Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life
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Well Bonney doesn’t look so happy after seeing Kuma’s happy birthday message.
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Some people still refuse to see there's a connection between Kuma and Amazon Lily, just because Oda has been hiding his reasons. He sent almost every Straw Hat to a location he personally knew. Why would be Luffy an exception?
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This chapter sets up Kuma's resurrection. I'm sure Vegapunk's "neural switch" was installed (just not tested). With that and the memories now safely stored in Bonney, Kuma can return. Why can't Vegapunk do it? Because of the kill switch, which will probably be our big obstacle ahead.
Also, copying instead of losing memories make sense. Vegapunk defined Kuma's ability as making neural transmission tangible. Pain is transient, it eventually goes away anyway. But memories remain. This also allows the memories to be extracted from Bonney without hurting her mind.
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This chapter shows are the words Bonney remembered at the end of Ch 1094!
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Something still up in the air is why the government allowed Kuma to guard the Sunny for two years. I guess it's part of the reason he was made into a slave after. Not using the kill switch then could be Saturn's way of revenge, or because he had plans for Kuma...
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It's interesting that the flashback seem to end in the prior day, rather than returning to Saturn holding Bonney. This could allow the return to the present to actually cover another scene first. Next chapter, it could start showing the events in Labophase in the previous day. Or what's happening in Labophase in the present. Or it could cut to the Blackbeard ship, or to another island entirely. This ending to the flashback allows for that kind of cutaway.
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I think the structure of Ch 1103 will be similar to the return after Oden's flashback: first, a terrible revelation that twists the knife of tragedy (then, it was Kanjuro's reveal, now I think it will be Kuma arriving, just to reveal he was under Saturn's control all the time), followed by a "Hell yeah!" fist-pumping cliffhanger (then, it was the "At sea, you fight with pirates". Now, I expect the cavalry arriving).
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Kuma telling VP that Luffy was Dragon's son because he would find it out anyways when he went through his memories is very interesting, because it shows Kuma couldn't handpick which memories he wanted to share and which he wanted to keep private.
This brings two things into consideration: first, Kuma and VP thought it was a good idea to keep for indefinite time a record of the RA most sensible information and secrets (a bit outdated, but still) on what is a World Government basis and could be accessed by anyone who merely touched it. Really lucky Bonney got there before Borsalino or Lucci.
Second: would this mean Bonney had to go through the lonely moments of a teenager Kuma?
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
- Some people still refuse to see there's a connection between Kuma and Amazon Lily, just because Oda has been hiding his reasons. He sent almost every Straw Hat to a location he personally knew. Why would be Luffy an exception?
Well, maybe Oda is trying to subvert expectations once again.
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Kuma was able to guard the Sunny both because the admirals and whatnot were tied up with other matters (not to mention picking new admirals at all in that timespan must've been a slow process), and because there must have been meddling from either Sentomaru or Vegapunk, possibly even Kizaru himself for all we know - although it's unlikely because he'd give Kuma no special treatment, just like VP at Egghead.
Sentomaru was on duty at Sabaody all that time, yeah? I'm sure Vegapunk entrusted him with the task of feigning to send a ton of resources and manpower into taking down Kuma, but actually didn't do much, and only led the government to believe that his case was being taken care of.
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@Gear-4-Sauce said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
Kuma was able to guard the Sunny both because the admirals and whatnot were tied up with other matters (not to mention picking new admirals at all in that timespan must've been a slow process), and because there must have been meddling from either Sentomaru or Vegapunk, possibly even Kizaru himself for all we know - although it's unlikely because he'd give Kuma no special treatment, just like VP at Egghead.
Sentomaru was on duty at Sabaody all that time, yeah? I'm sure Vegapunk entrusted him with the task of feigning to send a ton of resources and manpower into taking down Kuma, but actually didn't do much, and only led the government to believe that his case was being taken care of.
Interesting point, that Sakazuki presumably never visited Sabaody to take the Sunny from Kuma because of how low-priority it was to him, even though he could have damaged him like how we saw him do when Kuma climbed the Red Line.
