The human part is totally sacrificed to serve the Monster part. I don't have a problem with that because the monster scenes are all that I care XD. I go to a cinema only because I want to experience the fantastic visual and audio effects rather than to watch a story. It was perfect for me! Michael Dougherty manages to serve the fans well.

@CCC:

Nope! Different, separate services for different demos.

The Viz territories get the full "vault" (backlog) for sub ($2/month), and three latest chapters for free.
Shueisha's MANGA Plus gets first + latest chapters for free, and digital volumes for purchase. Not a subscription. Money comes from ads.

People in Viz territories can use one or the other (or both); rest of the world can (legally) use MANGA Plus.

Well explained, thank you!

Then where will Viz go? Will it eventually be merged / absorbed into this new shonen jump plus service and disappear?

YO GUYS. ORICON started releasing manga sales in 2008. Any info you guys find about prior to 2008 is not from ORICON. Just saying.

The spilled coffee, hahahaha

Since IORI_17 brought it up, there's this "rumor" about Oda betraying the readers' predictions that has always bugged me.

I very vaguely remember Oda mentioned that if he happened to hear some prediction then he would intentionally develop the story to let the prediction miss what turned out to be. Does anyone know a definite source where Oda said things like that?

Also my understanding is that Oda would do it only if he happened to hear some prediction (by accident). BUT by no means would Oda purposely go to fan sites on a regular basis to browse what people predicts, right?

@redon:

Eiichiro Oda's message about Vivre Card launch!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmO6l5JU0AAKNJP.jpg:orig

A lot of japanese fans complained about Fake Straw Hat Crew file exclusive only in some japanese shops, so Shueisha clarifies and it seems they will add that card in one of the November booster sets.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmO3_JdUUAANbdi.jpg:orig

Sounds like they made the launch strategy without Oda involved. Makes sense, Oda san is too busy to have hands on the business. But it seems Oda san is somewhat pissed about the "mistake". Who is Oda san blaming? Editor Naito?
@Greg

@Greg:

Sure, sure. While the decreasing sales exists, I believe the source for that is based on volumes sold to retailers not actual volumes sold, no?

That was the case when OP was breaking initial print sales at least. They do the same things for video game hardware here.

And retailers ordering fewer copies may very well be due to the series popularity 'decreasing' (I use the term relatively) due to its age, length and lack of a boom from GOLD.

At any rate, of the many problems One Piece has from time to time, this wasn't something to worry about. Just another thing to remember about how sad haters can be over here.

Maybe. I'm not sure how ORICON actually comes up with the numbers, but I heard that they are not the actual/exact statistics (I imagine it would be impossible to count every single one sold). I also heard, maybe a year ago or so, that ORICON changed its algorithm. That being said, I never take the numbers too seriously, but instead pay more attention to the trends and make relative comparisons between different series.

Anyway, haters' minds never worth guessing.

@Greg:

It was a blip on the radar.

People that care about this aren't usually people that buy the comic and if anything, have a chip on their shoulder regarding the series.

It's a non-issue and there has been nothing about it after the apology.

I agree with what you said but I've also seen people blaming it for the big decrease in sales (looks like it may be 250 thousand less copies sold than Vol. 88 for the same amount of period, before its ranking falls below No.50 on ORICON weekly charts).

Do Japanese also give a shit about political correctness as people here in the US do? :blink: