Ryuma 'the King' Dragonslayer

Welkin

Now I did some searching through the spoiler topic and the main topic and did not find anything on this, so I hope noone said it before:

Here is a quote from the spoiler translation:

Hogback: He's a General zombie who has a special kind of flesh!!! He is a man who came from the "Wano Country" in the New World!!!
Hogback: Believe or not….!! A long time ago, he was known as a legendary samurai who killed a dragon, and his story is still passed down to this day !!!

In the forth story in Oda's short story collection Wanted! entitled Monsters, a swordsman known as Ryuma slays a dragon near the end of the story.

Not only does he fit the description Hogback gave, but he is physically similar to the zombie (has the same hairstyle and similar though less fancy clothes).

I think this character could potentially be one of Oda's other characters being brought back to life in One Piece, since someone brought back post death as a Zombie really has no effect on the original story line.

Now, hope this wasn't said before. I thought this deserved its own thread because it's a large resemblance, and does not really fit into the foreshadowing thread (it's a different story) or the theory thread (it's not really a theory? well maybe). Tell me what you think those who have read Wanted!

game2005

Hate to break your bubble, but this was mention several times in the spoiler and current chapter topic. Still thanks for telling, even though quite a few people knew it already.

Welkin

Arg, hate it cause there are 15+ pages most of it nonsense. We should have 2 chapter discussion threads, one for talking about the chapter, and one for everyone else.

Guess we can leave this thread up as a post for everyone who haven't seen it in that thread, or a mod can delete it.

ascalon

Leave it up, crap. I didn't even know this until i saw this thread. You guys get a bit trigger happy with the thread locking. Can anyone link tho that specific short story pic?

Admiral Wolfpox

Very happy to see this. Don't lock it. At least not until more people have seen it. Nobody can be expected to read the main thread for 3 hours and wade through all of that for something good.

Archtyrant

hey is there a link to that short story?

sybelius

I think that Kefi released some time ago all of Oda's short stories he did published in a book named "Wanted", you should find it on their site www.kefi.org

The story with Ryoma is "Monsters", but I could be wrong here..

Rai

Why lock? This thread could very well be a discussion thread for Ryuma.

And yeah, we were all surprised to see the resemblance. I hope Oda will do it again with other characters like he did with Garp and Ryuma.
Just when I thought another "That swordsman is really strong" preview to every swordsman was getting shallow, Oda uses something like this to tell us he's hella strong this time.

Kitanokokoro

@Archtyrant:

hey is there a link to that short story?

Niar posted a download link in the "Wanted!" thread above:
http://www.megaupload.com/de/?d=U4FBMFH5

It includes all the stories in Wanted!, not just "Monsters," which is the story that features Ryuma. The Kefi link has been broken for some time now, unfortunately.

AD-HD Pirate

Please, can you get a zip-version of that?
I'm begging. :D

prutas

The same story featuring Ryuma also featured an early version of Mihawk,
albeit a very evil, greedy two-timing one. Oh, and without the big humongous
black sword.

Impel Down

Well, with Mihawk, he's not like super evil.

Mr. Half

Having read Monsters now, I dunno. They don't really bear too many similarities outside the name and the slaying the dragon. Maybe Ryuma Huu is an impostor!

Welkin

@Mr.:

Having read Monsters now, I dunno. They don't really bear too many similarities outside the name and the slaying the dragon. Maybe Ryuma Huu is an impostor!

And a lot of Oda's characters look similar as well, but what are the chances with all of Oda's published work (or non One Piece published work) for two characters to have the same name, same occupation, do the same notable action, have the same hair style, and have similar clothes.

Granted the last 2 might relate to the 2nd similarity and be less coincidential, but they are similar to a degree and notable because of that.

Archtyrant

Yeah I thought the only difference was that the Ryuma in "Monsters" didn't go "Yohohoho!" or "may I look at your panties?" at every other sentence. And perhaps looked a little less aged.

Thanks for the dl!

Ao Kiji

Thnx for the upload! I finally got to read the rest! Also those excerps by Oda-sensei were rly kewl! He totally almost missed sending in 'Wanted'!
I'm glad OP was the story that got made into a serial too, although the artwork was gorgeous in alot of the others, most of the story concepts were too generic or didn't translate well to a serial.

