#ch232

I want to take a moment to talk about how these characters are framed during this scene. I’ve said before that a good fight scene isn’t just about the fight--it should also incorporate character development, the literal clash of ideals, or something of that nature that serves the overall story in a way that’s more than lol kewl punchy man hits reall good. 

In this case, Bellamy vs Luffy is pretty clearly an ideological fight as much as a physical one. It starts off with Luffy standing so far above Bellamy you can’t even see him. Luffy has the moral high ground, and remember this chapter is what really kick-starts Luffy’s legacy on a world stage. His features are surrounded in mystery because the people of Mocktown don’t really know what this guy is all about yet, and they have no idea what to expect. 

Bellamy obviously doesn’t like being looked down on and quickly brings himself to Luffy’s level.  At this point the fight has already started. Their first clash is of words, Bellamy throwing a metaphorical punch by bringing up their previous encounter.

Then the metaphorical switches to the literal, on-screen action. Bellamy’s springy powers knocks down the tower, and Luffy is forced to lower ground. He has yet to counterattack, and by all appearances Bellamy has the upper hand

But appearances can be deceiving. Bellamy’s attack is flashy and cause a lot of property damage, but Luffy is never in any real danger. He has never been in any real danger, just as his romantic, dreamer idealism has never been threatened by Bellamy’s mean-spirited nihilistic rhetoric.

Remember what I said about Luffy’s legacy starting here? Well, being at ground level puts him right next to the people of Mocktown. He is no longer a distant figure--they’re seeing up close and personal what sort of man he is. His strength, and the strength of his ideals.  

This drunk rando is better at counting zeroes than Luffy. 

I would apologize for putting a picture of a drunk man pissing on your feed, but this is how Oda opens the Luffy punches Bellamy in the face chapter, so I’m not sorry. 

In fact, this entire chapter is framed from Mocktown’s perspective, not Luffy’s. The construction of it is quite frankly brilliant. After selling the emotional hook of the conflict last chapter, Oda pulls back the lens and shows what Luffy looks like from an outsider’s perspective, and it’s kind of terrifying in a way that would make for a really good campfire story. Luffy’s legend as a Supernova starts in Jaya.

Everything that happened in Alabasta was by necessity kept secret. In fact, most of Luffy’s exploits throughout the series have either been done in isolation, distorted by the marines, or on such a small scale no one could really count them as an accomplishment. 

This panel feels like the exact opposite of Zoro looking down at all the bounty hunters at Whiskey Peak