What a weird month and a bit it’s been. The double two-week breaks with a single chapter in the middle was weirdly discombobulating, making it feel like it’s been longer than it really has since the last chapter. I feel bad for Oda, falling ill right after the research break, when he seemed like he was coming back with a second wind. But we’re back now, and it’s worth the wait for the proper introduction to Elbaph following the arc’s fakeout prologue.

The main thrust of this chapter is the two groups of Strawhats resolving their previous plot threads and converging in one place to get the real story started, but that doesn’t mean Oda doesn’t find time to set up a few mysteries and build up the figures who will influence the story to come. The opening scene introduces Collun (can’t believe the scanlations actually went with Colon for the name; Collun is better, but I would probably have used the classic Japanese L/R switcharoo to make him Coron or something similar) reinforces Shanks’s presence and the weight he carries in this land. I’m glad to see Shanks was hyping up Luffy to Collun – easing some of the cynical theories about whether Shanks really cares about these kids he’s inspiring around the world or if he’s using them in some undefined way – and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of interactions the two will have.

There’s wonderful art and a fantastic sense of worldbuilding whimsy in some of the big moments this week, starting with the ride up the rainbow bridge. The sudden vertical turn makes me think back to the journey to Skypiea, and I can’t wait to see what the full colour manga does with the glowing light of the bridge when it catches up to here in a few years. One Piece is beautiful in black and white, but this is a spread that feels made for colour.

As Luffy’s group reunite, it’s curious to see that Luffy’s talk with Loki ended with a deal. When we last saw them, it seemed like the mention of Shanks had soured the conversation, but now they’ve come to some kind of accord. The fact that Oda is playing it off so secretively makes me think it’s not going to be as simple as just getting the key to free him like he asked before. Loki may have offered an alternative, or Luffy may have changed the terms. Sticking in a pin in this one for later.

Rodo’s unceremonious and unserious dispatch comes well deserved. Probably not the last we’ve seen of him – almost definitely not if the theme of the arc is going to be competing sun god candidates. I don’t think Rodo has the raw charisma to be the Buggy of the Nika lineup though.

And the centerpiece – the thing that makes it all worth the wait – the “welcome to Elbaph” spread. The detail! The scale! The spirit of adventure is very, very much alive in this one. The one analytical angle I can think to take here is a comparison to Rodo’s diorama. Bigstein Castle provides an obvious matching landmark, but nothing else quite matches. The style of the houses doesn’t feel as reflective of the viking-style houses of the real giants, the trunk of Yggdrasil is placed different relative to the castle and the town in the real world, and the diorama has no indication of the gaps and waterfalls down to the underworld layer – save maybe for recreating the bridge. I’d be surprised if anything Nami learned studying the map of the diorama manages to be relevant to the real version here.

A Louis Arnott callback mixes nostalgia with what’s new, as well as providing an ominous warning. How much of the arc are we going to have to get through before we find out why he’d say that? But the real treat here is the hint that the dude who was with Crocus in the cover story could finally be getting revealed! Man I’ve waited a long time for that. And yes, I got my hopes up and got burned once already at the start of Onigashima when the shadows on Izo’s kimono looked like the stripes on the guy’s cloak, but this time it feels a lot more certain. I’m ready to be hurt again.

As good as all this has been, I don’t dare hope for this momentum to continue. There’s at least one more chapter coming, which is great, but then a difficult regiment of Christmas/New Years’ breaks to wade through before the series can settle back into any kind of a normal rhythm. Just bad timing, but we’ve survived it every other year up til now, and we’ll do it again.