smurf: naw, its wouldnt matter, sanji wouldn't kick lola (he didn't kick kokoro and she had the face of a sandpapered walrus)
Man, one thing i gotta say about this chapter, Brooke and his crewmates must have been pretty badass to be able to make it as far as the florian triangle. Granted, evidently not badass enough, but still.
What powers does Brooke have aside from his swordplay? It's pretty lame to have two swordsman on the crew.
Brooke's main power is that he is a skeleton weighing around 20 lbs with the strength of a regular pirate who looked to weigh about 160 (he was tall and skinny in the flashback as well.)
So, because of this disparity between his 20lb weight and regular strength, Brooke can move extraordinarily quickly, can jump amazing heights and resist long falls, and run like the wind. Basically, he's 4 times faster and lighter than a mini flyweight boxer but with the strength of a middleweight. He doesn't really need any special abilities besides that.
This also goes to onemoment's point that brooke and zoro fight too much alike. This couldn't be less true because while zoro is a monstrously strong multiple katana wielding tank, brooke is the epitome of a "finesse" fighter. He's not particularly strong but he can move that thin little rapier of his with astounding precision and dexterity. While zoro uses broad slashing attacks, Brooke parry's and stabs.
The strawhats don't really have an agility based fighter, so Brooke does fill in a relatively empty niche in the crew. He's the guy who will fight Lucky Roux, the fastest man in the world, when they finally get into a conflict with shanks.
This chapter kicked ass IMO.
Counterattack, yay!
@Cyringohn:
Brook is one of those crew members where he doesn't need to fight to prove how incredible he is.
So I take it Brooke is the Darth Maul of One Piece?
I got a question why is ryuma sword so carefully illustrated. I feel that that sword will be in zoros hand. as for two swordsman it really is not a problem b/c zoros dream is to be the best swordsman not the only swordsman on the SH. Brooke DF power gives him other dynamics then just swordplay also his style is more of the of a swashbuckler like shanks where shanks doesnt really define himself as a swordsman but merely a pirate who is proficint in swords use. I think oda will figure out a way for brooke to be in the group and habe his out niche fighting style. maybe the way he beats his zombie wont be from swordplay but his df power.
I got some intersting thought, suppose this would take Oda a full year to finish this arc. Many thing are poping up and it looks like Oda may not finish the arc until November or December. They have to beat up every zombies in there way, they got to get their shadows back, Oz must be brougten down, Jigoro must be defeated, Dogpan must be found, Ryuma must be defeated, They must stop the Absalom/Nami wedding, Hogback Moria and Panora must be taken care of, General Zombies are to be defeated, they have to destroy buildings and the huge mast, all zombies must be purifiyed, Zoro need a new sword, they must recruit Brook, the weak trio needs to shine, they need to get their stuff back. Man, this is gonna be a year-long arc.
And I guess this is why the monster trio needs to wake up, it won't be fun just to have the weak trio getting a chance to shine while the monster trio reminds asleep. I'm pretty sure the weak trio would still get a chance to shine while the monster trio will get thiers. I really like this chapter, I like the last chapter too because we get to see Zoro and Sanji again; I was starting to miss them.
It wouldn't suprise me if the purified all the zombies - except Lola.
Poor ol'Lion face would die. XD
Yeah, I can definitely see Lola sneaking off on a liferaft with an unconscious Absalom. After they get married accidentally, of course.
And I love how Brook even tells jokes in his inner monologue.
–-
It wouldn't suprise me if the purified all the zombies - except Lola.
Poor ol'Lion face would die. XD
The four mysterious are not zombies !
Perfection. Pure and simple.
However, his fighting style still concerns me. Right now, it seems like he is simply a weaker Zoro, as the stance of Brooke seems slightly different. Although, did Sanji's style seem too different from Luffy at first?
Keep in mind he's fighting a skilled swordsman in close quarters.
Thus far he has the following weaknesses:
Afro
Water
Sunlight
No doubt sunlight will be gone before long.
Given Brooke's fantastic speed and nimble abilities, he's as different from a traditional swordsman as Zoro. Basically fighting indoors puts a huge handicap on him and just crossing pathes with a someone that can wield a sword puts in danger one of his weaknesses.
