I voted for;
- Sanji vs Enel
- Help Me
- Luffy vs the C3
- Zunisha
- Goodbye Merry
- Shishi sonson
Round 1 was very difficult. I think that Sanji's style and sacrifice in the scene, plus how horribly burned he is after Enel's attack, wins it over for me. I do love Robin's commitment and realization, accepting other people in her life again. But I feel like the panel / page doesn't fully encapsulate all of those feelings in me, there's more to it than just that page.
Round 2 was relatively easy. Besides being a cool moment and the end of a fight, I don't think Asura is that artistically impressive (beyond Oda's norm) nor carries much emotional weight. Nami, the girl who betrayed Luffy twice (at least) and sacrificed a decade of her life working for pirates, all while despising them, now begs one to help. The utter despair she feels really resonates with me and it's one of the scenes I'll always think to if I need to come up with a reason to recommend the series.
Round 3 was also pretty easy. I love Skypeia. Love it to death, especially the backstory and lore of the Bell and the island. And I love that panel. But, I can't pick it for the same reason I couldn't pick Robin in the first round. There's more to the feelings I have then that page, it doesn't get me enough for me to get the full rush of emotions from the arc (which is the case with Nami's
Help Me). The C3, I think is more or less well done artistically. I like a lot of the business going on and the savage look on Luffy's face. Not really amazing, I think it's the weakest of the winners I picked and would've lost in almost any other category. But it's really cool and it's at a time when Oda's art has just flourished after so many years of dutiful work.
Round 4 was easy because it was a battle of art for me. I didn't have any strong feelings upon seeing that moment the first time around, and reading the arc, rereading Fishmand island. . I just feel less for it. I suppose it's nice seeing them all together. But it's just action poses. Whereas Zunisha is amazingly drawn and you feel the immense weight and danger being tossed out at the Beast Pirates, their karmic justice for what they've done atop Zunisha's back. The details on the ship helps sell it too, as we can make out almost individual planks as they're splintered by Zunisha's unbelievable majesty and power. And knowing that a Calamity, a right-hand to a Yonkou, fell victim to this makes it all the more drawing.
Round 5 Merry trumps Zoro. This was big for Zoro and helped establish his character in the story, but Merry's goodbye was heartwrenching. The saddest moment in One Piece for me. You never expect to care about the ship until you see Usopp and Luffy fight over it, and then the fact it's sentient and just. . It hits me. I don't think it's even a close race.
Round 6 Easy Zoro win. His desperation, beating 1 warlord only for the next to come, wins it. I didn't care much for Shanks' actual reveal/appearance. It's cool, but that's about it. Whereas seeing Zoro slide down and slice Kuma is pretty aesthetically pleasing.
