Kinsey
luffy defeats arlong with his usual absurd antics. Zolo and Nami beat up the weird rat marine captain Nezumi.
Luffy's first bounty! Started at an unprecedented 30 Million berries. and they arrive in Roguetown.
Hawk-Eye goes to see Shanks!!!
I love Zoro's sword buying adventures. He meets Tashigi and chooses a cursed blade on purpose....
Alvida and Buggy return and try to kill Luffy. Smoker is revealed in all his smoky hotness. Then that super mysterious lightening (that we all know where it came from) bolt saves Luffy....
So many characters introduced. Nami gets sick and they arrive at Chopper's island.
Such a great opening.
Nami asks for help and Luffy is unleashed! Zoro's epic fight with Hatchi while on deaths door. Classic Usopp taunting his enemy and promptly running away, ultimately defeating Choo. Sanji defeats Kuroobi.
Dragon makes his grand mysterious lightening bolt entrance. Smoker is smokin hot and soundly defeats Luffy.
Laboon the Grand Line, and the beggining of Baroque Works
Favorite moments:
Nami stabs her hand to save Usopp!! Honestly that would leave sucha wicked scar.
Classic Luffy moment when they've got eyewitness and Nami confessing he still doesn't believe it and so just takes a nap.
and of course one of my favorite Luffy and Nami moments when she asks him for help and he puts his hat on her. Love it.
Sanji's nickname: Baby Eggplant
Jimbei was again mentioned as one of the seven powerful warlords
Favorite quote about Nami “I once knew a child who faced a life worse tham death and chose to live anyway!!!” - Nojiko
And of course Zoro throwing himself all tied up in the water to call Nami's bluff will always be one of his many best moments.
Friends made: Gin (sorta?)
Enemies defeated: Don Krieg
People introduced: Captain Nezumi, “Saw-Tooth” Arlong, Hachi!!!, Chabo, Nojiko, Genzo. so many.
Usopp!
Friends made: Gaimon keeper of the island, Captain Usopp and his crew Pepper, Carrot and Onion. Kaya? (I mean they met but? I wouldn't say they're friends yet.
Enemies defeated: Buggy (with quite a bit of help from Nami)
Thoughts
1. I've always loved that Luffy knew Usopp's dad.
2. Buggy and Shanks are adorable.
3. Zoro telling the little kids that they ate Usopp is one of his best moments.
Friends made: Chouchou the dog, Boodle mayor of Port Town, Nami?? (by Luffy reckoning definitely.)
Enemies defeated by Luffy: Mohji the Lion Tamer (Buggy's first mate)
Enemies defeated by Zoro: Cabaji the Acrobat (Buggy's second mate)
Thoughts-
1. Lots of badass Zoro traits revealed. His extreme physical strength, pain tolerance, napping off what should be mortal wounds, and deliberately wounding himself to prove how good he is.
2. Luffy hits his friends a lot lol. Cody a bunch in the first volume and the mayor in this one. All for their own good of course.
3. One Piece makes it easy to forget how evil some of the characters were when they're first introduced. Buggy blows up his own crew member for a perceived slight, chokes the old mayor nearly to death (if Luffy hadn't intervened) and more. But I'm so fond of him!
The fight continues. ... and excuse me but I have a very clear memory of Zeff cutting his leg off because it gets stuck while he's trying to save Sanji. Now I learn he cut if off to eat so that Sanji wouldn't starve!?!? Oda....
Ugh the Invisible Pearl character is boring and pathetic. I legit could do without him. Can't even say who really defeated him because it was a little bit of everyone. Luffy, Sanji and Gin.
Gin totally has Sanji beat, but Sanji won out because of their honor.
Classic Zoro moments, making a pose while being incased in wax, almost cutting through his legs in order to keep fighting instead of dying... and of course his flaming onigiri move.
Also, Luffy might of had a haki moment when he easily identifies and defeats Mr. 3 by “instinct”.
Luffy hypnotized!
1. Zoro totally gets duped in this volume multiple times. First by Nami climbing over him on the oil hill and then the Meowban brothers stealing his swords.
2. While Usopp has a lot of understated heroic moments. Covered in blood and taking on enemies. “Eat lead, cats!” lol. And telling his little crew member to take Kaya to safety. Oof.
Enemies defeated: Zoro defeats Siam of the Meowban brothers.
Some highlights:
Luffy declines Sanji's rejection.
Sanji falls in love with Nami.
“Red Shoes” Zeff's badass adventures are hinted at.
Mihawk calling Zoro a bunny before trashing him.
Luffy sticking his tongue out at Mihawk.
Usopp continues to be a hero. Lying bloody and the ground, the risk of death near and only caring about the kids and Kaya escaping. This leads to a great moment when Zoro and Usopp are running after Django, and Zoro throws his sword to cut down a branch that's blocking Usopp's sniper shot that defeats Django. So great.
Assistant Chef Sanji is introduced. Actually I'm always surprised how he's introduced. He just destroys Ironfist emotionally and bloody for disrespecting food and hits on his girl. So like, the majority of his personality. He then feeds pirate Gin from Krieg's crew and Luffy decides to make Sanji his cook.
Enemies defeated: Zoro defeats the Meowban brother Butchie. Usopp defeats Django!! Luffy defeats Klahadore (or “butler” as Luffy calls him). Sanji defeats Lt. Ironfist Fullbody Minister of the Navy.
Friends made: Going Merry! Zolo's old team Yosaku and Johnny the bounty-hunters. And by Luffy standards Sanji, and Chef Zeff.
Zoro and Luffy defeat/kill Baroque Works agents, Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine.
Vivi's identity is revealed! Igaram is apparently killed by Ms. All Sunday (Robin💕)
Luffy and Zoro battle each other over a misunderstanding.
They reach their second island in the Grand Line Little Garden full of dinosaurs and they meet Broggy and Dorry.
I wanted to like the book, but there was some unchallenged anti-semitism that left a bad taste.
It was fine, just didn't go in a way that I found interesting... and was a bit heavy on the romance. The series ended up being a rated R teen fantasy.
Got lots of good notes and thoughts out of it. Had to skim read and only got about halfway through though.