Now in the real world….come one....like anyone cares about an afro even in this case, but it's a comic about BEING A MAN so let's just accept that.
I say win. I was wary of the character at first but his close-ups that OBLITERATE the fourth wall after puns are way too good to be left behind.
Oda is a madman adding the newest member at this juncture. May the Force be with him.
Oh.....and uh....I thiiiiink this might interest a few of you.
Oda's including detailed illustrations and diagrams of Sunny in 46. This makes my year as writing about it will be all that much easier.
Laboon? Laboon?! How long ago did Oda plan that?
One thing bothers me. Laboon now waits for the StrawHats, this was the reason he stopped hurting himself. Also, I think he belived that the Rumba pirates left GL. I may be wrong though.
I pity the foo' who doubted Oda.
This chapter was awesome.
So I take it Brooke is the Darth Maul of One Piece?
You should read Chapter 454
And yes to that!
Hm, it's probably just a fuzz on the image, but it almost looks like the Jolly Roger on the sail of Brook's ship (about page 8, chapter 104) has an Afro.
I'm probably just seeing things, though, because the rest of the skull is shaped differently to Brook's facial structure (it widens out sort of like a bell above the jaw). Plus the fact that there doesn't seem to be a single afro in the crowd of pirates shown in the flashback, but I'm just looking at the MSN group versions of the pictures - if anyone has better versions, is it any clearer, just out of curiousity?
(Also, I'd forgotten how Crocus' head looks even more like a flower when he's younger, heh.)
I pity the foo' who doubted Oda.
This chapter was awesome.
I totally agree with rhis, More and more things are unveiling in ths serie:wub:
Okay, it looks like Brooke doesn't have a chance… but since I got my idea of Brooke using a canesword from another manga, I think I can steal another possible scene for the end of their fight, too:
Maxbe Brooke tricks Ryuuma? Of course, Ryuuma knows nearly everything about Brooke, but Brooke also knows nearly everything about Ryuuma! Perhaps it can end up like this: Brooke is beaten down, Ryuuma laughs and starts drinking tea... and is puryfied. "I cannot defeat you... but I know that I love to drink tea after a battle... and I put some salt in your tea...!"
Hm, I think it's also possible that someone of the strawhats rushes in, tells Brooke about Laboon and Brooke gets new friendship-power~~~. But I don't think Zoro meets Ryuuma... nah, he'll just get lost again and meets Jigorouh who got lost, too and sleeps in a corner.
The best chapter of the arc so far, without a doubt.
I've definitely enjoyed these past few chapters, and I'm really starting to warm up to Brook. It was also real nice tying Laboon into this arc. Just entertaining stuff all 'round.
Best…
One Piece...
Chapter...
EVER...! 
Well, in my oppionion atleast. ^^
I'm probably just seeing things, though, because the rest of the skull is shaped differently to Brook's facial structure (it widens out sort of like a bell above the jaw). Plus the fact that there doesn't seem to be a single afro in the crowd of pirates shown in the flashback, but I'm just looking at the MSN group versions of the pictures - if anyone has better versions, is it any clearer, just out of curiousity?
There's a full picture of it in Blue. It's a cattle-like skull.
The skull is definitely different on the jolly roger of the Rumbar Pirates (Rhumbar, Rhumba, Rumba, etc. I'm not going to decide the name) from the ship Brooke was riding, but he could have changed ships many times.
great chapter overall dont forget luffy promise laboon too.
two weeks till thiller bark part 3.
I found it amazing that even after this chapter, there are still people unconvinced that Brooke will join and also thinking that he will without doubt lose to Ryuma.
Well, symbolically, when a swordsman lets go of his sword, he's pretty much lost the fight, and if you look and the panel of the 2nd to last page, he lets go of his sword after Ryuuma stabs him.
But yeah, like everyone else said, awesome chapter. I kinda guessed that Brooke had some connection to an Island Whale (being that he, Thriller Bark, and Island Whales all come from West Blue), but when I saw the Red Databook's info on Lumba Kaizoku, it threw me off. I guess Oda does incorporate everything. What a brilliant writer.
