#ch450

Chapter 450 is when Wano first is name-dropped, and wouldn't actually be seen until chapter 909, eleven real world years later

I'd forgotten that there was more than one overt reference to Thriller in this arc

Luffy, now is not the time

Based only on this epic introduction, I think that Oda had bigger plans for the general zombies before changing his mind later. These guys are too cool to have always be intended to be unceremoniously squished by Oars

It doesn't really get brought up in the manga, but I think it would have been cool if the story acknowledged more of the difference between Ryuma's fighting style as a samurai than as a zombie. Brook's more of a fencer, with his cane sword much more suited for thrusting than a katana is. It would have been neat if that disconnect between body and stolen shadow had contributed to his downfall, but I guess that's what fanfiction is for.

Perhaps it's just me, but I can't stop cracking up at Luffy punching a rug into a wall