Tag Archives: Nami

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 26: Adventure on Kami’s Island by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 26: Adventure on Kami’s Island   

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 5, 2010

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Luffy and the others not only manage to evade the Blackbeard pirates, under Marshall Teech, but they find themselves in the Knock Up Stream! Huzzah! They’re sailing on a sea of clouds! Chopper thinks he spied a ship but it disappeared –  however there is a bull running right toward them! Then out of nowhere an old man in a suit of armor appears, calling himself the Sky Knight. He saves them from the bull, for which they are grateful. He refers to them as Blue Sea people, because they come from the Blue Sea, rather than the White Sea. He warns them of guerillas who will target them, but he can protect them – for a price. He offers one whistle for 5 million extols. Of course, they have no idea what he is talking about. When he learns that they actually came via the Knock Up Stream (apparently there are other ways to get to Skypiea), he is impressed and gives them one whistle, warning them to use it wisely.

The ship arrives at Heaven’s Gate and its wizened old inspector, Amazon. She demands an entrance fee of one billion extols per person. Nami asks what if they have no money (which they don’t) and Amazon says they can pass. Seems suspicious but on they go, only to find themselves on the famous Lobster Express of the White Sea, even as Amazon reports to her superior that seven people have illegally entered Godland Skypiea!

Our fearless group arrives on the shore of a beautiful island and immediately begin to explore their surroundings. There they meet an angel named Conis, and Sanji is instantly smitten! (Is anyone surprised?) Then her father arrives. He resembles a slug and he’s riding on a strange small vessel they call a waver. Chopper and Luffy attempt to ride the waver but fail. Then Nami takes over and she’s off! She quickly disappears, even as Luffy and the others are invited to eat with Conis and her father. But when Luffy learns of a place where no one is allowed to go, it’s inevitable that he will want to go there… especially if, as they suspect, Nami is headed there too! What challenges await them there?

So Skypiea, the island in the sky, exists! Is anyone really surprised? Although it’s best not to examine the mechanics of such a place too closely and simply accept it for what it is! I have to confess that with the ever growing cast of characters, sometimes it’s hard to remember who’s who. Even so, things are getting really interesting. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 24: People’s Dreams by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 24: People’s Dreams

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Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 5, 2010

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Now that Sir Crocodile has been defeated, and Alubarna can begin to heal, and the Marines under Captain Smoker and Tashigi head on their way, the Straw Hat gang face a new challenge, in the form of a stowaway.  None other than Nico Robin! Most surprisingly, she wants to join the crew! There is some resistance to the idea from the members of Luffy’s crew – until mention is made of Nico having some of Crocodile’s gems and opinion is swayed to her side.

As they continue their journey, the crew sees something rather extraordinary – a ship that is falling out of the sky. Literally out of the sky. How is that even possible? To Nami’s dismay, the log pose is pointing upward and not moving! Nico tells her it’s been captured by a sky island!

Luffy runs across a map – of the sky island, Skypiea! They decide to search the ship that fell from the sky for records of the floating island. Of course, that ship sank to the bottom of the ocean. Luffy, Sanji, and Zolo become deep sea divers in order to explore the wreck. But they hadn’t figured on encountering Masira, the Salvage King, who has his eye on the wreck as well. And oh, he’s a monkey.

Luffy and the others are conflicted regarding their next destination. If they go anywhere else other than the island in the sky, the log post will reset and they will be unable to get to Skypiea. Luckily Nico Robin has a solution to that problem, so it’s on to Jaya Island! When they arrive on the island, they find themselves in a place that seems prone to violence, especially between two rival pirate gangs!

Nico Robin’s presence was a surprise, not sure how I feel about that, not sure if she will stay with them any length of time or not. Naturally, Sanji is on board with her joining the crew.  lol The idea of a sky island is intriguing, if true, but how does that even work? Guess we’ll find out. The monkey was also a surprise. I’m sure we’ll see him again.

Another great volume of One Piece, looking forward to the next!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 21: Utopia by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 21: Utopia     

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Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 2, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Sanji has to contend with Mr 2 Bon Clay and his Oh Come My Way nonsense. The swan attempts to cripple Sanji with laughter, but when that doesn’t work, he uses his ability of mimicry to imitate Nami’s face. Can Sanji cause pain to someone who looks just like his beloved Nami?