So yeah, Brooke's position is cemented in the Mugiwara. Having a Gentleman skeleton fencer on the crew will be interesting. Zoro is Iaido/Santoryu, Brooke is a European Fencer. They're two completely different styles. I hope people can understand this.
i think that zorro is going to fight ryuma and win but ryuma will find a weakness in zorro's techniques so zorro will use it later against his own shadow to defeat him.
Or sanji is going to fight zorro's shadow for all the times that they fight on going merry
HOLY SH**! Zoro's last sentence on the last page is just…. WHOA! :blink: So Zoro DOES care about his nakama ^_^
resists strong urge to rant for a few paragraphs about how Zoro has never NOT cared about his nakama
Yeah, between that and the apology that Zoro gave a few pages earlier (for screwing up "because I was too careless"), I'm beginning to wonder if Franky's excessive emotional displays are having an effect on the way Zoro displays emotions now, too. It used to be that he'd go entire arcs without an apology or a "thank you" an open admission of a screw up – but, ever since the crew entered the Florian Triangle, he's done all three -- two in this chapter, and one a few chapters back (when he thanked Franky for Franky's "consideration" in building Mini-Merry).
I like the idea of Brook fighting Jigoro and Zoro fighting Ryuma. If if both defeated their respective foes, then it would build a neat bond between them (they'd both freed each other's shadows). It would also help to establish that two swordsmen can co-exist peacefully among the crew -- and since they have different forms of sword-fighting (Brook's is like fencing), that wouldn't be redundant either.
lol, Sanji sucks. He doesn't even care about Brooke, he's just focusing on Nami.
I disagree – it's actually a good thing that he's not focusing on Brook, because most of the others are, so Brook's safety will be covered by them. Someone's got to worry about Nami too! -- she's in as much danger as Brook is, and possibly more, since she appears to be unconscious (or at least unable to fight back).
And remember, Sanji seems to be the crewmate who feels most threatened by Brook. He wouldn't have "bared his fangs" at Brook so often if he didn't feel threatened by the skeleton. When he first came on board Sunny, Brook was muscling in on Sanji's territory (flirting with the ladies, ordering Sanji around at the dinner table, etc) so Sanji probably still has mixed feelings about the skeleton at this point, and may not even want to save him (knowing that if Brook were saved, he'd join the crew). Whereas Sanji's feelings for his beloved Nami-swan are … well, let's put it this way: his feelings for Nami override his ability to think of anything else when she is in danger.
Luffy crying about the food being stolen.
That part cracked me up too. Especially when he was moaning about how cheese just wouldn't do. NO! NO! IT MUST BE MEAT! etc… Since I'm a cheese fanatic, the reverse would be true for me: if someone stole all the cheese from my fridge and only left meat.
Great chapter.
[Thanks to everyone who provided scans and trans!]
"Over-thinking,
over-analyzing …"
......-- Tool (from Lateralus)
Here's something I don't understand. How come Robin doesn't know Laboon? Although it's remotely possible he was sleeping at the time, pretty much anyone that came from the Blues within the last 50 years would have encountered him, unless they were a Marine ship and came through the calm belt.
I called it wrong, so long ago. I guess this needs to be changed.
@Fire Fist:
Here's something I don't understand. How come Robin doesn't know Laboon? Although it's remotely possible he was sleeping at the time, pretty much anyone that came from the Blues within the last 50 years would have encountered him, unless they were a Marine ship and came through the calm belt.
She could have hitchhiked with the marines, although doubtful. More than likely Laboon was sleeping and underwater, I don't think he's always in that position.
She may have seen the whale, but she didn't know the name just by sseing him. I bet Luffy was the only one crazy enough not to sail past the whale guarding the entrance as any other must've done - so he was the first one to get to know the old man living in the whale who told him the name and why Laboon was there.
She may have seen the whale, but she didn't know the name just by sseing him. I bet Luffy was the only one crazy enough not to sail past the whale guarding the entrance as any other must've done - so he was the first one to get to know the old man living in the whale who told him the name and why Laboon was there.
