Too Much Luffy?

[Ao Kiji]

I dunno if there has been a thread discussing this so here goes…
LUffy's hands down my favorite main character, so I'm not having too big a problem with it, but for those of you who have another strawhat as your number one...is the manga focusing on Luffy ALONE starting to grate on you at all?

Do you think Oda-sensei is doing this for a reason? Like maybe Luffy will disappear for the bulk of the next arc or it'll simply focus on everyone else more than usual so he's giving us as much Luffy as possible so we're not complaining when the focus shifts? Or is it simply because this arc is focusing so much on HIS backstory and lineage that the others would only be distracting?

[King_Ty]

No. It had to be done for the sake of story and its only probably "grating" because we read it weekly. All in all its probably around chapters of Luffy focus. Before stuff comes back to normal.

[NuFiasco]

Nope, as much as i love Franky, Luffy is the protagonist. He's setting things up to get way better anyway….which will lead to our fav characters to shine

[Accelerator]

At least Oda doesn't take the Kishimoto route.

[makerror]

I think it's normal…he is the main character and the most favourite....

[Ao Kiji]

At least Oda doesn't take the Kishimoto route.

Which is…?
Time Skip?

[Zik]

When it was Luffy on AL it wasn't to my liking(he's not my fav character btw). I do keep in mind that if I read it without the waiting each week it probably wouldn't be as annoying.

Now I don't mind cuz it's not really focused on him clearly and also his nice side or playful nature isn't as imposing since Buggy showed up(Buggy's basically became the joke now).

I always like learning about Luffy's past or w/e but I don't see that as the point of this arc it's just something that might happen as things progress which I don't mind.

IMO none of t the SHs can really carry the manga for extended amount of chaps anyway. I said it before but Luffy's the type of protagonist that needs a cast of characters to support the story. If he wasn't his character as of now would have to be way more developed for OP to be this many chaps….

[GuetaMinute]

Be thankful it's not like Bleach (which will come back to focus on Ichigo, I believe)

[Renegade]

@Ao:

Do you think Oda-sensei is doing this for a reason? Like maybe Luffy will disappear for the bulk of the next arc

Dont scare people like that… Chapters without luffy are boring. Maybe an odd one or two is tolerable. But not a bunch of 'em together.. :ninja:

@Ao:

it'll (Next arc) simply focus on everyone else more than usual so he's giving us as much Luffy as possible so we're not complaining when the focus shifts?

That would be a kid's way of reasoning. But this is shounen, so..

@Ao:

Or is it simply because this arc is focusing so much on HIS backstory and lineage that the others would only be distracting?

But I would personally agree with this. Sounds more sensible. We have not got much about his 'back story' yet though.. Other than him and Ace having the same dad. Maybe that will change..

[hendraaryani]

There's no way Oda will go Kishi and do a prolonged focus on other characters. Even if the focus is off Luffy for a couple of chapter to show the other strawhats, it will probably be showing a few of them in a single chapter. Unless of course the events are tied together like during the one on one battles near the climax of each arcs.

[DesertSpada]

I'm fine with it. I've had no problem whatsoever just having Luffy being the main focus for this long.

[Green_vs_Red]

@bunshindattebayo:

At least Oda doesn't take the Kishimoto route.

Pretty sure you mean Kubo.

[Ao Kiji]

Dont scare people like that… Chapters without luffy are boring. Maybe an odd one or two is tolerable. But not a bunch of 'em together..

XDDDD

That would be a kid's way of reasoning. But this is shounen, so..

Not really. It makes sense for the author to take into account fan reactions, especially when many of the fans are children. He knows people want to see Luffy and his antics throughout the stories. He is a beloved character, clearly shown by the poles and I imagine when he disappears, fans miss him, not to mention the entire atmoshpere of the series change a bit to a more meloncholy tone.

But I would personally agree with this. Sounds more sensible. We have not got much about his 'back story' yet though.. Other than him and Ace having the same dad. Maybe that will change..

I'd say the brother's reunion would be a pretty big deal, as well as the reveal about his feelings toward Dragon. Also Luffy's attitude change about rescuing his brother.

[Sir Fries ü]

I like how the story is going on. IMO, it's better that after this arc he'll just have to find Rayleigh then meet up with his crew. Then be surprised on what new things they can do/learned.

It will be more distracting if Oda shifts stories with different characters on this arc. I'd rather see him shift some stories when Luffy is on the way finding Rayleigh. I think around 5 chapters dedicated for his crew will do

[King Kobra]

I didn't expect Ao Kiji to make a thread like this.

[kabok]

@Ao:

Which is…?
Time Skip?

I think he was saying something like the focus became for 99 chapters on Buggy :D

[Dark Lord Zenigame]

I don't read the series for Luffy(rather, Zoro), so I thought the Luffy Show that this current storyline is at the moment would bother the hell out of me.