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I always thought the 2 years being so "quiet" for the most part were just an excuse to have nobody reach the One Piece while Luffy and his crew were tied up in training, but when you think about it, a lot of things actually happened
- the BB Pirates and WB Pirates kept each other busy (although not for 2 whole years because BB and crew ran into Kuzan halfway through), so no need for the marines to waste resources when either side could take the other down
- then, once BB himself became a whole Emperor, it shook the world and of course the navy had to be extra vigilant with the threat he could pose, as well as that of Kaido, Big Mom and Dragon who were still wild cards.
- Akainu spent 10 days fighting Kuzan, and probably had to recover from his wounds after this. That means Sengoku had to scramble with the chain of command with only Kizaru by his side. Meanwhile they spent a while finding Issho, Aramaki, Gion, and other contenders to replace Akainu and Aokiji.
- the five elders could've commissioned a warlord to handle Kuma but that's a silly idea because none of them would care lol. Hancock, Doffy, Law, Buggy etc. would just go "yeah sure buddy" and hang up the phone.
- moving Navy HQ from Marineford to "new Marineford"(?) must've taken a lot of manpower and resources too.
I'm sure I forget a few things, but yeah. As Jinbei explained it to Luffy at the end of FMI, the world moved and changed a ton while the rookies were busy training or scheming (Law), and the navy in particular had to pick its battles while reforming its ranks and looking out for chaotic threats. At least they DID send marines against Kuma regardless, and considering the state in which Kuma was after 2 years when Franky found him, those soldiers were efficient to some degree and it's a good thing the Straw Hats didn't take longer to come back. Any longer and he'd have been taken down/run out of stamina(?)/the government would've become serious and sent Ryokugyu to capture him, like he did with Weevil.
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@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
Well, maybe Oda is trying to subvert expectations once again.
Let's be clear: at this point, a connection between Kuma and Amazon Lily is the safest bet possible. There's no way Kuma would send Luffy to a place he had no connection at all.
Now, what that connection could be is anyone's guess. It could be something simple or deep. We just don't know, and the longer Oda keeps that secret the more important the revelation will be.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
Well, maybe Oda is trying to subvert expectations once again.
Let's be clear: at this point, a connection between Kuma and Amazon Lily is the safest bet possible. There's no way Kuma would send Luffy to a place he had no connection at all.
Now, what that connection could be is anyone's guess. It could be something simple or deep. We just don't know, and the longer Oda keeps that secret the more important the revelation will be.
Because his co-warlord Hancock lives there, so he did know about it? Not sure why you think it's anything significant.
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@FelRes Being co-Warlord does not fit as a reason. Would Kuma send Luffy to Doflamingo because he's a fellow Warlord?
Kuma sent everyone to a location they knew they'd be more or less safe and able to improve themselves. We've seen him visiting seven out of the nine locations, only Brook's and Luffy's haven't been shown. In the places that were dangerous, Kuma made friends like Heracles or the Torino people.
Luffy's location is in the Calm Belt, in a hostile nation where he's a criminal for being a man, and ruled by a Warlord that the world sees as man-hating and unreasonable.
For Amazon Lily to have been chosen, there must be a reason beyond "Hancock is a fellow Warlord". Hancock never went to any Warlord meetings, Jinbe saw her for the first time in Impel Down, and he had been a Warlord for 9 years when he lost his title, while Kuma was a Warlord for only 2 years.
So, whatever reason motivated Kuma to choose that destination, it must be damn important because it's the son of his conrade and his own perceived "world savior" that he sent there.
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So i suppose Kuma should be arriving soon to meet his ultimate end. I have no doubt he will be restored to a certain degree because of course he will. What i'm not sure about is if the purpose of that will be so he can have a dignified final farewell... Or for him to continue on like that... I hope it's the former. The latter just seems tasteless to me.
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Oh shoot it's been a long time since a chapter has moved me to tears!
I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter because of the way it tied everything together cohesively since so many years ago, it's the level of payoff I love about One Piece.
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@danie said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
So i suppose Kuma should be arriving soon to meet his ultimate end. I have no doubt he will be restored to a certain degree because of course he will. What i'm not sure about is if the purpose of that will be so he can have a dignified final farewell... Or for him to continue on like that... I hope it's the former. The latter just seems tasteless to me.
