This thread should probably be renamed to the "Yamato fanclub" thread. It only has 2 modes: Yamato fans patting themselves on the back on how every panel is more proof that Yamato's a lock. Or someone trying to bring up an opposing possibility getting dogpiled by the Yamato fans on how stupid and impossible it is. The power this 1 character has over fans… I worry for Oda if he actually does go with any rout that ends with Yamato not joining the crew.

I'd say odds are we're going to Sphinx to visit Ace's grave next, and the Yamato question won't be solved until the end of that mini-arc. Until then, Yamato will just be one of multiple tagalongs going to visit Ace's grave. But I'm sure fans will treat them special the moment they step on the Sunny, while the rest of the tagalongs get rejected and ignored.

Mind you, I'm not "Yamato will stay in Wano forever" crowd. I think the closest we'd get to that is Yamato staying with Momo temporarily, and then the next major cover story being entirely about the beginning and first journey of the Yamato pirates. Yamato needs their own journey and is more than capable and motivated to lead their own.

I'm hoping for any multiple body shenanigans possible besides the simple "it's just his daughter" option. That one'd be so simple, I'd actually find it a little boring.

I'd guess Smoker's probably with the Real/Main/Original/Father/whatever it ends up being Vegapunk. It'd be the most logical explanation to leave him out of this chapter.

I'd also wager a guess that Drake getting a name drop with the sword group probably means he's either gonna make it into this arc towards the end. Probably his arrival will be the trigger to get this group of marines to gear up and prepare to help Coby. At first I thought he might be going off on his own or staying in Wano for a future cover story, but this seems like my main guess now; He's just running late.

I just would love to see Vegapunk, whichever or however many or whatever, completely outmatch most of the strawhats in a quick encounter off brains and gear.

Have a little barrier or electric shock ready for Robin when she tries to restrain them (or a drug injection to see if it spreads from her clone arms to normal); Know a secret about Judge's research and their own old blueprints to KO Sanji and Franky; Some with Nami's Weatheria and slap Zeus away; Counter Ussop's plants with fun trivia on them and their weaknesses; Target a keystone bone of Brook's and restrain him before his soul fixes it; Zoro's the only one I'm drawing a blank.

Then have the Sunny crew brought into the labs to restrain them in for some research and experiments.

Who needs to speculate on the various female character anymore when we've got a perfectly good Caribou around to get all my support?

I'd personally love it if this turns into a canon G8-arc with Vegapunk playing the role of an even more effective vice admiral Jonathan.

I'm hoping for any multiple body shenanigans possible besides the simple "it's just his daughter" option. That one'd be so simple, I'd actually find it a little boring.

I'd guess Smoker's probably with the Real/Main/Original/Father/whatever it ends up being Vegapunk. It'd be the most logical explanation to leave him out of this chapter.

I'd also wager a guess that Drake getting a name drop with the sword group probably means he's either gonna make it into this arc towards the end. Probably his arrival will be the trigger to get this group of marines to gear up and prepare to help Coby. At first I thought he might be going off on his own or staying in Wano for a future cover story, but this seems like my main guess now; He's just running late.

Enjoyable chapter. I love that we finally got confirmation Caribou got his ride. The goof deserved it and happy to cross one more person off the list to wonder where they went after Wano. The crew discussion about Vivi was just the right type of feel I've missed. Luffy's dream moment felt a little forced but eh, it'll be a cute anime moment I'm sure. As far as which poneglyph is the most lost; I do like to believe some renegade minks that left home at some point would've either let out rumors either to their new loyalties or just accidentally on a bad drinking night. Meanwhile there's absolutely nothing to go off on the missing Fishman island poneglyph, since not even the Neptune or Jinbei had any knowledge about who could've snatched it.

I've seen some people have issue with why the government/Im would keep such a powerful weapon secret or what the downsides to this must be. Personally, I'm already good with what we see here and basic assumptions. Using such a powerful weapon publicly and regularly would drastically change the world order into something completely different and filled with fear and stagnation. Obviously if Im wasn't using it regularly, that means that type of world isn't what they want. They want the world as it already has been, thus this weapon is absolutely reserved for only the most drastic situations (to hide their own identity in this case) and in ways that can still keep it a secret (so the world can actually function outside of being terrified of this threat). But that's just my personal rationalization, will have to wait and see if Oda elaborates.

I don't think the writing of the situation works if one reads it as Lulusia was the target and Sabo was just coincidence. Narratively it needs to be that Sabo was the target and this attack can really be mobilized this fast. It helps give Im some cred a lot better than Blackbeard got for basically failing to raid Hancock.

