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[Morghus]

Manga of the Week: One Piece by Eiichiro Oda

This week, our manga spotlight has shined upon One Piece. If you are unfamiliar with this manga be sure to check it out!

Series summary:
A boy named Monkey D. Luffy, inspired by his childhood friend and hero "Red-Haired" Shanks, sets out on a journey to find the legendary One Piece, to become the new Pirate King, and to make a grand adventure. To accomplish this, he must reach the end of the most deadly and dangerous ocean: The Grand Line.

Luffy captains the Straw Hat Pirates first through the sea of East Blue and then through the Grand Line. He follows the path of the deceased Pirate King, Gold Roger, from island to island on his way to the great treasure One Piece.

During the course of the story, the crew contend with both other less moral pirate crews and the Navy. The latter are the subordinates of the World Government, who apparently seek justice by ending the Golden Age of Pirates. Many background story elements involve the delicate balance of power between the World Government and the world's most powerful pirate crews.

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda

Review by Morghus

I'm a fan of the series, but I need to get this off my chest immediately; the beginning of the manga will most likely be boring. There're quite a lot of people who liked the first 75 chapters of the manga, but in my experience they're surprisingly few. The anime might be a good choice for you.

The first chapter is nice enough, you get to know about Luffy's back story and dreams, as well as a glimpse of Shanks' mighty crew at an early stage. From chapter 2 and onwards it can get boring pretty fast, a major gripe for a lot of people. Perhaps the result of a young mangaka that hasn't found his footing yet. Thankfully the story becomes a lot deeper later. Actually, it will become engaging and, at times, agonizingly realistic, like chapter 502 (extended explanation, long read). You'll notice that One Piece dares to use serious topics like the abuse of humans, wraps them up in cliches and actually makes it work. The world and story of One Piece is a good example of amazing storytelling.

In the beginning you'll probably find the art just as odd and unappealing as I did when I started, but I suspect your opinion will change as time goes. After all these years, Oda's style is hailed as a bit of a revolution due to his combination of a simple style with incredibly complex details, and chances are I'm not the only one who thinks his art is among the best.

The cast of characters never stops growing, and as Luffy adds people to his crew the likelihood of finding a character you love beyond anyone else keeps increasing. The good part is that they're all adorable and unique, like Chopper and Franky. Or loathsome and ruthless, like Enel and Crocodile, who are both fantastic villains.

Fortunately it never seems to fall into the trap where it takes itself too seriously, or use serious moments like a gimmick the way a lot of other shounen mangas do. Characters are often portrayed in an intentionally stupid manner to make us laugh, but so far I have never seen them be portrayed stupidly in a manner that makes you groan inside. To the contrary, it allows us to take them even more seriously when the shit hits the fan.

Overall this manga is amazing. Fantastic and unique artwork that never gets messy, a story and cast that always feels fresh and a world and setting that feels increasingly inventive the further it develops. One Piece continues climbing with increasing sales in Japan, and an increasing following outside of Japan as well. However it's sadly marred by a beginning that can feel unimaginative and boring, and an art that can feel too alien at first, further decreasing the chance of new readers despite the quality of the manga later on.

Rating:

Storyline - 8/10 (a 10 for the story later on, a 6 for the boring beginning)
Characters - 9/10 (one of the best galleries of characters I've come across)
Artwork - 9/10 (simplistic, detailed, and original, simply superb)
Overall: 9/10

Choice example of art and humour (Ch. 461):

[TomMalufe]

I just hope this feature on the front page doesn't draw unwanted attention and the next thing we know Viz Media is telling us to take One Piece of the site.  That would stink.

[joaco]

Absolutely YES, One Piece is THE best manga ever, i totally agree with you and any1 that says other wise doesn't know what he/she is talking about. It has everything, great characters, great story, awesome background story, and it gets to you, u get involved with every single character, hate the bad guys and love the good guys, every personality is different and that is just incredible.

One Piece.  

¡¡¡Say no more!!!