But fortunately, said story bits are of the FUCKING AWESOME variety, which makes me forget that I miss my favorite characters.

So Oda gets points there, though I still want to know what the hell's up with everyone else.

@ZeArmyOfHalen:

Be thankful it's not like Bleach (which will come back to focus on Ichigo, I believe)

Ichigo fights are made of Boring, so… that wasn't exactly a bad thing in that case. :/

[Zik]

It's pretty sad that when something like Luffy not being focused on in the next arc is suggested you guys compare it to two mangas that are doing poorly. Do you guys only read Naruto and Bleach and then read OP?

I mean seriously grow tired of that shit. If Oda decided to go in to the direction that Kubo or Kishi took with their mangas I'm pretty sure he'd do it way better with OP. You guys should read more manga instead of using two currently shitty mangas to use as examples for why something is not a good idea.

I'd actually welcome an arc with not a lot of Luffy in it. something like Luffy does get captured in ID and thecrew has to reunite and then go and save him. Than in itself done by Oda would be done amazingly.

[Hiroy]

The way this chapter ended, the manga could easily go on ahead and focus on the other Strawhats. He's just causing a bit of a rukus now.

Then again, I'm not going to predict an Oda.

[RuNa]

To answer the topic's question:

No. Not even close. Personally, I got interested in One Piece BECAUSE OF LUFFY and besides that, there has been more plot in these past few chapters than there has when the whole crew was there.

Luffy is the main character. He will get more screen/page time than everyone else.

[Hakuro de Killer]

Luffy is definitely where the focus needs to stay. As long as the focus remains on the main character, who the story is being told about, you're fine.

I really don't want to start any kind of flame war with my post here, but Oda, Sorachi, and Okubo are the only (famous) mangaka I know who actually not only remain on topic, but stick with their main character(s) as often as they should. There are some (famous) mangaka who really don't give a crap about the characters in their own manga, even if they were major characters in a past arc.

If I could say so, I think that manga that stick with their main characters are usually of a much higher quality than others.

[Captain Josh]

Q. Too much Luffy?
A. No he is the main character.

[blackfoot]

i could use more luffy.

[Captain Josh]

@blackfoot:

i could use more luffy.

Yeh, well I need MORE COWBELL!!!!

[Power]

Am I the only one who loves the storyline first and foremost and therefore love every character by extension because each one has a different feature to add to the story?

[Captain Josh]

@Power:

Am I the only one who loves the storyline first and foremost and therefore love every character by extension because each one has a different feature to add to the story?

The storyline is Luffy sets out to become the pirate king.

[belial]

on amazon lily it I didn't like it at all

the current chapters are way to good not to like them, but i would probably like them all the same if Luffy wasn't in them :)

[Captain Josh]

@belial:

on amazon lily it I didn't like it at all

the current chapters are way to good not to like them, but i would probably like them all the same if Luffy wasn't in them :)

We wouldn't be there if Luffy wasn't in them…

[Power]

@Captain:

The storyline is Luffy sets out to become the pirate king.

thanks. i thought it was about cowbell

[Captain Josh]

@Power:

thanks. i thought it was about cowbell

Nah I was just pointing out what you loved more than the characters.

[Malintex_Terek]

There needs to be less crew-crew interaction. I'd like to see the crew members off on their own having their own adventures than together, because when they're together it's always the same old tired jokes, over-reactions and caricatures over and over. It was boring/annoying back in Arabasta, it's certainly still boring/annoying now.

Combos we need to see more of:

Luffy + Robin
Chopper + Zoro
Nami + Sanji (doesn't happen much!)
Franky + Sanji
Brooke + Luffy

[blue-san]

You mean to say, even though some of the SH socialise more with X then with Y you wish to see them do just that!
So when we dont see Zorro socialising much with chopper or talking with him and so on, you wish to see him in pannels with him.
Its just that, them not being seen together much could be seen as a measurement as to how much they interact with eachother…

And then we just go and artificially mix them up so they all interact equally? Now that for me would ruin it, some people just fit better with X then with Y and thats it...imo

[LUCCI DA PIGEON PIMP]

Luffy is the main character , it's normal that Oda give him the focus.

[marte1980]

Luffy is the main character so it's only natural for the story to be centered on him. He's also my favourite character. I just hope that things will go on like this and that Oda will never do the same mistakes which Kishimoto does regularly(that is destroying his main character making him a stupid gay fanboy of a secondary character and then leaving him out of the scene for ages).

[SeriusReader]

Its good to see only Luffy right now. Because in future…

[Captain Josh]

@SeriusReader:

Its good to see only Luffy right now. Because in future…

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE???