Considering cases like Hiriluk, Ace, Pedro, and Yasuie, maybe Kuma is being set up for something similar, depending on how Oda wants Bonney's story to play out from here.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's life:
- I think the structure of Ch 1103 will be similar to the return after Oden's flashback: first, a terrible revelation that twists the knife of tragedy (then, it was Kanjuro's reveal, now I think it will be Kuma arriving, just to reveal he was under Saturn's control all the time), followed by a "Hell yeah!" fist-pumping cliffhanger (then, it was the "At sea, you fight with pirates". Now, I expect the cavalry arriving).
If Saturn is controlling Kuma, then it's the dumbest possible twist because it only ended in a bunch of Marines getting pawned, Mary Geoise getting even more obliterated and a crippled Kuma courtesy of Akainu.
Way to go, Dr. Garcia. Couldn't asked for a more competent minister of science and defense.
(Never mind that Kuma completely ignored the Revolutionaries trying to stop him, but was hostile to the WG people trying the same. It's very clear he has some degree of consciousness back)
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@King-Cannon The Revolutionaries just tried to plead Kuma to stop, they didn't attack him. Kuma only attacked the marines and knights because they were in the way of his mission. As Sakazuki said, he was trying to go somewhere. Had they ignored him, he'd go on his way without any damage.
Besides, you talk as if Saturn were present to stop him or even cared for soldiers' lives. The command he gave Kuma must be way older, since he must be in Kuma's presence to issue orders. Saturn couldn't possible know that week's later Kuma would return exactly as he would be away from Mary Geoise.
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Since Saturn is a scientist, I wonder if he has enhanced himself like Queen. Being an awakened DF user and having enhancements on top of that would be crazy.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@King-Cannon The Revolutionaries just tried to plead Kuma to stop, they didn't attack him. Kuma only attacked the marines and knights because they were in the way of his mission. As Sakazuki said, he was trying to go somewhere. Had they ignored him, he'd go on his way without any damage.
Besides, you talk as if Saturn were present to stop him or even cared for soldiers' lives. The command he gave Kuma must be way older, since he must be in Kuma's presence to issue orders. Saturn couldn't possible know that week's later Kuma would return exactly as he would be away from Mary Geoise.
It's still a very unlikely twist, especially since most characters already believe Kuma is following some sort of WG directive despite his weird behavior, so that's already the default expectation.
This chapter just provided the obvious answer really. Kuma somehow activated his neural switch and is heading to Egghead for his own reasons. The whole Saturn called for Kuma doesn't really make much sense since he was expecting Kizaru and or Lucci to have assassinated the Punks by now.
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This unseasonably cold and wet Christmas morning, Oda gifts us with yet another heartbreaker of a flashback chapter to close out the year, but also a promise of a return to the present, and maybe some clues about what will happen when we get there. It's a more relaxed easing into the present than I'd expected - I've been predicting for weeks there'd be one last secret tragedy as a stinger to close things out, and maybe the self-destruct switch would qualify, but maybe I should just be happy that Kuma isn't being made to suffer more.
We pick up where the last chapter left off with Bonney on her adventure. I have to say, this is the most I've liked her character up to this point. She's never been unlikable, but the spirit of getting out there and adventuring and seeing the world while hunting for her lost dad really comes through now that we have the full story. The childlike quality of her ideas of piracy and ways of compromising them echoes Luffy's own energy. She feels like the main character of her own story here, one with enough substance that it'd be enjoyable even removed from the wider context of One Piece. The vibe of her crew is infectious, and I'm happy to see them living their best lives out in the world. Uh, hope those guys are alright after the encounters with Blackbeard and Sakazuki before the timeskip...
I'm looking forward to paying more attention to Bonney with also info on hand on my next reread.
There was a theory I read a few chapters ago that suggested Bonney's bounty shot up to Supernova levels because of the need to get her back to control Kuma. This chapter instead suggests a misconception that her crew targets children and the elderly because of her power. Which is funny, but far less interesting. I think I would have liked this more if we'd learned is much sooner. Like in her original introduction she's talked up as a ruthless attacker of the vulnerable, and it leads toward the first reveal of her Devil Fruit and the joke lands that way. Maybe an idea for The One Piece, right? That's just going to be my go to for anything that might have worked better with earlier setup now. It's fine though. We can even still assume that control of Kuma remained a factor for the World Government behind the scenes while also satisfying all the bad PR she has for leaving injured children and old people in her wake.
