel would fit into an already stacked puzzle, but I'd like it to happen soon.