General & Others One Piece Criticism : Valid or Overblown ?

[Nidai_Kitetsu]

Well, it fully depends on what you value more. I get why some don't want to read HxH because of Togashi's lazy drawings.

The artstyle in HxH truly was ... horrible at times.

The plot itself is untouchable though. A masterpiece.

I for one value a coherent story higher than some shaky art style, especially since the latter can easily be upgraded in the actual volume and in a very well done anime, which was phenomenal in HxH's case.

If I read both stories in one go, I will give HxH the edge. The story is pretty mature compared to One Piece. I like the pre-TS One Piece more though.

If I read weekly, One Piece beats HxH hands down. The main problem is not the quality of the art, its the long hiatus that bothers me. Its not possible for me to stick to a manga where the author takes such long hiatus. I dont really care about the story then.

My point is its not easy to deliver chapters regularly. It affects the quality of a manga. It certainly helps if a mangaka can take a long break whenever he wants. Give Oda his due credit.

 

[Patryipe]

I stand by my opinion that WCI is the worst arc in One Piece. The fake tension with the handcuffs, Zeff, etc. The random plot points that keep appearing along with the random solutions. Pointless fights. Poor and logically bunk development for the main character of the arc, Sanji.

I think WCI was supposed to be a heist arc. To infiltrate and escape in minimal chapters. But somewhere along the way Oda and his editors decided to make it longer. The whole time I was reading, it felt like Oda was completely unprepared. It's like the brainstorm of ideas on a whiteboard but unironically all became real plot points.

I don't think the editors had anything to do with it, and that's probably part of the problem.

Think about it. Japan is a society where the lower ranks are supposed to follow the orders without question their superiors. Plus Oda has been the WSJ golden goose for years. I honestly doubt the editors have the guts to voice their real thoughts about the manga when the mangaka on the other side of the table is Oda. Probably they end up being simple yesmen.

AFAIK the last editor intervention was in Sabaody when the editor suggested to spice up the chapter and Oda introduced the SNs. Granted, it's not like they need to advertise every editor involvement, but I don't think there's been much feedback coming from that corner in the last few years considering that Oda is still printing money for Shueisha with things as they are.

 

[Garp the Fist]

I've never been able to really enjoy HxH. Chimera Ant was good but other than that it's a pretty meh experience. At time I think his art is that shit (and given it's a manga art is at least half the enjoyment for me) and so much of the chapter is just painfully weird narration he'd be better just turning it into a novel and seeing if he could release it faster that way.

And the thing is Togashi is actually a really good artist- he just seems to be a painfully slow one. Some of the colour pages, volume covers and sketches are really, really good, then it comes chapter release time and it's dogshit.

 

[dirtyLarry]

If I read both stories in one go, I will give HxH the edge. The story is pretty mature compared to One Piece.

If I read weekly, One Piece beats HxH hands down. The main problem is not the quality of the art, its the long hiatus that bothers me. Its not possible for me to stick to such a manga where the author takes such long hiatus. I dont really care about the story then.

I think those two statements sum up the situation really well! :cheers:

 

[PirateKingDrew]

having followed One Piece on forums for almost 16 years, this criticism has always existed. once people catch up and have to follow the series weekly they dont get instant satisfaction anymore, they're stuck waiting like the rest of us and when the series focus on stuff that they dislike they come out to vent. it's been the exact same since i first joined a one piece forum in 2005, people are never happy, just drown it out.

the only criticism i really agree with is Oda's refusal to kill characters, i hoped we were over that with the deaths of Monet and Vergo in punk hazard but alas Pound has returned alive, a completely pointless character who served his purpose, it's the one bad thing about one piece, the only character who could get away with coming back was Igaram and its easily explained by simply saying Robin let him live.

in the end the critisism isnt going anywhere, it'll be here till the end of the series, you get used to it.