The bits with Luffy, Dragon, Smoker, Ace and Jinbei are partly fanservice, but they do also serve to keep the timeline in check. They're synchronising moments. The translation of Sabo's line in the scans indicated that Dragon was going to Loguetown alone, which would have killed the theory that Sabo had been spotted in the crowd there (pictured below), but the official release makes it ambiguous enough that Sabo might have gone. To be honest I was never big on that theory, even if it would make things more interconnected and foreshadowed. I figure seeing Luffy that close, particularly his apparent execution, would have triggered Sabo's memories returning.
I'm a little disappointed that the return to the Thriller Bark doesn't give us anything new about Kuma's actual intentions should Luffy's allies have failed what now know to obviously have been a test. Seriously, was the plan to zip him off to Dragon, or just let him go and tell him he needs to find better friends, or given the previous scene with Vegapunk, would it just said to Kuma that Luffy didn't really have the Nika qualities he'd thought.
But that brings me to something I do like about the montage of Kuma learning about Luffy's life in the chapter. The rubber power is acknowledged, but only as a footnote. Even having seen a power that matches the myth, Nika can only be assumed to be a myth. Luffy's actions - declaring war on the World Government, earning the loyalty of the Thriller Bark victims, assaulting the unjust rulers of the world to save a single enslaved friend - are what make him stand out to Kuma. And while I'm sure we'll see something specific to Luffy, such as the D, the voice of all things, or yes, the fruit, become important to the plot eventually, but it's good that Oda is laying a foundation now that Luffy acts like Nika just by being himself, regardless of whatever other ways he's been made into the legendary figure by the narrative.
The next scene gives us two possible paths for things playing out in the present. The first is Kuma's self-destruct mechanism. Given that I've already put money down on Kuma's death, my immediate thought about this development is that it will be used to fight Saturn in a tragic heroic sacrifice. How ironic for Saturn to be destroyed by the mechanism he insisted Vegapunk install.
(But why wasn't it activated sooner, like when Kuma was rescued by the Revolutionaries, to keep them from reverse engineering his tech, or when he was rampaging in Marie Geoise? You have to assume there's a limited number of remotes for the thing, since the Celestial Dragons who've been using him can't be trusted with their impulses, and/or a limited range on the activation symbol.)
But the other curious thing is Vegapunk suggsting a personality switch. Which is odd, considering how impossible a reversion was said to be in previous chapters. And if Saturn really could detect it so reliably and keep it from being installed, why mention it in the first place? This feels like Oda giving himself an out - a way to save Kuma at the last moment just by saying 'oh, Vegapunk found a way to conceal it after all.' Which would be lame. The only way I'll accept this thing's use in the present is in tandem with the self-destruct so Kuma can go out as himself, and maybe exchange some words with Saturn on the way out.
And it's especially weird when you put it next to the revelation that viewing Kuma's extracted memories will consume them, taking off the board popular theories that Kuma would be restored by passing the bubble on to him. In one chapter, Kuma is twice doomed, once saved. Anyone's guess which way Oda will take it in the present.
The final sequence is the cherry on top of a fantastic One Piece flashback, one that will certainly be remembered as one of Oda's best. The life affirming message rings true to the broader themes of the series, bringing to mind scenes like Tom and Ace's deaths. Even the lab assistants are moved (oof, didn't Saturn order these guys' escape ship sunk? That's rougher knowing they were all on team Kuma all along), as the montage of Kuma's life and loved ones proves Vegapunk correct in calling Kuma a hero. And even in his final moments Kuma thinks first of his daughter. Beautiful stuff.
This is also very strongly framed like a death scene. It's not hard evidence, but I'm taking it as half a point toward Kuma's mind being unrecoverable and/or his destruction assured in the present.
And the flashback really does seem to be over. Never in the series' past have we cut from black panel gutters at the end of one chapter to the normal white ones in the first page of the next one. There's always a transitional page within the chapter, be it at the start or at the end. (At least for the full, multi-chapter flashbacks, I think one of the small, segmented Zou ones went straight from black to white over a chapter break.) I'm not sure where the fade to grey on the last page here leaves us. It's not quite the present, but with only a day left to cover, I can't imagine there being anything else worth showing. Maybe Bonney's view of the offscreen battle with York? A shorthand version only, though.
