@Baldulf:

But up to what point is that a good thing?

Ace's death was great because nobody was expecting that (not with the "no deaths" rule of Oda) While WB's death and BB appearance was something that HAD to happen, it couldn't be otherwise.

But Law and Shanks were a bit on the fanboy side. Don't listen to us the fanboys, Oda! We don't have imagination.

The way Oda wrote the events that preceded this…it almost seemed necessary.

Law coming back doesn't seem overly fanboy'ish, as I don't see him as a character everyone was clamoring to see again.

Shanks was a great surprise, and like I said, it seems like it was a perfect way to end the "war".

WB's crew needed more backup, and Shanks was already chillin' somewhere nearby.

@Chopperrules:

It's all about temperature.

Tell me, what do you think it hotter. A flame lit on a match or molten lava sitting in the core of the Earth. If you were to drop said lit match into a pool of lava, what do you think would happen to the flame. It sure as hell wouldn't consume the lava, that's for sure.

Still, in real life fire and magma are never going to collide. In fact, magma creates fire when it touches stuff, so the entire theory makes no real sense when you think about it. But it's shonen, so there's no point in thinking too deeply into this.

I really like what's happening, IMO. If Ace actually dies, it will really set a new tone for the second half of this manga.

I didn't know flames only came from matches.

Flames from something like a Bunsen Burner is just as hot as any magma at around 1,500 degrees celsius.

The idea of fire being burned just doesn't sound right.

But I like the idea of there being some hierarchy to the powers.

For Mihawk to be considered the best swordsman would mean he is at the top of the OP ladder in skills and strength.

I would say Mihawk > Blackbeard.
I see Blackbeard having trouble with guys with extraordinary physical attacks.

I'm sure Oda and his assistants saw the glaring similarities to Shanks when they drew that frame.
They left it as is…knowing fans will now speculate.

I believe Ace has always had his hat on, so Oda could've done his hair in any number of ways. But he purposely drew it similar to Shanks hair.

Oda could be hinting at something there.

There might not be any concrete proof yet, but you add it to the fact that Shanks went to Whitebeard and started a fight with him over Ace, I think its a real possibility that they could be father/son.

I guess we'll know more when they cut back to the WB/Shanks clash, but I could see something like Shanks saying "You must call him back, he's not ready, he might die" Whitebeard will ask "Why do you care so much about one of my MEN?" Shanks will reply "Cuz he's my SON"

@Aldrich:

But Lucci isn't exactly New World caliber either. I mean he spend five years pretending to be a ventriloquist shipwright while the 3 Great Powers were fighting eachothers for the New World domination, you'd think that if he was such a powerful weapon for the WG they'd have given his spot in W7 to Jyabura and unleashed him against the Emperors.

I don't know if you can say Lucci isn't New World caliber, just because he wasn't summoned to fight the Emperors…
They haven't exactly "unleashed" any of the Admirals or Shichibukais on the Emperors either.
There's a balance in the seas right now.
The ancient weapon was something that would've given the government tremendous power, and tipped the scales in the WG's favor.
You wouldn't entrust that duty to just some lower tier fighters.

Hell yeah, Buster Call is a big deal.
If CP9 fears the Buster Call, then so should the SH.

All the hype Oda put into this…SH will likely not be trying to fight the Buster Call. They'll be trying to escape like everyone else.

I'd say this…

Luffy 200,000,000
Robin 150,000,000
Zoro 130,000,000
Franky 100,000,000
Sanji 70,000,000
Sogeking 50,000,000
Nami 30,000,000
Chopper 30,000,000

Luffy - Can't really pinpoint any nationality. I'd say New Zealand (mainly because of Ace)
Nami - American
Zoro - Spanish, born and raised in Japan
Sanji - French
Chopper - Russian
Ussop - Italian
Robin - Spanish

@pirateneko:

I always thought it would be Micheal Jackson + Steve Tyler = Jango X3

I gotta agree with you there. Jango DEFINITELY looks like Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith. His clothing and mannerisms are obviously Michael Jackson

Cool, thanks KatanaJon