And is it just me, or did the DeathNote person get the concept from 'God's gift to the future'?!

Greg

There's no doubt that it's something Oda did on purpose to get fans that pay attention to his work excited. As far as it suddenly making Monsters cannon for OP? That I dunno.

Ubiq

@Archtyrant:

Yeah I thought the only difference was that the Ryuma in "Monsters" didn't go "Yohohoho!" or "may I look at your panties?" at every other sentence. And perhaps looked a little less aged.

Thanks for the dl!

Well, he wasn't undead back then either, so that's changed.

He probably passed away well before the series started and his corpse was reanimated by binding Brook's shadow to it somehow.

mujushin

I would also be happy if there was a zip version :p

Archtyrant

Yeahhh and now i'm kinda getting all pumped up for the next few chapters. It's all Oda-sensei's fault!!

Kitanokokoro

@mujushin:

I would also be happy if there was a zip version :p

I tried, mujushin, but because of the graphics I couldn't get the file size any smaller…. The file contains all of "Wanted!", which is just over 200 pages so the size is quite large.

edited to add: I did pull out just the story that contains Ryuma ("Monsters") and uploaded it here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IZUN43AD

Credit goes to Null/Kefi for the scanlation

i think that after zolo owns him, he will give him his sword and /or teach him some moves, liuke the one he used to own nami, chopper, and usopp.

Mr. Half

@Welkin:

And a lot of Oda's characters look similar as well, but what are the chances with all of Oda's published work (or non One Piece published work) for two characters to have the same name, same occupation, do the same notable action, have the same hair style, and have similar clothes.

How likely is it for two samurai-style characters to both be samurai, wear samurai clothes, have samurai-hairstyles and do samurai things? I'd say pretty likely, actually!

I should point out that their clothes don't really look anything alike. They're just both very samurai-y. Same goes for the hair. Some people have just been overzealous in their attempts to paint a connection.

As Greg said, it's probably just a little in-reference for his fans who've read Wanted. It's already clear that Ryuma the King and Ryuma Huu act nothing alike.

prutas

@Ao:

Thnx for the upload! I finally got to read the rest! Also those excerps by Oda-sensei were rly kewl! He totally almost missed sending in 'Wanted'!
I'm glad OP was the story that got made into a serial too, although the artwork was gorgeous in alot of the others, most of the story concepts were too generic or didn't translate well to a serial.

And is it just me, or did the DeathNote person get the concept from 'God's gift to the future'?!

Exactly. When I was reading that story, I immediately thought Death Note was ripping off Oda-sensei. The similarities are uncanny!

Welkin

@Mr.:

How likely is it for two samurai-style characters to both be samurai, wear samurai clothes, have samurai-hairstyles and do samurai things? I'd say pretty likely, actually!

I should point out that their clothes don't really look anything alike. They're just both very samurai-y. Same goes for the hair. Some people have just been overzealous in their attempts to paint a connection.

As Greg said, it's probably just a little in-reference for his fans who've read Wanted. It's already clear that Ryuma the King and Ryuma Huu act nothing alike.

Er, do you read at all?

Let me requote what you quoted out of context…

@Welkin:

And a lot of Oda's characters look similar as well, but what are the chances with all of Oda's published work (or non One Piece published work) for two characters to have the same name, same occupation, do the same notable action, have the same hair style, and have similar clothes.

Granted the last 2 might relate to the 2nd similarity and be less coincidential, but they are similar to a degree and notable because of that.

Do you see that extra sentence at the end? I basically said EXACTLY what you said even before you even said it… How scary.

I said, the last 2 similarities I listed (namely the similar hair and clothes) relate to the 2nd similarity (which is his occupation IE being a samurai) and are less coincidential (which if you need me to explain that too, it means that it is "pretty likely" to a relative degree).

Ivotas

I´m actually surprised that nobody so far (neither here nor in the ch. 450 thread) made the assumption that among the other Zombie Generals there might not be more protagonists (or at least antagonists) from Oda´s one shots. Would it now be too predictable and boring if lets say, the gunman turned out to be Gil Bastar?

Ao Kiji

I don't think. Considering a ton of ppl haven't read the one shots. Using his one shots as inspirations for the characters is more fanservice than a plot point, so it's not predictable or boring.

