Ah, no. I was still reading spoilers when you were on volume 7, but I didn't know who Pell was so his name didn't stick. See? Proof positive that what I said about spoilers not spoiling me is true.
Pellllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!
Just in case I don't make a longer vol. 23 post before I return the book to the library on Saturday, LOL re: "if Chaka is the dad and Igaram is the nanny, Pell is totally the mom." And [fujoshi cut]it's your fault I am now slashing Chaka and Pell.
[Volume 24] Every time, I cry for him as if he really died. Because even when you know the trope, Oda does a pretty good job of convincing us that he's going to be the exception.
In the next volume, the "reveal" that Pell is still alive is pretty subtly done (although the implication is clear), but in the anime they make it more explicit. Plus there's this scene (I think it's only in the anime?) where Chaka is standing before Pell's "grave" musing "Why can't I make myself believe that you're gone?" DUH, CHAKA! BECAUSE NO ONE EVER DIES IN THE PRESENT, OBVIOUSLY! It makes me laugh every time.
ETA: no, wait, the scene with Chaka is in the manga, too. Oda, you glorious bastard. ^_^
UGH, this whole volume is one of the REALLY big reasons why Oda is a masterful storyteller. You only met Vivi a couple of volumes before, she was such an awesome character though.
And ugh, so many things here are set in motion/set up for later events, and I can't wait till you/we get there. And yeah, with the last image I always _always_ hope that one day Vivi will meet the Strawhats again and it'll be a grand old party once more :D!
I am 100% positive that one day the Strawhats will meet Vivi again, and I can't wait. ^__^
I have to agree, the series has so many great moments and climactic points, but I don't know if Oda's talent as a narrator -- both verbal and visual -- is ever more vividly displayed than it is here in this volume. (Then again, maybe I'm only saying that because I haven't finished the re-read yet. So often I think I remember how good a scene was, only to have it far surpass the memory when I re-read it.)
I still think this is probably the best single ending to any arc yet, though Skypiea comes close (and is, in a way, grander). And also the best ending of any single manga volume in the series - rarely do the volumes end with such a clear final chapter.
Miss Father's Day and Mr. 7 are looking forward to a promotion for carrying out their important duty. (They appear to have overlooked the fact that they're about to be blown sky-high.)
I don't think they know about it... as far as they know, they're going to shoot down into the crowd at the square, that's it.
Vivi takes out Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day with her Peacock Slasher weapon. (...) Vivi has cut the fuse with 1 second remaining,
Vivi-bashers always seem to forget that without her actions here, the town and all the Strawhats would have been goners. Yes, Pell was still needed to truly save the day, but if Vivi hadn't been there to cut the fuse in time, Pell would have been too late.
The cinematic (literally) moment when the raindrops begin to fall is another one of my very
( ... )
Why would anyone bash Vivi? ;__; She's so awesome!
Sure, she wasn't strong enough to save Alabasta all by herself, but the whole point of having nakama is you don't have to do everything alone.
Alabasta absolutely has one of the best aftermath sequences of all the arcs. I love a good post-victory wrap-up done right.
Wow, thank you for your *spoiler* suggestion. That possibility honestly never occurred to me. I will stash that thought away for when I'm working through the next volume.
In the lower left of Zoro's picture you can see a tiny bit of Usopp doing his Crocodile impression (most visible in this very chapter).
Ahaha, is that what that is? I completely missed it. That means Usopp is in the lower-left corner of both the first two Strawhat wanted posters, hee!
I like that they used the last of their strength to convince Vivi to go on ahead without worrying about them.
Yes. <3
Hina's quirk is to end many of her sentences with "Hina + adjective (emotion)."
CUTEST SPEECH QUIRK. I'm not really sure why, but I just love Hina.
LOL Chaka telling the marines that OF COURSE they're not sheltering any pirates while nodding cheerfully to Sanji and Usopp on their way back from running their errands.
I love this, haha. XD
I will never stop being disturbed by Cobra encouraging the guys to peek over the wall into the women's bath.
I KNOW, AGH. I love Cobra otherwise, but SO SKEEVY, EW. A bunch of guys ogling your daughter is really worth ogling Nami? REALLY? D:
I defy anyone to read this chapter without crying.
IMPOSSIBLE.
I'm in total agreement with serrende that this is the best arc ending in the series. I think the only thing that can compare is a moment near the end of Marineford ([post-Marineford]the scene where Jinbei is telling Luffy to count what he has, rather than what he's lost, and he thinks of his nakama
( ... )
While I'd liked them both from the start, Smoker and Tashigi's scenes in this volume are the ones that really cemented them as some of my favourite recurring cast members. *g* Early on it looked like Tashigi's role was going to be as a recurring foil for Zoro, but all through Alabasta they hardly glimpse each other and yet she still gets so much development and an important role to play. Then you get to where Smoker is telling the highest ranking Marine brass to eat shit for trying to promote him to cover up the Straw Hats' role and damn, I do not know what that man could possibly do to make me love him any more after a moment like that. It's a real wonder he's kept his job this long, the guy has more integrity than is healthy. XD (IIRC, Oda hinted in an SBS about him and Hina that she's had to cover for him a number of times as it is
( ... )
All good points about why this arc is such a great showcase for both Smoker and Tashigi! Love them both.
LOL that SBS, it makes so much sense. Poor Hina. I often suspect that Smoker must have friends other than Hina at headquarters -- she could not possibly be doing enough to cover for all his crap. Only guesses at who they might be, and or whether Smoker even realizes it (knowing Smoker, I doubt he cares).
Ooh, you're playing the Japanese version of Kaizoku Musou, right? The English version isn't due out for another couple of months... right?
Are you playing on a non-Asian system? Until I googled it just now, I didn't realize you could play Japanese PS3 titles on an American PS3. I might have to visit my import game outlet of choice. (Shows you how much I play video games. My PS3 might as well be a very expensive Hulu Plus player -- I got it as a present and that's almost all I use it for.)
On the flipside of the Smoker-Hina relationship, there is that one cover page which looks to be Smoker trying to drag a rather drunk Hina home from a bar. It's an oddly cute little scene.
[Spoilers for Water 7 and beyond]Smoker does seem to be on good terms with Aokiji, that must count in his favour, and I can see Garp approving of his methods on general principle. Actually, given that the Marines have put up with Garp for so many years despite him doing stuff like (eg) dropping in to visit his pirate grandson while on the clock, one can only presume they've gotten used to granting some of their officers a lot of leeway on behaviour provided they're good at their job. (I suspect that if Smoker cares at all, he's decided that if the Marines will put up with so much blatant corruption in its ranks, they can damn well deal with his language.)[New World spoilers]Damn good thing he hasn't got himself kicked out yet too, IMO. With Garp and Aokiji resigned and Akainu in charge, the Marines are running even shorter on decent people than they ever used to be.Yup, Japanese version. We picked
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Comments 17
P...P...Pell?????
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(Specifically this thread, although perhaps you were judicious about clicking on the spoiler cuts?)
Reply
Pellllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!
Just in case I don't make a longer vol. 23 post before I return the book to the library on Saturday, LOL re: "if Chaka is the dad and Igaram is the nanny, Pell is totally the mom." And [fujoshi cut]it's your fault I am now slashing Chaka and Pell.
Reply
[Volume 24]
Every time, I cry for him as if he really died. Because even when you know the trope, Oda does a pretty good job of convincing us that he's going to be the exception.
In the next volume, the "reveal" that Pell is still alive is pretty subtly done (although the implication is clear), but in the anime they make it more explicit. Plus there's this scene (I think it's only in the anime?) where Chaka is standing before Pell's "grave" musing "Why can't I make myself believe that you're gone?" DUH, CHAKA! BECAUSE NO ONE EVER DIES IN THE PRESENT, OBVIOUSLY! It makes me laugh every time.
ETA: no, wait, the scene with Chaka is in the manga, too. Oda, you glorious bastard. ^_^
Reply
And ugh, so many things here are set in motion/set up for later events, and I can't wait till you/we get there. And yeah, with the last image I always _always_ hope that one day Vivi will meet the Strawhats again and it'll be a grand old party once more :D!
