I love that about MHA — quick confrontations. Really ups the sense of danger and urgency in these battles. I hope all the fights are fast.

@King:

Eh, not really. Japanese names are quite common everywhere in One Piece.

Heck, the Germa siblings for example, who are named after Japanese numerals, plus their mother Sora. Yet, the patriarch is "Judge".

Or King Riku and his daughters Scarlet and Viola. Or Shirahoshi, daughter of Neptune.

True — sometimes Oda chooses Japanese names for the sake of a pun (e.g. the Vinsmoke siblings and Neptune’s children). I should mention that “Sora” and “Riku” are not necessarily Japanese names.

Other times, a Japanese name points towards the character being from Wano (e.g. Sentoumaru).

Part of my reasoning has to do with Uta’s hairstyle as well — which seems traditionally Chinese/Japanese. Let’s wait and see.

@King:

"Nami" is Japanese for "Wave". That doesn't mean she's from Wano.

Yes, true. But the jarring incongruence between name origin (“Shanks” and “Uta” originating from different languages) has not gone unnoticed. I’m merely suggesting that it may be intentional.

“Uta” is Japanese for “song.” Is her mother from Wano?

HUGE reveal. I hope that this means fans will start to analyze Film Gold, Stampede, and Film Z some more too.

Strong World gave us Gigant Thor Axe and that was a MAJOR hint. What else is in these movies?

Whose photo is behind Touya’s on the Todoroki family butsudan? The sun shines brightly behind him… is that Enji’s father? If so, could that be who Enji has truly chased this whole time?

The title is a pun. Raizou (雷ぞう) means “thunder elephant,” hence Zunesha’s role and that final page.

Greg, upon reread, it’s clear that Luffy pumping his legs to activate Gear Second did something to his heart; you can hear the ドクン sfx in ch. 387.

Is Luffy pumping his heart here? Does his ability naturally repump his heart upon death?

If so… then maybe Luffy can’t die if his heart stops.

@theackwardstation:

Red circle: stretch marks at the back of the head.
Blue circle: lots of stretching stress.
Orange figure: no knuckles where it was supposed to be.
Yellow circle: trembling effects.

[qimg]https://sun9-86.userapi.com/impf/s7tDyLOnUVW_0r-S58ya-sUArGOBF9OQlr9PuQ/XYjgbDubFiU.jpg?size=968x735&quality=95&sign=27b457a6cfa2d963ec9ff07135fd7a46&type=album[/qimg]

oh, maybe luffy picked kaidou’s nose.

also. i like the connections folks are making with this transformation x the energy steroids + sulong. very interesting…

Luffy punching through Kaido’s head is certainly next level.