Chapter 449 - "The Mysterious Four of Thriller Bark"

[Rockschmock]

Corrected translation, almost ready for scanlation, Kokotas! ; D
Chapter 449: "The Mysterious Four of Thriller Bark"

001
Luffy: Shichibukai….!!
Luffy: Gecko Moria!?

Luffy: Is that true, Robin!!
Robin: He's a man of many mysteries....

Franky: What's guy like that doing in a place like this?

Gramps: Well, I dunno but, there are a lot more victims like me that got lost in this forest...
??: ---- (<- can't read that one right now)
Gramps: The fact that you guys were invited here too... I'm positive that Moria has set his eyes on you.

Gramps: We hide in the dark of this remaining forest, afraid of the zombies...
Gramps: frightened to leave into the open sea and be exposed to the sun...!
Gramps: In any case, this body doesn't feel like living anymore... just one more time before I die... I want to walk... under the sunlight...!!!

002
Franky: Is that so...!! That's so heart rending...!!!
Franky: OKAY!! I'm not worried bout my strength!!! Idiots, I'm not crying!!!
Zoro: You're too compassionate! Don't burden yourself so easily
Sanji: Really, gramps!! It's a lady's privilege only to persuade others by tears!!!
Sanji: And you, don't get carried away!!
Franky: .......!!! tear

Luffy: Hey, but
Luffy: We were looking for the perpetrator who steals shadows anyways.
Luffy: If he's after us too, he'll get his ass whooped sooner or later.
Luffy: So while we're at it, we'll save you too, right gramps?!

Gramps: .... th-.... thank you for your kind words...!!
Gramps: I'm regaining hope once more!!!

Zombies: We're begging you!
Zombies: Do your best!
Zombies: Kick Moria's ass!!
Zombies: Sorry I wasn't crying too!

Sanji: You listened all the while, you other victims!!

003
Box: Meanwhile in Hogback's mansion, Usopp's Team:
Hogback: Fos!! Fosfosfos!!

The three: ...........
Hogback: Fooosfosfo....
Everyone: (That's Hogback's laughter...!!)

Hogback: uh....nngh!! Foooosfosfos!!!
Nami: (Huh? That room...)
Hogback: Foooosfosfosfos...!!!
Chopper: (It's the laboratoryyy~~...!! )

Hogback: Fooosfosfosfoooos!!!
Hogback: It's almost finished!! This splendid Mario!! (<- the kanji is dead body, but the reading is "Mario" as in "Marionette")
Hogback: Look at it, Cindry-chan!!
Hogback: This is truly... ART!! The work of a genius!!!

004
Cindry: It would be lovely if it died as soon as it wakes up.
Hogback: What you say!? Cindry-chan!!!
Hogback: Your words and behavior are becoming more and more depressing every time!!
Cindry: I've prepared the dinner
Hogback: Ah......!! Ahh, I see, what's it for tonight?
heart pounding

Cindry: Soup spaghetti.
Hogback: Look look, the soup is pouring down the table!? Cindry-chan!!

Cindry: It would be good if plates completely ceased to exist...
Hogback: Yeah, I understand but why don't you choose a more suitable menu based on that notion!!
Nami: (Cindry-chan's there too....!!)
Nami: (If she really died in an accident, maybe that girl is.... I can't believe it...)

005
Usopp: (What's that thing there on the platform....?)
Hogback: I'm sorry then, no soup for me!!
Cindry: And the soup spaghetti?
Hogback: a... I'll eat it...
Chopper: That's probably a human's dead body...!!
Chopper: According to that complexion he shouldn't be alive anymore

Chopper: It's the same way as with the zombies from the graveyard...
Chopper: And he has a number on him

Nami: He said it was almost done
Nami: there's no doubt about that.

Nami: This now must be
Nami: the method of producing a zombie...!!
Nami: All of this island's zombies were reanimated by Hogback..
Nami: There's no other explanation

Chopper: ..... But
Chopper: medicine is just about saving people from dying.
Chopper: No matter how hard you try to cure a dead body
Chopper: there's no way it can come back to life!