[delfos]

Agree at all!!! One piece can be boring at the beginning but you can´t stop, you shouldn´t stop, go forward cuz you gonna love it, there are moments where you gonna cry, seriuosly talking, and others where you gonna laugh for the rest of the day,... idon´t know the formula but is my manga number 1 so far.

[Pina]

Err.. I don't know how to tell you this, Morghus, but... I never liked One piece much.

Strange, as I read 40 volumes during some exams at university. And considering I still manage somehow to read Bleach or Naruto every now and then. But I just can't get started with One Piece.

Maybe sorting all those volumes is what unconsciously puts me off, who knows.

[elloshiions]

at first, i pre-judged this manga, which is so bad of me. i did not like the art or anything. it later hit me when my cousin and brother were enjoying the anime when i first got stuck to it. this manga, as well as anime, is really awesome! touching history of each character. great plot. many distinguishing characters. i would recommend this, despite that there are so many volumes nowadays to catch up on.

[SandraVerdugo]

= D I had a pre-conception, but it all went away when i started, i highly recommend it.

 OP FTW>: D

[Morghus]

I just hope this feature on the front page doesn't draw unwanted attention and the next thing we know Viz Media is telling us to take One Piece of the site.  That would stink.

That would make me cry inside ;_;

Err.. I don't know how to tell you this, Morghus, but... I never liked One piece much.

Strange, as I read 40 volumes during some exams at university. And considering I still manage somehow to read Bleach or Naruto every now and then. But I just can't get started with One Piece.

Maybe sorting all those volumes is what unconsciously puts me off, who knows.

There's always a way! O.O

[risingstar3110]

Even when i have the first 30 volumes (my friend recommend my older brother who read it and then recommend me), it took me 1-2 months to start and finish the first chapter..... then before i knows it , 10 hours have passed and i was up to Vol 10-ish. I finished the rest the next day.....
   
That's how addictive OP is when you start reading it. Before that i thought i will never read a story with such art. Now that experience 's a good example for "do not judge a story by its cover"

[s2twinss2]

The beginning is so boring >.< but when you reach the Arlong Arc it gets so cool that you just can't stop it !

(sorry for the english -.-' )

[argentum]

Odachi sensei always have amazing ideas in one piece, He mixed many culture and story from many part of the world in the story line. I know that artwork from ch 461, the cute goth-loli girl suddenly give that expression??? come on~~ I laugh really hard that time. I desperately waiting for the tankoubon every 3 month, anyway one piece books take out my room space. thanks for sharing guys

[Morghus]

The beginning is so boring >.< but when you reach the Arlong Arc it gets so cool that you just can't stop it !

(sorry for the english -.-' )

Yus, the Arlong Arc is when it gets good, at least in my opinion, and the english was great, no worries

Odachi sensei always have amazing ideas in one piece, He mixed many culture and story from many part of the world in the story line. I know that artwork from ch 461, the cute goth-loli girl suddenly give that expression??? come on~~ I laugh really hard that time. I desperately waiting for the tankoubon every 3 month, anyway one piece books take out my room space. thanks for sharing guys

You nailed it on the head with regards to who Perona was! Fantastic moment, and I laugh 'til I cry almost every time I see it. "I AM NEGATIVE!" .."OMG! O.O" XD

[Gilgalad]

I agree with most of you

One Piece is one of a kind - in my opinion seriously the best (or one of the best) mangas in the world.

I love it

[ashesatdusk]

I just hope this feature on the front page doesn't draw unwanted attention and the next thing we know Viz Media is telling us to take One Piece of the site.  That would stink.

I don't think that will happen. One piece isn't doing that well in the united states, so its not as high profile a property as one piece.  I'm glad seriously the best manga  (IMNSHO) on the planet is getting this  spotlight.

[Tzolis]

Surely one of the best manga ever!
And what is amazing is that is getting even more interesting now, after 556 chapters!
And yes, 502 is one of the best chapter in all aspects in history of manga I could say...!
I just read it to remember it and even now it gave me the chills...