Reply
I have to agree, the series has so many great moments and climactic points, but I don't know if Oda's talent as a narrator -- both verbal and visual -- is ever more vividly displayed than it is here in this volume. (Then again, maybe I'm only saying that because I haven't finished the re-read yet. So often I think I remember how good a scene was, only to have it far surpass the memory when I re-read it.)
Reply
Miss Father's Day and Mr. 7 are looking forward to a promotion for carrying out their important duty. (They appear to have overlooked the fact that they're about to be blown sky-high.)
I don't think they know about it... as far as they know, they're going to shoot down into the crowd at the square, that's it.
Vivi takes out Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day with her Peacock Slasher weapon.
(...)
Vivi has cut the fuse with 1 second remaining,
Vivi-bashers always seem to forget that without her actions here, the town and all the Strawhats would have been goners. Yes, Pell was still needed to truly save the day, but if Vivi hadn't been there to cut the fuse in time, Pell would have been too late.
The cinematic (literally) moment when the raindrops begin to fall is another one of my very ( ... )
Reply
Sure, she wasn't strong enough to save Alabasta all by herself, but the whole point of having nakama is you don't have to do everything alone.
Alabasta absolutely has one of the best aftermath sequences of all the arcs. I love a good post-victory wrap-up done right.
Wow, thank you for your *spoiler* suggestion. That possibility honestly never occurred to me. I will stash that thought away for when I'm working through the next volume.
In the lower left of Zoro's picture you can see a tiny bit of Usopp doing his Crocodile impression (most visible in this very chapter).
Ahaha, is that what that is? I completely missed it. That means Usopp is in the lower-left corner of both the first two Strawhat wanted posters, hee!
Reply
Yes. <3
Hina's quirk is to end many of her sentences with "Hina + adjective (emotion)."
CUTEST SPEECH QUIRK. I'm not really sure why, but I just love Hina.
LOL Chaka telling the marines that OF COURSE they're not sheltering any pirates while nodding cheerfully to Sanji and Usopp on their way back from running their errands.
I love this, haha. XD
I will never stop being disturbed by Cobra encouraging the guys to peek over the wall into the women's bath.
I KNOW, AGH. I love Cobra otherwise, but SO SKEEVY, EW. A bunch of guys ogling your daughter is really worth ogling Nami? REALLY? D:
I defy anyone to read this chapter without crying.
IMPOSSIBLE.
I'm in total agreement with serrende that this is the best arc ending in the series. I think the only thing that can compare is a moment near the end of Marineford ([post-Marineford]the scene where Jinbei is telling Luffy to count what he has, rather than what he's lost, and he thinks of his nakama ( ... )
Reply
Reply
LOL that SBS, it makes so much sense. Poor Hina. I often suspect that Smoker must have friends other than Hina at headquarters -- she could not possibly be doing enough to cover for all his crap. Only guesses at who they might be, and or whether Smoker even realizes it (knowing Smoker, I doubt he cares).
Ooh, you're playing the Japanese version of Kaizoku Musou, right? The English version isn't due out for another couple of months... right?
Are you playing on a non-Asian system? Until I googled it just now, I didn't realize you could play Japanese PS3 titles on an American PS3. I might have to visit my import game outlet of choice. (Shows you how much I play video games. My PS3 might as well be a very expensive Hulu Plus player -- I got it as a present and that's almost all I use it for.)
Reply
[Spoilers for Water 7 and beyond]Smoker does seem to be on good terms with Aokiji, that must count in his favour, and I can see Garp approving of his methods on general principle. Actually, given that the Marines have put up with Garp for so many years despite him doing stuff like (eg) dropping in to visit his pirate grandson while on the clock, one can only presume they've gotten used to granting some of their officers a lot of leeway on behaviour provided they're good at their job. (I suspect that if Smoker cares at all, he's decided that if the Marines will put up with so much blatant corruption in its ranks, they can damn well deal with his language.) [New World spoilers]Damn good thing he hasn't got himself kicked out yet too, IMO. With Garp and Aokiji resigned and Akainu in charge, the Marines are running even shorter on decent people than they ever used to be.Yup, Japanese version. We picked ( ... )
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