#chapter 1148

Robin, ROBIN, ROBiN, roBIN!!! MVP in this chapter (along with a little help from Scopper Gaban/Gyaban.

I was impatient, so I read spoiler summaries ahead of time (no pics), which is always a bit of a shame, but Oda still let Robin run loose, even though immortals will be immortals.

First, "on ya" Ronya follows one of Gunko's arrows to the abyss over the underworld. BUT, I think she'll fall, and we all know who will catch her.

Gods' Knights want the library burnt, and everything in it, to save Ronya. The library that has all the books from Ohara.

Robin tells Chopper to remain safe in the hair of a prone Saul (beaten by Sommers' barbs). As for herself, she needs to have a piece of him, and Robin is calculated, cool and freaking formidable.

We haven't seen her break a neck for a while, I think (did she break Black Maria's?).

Also, Ripley's joining the fray! Yay. (But they're not incredibly close to Robin's group).

You really don't want to be voicing your suppression of culture, community and culture when Robin's around, cos she's got that

"Clutch" move going on, and I can't wait to see this one animated, so that I get a clearer idea. AND, I'll post the stuff that came before it (cos' it's got Robin in it).

Robin's well aware of the danger she's putting herself into, thanks very much, Jinbei! Then, Somer's regenerates and Robin and her fruit tip him way over a cliff edge, almost into the abyss.

Somers is a full-on skeez, and Nami's actual love for Robin is so goddamn pure or fun or something. Love it! (First panel above).

Robin, looking beautiful, gains Somers' praise and also a thorn or two, including straight through her skull. BUT!

it was all a scam! Clone Robin. Look above at how he pierced her clone though! Straight through the skull and cheek. And, they can't get the bandages off the Strawhats (look at how Brook's banadaged up. How did that happen?)

And Nami's head over heels in love! But who wouldn't be? I guess the panties jokes wear off after some time.

Ronya's about to sacrifice herself, and Nami can't take it (understandable). And Oda is so good with the goddamn pathos:

Poor baby girl (but it will be. Either she'll fall on Loki, or Luffy will somehow catch her).

So this goddamn smiling bastard (Sommers) forces Jarul to set the school on fire (and I think the library as a matter of course), which causes Robin to weep. OMG, Saul too. Ahhh, my heart. And Anje, the teacher/librarian?

Which leaves her so vulnerable. Poor soul. She just got everything back (Law & losing Cora. A certain bitterness when you're an adult. Or a very deep sorrow).

Crown of thorns, indeed, even if not on the head. Sommers is gleeful, batter up! BUT someone knows something about the Gods' Knights which it seems that they might not even know (or which they think no-one else knows)

Any he slices off Sommer's arm, and it doesn't regrow, and then he cuts straight through him. Yay! Sommers knows him too! Can't wait for the story to unfold.

You know, in a series as long as One Piece you really gotta respect how limited Eiichiro Oda has been with saving these iconic pirate tropes as big one-time things. 1148 chapters to have someone walking the plank, our titular character this time Ronja. Who will go on to remind me so much of precious Mocha even if she looks more like a giant Chimney.

But, my friends we must talk about something. Because here I would argue Ronja is serving a very interesting purpose. A concept I loved in Wano and talked about a fair amount with the initial intent of this blog. Remember how we made the argument that because Kiku is a very guarded character who's story will depend on the fact she is very slow to talk about herself, Tama picks up some of the slack by being functionally a way of having Kiku's younger self near her scenes? It's not a surprise we pick the kid who's name starts with the same first syllable of Robin's here, it isn't an accident she makes you think of Water 7 by looking like Chimney. This is the framework we'll use to approach this chapter. I shouldn't have to say how much I love it.

Part one here.

Part three.

Part four.

Short summary here.

Flower Capital: Kin'emon, Momo, Hiyori & Toko, Otsuru, Osome & Chuji, Urashima, Nekomamushi, Hyogoro.

Kibi: Denjiro & the kids.

Kuri: Inuarashi, Shinobu.

Udon: Tama & Komachiyo, Speed, Raizo, Holdem, Who's Who, Minatomo, the kidnapped women.

Udon -> Hakumai: Yamato, Ulti, Page One.

Hakumai: Kawamatsu.

So far, I like seeing Inu and Denjiro as Daimyo, though I really dislike the idea that Momo will inherit the loyalty of all of his father's former retainers.

Having every one of the important roles go to them would feel off. It's essentially nepotism, plus taking away the freedom of choice for them. Marco choosing to fight for Wano was his own, not made because he was bound by responsibility to Whitebeard.

Roger's older crew members didn't help fight to save the son of their former captain, because they are free to choose what they do and what they don't do. I want Oden's former retainers to have that choice to not support Oden's family.

Dino siblings in danger! Who's Who is such a jerk! Tama and Yamato arrived here at a very interesting time. Will they step in?

And Udon seemingly remains without a Daimyo. I'm curious if that has anything to do with Who's Who setting up a base here of all the regions?

Ulti: "If anything happens to Pay-Pay, I'll hunt you to the depths of hell and beat you to death."

Oh my, Who’s Who is having waaaay too much fun with torturing Ulti here. Giant dartboards are not something you see every day. Did he have it built? Or is this something that was lying around in Onigashima for some reason?

Page One in the lower corner is a very funny drawing. Out of context, it looks like he doesn't know how to feel about his head being patted as a sword is right next to him. He and Ulti are wearing new outfits too, which is fun.

Now that some time has passed, I'm wondering about the TamaYama duo, if they'll enter the scene soon? But yeah, Who’s Who is camping out in the woods being a sinister maniac, and that’s his whole plan it seems. Simply insane behavior.

"Can't see through the tears of anger."