Post automatically merged: May 13, 2020

I've never been able to really enjoy HxH. Chimera Ant was good but other than that it's a pretty meh experience. At time I think his art is that shit (and given it's a manga art is at least half the enjoyment for me) and so much of the chapter is just painfully weird narration he'd be better just turning it into a novel and seeing if he could release it faster that way.

And the thing is Togashi is actually a really good artist- he just seems to be a painfully slow one. Some of the colour pages, volume covers and sketches are really, really good, then it comes chapter release time and it's dogshit.

I'm the opposite, I loved everything about HxH until the chimera ant arc, they come out of nowhere, they takeover the series, they're stupidly overpowered, it's dragged out way too long and nothing about it has any satisfying conclusion imo, its one of the worst arcs in shonen history imo. although the current arc is giving it a run for its money in worst HxH arcs although i did drop it a while ago so maybe it got better. As far as i'm concerned the series finished when Gon met his dad at the top of that tree.

 

[KiriNigiri]

Its not possible for me to stick to such a manga where the author takes such long hiatus. I dont really care about the story then.

Aren't you a Berserk fan, though?

 

[Relapse]

One piece is trash atm we need more BM and BB

 

[Natalija]

My point is its not easy to deliver chapters regularly. It affects the quality of a manga. It certainly helps if a mangaka can take a long break whenever he wants. Give Oda his due credit.

Yeah. My low-key theory is that he is alien to be able to keep this up for so long.

 

[Luffy is the mc]

I think everyone is entitled to their opinion. I can easily accept that some people doesn't like the story as it goes, it doesn't affect my judgement nor my enjoyment of the story.

I don't think One Piece is perfect either, there is some stuff that I don't like but the things that I like compensate it more than enough.

Also even if I don't like a manga, I have to say that I always have respect for the creator because it's a really difficult job to be a mangaka and to have success. Oda has done it for such a long time that I only have respect for him
And I never forget that he's just a human like the rest of us, so he can make mistakes.

Last thing is I also try not to be too biased, if my favourite characters didn't shine in some moments, not gonna lie, it bothers me but I'm not gonna dislike the serie just for that.

 

[Warchief Sanji D Goat]

AFter many years yeah sorry for wanting all strawhats fighting ??? Jeez

Been since Thriller Bark that we haven’t seen that shit

I'm fine with the Strawhats fighting together. It's just that it's not possible anymore

 

[Nidai_Kitetsu]

Yeah. My low-key theory is that he is alien to be able to keep this up for so long.

Your theory might be true. I've read Oda sleeps 3-4 hours a day. Unbelievable work ethic.

Aren't you a Berserk fan, though?

Its the same for Berserk, I find it very annoying to read it weekly after long gaps.

 

[Paperchampion23]

Idk, I certainly have my qualms about OP, but tbh it's the most I've been obsessed and enjoyed this manga, and it's the only manga I've read the last 10 years. Individual story arcs sometimes fall flat, but man is the payoff there and consistent to me. The art is phenomenal all the time, it has a ton of lore build up awaiting payoff, and there's still just a lot to look forward to and in the series.

 

[Dark Hound]

I'm fine with the Strawhats fighting together. It's just that it's not possible anymore

WHY ??

Post automatically merged: May 14, 2020

having followed One Piece on forums for almost 16 years, this criticism has always existed. once people catch up and have to follow the series weekly they dont get instant satisfaction anymore, they're stuck waiting like the rest of us and when the series focus on stuff that they dislike they come out to vent. it's been the exact same since i first joined a one piece forum in 2005, people are never happy, just drown it out.

the only criticism i really agree with is Oda's refusal to kill characters, i hoped we were over that with the deaths of Monet and Vergo in punk hazard but alas Pound has returned alive, a completely pointless character who served his purpose, it's the one bad thing about one piece, the only character who could get away with coming back was Igaram and its easily explained by simply saying Robin let him live.

in the end the critisism isnt going anywhere, it'll be here till the end of the series, you get used to it.

Post automatically merged: May 13, 2020

I'm the opposite, I loved everything about HxH until the chimera ant arc, they come out of nowhere, they takeover the series, they're stupidly overpowered, it's dragged out way too long and nothing about it has any satisfying conclusion imo, its one of the worst arcs in shonen history imo. although the current arc is giving it a run for its money in worst HxH arcs although i did drop it a while ago so maybe it got better. As far as i'm concerned the series finished when Gon met his dad at the top of that tree.

Best post of this damn thread

 

[Un-amed]

I almost wonder if it's the editor.

Probably...

Post automatically merged: May 14, 2020

C'mon you can not compare HxH with OP ...
HxH is almost a Nekketsu Seinen...
You can "compare" OP with Naruto, Toriko, Fairy Tail, DB, MHA...But with HxH???
How is it possible???
They are so different... xD

 

[Monkey D. Luffy]

I think you basically invite criticism upon yourself when you trumpet about Wano ‘making Marineford look cute’ only to deliver absolute dogshit characters like Toki and unforgettable fights like Luffy vs Urashima that lasted longer than Oden vs Kaido. Don’t blow your own horn and then turn around and insult the audience when you fail abysmally at delivering your own hype.

I'd be a terrible writer, but I consider "we'll make this installment as/more epic than this previous one" a bad writing omen. When Oda wrote Water 7/Enies Lobby, he probably wasn't thinking he just produced a masterpiece; it just came naturally.

 

[Albie1986]

Regarding this thread
The complaints are justified and have points.... Regardless if they are a bit excessive sometimes.. but this is due to the passion for this series... where we viewers are slowly losing interest in the series... and our passion are fading away because this is what Oda is doing right now:

1- He sets up a plot which he HYPES... and make us very interested, very intrigued, VERY HYPED to see it PAYED OFF...

2- He cuts away from it... or tease the pay off... of whatever... trying to make us yearn for that PAY OFF to be shown....

3- HE KNOWS.. this bastard Writer KNOWS FULL WELL we as viewers want to see those things...

4- The more he teases us... the more distant his plot becomes from paying off that previous plot... where storywise... we are so advanced that we are slowly LESS CARING about that pay off because we are looking forward to OTHER PLOTS that happened that needs to be payed off

5- By the time he goes back to that previous plot he set up early to pay it off... we ALREADY LOST INTEREST IN SEEING IT.... because now our interest is in the pay-off of those RECENT SET UPS that we are hyped for...... or what's worse... he basically does the pay off.... but OFF-SCREENED... or let the narrator talks about it... or some fodder side character say the answer we wanted to hear....

Like TOTAL DOUCHBAG writing.... where he purposely teases us with what we want to see... but never actually pays it off... never grant us the prize for the patient waiting we had for the plot to be resolved.....

This is what One Piece has been (from Dressrosa till now in Wano)

I haven't lost interest

 

[sanjikun]

Would Oda be a great author, if he was writing purely in print? No. The whole point of mangakas is they leverage their drawing abilities, to make up for their lack of literary expertise.

What he does well is world building. His drawings play a huge part of that. Like the saying goes "a picture goes a thousand words."

It's much harder to convey the greatness of something like this by words alone, than showing a picture

So enjoy the great world building, and great pictures. They are just as important to the story, as the words/plot. The plot will never be 100% on point. One Piece is about going on an imaginary adventure, rather than a super precise literary masterpiece.

 

[Ravagerblade]

Would Oda be a great author, if he was writing purely in print? No. The whole point of mangakas is they leverage their drawing abilities, to make up for their lack of literary expertise.

What he does well is world building. His drawings play a huge part of that. Like the saying goes "a picture goes a thousand words."

It's much harder to convey the greatness of something like this by words alone, than showing a picture

So enjoy the great world building, and great pictures. They are just as important to the story, as the words/plot. The plot will never be 100% on point. One Piece is about going on an imaginary adventure, rather than a super precise literary masterpiece.

That's the biggest god damn copout I've ever read.