Either way, it's been a hell of a year for One Piece, and with Egghead's momentum going into its climax, I think the next one could be even better.
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@Captain-M said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
The only way I'll accept this thing's use in the present is in tandem with the self-destruct so Kuma can go out as himself, and maybe exchange some words with Saturn on the way out.
Considering what happened with Hiriluk, Ace, Pedro, and Yasuie, somehow I don't think it's an explosion that will take Saturn down.
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@electricmastro that's fair, maybe not the full takedown, but it has to be instrumental in the crew either beating him or escaping him one way or another.
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@Captain-M said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@electricmastro that's fair, maybe not the full takedown, but it has to be instrumental in the crew either beating him or escaping him one way or another.
I imagine Bonney will play a role in Saturn's defeat.
Oda has done this before, having Luffy befriend a victim of the main villain, increasing the personal stakes, and that friend helping Luffy defeat the villain:
Vivi and Crocodile
Law and Doflamingo
Momo and Kaido
So if Bonney is the Vivi of this arc, then we can expect Luffy and Bonney to be working together quite a bit from here on out.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
- This chapter sets up Kuma's resurrection. I'm sure Vegapunk's "neural switch" was installed (just not tested). With that and the memories now safely stored in Bonney, Kuma can return. Why can't Vegapunk do it? Because of the kill switch, which will probably be our big obstacle ahead.
Ohh, that's a way better interpretation than I had when I read the chapter: I thought that by absorbing the memories of her father, Bonney destroyed the last remaining essence of Kuma, thus being the one who ended up "killing" him.
But that would be too depressing. I hope it turns out as you said.
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@triangular_maze said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
- This chapter sets up Kuma's resurrection. I'm sure Vegapunk's "neural switch" was installed (just not tested). With that and the memories now safely stored in Bonney, Kuma can return. Why can't Vegapunk do it? Because of the kill switch, which will probably be our big obstacle ahead.
Ohh, that's a way better interpretation than I had when I read the chapter: I thought that by absorbing the memories of her father, Bonney destroyed the last remaining essence of Kuma, thus being the one who ended up "killing" him.
But that would be too depressing. I hope it turns out as you said.
I honestly don't think that giving Bonney and Kuma an ending like Kyros and Rebecca's ending at Dressrosa would be the more interesting way to go after everything that has been said.
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@electricmastro Law landed some good hits on Doflamingo, but Vivi and Momo didn't do a whole lot more than stall their respective villains for a handful of moments. It's possible we're already seeing Bonney in that kind of role, having stabbed Saturn while Luffy is recovering from his fight with Borsalino. She only lasted a moment, but a moment is long enough, especially when we're sure Kuma is going to teleport in any minute to buy more time.
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@triangular_maze I think that's what Oda wants readers to conclude Kuma can't be saved, but at the same time is setting up a surprising happy ending.
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The biggest reason I don't see Kuma being saved is that Bonney already has everything she needs to inherit his will, including literal memories.
Kuma for all intents and purposes is happy with how everything turned out for him in the end. He doesn't regret his decisions, he has put his faith on Luffy to change the world and he is glad Bonney became a strong pirate.
He is however at least owed the reward of talking to her as himself one last time.
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Excellent chapter in so many ways, really like how Kuma's flashback was tied up, and how it lands on basically every level: World exposition, emotions and a powerful throughline to what Kuma considers to be the future: Luffy and Bonney.
Also not sure where the idea that there's more to Amazon Lily and Kuma is coming from? It's an infamous island with well-known powerful warriors that are known for their Haki usage.
Strikes me as wishcasting if I'm entirely honest.
@King-Cannon said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
The biggest reason I don't see Kuma being saved is that Bonney already has everything she needs to inherit his will, including literal memories.
Kuma for all intents and purposes is happy with how everything turned out for him in the end. He doesn't regret his decisions, he has put his faith on Luffy to change the world and he is glad Bonney became a strong pirate.
He is however at least owed the reward of talking to her as himself one last time.
I think there's a lot of foreshadowing moments in the past few chapters that support this idea.
We will likely see Kuma sacrificing himself for one last time, and he will get the chance of seeing Nika for himself.