Princess Vivi has arrived in Alubarna and has made her way to the palace, where she calls for Chaka and tells him her plan – she wants to destroy the palace! He can’t believe she means that, but she is entirely serious. Can she convince him to go along with her idea?

A disturbing surprise awaits Princess Vivi and Chaka as they approach the Palace – the Crocodile is already there! How can they get him out?

Nami and Zolo split up – Nami to deal with Ms. Doublefinger and Zolo to face Mr. 1.  Nami knows she isn’t much of a fighter, so she approached Usopp before they reached Alabasta to ask him to make her a weapon. He gave her one, but she isn’t sure he understood what she wanted and now she doubts whether this so-called weapon will work against Ms. Doublefinger. But she is out of options!

Mr. Crocodile presents an ultimatum to Vivi and thus reveals his true objective! Meanwhile, Zolo has a bit of a problem with Mr. 1 – seems as though the guy is made of steel! How is he supposed to cut through that?  Will this be an exercise in futility, or will words of wisdom from the past serve him in good stead?

We’re getting closer and closer to the end of this arc, but there are still burning issues, even as the fights continue. Where is Luffy? When will Vivi come face to face with Koza? Will this be the end of the evil Baroque Works once and for all? I know that new adventures lie ahead, and I am more than ready for them. Looking forward to the next volume.

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 15: Straight Ahead!!! by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 15: Straight Ahead!!!       

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 7, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Pretending to be Mr 3, Sanji has a strange conversation via snail phone with someone who calls himself Zero. He must be the leader of the Baroque Works! Sanji lies and says the Straw Hats are dead, no need to send anyone else to do the job. But will Zero believe him, or will he want some kind of evidence? Both men are unaware that their conversation is being overheard via a listening device by none other than Captain Smoker of the Navy!

A joyous Sanji reunites with his friends. Usopp is rather angry, though. “He wasn’t around when we needed him, but he has the nerve to show up now?” Sanji tells them about his conversation with Zero. And also how he happened to find the Eternal Pose for Alabasta. Huzzah! Now they can leave! If not for that, they would have to stay there a year until their own Pose resets. They bid a fond farewell to Broggy and Dorry and off they go!

To their horror, they discover that Nami is burning up with fever!  Oh dear! She needs a doctor and she needs one now! Plans to head toward Alabasta have to be shelved in favor of locating the nearest island with a doctor! What’s this up ahead? Is that someone standing in the middle of the ocean… on the water! Gasp! How can that be? No, there’s a submersed ship beneath the figure, and up it pops, and with it Captain Wapol of the Tin Tyrant Pirates! Surely this can’t be good?

After the encounter with Wapol and his crew, they sail on, and everything starts to grow colder. Viv explains that they are approaching a winter island. As they near the island, they spot people on the shore, obviously waiting for them. A rather large man tells them to go away, before the people fire on them! Luffy’s first impulse is to respond with anger, but cooler heads prevail and they apologize profusely and beg for help for their friend Nami, who is terribly ill and needs a doctor.

Luffy and his crew are allowed to land. They’re taken to Big Horn Village. The big man’s name is Dalton. He’s the Protector of the island. Unfortunately, there’s only one doctor on the island, and she’s a witch who lives in the castle far away on the hill. They have no way of contacting her, so Luffy decides he’ll take Nami to the witch. Sanji volunteers to go with them, while the others remain behind and wait. Dalton warns them to watch out for the Lupins.  Dalton tells them that they were once called the Drum Kingdom and they were ruled by the worst king ever, whose name was Wapol. That name rings a bell! Wasn’t that the pirate they encountered? Dalton realizes that he is still looking to find his way back to the island, and woe betide everyone should that occur!

A lot to unpack in this volume, a whole lot going on.  From finally being able to leave the island, Nami getting sick, the encounter with the strange pirates, and then their frosty reception on the Winter island, never a dull moment. Sanji’s conversation with Zero is hilarious. Naturally, he’ll figure out at some point that the Straw Hats are not dead and the search for them will recommence.  Will they get to the witch doctor in time to save Nami? Will they live to get to the witch doctor? Have to wait until the next volume to find out!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 14: Instinct by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 14: Instinct     

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 3, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Princess Vivi is appalled that the giant Dorry was tricked into drinking exploding ale, but she assures him they had nothing to do with that! Luffy is forced to overpower him, for the giant’s sake as well as their own, and now he is angry that this happened to Dorry. Meanwhile, Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine seem to be in trouble with their superiors over their failure. But they can redeem themselves by obtaining the heads of the two giants, Broggy and Dorry, which are worth 100 million berries each!

