BOOK 178
One Piece Wano 94-95-96 by Eiichiro Oda.
Now, I’m onto the second omnibus volume of the Wano arc for One Piece. But how would it fare? Let’s find out…
The Strawhats and their allies are struggling to make any headway against the forces arrayed against them. Meanwhile, Big Mom and Kaidou meet, and agree to make their own alliance, for now. But these events are affected by shockwaves from the present and the past, where the influence of Kouzuki Oden holds sway to this day…
Once more, one thing against One Piece is its surreal humour, not helped by this arc seeming to want to cram so much into so little time. Indeed, much of the pacing is made wonky by much of this volume being taken up by the story of Oden’s life. This holds up the main story somewhat, and I feel more than a little could have been trimmed from it.
Yet in the end, this volume does make up for it in revealing some much-needed information that gives context to the modern setting of the story. Oden’s story explains much about how he came to be revered, and how Orochi and Kaidou took over, and Sengoku’s explanation of the Rocks pirates also shows how things came to be with certain pirates. The fight scenes and characters are entertaining enough, when there isn’t too many of them.
Overall, this volume of One Piece, while flawed, was still enjoyable. Here’s hoping the next volume keeps it up…
****½
One Piece Wano 94-95-96 by Eiichiro Oda.
Now, I’m onto the second omnibus volume of the Wano arc for One Piece. But how would it fare? Let’s find out…
The Strawhats and their allies are struggling to make any headway against the forces arrayed against them. Meanwhile, Big Mom and Kaidou meet, and agree to make their own alliance, for now. But these events are affected by shockwaves from the present and the past, where the influence of Kouzuki Oden holds sway to this day…
Once more, one thing against One Piece is its surreal humour, not helped by this arc seeming to want to cram so much into so little time. Indeed, much of the pacing is made wonky by much of this volume being taken up by the story of Oden’s life. This holds up the main story somewhat, and I feel more than a little could have been trimmed from it.
Yet in the end, this volume does make up for it in revealing some much-needed information that gives context to the modern setting of the story. Oden’s story explains much about how he came to be revered, and how Orochi and Kaidou took over, and Sengoku’s explanation of the Rocks pirates also shows how things came to be with certain pirates. The fight scenes and characters are entertaining enough, when there isn’t too many of them.
Overall, this volume of One Piece, while flawed, was still enjoyable. Here’s hoping the next volume keeps it up…
****½