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@Captain-M said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@electricmastro Law landed some good hits on Doflamingo, but Vivi and Momo didn't do a whole lot more than stall their respective villains for a handful of moments. It's possible we're already seeing Bonney in that kind of role, having stabbed Saturn while Luffy is recovering from his fight with Borsalino. She only lasted a moment, but a moment is long enough, especially when we're sure Kuma is going to teleport in any minute to buy more time.
Only thing I can think of is that Bonney does the drumbeat dance and that somehow wakes Luffy up again.
Then again, maybe Oda wouldn't go for something ridiculous like that.
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@Captain-M said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@electricmastro Law landed some good hits on Doflamingo, but Vivi and Momo didn't do a whole lot more than stall their respective villains for a handful of moments. It's possible we're already seeing Bonney in that kind of role, having stabbed Saturn while Luffy is recovering from his fight with Borsalino. She only lasted a moment, but a moment is long enough, especially when we're sure Kuma is going to teleport in any minute to buy more time.
Only thing I can think of is that Bonney does the drumbeat dance and that somehow wakes Luffy up again.
Then again, maybe Oda wouldn't go for something ridiculous like that.
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@Rean said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
Excellent chapter in so many ways, really like how Kuma's flashback was tied up, and how it lands on basically every level: World exposition, emotions and a powerful throughline to what Kuma considers to be the future: Luffy and Bonney.
Also not sure where the idea that there's more to Amazon Lily and Kuma is coming from? It's an infamous island with well-known powerful warriors that are known for their Haki usage.
Kuma might have understood how much Hancock stands up to the Government, like how Luffy stood up to the Government at Enies Lobby, so this might have been enough for him to figure they'd ally with each other so that the Amazons would teach him Haki.
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@Rean said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
Also not sure where the idea that there's more to Amazon Lily and Kuma is coming from? It's an infamous island with well-known powerful warriors that are known for their Haki usage.
It mostly comes from Deicide trying to tie absolutely everything to Hancock, let's be fair. But in this particular case, I think it makes perfect sense.
If Oda had shown Kuma going to the place Luffy was sent to, and people were arguing that implied he also had connections with the place Franky was sent to, it could be a stretch.
But in this case it's the other way around: Oda made sure to show Kuma visiting the places the less important characters were sent to, so it's kind of too naive to believe the most important character (be from the meta, the plot or Kuma's own POV) was sent to a random place.It makes no sense to believe that Kuma would send the most important person to a hostile kingdom that would try to kill him on sight. Them knowing Haki is no good reason, since there should be a ton of more reliable choices he could pick.
I mean, Luffy didn't even learn any Haki from them, so why would that be Kuma's reasoning in the first place?Both Amazon Lily and Hancock's own reputation would vouch against them, and yet Kuma trusted the absolutely most important people to their care.
As I see, assuming there is an uknown connection there should be the most logical assumption instead of denying the possibility. -
Just read the official. It got me again.
So much of what we all theorized about Kuma helping the crew was indeed true but the true motivations work so well. As I stated in the spoiler section, I was pretty cool to neutral about the whole thing. The only thing I didn’t like was the yucko exposition the 5-Elders gave right before it really began to happen. But with Kuma’s beliefs, him not necessarily believing Luffy is Nika but that Luffy’s exploits moved him to action is so good! Any reasonable person within the story would very well see the same thing. Just think of Jimbei talking with his Sun Pirates, he spoke a very similar faith based on Luffy’s actions.
The payoff to these long standing questions about Kuma’s motives is handled so well and it’s so very satisfying. And for me personally it integrates Nika into the story in very worthwhile and seamless way. The integration of Nika into Kuma’s back story feels like it was planned right from the get go. Be it so or ain’t it not, doesn’t matter, the result is smooth in my book.
Also due to the timeline of events it’s like hey, the story basically acknowledges that the first part of the Straw Hat journey was accomplished in less than a year.
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@access-timeco Yes, thanks, that's it.
My personal bias aside, people should be questioning why Oda made Kuma send Luffy to Amazon Lily because, well, this is an arc about Kuma and this is a story about Luffy.
Asking why the first sent the second to a such a dangerous place without any knowledge about it or any connection to justify it is not just me trying to give importance to Hancock. It's an answer that is important to the story.
Kuma wouldn't gamble with Luffy's life. That's not in his nature. Leaving things to fate is something Blackbeard would do, not Kuma.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@access-timeco Yes, thanks, that's it.