Ivotas

No, what I meant with predictable and boring was if the people here (who now know about those characters) would find it less surprising or less awesome if one of the General Zombies has the exact same connection to Wanted as Ryuma already has. In short words, would people think "boring, we had that last week already"? I know I wouldn´t but since nobody mentioned it I was wondering why.

Mr. Half

@Welkin:

I said, the last 2 similarities I listed (namely the similar hair and clothes) relate to the 2nd similarity (which is his occupation IE being a samurai) and are less coincidential (which if you need me to explain that too, it means that it is "pretty likely" to a relative degree).

And I said that all the similarities are on account of them being rather typical examples of a common character archetype. Thus I was disagreeing with your closing point, that their alleged similarities in the other aspects was notable.

You'll notice in this post I corrected your misunderstanding without coming off as a condescending ass. I think that's an important skill to learn.

@Ivotas:

I´m actually surprised that nobody so far (neither here nor in the ch. 450 thread) made the assumption that among the other Zombie Generals there might not be more protagonists (or at least antagonists) from Oda´s one shots. Would it now be too predictable and boring if lets say, the gunman turned out to be Gil Bastar?

Well… Oda's one-shot characters are pretty bland. Having the gunman be Gil Bastar would only detract from the story, since he'd be replacing a potential colorful One Piece villain with a run-of-the-mill cowboy protagonist.

Senshi Mizaka

I'd actually be interested if all of the General Zombies were an undead "Wanted" reunion. It's very doubtful, but just a thought. Though I'm sure that Oda has some new and unique characters in store for us.

Lazzie

OK, I think that Ryuma isn't Brook, but might be Brook's shadow giving Brook's personality, and abilities to a reanimated zombie. Somehow, Moria and his three lieutenants can steal people's shadows and fix them onto new zombies, and the shadows of strong people are made into zombie generals.
So yeah, that's what I think at the moment. And now that Sanji's missing, I think he's probably been captured and had his shadow stolen as well, so there's a Sanji-zombie running around somewhere. My guess is that Sanji, Zoro, Robin, and Franky all get zombie-fied, and it will be up to Luffy, Nami, Chopper, and Usopp to save the day. That's my current wacky theory and I'm sticking to it.

AWB

Someone in the chapter thread had a theory that Ryuma was once the world's greatest swordsman, until Mihawk beat him. I like that theory.

Mr. Half

@Lazzie:

OK, I think that Ryuma isn't Brook, but might be Brook's shadow giving Brook's personality, and abilities to a reanimated zombie. Somehow, Moria and his three lieutenants can steal people's shadows and fix them onto new zombies, and the shadows of strong people are made into zombie generals.

I dunno, though. The size and appearance of Moria seems to imply that he just absorbs the shadow into himself. My running theory is that Ryuma is Brooke's ancestor.

Ivotas

@Mr.:

Well… Oda's one-shot characters are pretty bland. Having the gunman be Gil Bastar would only detract from the story, since he'd be replacing a potential colorful One Piece villain with a run-of-the-mill cowboy protagonist.

I don´t see why they would be less colorful villains if they turn out to be Wanted protagonists. Ryuma is a Wanted respectively Monsters protagonist and it doesn´t seem as that is going to make him less colorful.

Be aware that here in One Piece they aren´t 100% the same characters as in the one shots. Best example is Luffy. The Romance Dawn within Wanted Luffy is not exactly the same Luffy as our One Piece Luffy. Their backstories are a little different. I don´t see why Oda couldn´t do the same to the other protagonists.

Lieju

This post is deleted!

LoudMouse

Can someone please upload it on sendspace…? PLEASE

Kitanokokoro

"Monsters":
http://www.sendspace.com/file/2x69in
(This is just the one story featuring Ryuma)

"Wanted!"
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1xyzjb

Again…credit goes to NULL/Kefi for the scanlation

AWB

Thank you, Kitanokoro & NULL/Kefi.

Question: with a couple of Wanted! Characters showing up, do you think a significant rise will appear in Wanted!'s sales in Japan?

Kitanokokoro

I could definitely see a rise in sales for "Wanted!", though I don't know how large it would be. I'm curious as to how well "Wanted!" has sold over the past 10 years.

Personally, if I didn't have a copy already (it's right here on my desk!) I'd have one on order.

mujushin

Hmm, Ryuma is probably the mdoel he used for Zoro, right? :p
Sooo, if Ryuma is this the draogonslayer, swordking Ryuma, he might be Zoro´s ancestor XD Tat would be fun :p

Kitanokokoro

@mujushin:

Sooo, if Ryuma is this the draogonslayer, swordking Ryuma, he might be Zoro´s ancestor XD Tat would be fun :p

That could prove to be a tad awkward. It would be entertaining, however. Now the whole "Luke, I am your father" line keeps popping into my head.
Ryuma: "Zoro…I am your great, great, great grandfather..."
Zoro: "NO....."

The first time I saw the cover of "Wanted!" I immediately thought of Zoro when I saw Ryuma's pic. Just change the hair, and you have a spitting image of Zoro. Not to mention I thought the whole onigiri touch was quite humorous.

Impel Down

Okay, 451 made me confused about his abilities as a samurai. So, he cut them all…with the BACK of his sword?

mujushin

Wll, wanted and msonters where before he made one piece, so he had a samurai who looked like Zoro, and he kept that way to the swrodsman and named it Zoro and changed the hair, right? Zoro was frts given to Buggy as a bodyguard, man that is aswesome he didnt go that way and made it this way :p

Hmm, I think Brok is somehow connected with Ryuma, that is why he probably sued the back of his sword?

Mr. Half

@Impel:

Okay, 451 made me confused about his abilities as a samurai. So, he cut them all…with the BACK of his sword?

His ability is based in vibrations. When he hit them all with his sword at that superfast speed, it transfered the vibrations into their body, which is what caused the delayed damage. That's why their bodies sung Yohoho as they all collapsed.

With the recent Sanji development it's now more than possible that Ryuma has Brooke's brain (or elements of Brooke's brain combined with Ryuma's). Sound-based powers make a lot of sense for a musician.

Metalvirus

I am thinking that Ryuma has Brook's shadow. In fact, I believe that in order to make a zombie, you must take a human's shadow and implament them into the dead body. That is why Ryuma has Brook's personality, and the new penguin dog has Sanji's. Sanji's shadow was stolen while he was gone. It also explains why so many people are lost in the triangle, and why there are SO many zombies. In fact, it could also explain why Cindry seems to have a completely different personality than her living self did. The good docter gets Gecko Moria to steal their shadows and allowing him to make him a fleet of zombies.

Edit- Aw man…Turns out someone already made this theory...And I thought I had something unique too. Oh well.

Lazzie

@Lazzie:

OK, I think that Ryuma isn't Brook, but might be Brook's shadow giving Brook's personality, and abilities to a reanimated zombie. Somehow, Moria and his three lieutenants can steal people's shadows and fix them onto new zombies, and the shadows of strong people are made into zombie generals.
So yeah, that's what I think at the moment. And now that Sanji's missing, I think he's probably been captured and had his shadow stolen as well, so there's a Sanji-zombie running around somewhere. My guess is that Sanji, Zoro, Robin, and Franky all get zombie-fied, and it will be up to Luffy, Nami, Chopper, and Usopp to save the day. That's my current wacky theory and I'm sticking to it.

So what does everyone think of my little theory now?

bugiipoppu

@Lazzie:

So what does everyone think of my little theory now?

Total agreement here. But then, I didn't doubt the whole 'shadows give personalities' theory to begin with. Support

Mr. Half

@Lazzie:

So what does everyone think of my little theory now?

But… maybe Brooke makes sense, but you're saying Sanji met up with Moria already? Moria's supposed to be in a completely different castle. Plus, he's mega-supaa huge. Maybe his ability works from a distance, but I'm expecting something else is going on.

Gorlom

i just noticed something… in the oneshot ryuma is right handed... in one piece the zombie samuraj is left handed.

(they carry the blade on oposite sides and pull the sword out with different hands)

though they act the similar by not placeing the sheet back by their hip after using the sword (and the way they then carry it in their hands for a while after.)

is brook left handed, and did this cause the zombie to be lefthanded?
or is ryuma ambidextrious?
or is it a mistake by oda?
or isn't it ryume at all?