I take it you're Back from the Future …

[SeriusReader]

@Captain:

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE???

I take it you're Back from the Future …

Actually, i m from back of future. Its just good has Luffy because later…

[GoustiFruit]

Indeed if Luffy gets captured, we'll have a lot of time for all the other SH coming to free him.
Anyway, there will probably be a break in Luffy's story to explain what happened to the crew. Even if we have only a few pages for each one, it will take several chapters to have the minimum required information.
So, explaining (not detailing) all the SH adventures AND following them trying to free Luffy would probably be too much; conclusion: Luffy won't get caught :-) (it would mean that Hancock is caught too, and tortured, which won't happen)

[Phoenix Zoan]

He's the main character. The story is supposed to revolve around him.

[sabret00the]

Yes it is too much Luffy, but Oda's made no secret in the fact that this is a story of Luffy and friends rather a story about a group of people, so you can't really complain.

[Ivotas]

Oh my god, the plot is focusing on the protagonist! You bastards!

[Jadosra]

LOOOL, Ivotas.

But yes, there's really no problem in focusing on Luffy.
I don't like him that much, compared with some other SH's, but i do know that the story needs to stay centrlalized on him for the next chapters.

As long as we get focused on the big war, i don't mind

[Tanuki]

Amazon Lily, whilst needed in order to introduce Hancock(both as a shichibukai and a means of getting into Impel Down), wasn't as entertaining after Luffy's first initial interactions with the amazons, IMO.

The Impel Down however is far more tolerable Luffy time, because it's NOT just Luffy. Aside from Buggy and Ace, we've seen/heard a slew of characters from the past are in the same area as Luffy: Crocodile, Garp, Smoker, Bon Clay, Mr 1, Mr 3, Kizaru, Moria, Mihawk, etc
This means that the reader is treated to a healthy dose of nostalga and familiarity, and Luffy's playful personality and bright eyed optimism has something to contrast with.

Also is it just me or does Luffy seem to be a lot smarter when he knows he doesn't have a crew to rely on and back him up?

[Jadosra]

Am i the only one who liked Amazon Lilly, i was all excited to know a little more about Haki, also, i was excited over Margaret, who might be the new Nakama.

[tigerlilly]

@Maase:

Am i the only one who liked Amazon Lilly, i was all excited to know a little more about Haki, also, i was excited over Margaret, who might be the new Nakama.

Don't worry, I'm sure the Haki-card will be played soon enough, have a little patience. Luffy spent a couple of days travelling with Hancock, who probably mastered haki pretty well, so he must have learned a thing or two.
I'm sure when the time comes Luffy will use an attack which will be explained later on (remember we never saw how Luffy learns an attack, we only see when he uses it later, like gear second/third)
but it's a dark time for margaret-fans, we will see her again for sure, but it may take a long long time

[Hawkeye]

This is like saying their is too much Naruto in Naruto.

[anty]

@Hawkeye:

This is like saying their is too much Naruto in Naruto.

Well to be honest there is. But at least Luffy is captivating enough to hold a story on his own.

[Gekko135]

honestly.. i do miss the crew.

But I love Luffy sooo much! I think it's a good change of pace for the moment. Shabondy was a very hectic arc (not a bad thing) that had to divide the focus between many characters. Narrowing that focus to Luffy at the moment is refreshing… and even though many people complained about Amazon Lily, it was essential for the current setup. Personally, i really like Hancock and am eager to see how she melds with the story.

And now We're getting Buggy back into the plot as well.

With all that's going on.. i certainly don't mind waiting a while before we see the rest of the strawhats. It's honestly like a double payoff!

I'll probably cry when the crew is back together again

[Ao Kiji]

I'd actually welcome an arc with not a lot of Luffy in it. something like Luffy does get captured in ID and thecrew has to reunite and then go and save him. Than in itself done by Oda would be done amazingly.

You want a rescue arc leading into another rescue arc…?

There needs to be less crew-crew interaction. I'd like to see the crew members off on their own having their own adventures than together, because when they're together it's always the same old tired jokes, over-reactions and caricatures over and over. It was boring/annoying back in Arabasta, it's certainly still boring/annoying now.

Combos we need to see more of:

Luffy + Robin
Chopper + Zoro
Nami + Sanji (doesn't happen much!)
Franky + Sanji
Brooke + Luffy

I rreaaally dun wanna see Sanji paired up alone with ANY female character because you can predict exactly what will happen throughout and that gag is waayayy too old by now.

Oh my god, the plot is focusing on the protagonist! You bastards!

Bleach is a case where the main character is so bland, I'd rather Ichigo be focused on as little as possible.

[Zik]

You want a rescue arc leading into another rescue arc…?

Ironically enough, yes. Probably too predictable if Oda does intend on having the crew show up at ID tho…....