My personal bias aside, people should be questioning why Oda made Kuma send Luffy to Amazon Lily because, well, this is an arc about Kuma and this is a story about Luffy.
Asking why the first sent the second to a such a dangerous place without any knowledge about it or any connection to justify it is not just me trying to give importance to Hancock. It's an answer that is important to the story.
Kuma wouldn't gamble with Luffy's life. That's not in his nature. Leaving things to fate is something Blackbeard would do, not Kuma.
And yet he gambled with Brook's life in leaving him to be confronted by a bunch of satan worshipers and long arms looking to make a quick buck. lol
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@RomanceDawn said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
Just read the official. It got me again.
So much of what we all theorized about Kuma helping the crew was indeed true but the true motivations work so well. As I stated in the spoiler section, I was pretty cool to neutral about the whole thing. The only thing I didn’t like was the yucko exposition the 5-Elders gave right before it really began to happen. But with Kuma’s beliefs, him not necessarily believing Luffy is Nika but that Luffy’s exploits moved him to action is so good! Any reasonable person within the story would very well see the same thing. Just think of Jimbei talking with his Sun Pirates, he spoke a very similar faith based on Luffy’s actions.
The payoff to these long standing questions about Kuma’s motives is handled so well and it’s so very satisfying. And for me personally it integrates Nika into the story in very worthwhile and seamless way. The integration of Nika into Kuma’s back story feels like it was planned right from the get go. Be it so or ain’t it not, doesn’t matter, the result is smooth in my book.
Also due to the timeline of events it’s like hey, the story basically acknowledges that the first part of the Straw Hat journey was accomplished in less than a year.
And all this makes me wonder if Kuma is meant to stay around and see all this play out.
To me, he spoke less like Jinbe and spoke more "prophetic" in a manner that reminded me of Ace or Pedro, also counting on Luffy to accomplish something and believe he'd do it, despite not being around to see it come true.
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@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
And yet he gambled with Brook's life in leaving him to be confronted by a bunch of satan worshipers and long arms looking to make a quick buck. lol
We don't know what Kuma's idea for Brook was, especially since Brook was kidnapped and moved to somewhere else.
However, Kuma did not gamble with Brook's life. Brook not only was worshiped by the satanists as a demon, he was able to defeat the long-arms and save the kidnapped people without trouble.
It was Brook's own fault for being kidnapped later because he decided to trust and release the long-arms out of pity. That led Brook to his imprisonment, and it's something Kuma couldn't possibly account for.
All this is completely different from Luffy, who was left stranded in the Calm Belt in hostile territory governed by a man-hating Warlord of the Sea. Unless Kuma had any special knowledge to make that decision, it wouldn't be different from sending Luffy to Doflamingo or Kaido, except in those cases it would be easier for Luffy to escape the island on his own.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
All this is completely different from Luffy, who was left stranded in the Calm Belt in hostile territory governed by a man-hating Warlord of the Sea. Unless Kuma had any special knowledge to make that decision, it wouldn't be different from sending Luffy to Doflamingo or Kaido, except in those cases it would be easier for Luffy to escape the island on his own.
Maybe Kuma figured Luffy would sooner or later ally with Hancock on the basis of a mutual hatred for the Celestial Dragons + Luffy's knack for being able to ally with people like Dragon.
Hancock isn't exactly one to be quiet about voicing dislike against the World Government, and likely voiced more intense dislike for the Celestial Dragons. She seems like one who'd keep her past a secret, but not her hatred.
Kaido doesn't seem to give a crap about the Celestial Dragons at all and while Doflamingo felt betrayed by them, Kuma might have figured he was too viciously/sleazy to work with in the first place + Doflamingo usually residing in the New World in the first place, whereas Amazon Lily is in the Grand Line.
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@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
Hancock isn't exactly one to be quiet about voicing dislike against the World Government, and likely voiced more intense dislike for the Celestial Dragons. She seems like one who'd keep her past a secret, but not her hatred.
Hancock isn't quiet about voicing dislike... to who? To who she's voicing it?