Sense that does make.
was ohara a westblue island? or a grand line one?
Edit: polygon: hes saying noone else talked to the old man and thus never learned about the whale.
2nd edit: ah i read not in there somewhere so i thought you were disagreeing with him yoda style… (damnit i hate yoda)
What the…? Holy smurf am I slow! Until this statement of yours I never even realized that an octopus is actually serving octopusballs. Talk about not seeing the forest because of too many trees. facepalm
Laboon & Brook ftw
I found it amazing that even after this chapter, there are still people unconvinced that Brooke will join and also thinking that he will without doubt lose to Ryuma.
I am still unconvinced that he will join because Luffy have to go to the One Piece and Brook to Laboon. And those places are like the opposite of each other. And I don't think Brook will have the time to go to the One Piece first, nor Luffy does to return back first.
I am still unconvinced that he will join because Luffy have to go to the One Piece and Brook to Laboon. And those places are like the opposite of each other. And I don't think Brook will have the time to go to the One Piece first, nor Luffy does to return back first.
Theoretically, if the Strawhats were to keep sailing forward after Raftel, they would hit reverse mountain. Perhaps there is a way to cross the mountain from there. Hec, like Ubiq theorized, One Piece might be in Reverse mountain.
Luffy did promise Laboon that he would return. So, Brooke just need to hitch a hide: they'll eventually do it!
It's clear to me that Brooke is joining! What is not clear is if Brooke will defeat Ryuma. So far Brooke is in the losing side.
Wano predictions: There will be 5 acts; All Straw Hats will get fights, some in Act 4; Big Mom Pirates will arrive; Carrot will have her moment, but won't join; Yamato will be a Kouzuki samurai and Wano's Guardian; Shanks will visit Luffy in Act 5; Next arc is Mary Geoise.
After two relative disappointments, Oda has done it again.
Excellent chapter, probably the best since Thriller Bark began. The connection with Laboon was quite touching, and I'm really starting to get more attached to Brook (and more than just for comic relief).
I'm hoping for Brook to make a comeback against Ryuma next chapter, now that we know his backstory.
Luffy did promise Laboon that he would return. So, Brooke just need to hitch a hide: they'll eventually do it!
It's clear to me that Brooke is joining! What is not clear is if Brooke will defeat Ryuma. So far Brooke is in the losing side.
Brooke let go of his sword. The fight's over, pretty much, and it's unfortunate.
Based on what we've seen so far, of all the Blues, West Blue seems the nastiest. it's brought us Lafitte, Robin, Island Whales, Moria, Brooke, and even Shanks. That's some pretty heavy stuff there.
I called it wrong, so long ago. I guess this needs to be changed.
well by the way this chapter ended it still looks like theres hope for a zorro vs Ryuuma fight 
I also like the backstory being short. Granted we may have some more details later (ie. the demise of the crew, etc.) that may be revealed when deemed necessary to the story by Oda.
This worked so well because of what we already know about Laboon. EXCELLENT choice and all-around original which is something I KNOW Oda is capable of, but I haven't felt in a long time.
There is most probably a way to get out of the GL from behind the reverse mountian. As there is a way to get back to the start of it. It's just that nobody has gotten past Raftel except Gol D. Roger, I assume.
I'm also wondering that if when we see the two of them meet, we might see things from Laboon's perspective and see his memory of the living Brooke.
If Brooke gets a full-fledge Flashback, we may see:
How his crew met young Laboon (saved Laboon from a sea monster? Maybe Laboon's parents were killed by pirates seeking food?). A good moment for us to understand the bond between them.
The goodbye between Laboon and the Brooke's crewmates. A good tearjacker moment.
The demise of Brooke's crewmates, with the last of them regreting not being able to return to Laboon.
All those scenes would be so cool!
Brooke's past story opens up to several new plots. I mean, there may have been another survivor, for all we know. We were first linked to Brooke at the start of the GL, and I have the feeling the plot will last 'till the end… and I mean something more than just a reunial after the SHs return.
DIdn't 4Kids take laboon out and replace it with a big ice. How is Funimation going to fix it when they're far as the thriller bark. F you 4Kids never mess with Oda work.
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