A closer look at why Yamao's big anticipated df reveal was so underwhelming and doesn't compare to actual straw hats.
We can first look at some of the straw hats big ability reveals to see the similarities.
There's always a set up to showcasing their abilities. A scenario specifically created to highlight how cool the future straw hats are. Pell got hyped up as Alabasta's strongest warrior and whopped a bunch of fodder, only for Robin to utterly humiliate him in the very next chapter. The hype for Pell was mainly there just to hype up Robin. Or how the spider monkey managed to capture both Franky and Robin only to hear Brook's eerie humming echoing around the castles before he insta blitzes the monkey.
Oda loves to put on a performance to really drum up what the future straw hats are capable of. The very first time we see them show off is always something memorable. They're always the main focus of the chapter for their reveals. I'll make the obvious comparison.
Carrot's transformation should by all means be inferior to Yamao's. Sulong is a transformation that all the minks can do, whereas Yamao ate a mythical zoan desired by Kaido himself. But yet the hype is completely reversed. The difference between the presentation of the two is heaven and earth. With Carrot we had:
-A big problem specifically created for her to counter and give her the spotlight
-A double page spread of her transformation detailing even changes to eyes, tail and hair
-A full page panel giving a big closeup of her amazing design
-Oda has every single present straw hat comment on just how incredible she looks
-Her fighting style is shown in its full glory on yet another double page spread
-The chapter is named after her
-Big onomatopeia around her transformation
-Editor's comment hypes up Carrot's strength
Now let's look at Yamao:
-Zero narrative build up whatsoever to her hybrid reveal
-Off panelled transformation
-The first panel revealing her full form had to be shared with Kaido's own hybrid design
-Confusing reveal since the fruit wasn't named in the moment
-Something as insignificant as Franky vs Sasaki was more prominent than Yamao's hybrid design reveal
-Didn't have the chapter named after her
-She's losing
-Onomatopeia surrounds her statement about being Oden instead of her transformation
-Even the editor's comment talks about her dedication to Wano instead of referencing her design or df
Carrot was fighting fodders and Yamao was fighting hybrid Kaido yet the former's Sulong moment completely and utterly outshines the latter's df reveal. And for good reason.