One Piece

That doesn't sound like a contrast at all.

Her defeat was very disappointing; probably my third big disappointment with this manga, and again involving a Monster Trio member stealing someone else's fight. It seemed almost un-Oda-like, as though he'd run out of ideas for her and needed to dispose of her as fast as possible, logic be damned. I'd expect that sort of thing from Kubo (well, pre-TYBW Kubo anyway) but not Oda.

Wait, how does that contrast with Tim Curry? I mean, we're only talking about them seeming competent. In the end neither one was, but that's not the point.

Agreed.

I disagree on calling it a Kubo move. Oda has pulled stunts like that before. Remember Perona? People have been taken out with spiritual pressure in Bleach before, but those are by definition fights that would have been extremely lopsided to the point of unwinnability anyway.

It's especially strange to me because Nami, who it was established could hurt her, hadn't had a New World fight yet, and is a girl, was right there. Zoro having fights most arcs doesn't bug me, as he is The Lancer, but I think his opponents should at least make sense...

With Perona, though, it a) fit Usopp's fighting style, and b) fit the theme of the arc. And I wasn't talking about "losing to fear" when I called it a Kubo move, I was talking about his seeming tendency to run out of ideas for characters before their role in the plot is done, see also: Yammy.

edited 3rd Feb '13 4:45:15 PM by HamburgerTime

Oh. That also seems like an Oda problem to me in another sense. I don't think he knows what to do with all the Strawhats anymore so they tend to just disappear or run around uselessly most of the time. And those are established characters.

The one thing that could salvage this in my book? If it turned out to be related to whatever Asura is. Monet was overwhelmed by Zoro's "killing intent," and wasn't something similar said about Asura?

Oda just needs to flesh out the Power of Destruction more.

Agreed on the poor handling. I liked what I thought Oda would do, in having an away team. But Franky and Chopper, and Smoker, two scientists and a marine who should have been featured, barely did jack.

Yeah, that thing. IIRC it's been confirmed to not be Haki, so what is it?

edited 3rd Feb '13 4:57:52 PM by HamburgerTime

It was Monet suddenly turning into a little bitch.

No sexism intended.

The contrast I was talking about was of personality. Caesar was very over the top, Monet was more subdued. They were working together towards a like goal, but the way they went about it was different.

After all these years I just realized how thin the attractive female's waistlines are. I can't unsee it.

The waistlines got thin just recently, especially with Nami, where at some points it looks like she could wrap her hand around herself. It's really awkward looking in some scenes in the anime.

Back in the day Nami had decent proportions, especially early on where the sex appeal came purely from her personality, not her boobs and bikini top.

Her waist was pretty ridiculous in Skypiea, I thought.

The thin waists have been around since Arlong, and they were much worst during the Jaya-Skypiea era than they are now.

I never thought it was too notable at least, just typical anime attire. Then post-time skip, it was like... ughh.

Hey guys, remember back when Nami had rather little sex appeal stabbed into her, and where she could frequently exhibit emotions other than anger?

Yeah, I do. Of course, she can still do the latter, but I agree that the former is a bit annoying.

I'm not the biggest Nami fan, but I think she has softened considerably. Her flanderization is not nearly as bad as, say, Sanji's. Or Choppers.

I do have to say that I get empathy back aches for the women in One Piece. Once boobs get to a certain size, I can't possibly see how it can be considered attractive. Although, that's more a beef I have with manga in general, not just One Piece.

I still love the chapter 691 spread◊. Also, I get the feeling Oda loves Andre The Giant; in addition to the Whitebeard Pirate based on him there are two Marines who look like him, one of whom is a literal giant.

Yeah, it's pretty cool I have to say.

I think it really tells you that they all have their own story, most of which we will almost certainly never see.

Now I'm imagining Tsuru being the Nami to Garp's Luffy and Sengoku's Zoro.