Who's Who is really going out of his way to be as cruel as possible. This is brutal to see. I still have to wonder why he didn't just leave Wano at the first opportunity though. Why set up a base and go through all this effort to kidnap or capture and torture people?

“Give back the sword and the girls! Thunder Bagua!”

And there it is, the Thunder Bonkua. It’s nice to see Who’s Who punished for being a big meanie, though Yamato being the one to do it was pretty predictable and underwhelming I’m not gonna lie. We didn't even get Yamato wearing a cloth face covering, as basedkikuenjoyer was hoping for. I thought of disguise names and everything... Makami Mask and Dango Girl.

It could be really neat if Oda is doing a parallel with the fears of the children of Elbaf in the main chapter and Tama on the covers, a child of Wano about to re-encounter someone she is afraid of. To the Hakumai region next.

"Minatomo the carpenter and the girls are freed!"

Woah! Tama really wrecked the place and saved everyone, what a powerful and kind kunoichi in training. At this rate, she will awaken conqueror’s haki soon hehe. Nice of her to let Yamato have the credit of taking out the boss too. Tama is humble as well.

Though yeah, I like seeing her here comforting Minatomo, even though she knows Ulti, a former tormentor, is nearby. She's being very brave. And Yamato being thanked is a sweet moment.

"Pay Pay's still alive!!"

The aftermath of the assault on Who's Who's base and everyone who was captured are safe. It's neat seeing the perspective rotated like this from the prior cover. Are we about to see a big group meeting between the kidnapped people, Tama, Yamato, and Ulti & Pay Pay?

Or is Yamato done here? Content to have freed the kidnap victims, stopped Who's Who from killing Ulti and Page One, and retrieved Yasu's sword, though not willing to make amends with people who supported Kaido's oppression of both Wano and himself. Will we learn who the Daimyo of the region is soon?

Is this how Yamato becomes a Daimyo?

"I'll never forget the debt I owe you!! I'll be your follower for life!!"

OH! Ulti leap! I am a big fan of the expressions of everyone looking on. The various shades of surprised or disgruntled are fun. This is good understated humor. Beyond simply asking to work for the Yam, does this imply that Ulti believes Kaido is not returning?

Has she met with Black Maria/Sasaki, or are those two off her radar entirely? Did they have a falling out that happened sometime after Kaido's defeat though after this cover arc?

"Thanked by Raizo, Daimyo of Udon!"

Very cute ninja hug to start bringing the Udon quest to a conclusion.

It looks as if Who's Who has been de-masked and is being beat up in the background. He deserves it. Ooh, I hope Page One is a ninja fan, and geeks out over Raizo using a jutsu.

I am looking forward to see Hakumai next. With the abundant maple groves, it is a very pretty region.

"Onward to Hakumai, to deliver the an Amigasa hat from Otama to Kawamatsu."

Aww, a sweet parting of ways as the newly formed trio prepare to make their way to Hakumai. I had fun getting to see Tama and Speed taking part in the pilgrimage for this stretch, and her having made a hat as a gift for Kawamatsu is maximum wholesome.

Though Tama only made a hat to be given to Kawamatsu? Hmm? There are two of Oden’s former retainers we have yet to meet on the covers, the aforementioned Kawamatsu, and the stylish Chrysanthemum herself, Okiku.

We know Tama is aware that Kawamatsu is residing in Hakumai, otherwise, she would not have been able to request for Yamato to specifically bring the hat she made to him. Meaning it stands to reason that, if it were the case that Kiku were residing in Hakumai or Ringo after, Tama would have knowledge of that as well, and make a hat for Kiku as well. Yet that doesn’t happen. So what’s up?

It could be that there is nothing more to it, that Tama simply only made a hat for Kawamatsu, though the way this suggests that Tama is not expecting the group to meet Kiku for the remaining parts of the pilgrimage stood out to me as being curious.

If Kiku is not especially fond of hats, Tama could have given something else as a gift for Kiku, though that also does not happen.

We see a defunct weapons factory again, and the dino siblings are giving me early Kin'emon and Denjiro energy.

This pretty much confirms to me that Yamato will be a Daimyo. Ulti and Page One are wearing formal retainer-like outfits. And Oden concluded his pilgrimage with becoming a Daimyo and asking the group to become retainers.

Cover serials by # of chapters:

Decks of the World 48

Caribou & Grand Fleet 46

Miss Goldenweek 43

Hachi 40

Enel 38

Jango & Bege 37

Wano & Cipher Pol 9 & Germa 33

Gedatsu 32

Buggy & Kobymeppo 30

Ace 29

Jinbei 28

Decks of the New World 25

Wapol 23

Straw Hat Separation 16

And how many we've spent in each region:

7 chapters in the Flower Capital + 1 at the start showing Onigashima underwater.

3 in Kibi.

7 in Kuri.

Like, he’s more tied up than anyone else. Sure, that could be Gunko acting out when he refused to be her slave, but he did recognize her name earlier. Brook didn’t say anything this chapter, so he is gagged by the binds.

It can’t be to avoid embarrassment of coming out as a Soul King fan either, cause the others already identified that about her. So what the hell does she not want him to say?

Ulti...you're scaring me. This is way too dignified. Can you like, shout a swear or glomp Pay-Pay a bit so I know it's you? Off we go, on the road again, glad to see such a happy Raizo though sad we're leaving Tama/Speed behind. You too Komachiyo, I see you. Who's a good boy? You're a good boy.

Now that the focus on Elbaf's school & library is being pushed to the forefront lately, the conflict between the Knights' and Harald's views on both institutions are becoming clearer the more I think about them.

The Knights' goal is simple, they want the Giants to shut them down and for the Giants to go back to their warrior ways. Compare that to Orochi planting his followers into the schools of Wano to spread anti-Kozuki propaganda and shutting down any dojos that teach the sword.