#ch 1031

Every time Oda has drawn goofy personified weapons/clothing/sideboob in SBS (so far)

Sidenote, I adore these fan designs of Mihawk's swords. justice for Tokaguhi

Are we ready? No we're not.

After last week's chapter and the conflicting emotions everyone had regarding how they felt about it, Oda drops this... this amazing chapter that makes me kind of want to hit him because... well you'll see why.

The chapter this week is called 'Soldier of Science' (this is Sanji's cry for help, SOS.)

We start off immediately with the aftermath of Law and Kid's combined attack from the awakenings, and everyone thinking Big Mom is "finally down" (obviously not)

A stronger Big Mom, is an ever bigger Big Mom... anyways. Their attacks definitely affected her because she clearly states that this is the first time in decades she's felt pain like this (which is insane, and says a lot about that combined attack) but I'm happy Oda gave her a scene like that (especially the first panel of getting up) because a lot of one piece fans often forget just how strong Big Mom really is. They downplay her a lot (as if she doesn't casually go head to head with Kaido)

A panel I especially liked:

"I'll show you what it means to be an emperor."

An interesting point is also Law mentioning not being able to "uncover true history" if he can't take her down - which is further proving the point that Law's ambition isn't to become the Pirate King, but similarly to Robin, uncover history - but Law wants to do it (probably!!) to understand the Will of D.

Before we move on to the crazy parts of this chapter - these three 'numbers' that were shown next to Apoo in the last chapter... look awfully familiar.

(first panel from chapter 1024, and the second one from chapter 1030)

It explains the 'mystery' surrounding them and also their uncanny resemblance... It would be interesting to see what would happen, and also why they're numbers now... It also explains one of their reactions to Yamato popping in, in this chapter:

Okay! Now we get to the completely insane part...

First of all - Sanji. Sanji, and his steadfast morals. Sanji and his 'I-will-never-hit-a-woman-in-my-life". Sanji, and choosing to get beaten up but not raising his hands on a woman ever, something that has stuck to him since we first got introduced to him, something we have never seen him ignore or forget. Yes. That Sanji.

(happens from left to right)

That Sanji. Who lost control over his body and his mind, blacked out and hit this random girl, making her bleed. Oda just,,, loves never letting Sanji breathe. This man has been suffering his entire life, why can't he just rest 😢.

One of my absolute favorite moments in this chapter, is Sanji's monologue about the suit, about his powers, about Germa, and firstly mentioned, about Luffy.

A version of him who could 'easily take down Queen' with the help of the raid suit? He says 'even a beast like this, would be easy to dismember'.

'What kind of person does the pirate king need by his side...?'

'I'm not sure of the answer but...

And then finally, finally, he breaks it.

Because Sanji does not need the suit to be strong, or to defeat Queen. Of course the suit already made his body chance, but him breaking the suit was him trying to break his shackles from Germa - hopefully now he can find a solution to his body, because that hasn't happened yet either (do we have to wait til after the war? I will literally explode)

And of course (of course :)) we can't leave it at that! No! We have to add an element let-me-break-some-more-people's-hearts and have Sanji hold a conversation with Zoro about

you guessed it

Zoro "putting him down" if he can't control himself after the war... So this is the why. The why I WANT TO KINDLY JUST PUNCH ODA HOW MUCH MORE SUFFERING WILL YOU MAKE THIS MAN GO THROUGH?

I am: suffering. You better not die period. You better not suffer. you better not get hurt, actually what should happen is you just being happy, and carefree and just. Why?

We end the chapter off with Hell Memories that we haven't seen in a long time (since Fishman Island?). Also, break next week.

As expected..

And after the fall, the rumbling starts anew.

Of course she wouldn’t stay down.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Big Mom is utterly terrifying.

And this is why you shouldn’t waste food, kids. You never know when a soul-stealing giant hag will request it.

I also like the way the last panel is drawn, with the people whose souls are being stolen being all soul-willowy.

It’s nice to see how she’s starting to give it her all now, respecting the captains as worthy adversaries! Just look at Prometheus and Hera; menacing wraiths in the background, joining in on the fun.

And keep still, my beating heart, at the sight of those two chaos gremlins, deciding to go all out in their search for the future. Law reminds me of Luffy here, echoing his earlier statement of needing to take the emperors down to achieve his goal (of becoming the pirate king), while Kid is just… Kid.

And Yama-o. My fave, my love, my fluffy little fox.

So much like Luffy. “Attack!”, “No, I’m your friend!”, “Sorry, my bad! Toodles!”

Not looking good for Robin and Brook.. to paraphrase a great man, we’ll just have to wait and see.

But the highlight of the chapter. The true bond that is mutual animosity-but-trust-deep-down.

Sanji and Zoro. My poor lost boys, each in their own way.

But their trust in each other! Sure, they might quarrel and almost cause each other to cut Wano to pieces with a cursed blade Sanji, but when it counts, they are there for each other, no questions asked.

Also; cool that Zoro, who can now fight with and against fire, is fighting against the one who can conjure flames. Didn’t notice that before.

But then: sunshine boy. Teatime, chain smoker, swirly-brow, cook. Sanji, darling.

First off — I don’t think Sanji attacked the geisha, as implied. It’s too ingrained in him not to and I wager he’d rather break his own arm than hit a woman, no matter what Germa-shenanigans are taking over his body. It only impacted his body after all; he was free to run away and his thoughts have always been his own.

But it did serve as a nice push over the rejection-edge, helping him solidify his view of himself as a worthy opponent; now he sees his abilities as enough to beat Queen and he doesn’t want (or need) to rely on anyone else.