First off, this is my first post (though I've been visiting for quite a while). I never thought I'd actually join as I prefer to read people's opinions and theories (even the bad ones) rather than post my own. However, this chapter was all kinds of awesome.
Everyone said it, so I should as well….
I'd also like to address my meaningless opinion on a few topics raised in this chapter discussion:
Timeskip- I think when people see timeskip they start thinking Naruto and the 2-3 year skip there, while that may happen one day, don't expect a huge timeskip like that here anytime soon. Oda has a pretty good idea of pacing and if there is a timeskip I don't expect it to be any longer than a few weeks. I don't believe he'll just skip to all the SH's back together. Their reunion may be rushed, but I doubt it'll just be all-of-a-sudden 'hey, glad we're all back!' sort of thing.
Oda has always done a good job at foreshadowing and covering up plotholes, far more than other manga's, he often introduces things that don't get explained till 50-100 chapters later but they do tend to be addressed. This is part of his awesomeness. Part of the reason OP is so interesting is because you're not left with a ton of Naruto-esque gaping plotholes. And you're not usually subjected to Bleach-type prolonging of unnecessary points. Everything is usually clear and concise and eventually wrapped up. The fact we can even debate is due to this fact and because everything is done for a reason.
BB- He's got himself a bunch of new guys now. Keep in mind this is the first stop after ID for them and some of these guys may have come only to kill WB, as plaenty at ID had expressed as much beforehand. I'm not saying they won't all join his crew in the end, but there's a good chance one or two of the Lvl 6 guys may attempt to mutiny or just go their own way. To think such notorious criminals would just follow some guy cause he let them out would be the same as saying Crocodile is gonna follow Luffy for the same reason.
New Nakama- Don't expect Crocodile to join the SH's. I don't think anyone has seriously suggested this as happening (though seeing more of Croc would be all kinds of awesome) so I'm just putting it out there. I do understand people thinking Hancock won't join, and how she wouldn't get along with the crew or what-not, but I kinda think it's going to happen. Plus, I think they're going to get a new female member anyway.
Given the uncertainty of the Shichi right now it's hard to say, but given her infatuation with Luffy she'll want to join him. And her being the Empress of AL is more of the reason she might. Given her turn on the WG she may have to leave AL in order to protect it. But that's just my opinion.
As for Jinbei, I could see this happening too as he highly respected Ace. But we have not been told enough about him yet. Does he have a crew of Loyal Nakama himself to return to, or is he solo like Mihawkm or did he leave his crew prior to defying the WG? Then again, given what Hancock said about the Sunny Pirates, there's a good chance that Jinbei would join Luffy due to Luffy kicking Arlong's ass.
SH crew- As I said before I expect more attention to be paid on just how they reunite. I suspect Dragon and his connections will make a big impact in the story soon and this is how the SH's will be reunited. The events at Loguetown prove he looks after Luffy and the events with Robin's separation story have me believing he'll be making an appearance shortly.
I'll wrap this up with a few Misc. thoughts...
Although he played no real part in these arcs and most of him is still a mystery, after seeing how awesome WB is I am even more anxious to see Shanks. I'm not saying he's at WB level, even as a Yonkou. But, the man managed to go from cabin boy to Yonkou in 20 years. He doesn't seem to have a giant fleet like WB had. No known Devel fruit, no Gigantism, no arm. A one-armed, normal-sized human makes him real interesting to me. As the only power we've seen is his Haki. In a world of freaks with immense size, strength, and powers, you have to be extra bad-ass to get where he is without such things...
Don't be surprised if Buggy ends up with a higher bounty than Luffy after this. They accused him of co-conspiracy for ID and the Roger connection and everything is gonna propel him up there as a danger to WG, deserving or not. I personally find this one of the funnier aspects of this story as I think the unintentional/undeserving anti-hero role suits him perfectly and his hardly ever done well. Watching Buggy's reputation grow in spite of himself is golden IMO.
Don't expect SH's to see the new world until next year. With WB dead, Fishman island is gonna be in complete disarray (he was protecting them), and these events are gonna send all sorts of people to the new world. So we may have a long story arc coming after they get through getting everyone together.
I hope Perona disappears soon after the crew reunites. Her ability could be useful and Usopp could keep her in check, but her character annoys me. It worked in TB, but don't thikn I could tolerate long-term.
That's all for now, this is probably too long-winded as it is...
Once again, awesome Chapter!