Usopp: Thinking about it and understanding are two different things.
Usopp: If we keep on watching, we might be able to find out about the mystery of the reanimation!

006
Guardian: Yohohohoho!!
Guardian: Good day!!
Guardian: If you've already looked inside, you should also enter!! (<- now I think I almost got it)
The three: !?

Usopp: ....!? "Yohoho"...??

Chopper: B...
Chopper: Brook!?

Nami:.........!!?

The three: Uwaaah!!
Hogback: !!? Who's that!!!

07
(Hey note the background in the Cindry panel! It's Oda's This Panel is Important Background!!)
Hogback: Whuu!!? Why did you come here....!!?

Nami: What!? Wasn't that just Brook!!?
Chopper: But he wasn't a skeleton!! He had flesh and skin on him..
Usopp: ah...
Usopp: GYAHH WE'VE BEEN FOOOUUUND!!!

Hogback: What did you see...?!
Hogback: Didn't I tell you to never peek inside my lab...

Usopp: W.... we didn't see anything!! Especially not the zombie you're making!!
Hogback: ............!!

Hogback: .... well fine then....
Hogback: at this point you probably have figured out some of the secrets...!!
Hogback: But it's already too late
Hogback: In a few minutes the night attack will commence...!!

The three: !!?
Hogback: To be a guest wandering off on this island...it is truely careless.

008
Hogback: (In an instant the "night attack" with the hunt will commence...!!!)
Absalom: Growl....!!!
Absalom: To get buried again...

Absalom: Itching, burning and pain is all in your minds!!
Absalom: You morons are DEAD!!
Absalom: Now wake up!! Soldier Zombies!!

Absalom: No matter how often you fall down
Absalom: You stand up again and attack
Absalom: That's what's making you zombies so scary...!!
Zombie: Ahhhh....
Zombie: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh......

09
Zombies: So tiresome....
Absalom: ROAR!! Stop slacking off!!!

Absalom: Get a grip, zombies!! Tell me who I am!!!
SFX: bwaaah (sound of becoming visible?)
Zombies: You're the leader
Zombies: You're our leader Absalom!!
Zombies: Leader!!
Zombies: Leader!!
Zombies: Leader!!
Zombies: Leader!!

Zombies: .. who likes to peep!!
Zombies: Pervy-Leader
Absalom: .............

Zombies: Pervy-Leader!!
Zombies: Pervsalom!!
Zombies: Peeeeeervo!!
Absalom: SHUT UP!!!

010
Ghosts: horororo (<- I made that recently "wobble wobble" because I have no clue what it's supposed to be)
Ghosts: horohorohoro...

Bear: Ah!

Bear: Ah
Bear: Ah!
Bear: We-we-welcome back!! Lady Perona....... Ladies...
Perona: Yo! Be quiet!! Don't talk, bearsy!!

Perona: What's with that look...
Perona: I really get angry, when you're talking so lowly!!

Perona: If you're not cute
Perona: you don't deserve to work for me!!
Perona: Horohorohoro

011
Underlings: Hurry!! Hurry!!
Underlings: It has begun!! It has begun!!
Underlings: The time of the night attack!

Underlings: It's twelve o clock!!

Underlings: Masteeeer~!!
Underlings: Master Moriaaa~!!
Underlings: It's time to get up!!!

Underling: Nin! Do it!
Underling: Okay!

Underling: Kapow!!

Moria: Fghoh!!?

012+013
Moria: Hmnuah
Underlings: Masteeeer~~!!
Moria: Ma....!!
Moria: Huh?? ......
Moria: oh.....
Moria: Ahhh, I had a nightmare
Underling: Master is the best, eh!!

Underling: Although Moria-sama has slept through
Moria: ..........
Underling: all the the time after our last night attack four days ago.
Underling: The meals for four days are prepared!!

Underling: This time's prey is a tough one!!
Underling: They're that very group that brought down Enies Lobby the other day!!
Underling: They'll certainly be useful to Master Moria!!!

Zorro: It's started to rain pretty much
Franky: Shall we run to the mansion!?

Luffy: Wait a moment!!
Zorro: !
Luffy: ..........

Luffy: On the back of the mansion there's..... a mark!?
Luffy: HUGE!!! What's that thing!?
Luffy: The fog is clearing a bit...
Luffy: what... a flag!?

014
Franky: No....!! It wouldn't be a "sail!"?
Franky: That thing
Luffy: SAIL!?

Gramps: That's right!!
Everyone: You're still here!?
Gramps: It's so huge that I can't comprehend it

Gramps: This...!! Thriller Bark is
Gramps: ----- (can't read)
Gramps: the world's best giant pirate ship!!!

Gramps: The ---- of the mansion is the main mast!
Gramps: That's the place where Gecko Moria is.

015
Absalom: Growl...!!
Absalom: Okay, zombie troops!!
Box: Soldier zombie and General zombie commander
"Graveyard" Absalom
Absalom: the Zombie Generals will finish off the pirates!!!

Absalom: You only corner the ones who
Absalom: are afraid of the undead!!!
All Zombies: UOOOOH!!!!

016
Perona: That's the Midnight chime...we're getting down to business, too!!
Perona: Horohorohoro... they think they could escape from here!!
Box: Animal zombie and Surprise zombie commander
"Ghost Princess" Perona
Perona: Those dumbos!!

Perona: Is everyone prepared!!? Zombies!?

Moria: I see... "Strawhat" Luffy, eh...?
Moria: Let's welcome him...!

017
Moria: This is the realm of ghosts and ghouls...
Moria: "Thriller Bark"
Moria: You going to see
Moria: A NIGHTMARE!!!

Luffy: Okay, shall we go then?!
Luffy: Into the ghost mansion!!!

End for this week

[Kudo29]

hm -.- last chapter i had the first post, this time page 3? ;_;
thx for the shit quality chapter ^^

[Strohhut-Ruffy]

Looks like it's the last Chapter of Volume 46
And I'm sure Moria looks like a giant baby

[fps_anth]

Anyone know when the better quality raws will be released? I can barely read these things (then again, I know not a word of Japanese :P)

[dinty]

@boiga:

Considering Moria has a window pattern covering his gargantuan body, he could very well have a light altering devil fruit that could cause these and allow absalom to have a completely unrelated DF or swim.

Interesting theories, as always, boiga.

It makes sense that in the kingdom of shadows, the person with the ability to control light will be the most powerful and most influential. If Moria supplies Perona and Absalom with some important aspect of their powers, then it's reason enough for them to be loyal to him, and to stay on Thriller Bark. So that solves the "why do they stay there" problem nicely.

I'm kind of shocked that my prediction about the lion (or a lion) being Absalom turned out to be true – my usual Oda prediction success rate is about .0002%!

And about that Frankenstein monster guy: if I'm seeing the scan correctly, he's got a scar just like Zoro's across his chest. If that's so, then I hope there's a joke being set up about it for a future chapter.

[thanks to those responsible for the scans and trans this week]

[Tokoro Ataru]

Something interesting I noticed with the script now out: it seems like Cindry really doesn't like Hogback bringing these zombies to life (even if she may be one of them), just like Chopper thinks that the purpose of a doctor is to help people live instead of bringing people back to life. Perhaps Oda is trying to say something about the nature of life and death in this arc…

[Hiso]

So… time for my comments

Yeeees, Emo-Franky! XD I'd never thought this is going to be a permanent joke... XD
And look on the first panel of page four: Hogback's "Surprise!!"-sign has a shadow on the wall, too! XD Furthermore, on the first panel of page 6: watch Usopp, does he try to climb that door or what?
The mystery of Brooke is... well, still mysterious! The door broke when Usopp, Nami and Chopper.... "entered". So the guardian guy was pushing them inside with force. But, as Nami (or Choppy?) said, the guardian has flesh... oo" It's funny, Oda is keeping the mystery of Mister Guardian Guy up another chapter... :3 So I guess the guardian is going to play a special role.
I like the theory that Absalom's invisibility has some connection to the stolen shadows... when he appears in page 9, it looks like he's standing in the bright sun...
... oh, I bet P/V/Berona is a sadist XD Just look at her poor teddy bear XD I guess these ghosts are part of her soul and she's unable to move when these ghosts left her body... furthermore, it looks like she's sleeping or something before the ghosts enter her body oo And one of the little Zombies looks like a Samurai! ^o^

I REALLY like the repeating panels of the clock! oo

[sabret00the]

@taboo:

this sucks ass. I'm waiting for a better quality, other than this jojo crap.

:rofl: what an incredibly apt comment.

[Onigumo]

I loved that part about Frank "not" crying, then some zombie also states that it wasn't crying as well. I wonder what is going to happen to the zombies when the bad guys are defeated.

The story is moving pretty fast right now, especially compared to Water 7. I think the fights will start in 2-3 chapters. And if that swordsman is Brook, then definitely not joining the Strawhats.

[Iwin Ulose]

Thanks for the script trans. ^_^

The thing I am definitely most curious about is the Guardian with Brooke's laugh…. IS it Brooke?? I definitely can't wait to find out.... Either way, I still bet Zoro is getting that katana of his.

[boiga]

@dinty:

I'm kind of shocked that my prediction about the lion (or a lion) being Absalom turned out to be true – my usual Oda prediction success rate is about .0002%!

Well, your percentage is definitely way above average. Damn mangaka creativity

@Iwin:

The thing I am definitely most curious about is the Guardian with Brooke's laugh…. IS it Brooke?? I definitely can't wait to find out.... Either way, I still bet Zoro is getting that katana of his.

Yeah, the fact that the guardian looks and acts like a fleshy brooke is most certainly odd. His brother, maybe?

[Itzal]

Maybe Brook's wearing an excessive anti-sunlight costume…

DARKMAN SAMURAI!!! I should hope.

[Mavado]

@boiga:

Yeah, the fact that the guardian looks and acts like a fleshy brooke is most certainly odd. His brother, maybe?

Like I mentioned in the spoiler thread, I think it just might be Brook's
flesh, surgically grafted to another skeleton and reanimated.

[kokotas]

lol, thanks for the trans Maxi
Let's hope a useable raw comes out soon ^^

[Deblas]

Geez! Not only is it a really LQ release, its filled with jojohot logos…I could barely enjoy the chapter. What the hell is up with that?

Brook must not be joining now then if he's that ghostly samurai. Can't have two bushidos in the crew can't we?

The match ups will be interesting. There isn't that many villains to go around this time. Whatever it is, it looks like Usopp, Chopper and Nami are out.

[Hiso]

I just remembered a theory someone mentioned here several weeks ago…

What if Brooke is a Doppelgaenger? Doppelgaengers have no shadow and they aren't reflected in a mirror... Brooke explained it with his missing shadow, but maybe he was lying at this point? Because he doesn't wanted to scare his new friends? He was so scared of mirrors because he was afraid that they'll discover his little secret... so he remembered the shadowless zombies and invented a white lie. This also means that the guardian guy is the real Brooke...
If that is true, this could be a nice "sad background" as well. If you ever played Tales of the Abyss, you get what a mean ^^ Being a "wrong, not real copy" of somebody is pretty sad... and that was a topic in many serious mangas as well, Count Cain/God Child for example.

[Taleran]

the Zombies must be the next ones to have Chapter cover arc.

[Reibus]

@Taleran:

the Zombies must be the next ones to have Chapter cover arc.

After whoever of CP9 has there adventure or Water 7

[Croy]

I posted this in the spoiler thread but… it seems that the "guardians" legs are semi transparent. And the darkened shadow areas actually look (to my eyes) like they are skeleton legs. So I am actually think that this is brooke with a fleshy (rubbery) outer shell and it became transparent when shown through the light. This arc has been a slew of references to older horror stories and cartoons that horror related as well. (nightmare before christmas). Since Oda has shown time and time again he is influenced by older american cartoons, we might be seeing some traces of scooby doo with Brookes outfit (if my theory holds up of course).

The shot in question is page 06 on the LQ raw. Top part of course.

[Impel Down]

The whole fucking island is the boat?!!? Absalom is a cat-man?!?! MORIA'S A GIANT?! Snap, great chapter.

[Rai]

@Hiso:

I just remembered a theory someone mentioned here several weeks ago…

What if Brooke is a Doppelgaenger? Doppelgaengers have no shadow and they aren't reflected in a mirror... Brooke explained it with his missing shadow, but maybe he was lying at this point? Because he doesn't wanted to scare his new friends? He was so scared of mirrors because he was afraid that they'll discover his little secret... so he remembered the shadowless zombies and invented a white lie. This also means that the guardian guy is the real Brooke...
If that is true, this could be a nice "sad background" as well. If you ever played Tales of the Abyss, you get what a mean ^^ Being a "wrong, not real copy" of somebody is pretty sad... and that was a topic in many serious mangas as well, Count Cain/God Child for example.

Hmm, but then he won't have any reason to tell the thing about being burned by sun. lol

Darn, I really want a better version, I have an uneasy feeling now.
Thanks for the translation Rockschmock! [got the nick right?]

[Iwin Ulose]

I definitely like the Doppleganger theory. It makes sense and is well thought out… and that's why I don't think that will be the explanation. XD Oda-sama almost always keeps explanations in the manga relatively simple, not with such deep thinking involved.

[Emilio]

I'm pretty sure the guardian can't be Brook. Just because Brook has no shadow (we're sure of this, he can't have hidden it somewhere, well I guess so), and because the guardian HAS a shadow.

Of course these two characters are related each other, but they can't be the same. Nami, Chopper and Usopp have seen his face, they should know the truth !

[Faaip de Oiad]

I think that the "shadows" that they steal somehow give the zombies live. That would explain the guardian, which looks a bit like a zombie too, having brooks laughing. And it would also explain how Hogback manages to bring dead people back to live.
But shadows that reanimate the dead…..????

[Hiso]

Well… I just started to guess with what dramatic climax the next chapter is going to end... XD This is my first "Spoiler-Arc", so I'm still thrilled ^^

Oh, before I totally forget it... PANDAMAN SIGHTING!

And I want to add to this picture… are these Zombies doing the same pose as the Zombies from Michael Jackson's "Thriller"-video...? oô

[Emilio]

@Faaip:

I think that the "shadows" that they steal somehow give the zombies live. That would explain the guardian, which looks a bit like a zombie too, having brooks laughing. And it would also explain how Hogback manages to bring dead people back to live.
But shadows that reanimate the dead…..????

Yeah, that's the idea that came directly to my mind a few chapters ago. Moria steals the shadows (that's a fact, the old graveyard guy is clear), and Hogback uses it to revive the dead.

A part of the souls is kept inside the stolen shadows, that's why the guardian looks like Brook. His body came to life thanks to Brook's shadow. He has a part of his soul.

But how ? How can Hogback possibly use a shadow to revive the dead ? How Moria proceeds to steal a shadow ? Why the shadowless people die under sunlight ?…

[Iwin Ulose]

Haha, it must take a certain talent to spot Pandaman like that with such crap scans! :ninja:

Good job.

[Emilio]

> Absalom's real body
> Weird lion's real body

OK, that's a theory that has been discussed on the 449 spoiler thread.
It is surely true for several reasons : Absalom isn't a Zoan because the only difference he has with a normal human is his face. Lucci in his semi-animal form (for example) has more signs : animal legs, tail, claws…

Then, we have in Thriller Bark two creatures : a human with lion-head (Absalom), and a lion with human-head.
The most intriguing part is that these two creatures have exactly the same scars around the eyes.

It seems an evidence that Absalom is a Hogback's creature, such as the weird lion... Is it the same for Verona ?

EDIT : something else ! The weird lion's number is 69. Frankenstein's guy (Hogback's most recent creature) is number 741.
If Absalom and the weird lion has been created at the same time (that would be logical), so I suppose Absalom is an old creature. Hogback uses him since a long time. So Absalom can have a control over all the zombies because he's older. Of course there's something else to explain this control, but the date of creation must be a reason.

Hogback needs some people to control his zombies. Absalom has been created for that reason, 700 experiences ago.

[Rockschmock]

By the way it's Perona. Not Berona/Verona.

[Itzal]

@Hiso:

I just remembered a theory someone mentioned here several weeks ago…

What if Brooke is a Doppelgaenger?

I like this idea, and it makes sense too. In fact, it makes a dangerously large ammount of sense. This could mean that Brook lied about his devil fruit?

Anyone feel Moria's mugshot in the four-panel split draws similarities to Oogie Boogie? "It's going to be a NIGHTMARE" was said at the end of the Nightmare Before Christmas GBA game by Oogie if I recall, haha.

[Rai]

@Itzal:

I like this idea, and it makes sense too. In fact, it makes a dangerously large ammount of sense. This could mean that Brook lied about his devil fruit?

Eh, did I miss something?
How come he revealing the thing about being burned by sunlight when it's not his case makes sense?
He could just say he didn't want to go/had a mission there/really join them.

[WarcoW]

I am finding it really hard to take anyone apart from Moira seriously. Gimmick villains rather than powerful villains.

[Deblas]

@WarcoW:

I am finding it really hard to take anyone apart from Moira seriously. Gimmick villains rather than powerful villains.

Yeah, aside from Moria, they all look sort of weak. I'm expecting the fights to be over quickly.

[RuNa]

@WarcoW:

I am finding it really hard to take anyone apart from Moira seriously. Gimmick villains rather than powerful villains.

:getlost:, Haven't all the villians been "gimmick villains"?

[Ivotas]

What the smurf is wrong with OP lately? Is that some kind of Bundy Curse or why is that series always the last to have the actual raw coming out? As if these forum problems aren´t enough already.

That said, thanks for sharing the link Emilio

[WanMQ]

I really like how this chapter was structured, especially towards the end with the introduction of the "Big Four," if you like.

One of the strongest points: Some questions were answered (i.e. What does Absalom look like?), but we were left with even more. Oda is truly a master story teller!

I'm so pumped for the next chapter, but I do hope that some better quality scans come out soon!

[King Calamari]

As ass ugly as this raw scan is I remember that time when all we got for a couple of days was an entire chapter composed of low quality camera pics.

[boiga]

@WarcoW:

I am finding it really hard to take anyone apart from Moira seriously. Gimmick villains rather than powerful villains.

I don't know about that. From what we've seen, perona could have an amazing amount of power. If she's really an ectoplasm logia with her ghost form immune to physical attacks then I don't really see how they will be able to beat her.

I'm looking forward to her animal/suprise zombie crew whooping the strawhats while they have their heads between their knees complaining about their own worthlessness thanks to perona's ability. What could be better than a zombie kangaroo smacking around an emo zoro?

Also, while absalom seems like a weakling right now, Doc Hogback is probably going to have some insane doped up flesh golem abilities.

The other thing to look forward to is a mob attack by the bad guys. Absalom and his zombie generals and the surprise/animal zombie crew are going to attack the strawhats in force. Luffy and the crew will be outnumbered against a greater force than the buster call because the zombies can't be k.o'd using normal tactics.

We could see a mosh pit melee craziness if the midnight attack is pulled off correctly.

[AWB]

As crappy as all these logos make the quality, it's better than nothing. And it's good enough for now.

Oh lord. Verona seems to suffer from the same unoriginal design disease that the buster call admirals suffered from.

[Deicide]

WHat really bugs me right now (besides the scan quality) is that next chapter will probably be the end chapter of first "Thriller Bark" Volume. So, we can expect a huge cliffhanger. =]

[dinty]

@boiga:

What could be better than a zombie kangaroo smacking around an emo zoro?

It almost feels like betrayal to say this, but I'll say it anyways:

yes, that would be most amusing.

[Shigan]

Oh god. The quality was so ridiculously bad I couldn't help but laugh. Deleted it pretty much instantly after I'd somehow read through all the pages; I guess I can wait a bit more even though this SLQ was already late itself.

Also, ew @ the obligatory fight predictions in every fucking thread lately.

[Ivotas]

On the topic of Moria - I don´t know if it has been mentioned or not (since I can´t read half of the posts in this thread) but with the twists the past couple of chapters have taken so far it wouldn´t surprise me if Moria turns out to be a giant baby/kid.

Could be some sort of weird psycho kid that set sails to play pirate. I mean it could be like all the creatures at Thriller Bark are his "toys" about whom he doesn´t care if they suffer or not as long as he has his fun. And also giants live up to 300 years. So even if he´s 40 or something like that he might still be a kid.

Would make him an exceptional character among the Shichibukai but hell, why not? As if the WG wouldn´t use some super strong psycho giant kid pirate to intimidate other pirates. Just a thought anyways.

About the Absalom/lion-zombie comparison - Didn´t think of that one, but once I read it here I think that it in fact is what happened. After all they have the facial scars on the very same place. If a better raw comes out I´ll try to switch the snout with the nose and mouth.

[WarcoW]

@boiga:

I don't know about that. From what we've seen, perona could have an amazing amount of power. If she's really an ectoplasm logia with her ghost form immune to physical attacks then I don't really see how they will be able to beat her.

I'm looking forward to her animal/suprise zombie crew whooping the strawhats while they have their heads between their knees complaining about their own worthlessness thanks to perona's ability. What could be better than a zombie kangaroo smacking around an emo zoro?

Also, while absalom seems like a weakling right now, Doc Hogback is probably going to have some insane doped up flesh golem abilities.

@RuNa:

Haven't all the villians been "gimmick villains"?

By gimmick i mean people that are not necessarilly stronger than their opponents, but ones that get their opponent in a state of weakness rather than outright overpowering them. We've had gimmick villains before and we've had powerful villains before. For eg: All DBF villains were gimmick villains. The Alabasta villains were powerfull ones.

Absalom may not necessarily be very strong, but the person will have a tough time facing him because of his invisibility.

Same goes for Perona. Her "Negative" ghosts could play a huge part in her battle.

I don't have anything against it. I just don't find them as the "omg these guys could really fuck the SHs up" kinda guys. Kinda weird considering their a Shichibukai crew and all.

[Kuroneko]

That's a really interesting theory, Ivotas. A villain with childish personality would give him a comedic side, matching with the mini-arc style. Plus his reason for he stealing shadows would be that he is a spoiled brat.

And I kind of agree with Shigan. Those fight predictions are quite annoying.

[onemoment]

No, these guys shouldn't be underestimated. I think they look pretty tough, and clearly have unique abilities.

I had a thought about Moria. Someone said that he "might not be a real giant." Well, what if that's true? Maybe he reallyt does have an ability that permits him to eat or store shadows and grow.

Think of the possibilities if Luffy uses gear 3. Both Luffy and Moria can "deflate" at the same time. We could have a giant fight and midget fight in the same battle!

Of course, part of my reason for this suspicion is, well, I didn't think we'd get to see Luffy use gear 3 on a real giant until Elbaf. But with this happening, what will Elbaf be like I wonder?

[Ivotas]

@Kuroneko:

That's a really interesting theory, Ivotas. A villain with childish personality would give him a comedic side, matching with the mini-arc style. Plus his reason for he stealing shadows would be that he is a spoiled brat.

That´s exactly what I was thinking. Eversince Moria got revealed last chapter I asked myself how can a Shichibukai be surpassed in a mini-arc if he´s the kind of guy Crocodile, Enel or Rucchi. But if it is a spoiled brat then just as you say it could give him a comedic side that would classify him as a villain of mini-arc material. No matter the high of his bounty. If´s he´s not as cunning as the major-arc antagonists we´ve seen so far he can be surpassed quicker then those guys.

And I kind of agree with Shigan. Those fight predictions are quite annoying.

Yeah, I agree with that one too. Just think of the Zoro vs. Moria thread…bleh

[akatsuki_the_devil]

i need some clarifications. Aren't Shichibukai suppose to sail by themselves? Why does Moria have a crew in his huge boat?

i did not feel like starting a new thread.

[Senshi Mizaka]

I knew Dr. Hogback was twisted and all, but who would've thought he was working with Moria. And apparantly Brooke is with him, too. The designs for Absolom and Verona are beyond great. I wonder if I'll like them more once we get to know their characters better?

[Daisuke CP9]

w00t! Thanks, this chapter was great ^^