Last one going into another long break. Potentially but not definitely the end of volume 109. And I think a shift into the final bit of action for the Egghead Arc. While I’m disappointed to have to go three weeks without, I definitely prefer Oda getting the downtime he needs to carry the story through to its end inn the best way possible. And the phrase “scheduled maintenance” in the announcement makes me think this is going to end up being an annual thing, which at least means it won’t be a surprise in future years.

We do at least get some gorgeous colour pages for a send-off. The classic piratey vibe of the Jump cover has a whole lot of appeal while the colour spread has some gorgeous lighting for Copic work. The transparency on the jellyfish is stunning. There’s cute symbolism in giving Kuma a seahorse shirt, perfect for the series’ most dedicated single dad. Bonney and Vegapunk getting to be included is also a good touch, Always nice when current arc characters get to hang out with the crew on these things. I also really like the One Piece logo down the bottom with the jellyfish top and tentacles around the O.

Mars breaks inside the barrier. I initially thought he’d was rebuffed by the lasers last week, but I should have known he’d be able to use his immortality to power through undaunted. And that makes the situation really bad for the crew.

The apparent lack of concern the Strawhats have for Vegapunk’s broadcast is interesting. I actually had to go back and double check if they even knew it was happening at all. They do, but it still doesn’t really seem to concern them. Escape has become the most important thing, and though I’m sure they’d stand and fight if one of the surviving Vegapunks said it was their greatest dream and the Stella’s dying wish to make sure it goes through, but even they seem to be putting their lives first. It’s actually kind of funny the number of people complaining last week about Oda using the ‘ticking clock’ trope in yet another arc, only for the crew to just outright ignore it and continue with their original plan of escaping. All this plus the escape map to lay out the distances and groups involved paint a picture of how the final stage of the arc is likely to play out.

This is an interesting chapter for Lucci. Obviously a commanding show of strength to stay standing after Zoro’s big hit and then to remain conscious and clear-headed after Jinbei’s subsequent blast, but also to call Kaku his partner and beg for his life to the ultimate authority of the Five Elders. Remember, in Lucci’s eyes ‘gods are not bound by logic’ and ‘it is the natural order for gods to have whatever they desire’ (chapter 907). He also showed an extreme callousness toward any team member he thought wasn’t performing up to par at Water Seven, like the potentially now-dead Nero. To make the request at all, to a man whose desires and whims have complete priority, speaks to a kind of camaraderie I never would have figured he had in him. At some point I’ll have to go back over Water Seven properly and see if there’s anything that can be interpreted differently with this side of him in mind.

Lucci also looks absolutely terrified when Mars appears, but he immediately recognises the Elder even in his monstrous form and doesn’t hesitate to obey. We were told before that anyone below the rank of commodore can’t even meet them, but it wasn’t clear how much of a secret their specific powers were. York’s reaction at the end of the chapter shows that she wasn’t aware of the demon forms, despite the Vegapunks having had audiences with the Elders.

The Haki roar is a cool show of power. I’m looking forward to learning more about the limits of the physical effects of Conqueror’s Haki and how much they can be controlled. I also loved the visual gag of all of Luffy’s stuff blowing off, seeing him stick his scars back on. Amazing comic instincts on that one.

I think one of the big important things to remember for Luffy’s characterisation in this chapter is the way the giants talk both with him and about him to Warcurcy. They say that he looks like the god they’ve heard tales of, but when Warcury asks who Luffy is to them, the only important part is that Luffy is their friend. And we learn concretely that it wasn’t even the Nika appearance that inspired them to come intervene, they just saw that he seemed like he was in trouble in a place they were close enough to. Luffy isn’t the messiah of the giants (at least not yet), just a guy who makes the right friends.

I try not to dwell on spoilers without the full story, but they definitely coloured my perception of this chapter’s baseball bat gag. When I read that Luffy ‘conjures’ a bat, I was extremely worried. I have raged against the perception that Luffy’s new power is literal imagination and that he can magic things into existence or warp reality in any tangible way. I would not want that to be the way the story progresses. Imagine my relief when the outcome is only as absurd as turning a palm tree into a bat with his teeth. I could take or leave the paint and hat. They only interact with Luffy himself and are gone in less than a page, so I can take them as part of the bit. The paint in particular is funny because to leaves the bat looking exactly the same as if it had a layer of Armament Haki (at least as far as Haki is portrayed to the readers). That’s like the one part Luffy could have just manifested through willpower and he finds paint instead.

I expected more emphasis to be placed on Ju Peter’s revival, but he’s just kind of there after the explosion. Do we think the original head reattached to his body, or did he grow a new one? Maybe Oda’s saving that reveal for later, when we go further into what the Elders really are.

As much as I want to see Franky get some action, I think the three vice admirals are setting up a Kuma moment, probably his big finale for the arc, whether it’s a full awakening or death, or taking his daughter and teleporting away. Borsalino seems to be out for good, understandably overwhelmed by his emotional distress. I wonder if there’ll be a tangible difference in the next fight against him, if it happens in a scenario where his heart can truly be in it. And then the robot, with that big, important Joyboy connection promising big things to come. I wonder, if the Strawhats are being characterised as unconcerned with Vegapunk’s broadcast, if the robot will then be the force that makes sure it plays in full. Or is there some kind of twist coming about the broadcast’s source that we haven’t considered yet. Mars asks York about the room Vegapunk is in, as if he thinks the broadcast is actually live. Saturn only said to the other Elders that he thinks Borsalino killed Vegapunk, so they may be operating on the assumption he’s somewhere else, especially if the technology to record and repeat a message via snails is not widespread.

But these are questions for three weeks from now. Meantime, I hope Oda enjoys his rest and processes everything he needs to process about Toriyama and comes back to the series refreshed for the home stretch of the arc.