#ch 1178

To start with, Lufyf's determination, trust in his crew and glee at fighting are of course all rather characteristic:

The switch from angry to grinning from one panel to the next is also fun. Choose, rubber boy. Are you angry at how your crewmates were treated or looking forward to see Loki fight?

Love Sanji's lil' 'Look who's talking' as well.

People have been connecting Imu's comments here to the Florian Triangle giant shadowy figures, but others have also pointed out that Loki was captured roughly four years before Luffy set sail, so who knows.

Also, Loki's size isn't only a benefit as his next words ('Where did she get to? She's too damn small!') testify. Much harder to hit what you can't see.

And since the next page is so juicy, you get it all.

First, the perspective of the rising shadow-Imu is great. Really nice way of making an entrance visible to the reader (and those noodle-arms are somehow incredibly unsettling).

Next, the small little panels make things happen really fast and the jumping focus from Imu's arms to Lffy to Loki to Imu's eye really concentrates power within Imu.

Finally, we've already seen what Domi Reversi can do and now it seems like Imu's just managed to capture both in a single, monumental panel.

Great storytelling, great paneling. Seven out of five stars.

And it continues!

The first two panels on the next page make it seem like Luffy and Loki might be stopped as the Domi Reversi takes place:

But naah. Not really.They just kick off the tendrils of darkness and start attacking.

Imu's wavy form is also a nice little visual about Imu's wavering power in this moment.

Luffy's haki-coated fists manage to punch through Imu -and yet they survive- but the real deal here is the adorable squirrel-hammer.

Ragnir is just too cute of a blunt instrument.

Loki's shift in perspective is also interesting; until now, he's mainly focused on hunting down those who threaten Elbaph, not caring about consequences or anyone involved, but now he's actively warning Luffy before his attack?

Growth!

Also, Niflheim is rather impressive an attack.

So both Luffy and Loki lose energy if they are in their ultimate form too long?

Seems like the best way to power up Devil Fruits, including the Ope-ope, is to go for a run and work on your cardio a bit.

And going back to my earlier comment abut Loki not giving a shit about who or what he damages in pursuit of his goal I still think it's a bit unfair to pin all the fires which were also started by the invading God's Knights on Loki. He sure didn't make them smaller, but he wasn't the only one.

Scapegoating and prejudice be prejudice and scapegoating.

Also, go Nami, Jimbei and Lilith! Go science and Fishman karate, smother those flames!

No idea why Chopper can punch the Domi Reversi out of them, but Zoro's utter faith (and the giants' subsequent praise) are just too adorable.

Things seem to be winding down! But will it be the lull before the storm, or have they vanquished the threat for real?

And some confusion in the library:

( I hadn't noticed Saul's peg leg before)

The drawing style is rather similar to when Oda draws Kuzan's ice attacks, but Lilith did freeze-dry everything in chapter 1176, so there's that.

The owl who-can-only-make-things-larger seemed a bit too one-dimensional for Oda when Biblo was introduced. Maybe he can shrink things as well?

And as an ominous end, Imu disappears...

(Love Luffy's quest for food. I hope he gets some soon.)

Jumping to Mariejois, I love how Oda's adding nods to the state of the land in the detailing of a ruined castle in the foreground. I really need to reread the latest arcs to refresh my memory about the attacks there, but nice little sublte nod there.

How was it that someone put it? This is like your employees being sent out to do a simple job, something they've done many times before. You have no worries about it really, they are capable.

Suddenly they call you up and go 'Boss, there's a bit of a problem...' and you call in remotely, give them some instructions and try to help them solve the suddenly rather bigger issue.

Then some punks (that seem familiar somehow, where do you know them from) appear from who knows where, completely trash your team and kick you off the vide call.

Great, now you have to go there yourself to solve this unexpected headache. What a life, being the boss.

I really hope someone's keeping an eye on Summers, by the way and that he doesn't manage to put himself back together.

Or that Loki just tramples him again if he does.

True to its title, the chapter was much calmer than the previous few. It's also starting to tie up some loose ends, which usually indicates the end of an arc.

But it still seems too easy? Like with the ending of Egghead, I'm somehow still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Maybe it's the lack of a major powerup or a great moment of insight. Dunno, I think I have to think about it as I reread Egghead and Elbaph.