@cavendishsama said in Chapter 1098: Bonney's Birth:
Seen this sentiment a couple times already and I felt that as well, the unfinished art added to the experience especially during the two pages with Ginny's death. I wouldn't even mind if he left some panels like that. Last chapter I was a little lost, I couldn't quite see where the flashback was going and that left me a little uneasy, but I'm now a believer that Flashback Piece is alive and well, fantastic chapter.
I don't like to rank whose flashback was the most tragic, but what certainly makes Kuma unique is the amount of tragedies he has suffered. It just doesn't end for him, who would've thought that 20 years ago when they first saw Birosomi Bear? But it still feels organic to me, and not like Oda is just piling on horrible stuff and hopes that something gets a reaction out of the reader.
Kuma's bible mentioning Sky Island is very interesting, are we actually gonna get insight into religion? I would absolutely love that for the world building. Lastly, we will never know how much is planned in advance, but even if nothing is, Oda's ability to weave things into the story is just amazing like he did here with "Jewelry" Bonney. Can't wait for the next chapter.
I tend to feel the flashback are in a contest to one up each other in the tragedy department. I especially felt that with Law. And with Kuma flashback starting instantly with slavery to ritual island murder. I cant say its absent there either.
But I liked that Oda dialed back on the usual "and then everyone that person knew died/hated them" and told a more personal tragedy with Ginny in the last 2 chapter. Kuma still has Ivankov and people on his island. He just suffered a big personal which is easier for me to relate and feel bad for.
I hope we continue on this more personal approach and how he suffered for his daughter sake rather than trying to do something grander scale as usual.