She's the most isolated Warlord. Her reputation is pretty bad. Whatever hatred she may voice against the Government, she also voices against men. Jinbe was a Warlord for 7 years before Kuma and knew practically nothing about her. She didn't socialize, she didn't show up, she gives no interviews, she has no allies outside of her tribe except Rayleigh. Her reputation, as per Rayleigh in Ch 591, is "considering how much Hancock hates men and the government, no one will suspect her of sneaking a man onto a government vessel".
So, what connects Kuma to her? How could he know sending Luffy to her was a good idea at all?
@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
Kaido doesn't seem to give a crap about the Celestial Dragons at all and while Doflamingo felt betrayed by them, Kuma might have figured he was too viciously/sleazy to work with in the first place + Doflamingo usually residing in the New World in the first place, whereas Amazon Lily is in the Grand Line.
Notice how all your answers require knowledge about the person in question. So why would Kuma send Luffy to Hancock without any particular knowledge about her? Her reputation around the world is not good.
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@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
Notice how all your answers require knowledge about the person in question. So why would Kuma send Luffy to Hancock without any particular knowledge about her? Her reputation around the world is not good.
And yet that still didn't stop him from sending Luffy to her island.
So in any case, her and the Amazons being proficient Haki users must have been enough.
And if that's still not a good guess, then I give up. I don't have a good guess then.
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This post is deleted!
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@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
And yet that still didn't stop him from sending Luffy to her island.
You completely miss the point and insist on going around and around and not answering the issue.
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One question about Kuma remains for me.
Why was he now attacking Maryjoa, was this an extra build in condition by Vegapunk just like him protecting the Thousand Sunny? -
@Deicide said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@electricmastro said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
And yet that still didn't stop him from sending Luffy to her island.
You completely miss the point and insist on going around and around and not answering the issue.
Well Deicide, I’m sorry to hear that.
I’m sorry if I constantly keep coming off like I’m failing to give any actual answers you so strongly desire, and respond to people like me in that sort of matter of fact manner.
If I’m so very much mishandling the discussion is such a way that I “completely miss the point”, and that I keep going “around and around”, then I suppose I’ll try breaking out of the loop then.
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@Don-Quichotte-De-Flamingo said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
One question about Kuma remains for me.
Why was he now attacking Maryjoa, was this an extra build in condition by Vegapunk just like him protecting the Thousand Sunny?It’s prob not attacking Maryjoa, since he poofed out of there. If his order was really to attack Maryjoa, then his programming would have made him stay there.
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@Don-Quichotte-De-Flamingo My take is that he just passed throught there in way to his objective and the guards happened to try and stop him, so he defended himself. If they just let him pass by, no damage would have occurred.
Now, if he's acting on his own or just following someone's orders, it's anyone's guess. (He does look very robotic in his actions, thought...)
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@electricmastro
When he was able to poof out of there, the question remains why even go their in the first place.
He might not have attacked it, but he caused havoc for a reason.@Deicide
Just passing by to cause some havoc and getting all eyes on him.
Otherwise he could have climed the redline somewhere else or even went around Maryjoa once on top of it.For me it looks like a calculated act to get some attention. (that´s why he soon stopped and continued his journey)
Maybe something along the line, when my memory bubble is touched, i will bring attention to myself and (most likely) go to the place my bubble bursted.
Vegapunk had this in mind as a last favour, because so Bonney might get her last chance of seeing him even as a mindless cyborg, but after knowing the whole truth.
I can even imagine him building in a secret reverse option in Kuma seeing Bonney or even JoyBoy to gain back his conciousness. -
@Don-Quichotte-De-Flamingo said in Chapter 1102: Kuma's Life:
@electricmastro
When he was able to poof out of there, the question remains why even go their in the first place.I mean, even the Straw Hat bubbles physically had to travel to other locations. They didn't hit the Red Line, but Kuma did, and I guess he couldn't poof up, so he had to manually climb.
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Finally read the full chapter - I think my favorite parts were Kuma being in awe over Luffy punching Charloss (furthering his idea that he's the embodiment of Nika) but just the panels of him running and having all of his loved ones call out to him.
He's had one of the most interesting pasts in the whole story and I do think he's not going to walk out of this...well, alive, be it in the most literal sense or just in the sense of being a mindless machine or not.
But be it explosion or pain bomb or what have you, I do hope he'll at least die with a smile.....seeing the legend his father instilled in him stay alive, and be assured that his daughter won't be alone.