I look forward to Bonney age changing shenanigans and I desperately hope Luffy and Chopper aren't about to be separated with Bonney for awhile.

@Nobodyman Season 2 sees a bit of an art style improvement while season 3 hits some vocal change improvements. Personally scrolling through a list of episodes to remember what was when, I find a good deal of season 1 to be pretty hard to stomach memories of. It was pretty bad. The series definitely finds it's footing sometime after that, but not sure how far into season 2 I'd say that happens.

Not saying it gets amazing, but it at least gets a bit more polished and tolerable to the point I respect it's existence.

@andre Just this weird but nice (probably) discord addict that has more trouble keeping up with posting on the forum frequently. (Me)

@astagadragon:

Comparing Page1 and Ulti to Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Xmas is a fkin joke. The latter actually gave us fun and awesome fight with the totally iconic Usopp moment. But Page1 and Ulti are just a setup fodder for Big Mom. We COULD had one awesome tag time moment between good ol' partner Usopp and Nami but nooo… imo one of the most embarassing moment in Wano.

Looking back, the fight I enjoyed in Onigashima were Robin vs Black Maria and Kid & Law vs Big Mom. Overall the Beast Pirates are a joke. For a supposedly strongest Yonko crew they lost without many difficulties. Last time we fought a Yonko crew, we almost get wiped out and two of the commanders alone gave Luffy himself such a hard time, even fighting him for HOURS.

I wasn't comparing them for their fights, god no, the Alabasta Duo completely blow Ulti and Pay Pay away on that quality. It was just a point to say that it doesn't matter that Pay Pay has little characterization like Sasaki, cause at least he's attached to Ulti much like Mr. 4 was in the Alabasta duo. They're different types of duos, but the basic traits are still there.

It's not hard to call Maria as Robin's Kalifa. They carry enough similar beats and characterizations.

Sasaki is ultimately like a Braham from Skypiea. Forgettable and just kinda around. Sasaki at least has the amusing Triceratops moment to try and be memorable, but we'll see if anyone even remembers him in a year.

Haven't really thought of a comparison for Who's Who yet…. hmm... maybe Jabra? Casual racism vs. bad wolf lying poking the hornets nest to trigger people and fairly amusing trolls all around.

And yes, I expect all of these beast pirates to be awake and active for some moments of personality and amusement in the post-arc. I don't expect anyone to just get shuttled off to the government ships unconscious to be forgotten except maybe Jack.

Yeah, Sasaki is really undercooked when it comes to the elites. I did find his fight with Franky entertaining. It's just that the guy himself has nothing going for him outside the fight. He's the guy that you'd just shove in a corner somewhere drinking at a post-arc party. Or he's like Suleiman who just goes "Yo, I'm joining up with Cavendish, k bye."

Pay Pay is also lacking, but to be fair, I'm fine with calling him a Mr. 4 to Ulti's Miss Merry Christmas. They're a great duo, it's just a shame we didn't get to see them doing any combo attacks or really working together. I can imagine the rest of the elites up and about and interacting with other characters. Personally still expecting a little recruitment drive in the post arc where some of the beast pirates are fighting over whether to join Law, Kidd, or strike back out on their own. Law especially needs some more goofy characters forced onto him (Ulti and Pay Pay) and Kidd should get a bone thrown to him too.

Cover Story - Personally suspicious Prim was kept out of this update image. Considering she's Praline's twin, wouldn't surprise me if she's responsible or working with Pudding on this.

And literally everything wrong in Wano ended up being Higurashi/the old hag Kurozumi's fault. I guess we don't need to hate and blame Kaido for as much now right?…..right? Oh, not really? Yeah I really don't get how much I'm supposed to hate Kaido anymore. Even after all this I still hate Orochi a whole lot more.

I don't really have many objections or disappointments in Kaido going down this way. The follow up is a bit more make or break though. I don't really want the government to cart him away unconscious and I don't really want Kaido to return for a final berserk or anything to let Momo bonk him on the head. I'd like to see Kaido telling Luffy he'll need to tear down the Celestial dragons someday if he really wants to make a change like this.

The island landing so fast is a bit more disappointing though. That could've been it's own chapter, but I guess it was never meant to be. Oh well, I guess the lesson is try, try, try again and eventually it'll work on the last chance you get. You can rest now Momo, just get that useless cheerleader off your back first or something.