One Piece

[durendal]

I'm sure everyone has heard of One Piece. But does any of you follow it? I've known One Piece for a long time now, and I've only recently started following it. Mainly because at first I thought that the lead characters were kinda goofy. But after reading a few chapters I got hooked. Even though the characters may look goofy, their actions were kinda cool. Even the story is somewhat non-standard, since it's the silliness that's makes it interesting. With Characters like Buggy the Clown, Wapol, Don Quixote Doflamingo, etc, you can expect anything from it.

What got me curious into reading one piece is because of an article I've read that it's latest compilation volume hasover 3 million copies printed, making it one of the best selling manga in Japan alone.

In a nutshell, it's about a Pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his crew in search of the treasure of the legendary Gold Rogers, the One Piece. The wacky adventures of the group makes the story interesting, while the drama and action gives the story an intense flow of events. I've only started reading it last week and now I'm up to chapter 371.

[*BananaKing]

Dude where were you when I made this topic ages ago? If you want someone to talk to about one piece let me introduce myself: BananaKing's the name, huge fan of one piece!

How far into are you? Are you up to the recent chapters yet?

[durendal]

Really? Seems like I didn't search hard enough for the old topic.

Anyway, no, I'm not up to date yet with regards to the latest chapters. I'm still in chapter 371, where they are heading to Enies Lobby. (better not post spoilers for fear that some other readers might want to read this). I like the combination of Zoro and Sanji. They're both funny. It'll probably be a few more days before I reach the latest chapters. At the moment, I'm trending a minimum of 20 chapters a day.

[*BananaKing]

What was your reaction to robin's betrayal? I'm not a fan of robin so it wasn't that cool to me, however I do like what...well wait how far into enies lobby are you? Did they reach the island, are they enroute to it, or are they about to leave on the sea train?

[durendal]

Well, let's just say that they're currently in the rocket man. I'm not actually surprised at Robin's decision about the group. I knew something wasn't right when she said and did all those things, which later confirmed my hunch after everything was made clear by Iceburg. I'm surprised that Sanji didn't crack any jokes when Sogeking appeared. The lameness of it is actually what's funny.

I see Ussop to be someone who has a potential to be a good member. Since the other members are freakishly strong, Ussop somewhat balances the groups strenght. I like his inventive skills and I'd like to see how he would work with Franky.

I'm a spoilsport so I read ahead some bits and info about the future, and I'm looking forward to seeing Dragon and Garp. Expessially the Impel Down Arc.

[*BananaKing]

I'd suggest waiting before you go to impel down. There's a major event on the way that paves the way for the real big plot to begin.

But dude, just wait until you get to impel down...from that point on, the series goes straight to EPIC mode

[*Jess♥]

one piece is one of the big major series isn't it?

I believe alongside naruto, bleach and dragonball.

well in that case, I am interested i it, but no, have not watched it or read it or anything.

all i know is that it's got a girl in it. and that pretty much describes 99% of all media entertainment

so... ehm yeah i'll watch it some day, but not while i have got naruto on the go.

[*BananaKing]

I believe its currently #3. Naruto, Bleach, then One Piece. Still the bronze isn't so bad, at least it has a medal!

I mean guyver should have the platinum medal, but we have to wait. Some day the world will see guyver's brilliance. Until then, they have to deal with manga about teenage ninjas, teenage demon hunters, and teenage pirates with superpowers!

[durendal]

In Japan, I think One Piece is number 1 ahead of Bleach and Naruto based on the Oricon Charts. I think the reason why One Piece isn't as popular as Naruto and Bleach in the west was because they butchered the anime. I mean when it reached 4kids, they made massive edits to the anime removing a major chunk of the story.

Well, I'm sticking to the manga. I'm currently in Chapter 400 and the rumble is about to start. Straw Hats versus Cipher Pol 9. What a teary flashback for Nico Robin.

[*BananaKing]

Poor Saul. Make sure you keep the name Sakazuki in the back of your mind, he will appear again. Although he's not a vice admiral anymore just like Aokiji or as you know him VA Kuzan. So I take it the strawhats have gotten on top of the courthouse and Luffy made one of his most epic moments to date...If you're where I think you are then you know pretty darn well just how far Luffy's willing to go to save Robin. He's ready to start a WAR

[durendal]

Yup, and war it is. Stopped at chapter 430 last night. It was a tearful moment yet again, this time for Going Merry.

[*BananaKing]

Viking funeral's are always heart breaking. Who was your favorite CP9 battle? I loved Franky vs Fukurou and of course Zoro vs Kaku. Franky and Zoro may be some of my favorite Straw Hat pirates. As of right now Luffy's been kicking more ass that the entire straw hat crew combined times 5! But you've got to admit, Luffy's gear system is pretty ingenius; makes you wonder how an idiot like luffy managed to create that...unless he just stumbled on it through blind luck...or DESTINY!!!

[durendal]

Well, I practically laughed out loud during the Zoro/Sogeking vs Kaku/Jabura. Specially when Zoro Wielded Sogeking as a sword.

Well, the fights were pretty epic.

[*BananaKing]

Some of the most epic moments in the series happened at Enies Lobby.

I do find the Roushiki techniques to be some of the most interesting move-sets in the whole manga. I thought they were devil fruit powers when 1st saw them in action. I just love Tekkai and Roukogan (sp). You know the ring move that Lucci nearly killed Luffy with. Don't think we're done with CP9, give them a few chapters down the road, they'll come back and be very humorous. I did find Kumadori to be quite annoying though. It was amusing to see him go down so easily to Chopper's Monster Point

[durendal]

There is this one thing that's bothering me, mostly the fault of the translator, is that they keep on using the word "Nakama". If you asked someone who has never heard of manga to read One Piece, do you think he will get the part when most of the crew are saying "because he is my Nakama". WTF? They're already translating Japanese into English why the hell do they leave one single word untranslated? What's the difference between "Nakama" and "Comrade". To be completely honest, I find the scanlations of One Piece to be poorly translated. They need to be reminded that not all english readers understand the cultural standing of Japanese. Not to mention leaving attack names untranslated is a little bit confusing. Like all of Zoro's attacks, they leave it like Nitoryu, Santoryu, Yontoryu, etc, what the hell does that mean? Japanese readers will be able to understand that because the Kanji itself gives the meaning. But if you simply romanized those, they will not understand the significance of the attack. In fact, when I read those attacks, I got confused and have to stare at the page a lot longer to figure out what the hell they are talking about. There is a limit when you decide to stick to using the original Japanese names, but this is just overkill. Tsk tsk tsk. Naruto and Bleach are better translated than One Piece. I guess there is a really big disparity regarding quality when it comes to free stuffs.

If I wasn't so busy with my current load, I'll do those translations myself.

Ok, end gripe.

[*BananaKing]

Well unlike you durendal, I happen to love it when they use the japanese named attacks. It sounds much more epic when luffy says "Gumo Gumo No Giganto Fuuson!" Rather than Rubber Rubber Giant Balloon...

[*Jess♥]

the point is though BK, you already know what it means. and besides, to hear the japanese name of the attack, that's what they put the audio track on there for.

I have the same gripe. I don't tend to memorise names when they are translated once, then the next time it is shown in japanese, I am expected to know what it meant? i don't see why watching a japanese show means i have to learn a list of vocabulary.

even somebody like me, who is already familiar with a lot of japanese terms, some of the things they leave untranslated is just ridiculous.

and the thing about sounding more 'cool'.. I know it's not just you, but seriously.. does anybody actually consider that maybe it's not SUPPOSED to be cool? and that's why it is called that? the japanese are seeing a name that looks a bit silly and humerous. why should westerners not get the same thing?

[*BananaKing]

the thing about sounding more 'cool'.. I know it's not just you,

I don't know why, but I really found this line very funny.

I guess maybe the translators just get lazy? Or perhaps they're trying to make us accept the japanese names for attacks and etc. I mean when I think about my friends I don't think about nakama. When I think of sho and tetsuro, I still don't think nakama...in fact its only in one piece that I think about nakama. Oh well, I like it better than just "friends". IMO, anime has become to heavy on the words friends, and friendship. I know its one of anime's biggest themes, but its a bit annoying. But I really can't complain, the anime shows I come up with are all about friends and friendship...its taking over my mind!

[durendal]

For one thing, Comaradery is more of a cultural thing for the Japanese, not something that you simply put into words. You might say that their usage of "Comrade" is more in line with "Bromance". The non-translation of attack names don't quite bother me like the untranslated "Nakama", which is what really irks me. And the word "Friend" isn't really the direct translation of "Nakama". Like I said, "Nakama" is "Comrade", and to me, I feel that being a comrade has a much more deeper meaning than friend. It's something like "people with the same spirit, goal, ambition etc.", which I think suits their settings.

By the way, I'm already up to chapter 500. The wanted poster of Sanji is already hilarious enough, but on the flying fish story arc, it made it much more hilarous.

[*BananaKing]

So you finished thriller bark then? Oh man wasn't zoro vs kuma EPIC?!

It was one of my favorite moments in all of one piece

[durendal]

Yup, though I don't really consider it a real batle since nobody actually won or lost. But just standing there after that punishment and saying "it's nothing" was really badass. I wonder how many chapters are left before the crew heads to Impel Down.

Also, I get the impression that Brook was a great swordsman, but after Thriller Bark, I'd say Zoro is still the greater swordsman. I wonder if they'll get another crew member.

[*BananaKing]

Well IMO, the Sunny is a part of the crew meeting Luffy's 10 crew requirement. I think you've got at least another 30+ chapters before Impel Down evens starts. And even then it doesn't get too interesting until Luffy tries to escape.

As cool as it was, I didn't like the battle with Gecko Moria too much. The only thing I like about Devil Fruit fights, is seeing luffy get own by the enemy's fruit power. I'd recommend you watch the anime rendition of the fights. More often than not, they extended the fights and give them add in some stuff that the manga fights need. Ex: When luffy is fighting moria in Oz's freezing chamber, the battle pretty much ends when Luffy stamps Moria's ass. But in the anime, they fight for another few minutes after that. Its mostly just Moria sending his brick bats at Luffy, but it feels like it had more substance than the manga fight.

As for the Zoro vs Kuma encounter, I just wasn't expecting Kuma to be a cyborg. The scene where he grabs luffy and zoro slashes him with his Lion Song, was perfect. Even though their battle was a bit short, even if Zoro was at full strength, the battle wouldn't be that much different. Kuma may be one of if not the toughest Shichibukai (or if you prefer warlord) to defeat. The only man who may be able to beat him is Mihawk. Kuma has the ultimate defense and it was very cool to see how Zoro stacked up against another warlord. Although, I still want to see Luffy fight Doflamingo. Sorry for the spoilers but

no, doflamingo doesn't seem to have any interest in luffy aside from laughing at him as he seems to do to everyone...

[durendal]

Well, I didn't get to read One Piece for one whole week, but now that I'm back from a business trip, I'm already up to date with the latest chapter. Damn, Impel Down rocks, not to mention funny. And all hell broke lose in Marine Headquarters. Looks like wherever Luffy goes that involves Marine establishments, said establishments turns to chaos.

Shanks, now that's one person I didn't expect to see. And I was expecting Dragon to appear. It's very sad about Ace though.

[*BananaKing]

I'm a bit torn on Shanks' appearance. A part of me loves that he's there, but another part can't stand to see him. I can't explain until I see what Shanks does. I did find it very funny how Kizaru is threatened by Ben Beckmen.

But what about Ivankov and Inazuma?! Is Law leaving them behind? No!!! You can't break up the Impel Down Escape Crew!

[durendal]

Well, whether you like it or not, they have their own destinies. I'm sure Ivankov and Inazuma will return seeing that they are on Dragon's side. You also have to take note of the other straw hat members crew.

Looks like most of the crew are having a hard time, especially Sanji who landed in an island full of women. Would have been paradise if the women didn't look like men. Robin landed on a labour island and seems to be changing the history by joining a rebellion. Chopper seems to be mistaken for food. etc, etc. I sure do hope that these experience would make them stronger. I'm already sure that the journey to Impel down made Luffy so strong that he would be able to match an Admiral if it weren't for his run down condition. Heck, even in that state he managed to wreck havoc on Marine HQ.

Anyway, I'm guessing Shanks appearance had something to do with his audience with Whitebeard in the earlier chapters. Perhaps he's siding with the marines? At the current pace, there is a high chance that the Marines be wiped out, since Dragon has not yet appeared. Or maybe that Shanks knows something that the marines are hiding from everyone else.

I'm guessing with the current state Luffy is in, he'll be getting more emotionally crushed with what Shanks will be doing. I don't know, the silliness of this title makes it totally unpredictable.