Luffy, Vivi, Zolo, and Usopp end up running into each other, only to learn that Nami has disappeared and Usopp thinks a dinosaur ate her! Turns out that the two bosses are Mr. 3 and Ms. Goldenweek – he works in wax and she is an artist of gravity. Mr. 3 interferes in the giant’s battle and helps to bring one down and capture the other. Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine capture Vivi, Zoro, and Nami and bring them to Mr. 3, who intends to make them part of his huge candelabra!

Luffy arrives with Usopp and Karoo, but it’s unclear whether his presence is more of a hindrance than a help. Can he use the powers of the wax against their owner? And will Miss Goldenweek overcome him with her Colors Trap ability? Meanwhile, back at the ship, Sanji is wondering what is taking everyone so long, and maybe the girls need him to rescue them. He decides to search for them and runs across the other wax camp, now abandoned. Naturally, he decides to have some tea.  Unexpectedly, though, he hears a phone ring. In the middle of the jungle? Of course he answers it and receives a surprising reply from the other end.

These Baroque Works people just seem to keep coming out of the woodwork! Apparently, the lower their number, the higher in the hierarchy they are. And now we meet Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek (It seems the number system just applies to the men, although each is partnered with a woman). The lower the number also translates to greater abilities, it seems, as well.  Zolo’s suggestions as to how they should accept the inevitable and pose as candles are hilarious, but Nami is not so quick to embrace that particular Fate – not even the suggestion they cut off their legs.

This volume contains a mix of comedy, tragedy, and mystery.  Always something in the Grand Line, am I right? Looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 11: The Meanest Man in the East by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 11: The Meanest Man in the East    

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: July 5, 2006

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action & Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Luffy is still battling Arlong. He’s finding the Fishman hard to defeat! Breaking his teeth does no good because sharks just grow new ones! The fight carries inside his headquarters, into the chart room. And this is where Arlong makes his mistake when he talks about using Nami for her cartography skills. Incensed at the idea that Arlong has been using his friend, Luffy goes berserk and destroys Arlong park! At just that moment, the crooked Marines arrive. When they learn of Arlong’s defeat, the leader, Captain Nezumi, attempts to take all the gold for himself, but nobody is having that and they deliver to him the smackdown of his life! The disgruntled Captain Nezumi informs the navy of the existence of a dangerous pirate and his four henchmen, and a bounty is placed on Luffy’s head –higher than that of most other pirates!

Luffy and the others have celebrated their victory with the villagers, and now it’s time to go. But where is Nami?  Sanji is horrified to think she might not be coming, but she is, of course. She just has one more thing to do.  Back on the high seas once more, headed toward the Grand Line, Luffy is delighted to discover that he has a price on his head. He feels as though he’s really arrived now and been officially recognized as a pirate. The others tell him that isn’t really good, especially such a high bounty, because it puts a target on their back! People will be coming after them now, strictly for the money.

As they pass by a particular island, Nami informs them that this where the infamous pirate Gold Rogers was executed, in a town called Roguetown. Would Luffy like to go there? Of course he would! Once ashore, the crew scatters to do their own thing. Nami looks for clothes she doesn’t intend to buy, and Zolo needs swords. He goes to a shop that sells them, but when the owners finds out how little he has to spend on two swords, he isn’t very enthusiastic about his presence… until he notices the sword Zolo carries and tries to cheat him out of it. Luckily, a knowledgeable young lady who happens to be in the shop gives Zolo much needed advice and helps him search for two swords in his price range. Wait, is he actually going to take the cursed sword?

Oh oh, Luffy is in trouble when a couple of unexpected blasts from his past show up on the island and he finds himself on the same execution stand where Gold Rogers met his end.  On top of everything else, Nami says that a huge storm is on the way and it’s going to hit the island!

Finally, we see the end of the evil Arlong (or at least I presume so). I love the way Luffy stands up for people, especially the ones he cares about. For one so young, he is very mature in ways, but very immature in others. I loved the scene between Mihawk and Shanks. If you watch the live anime, you’ll see that the actor playing Mihawk got him to a tee! If you haven’t watched it yet, you should, it’s great! I sure didn’t expect to see those two return and I would never have recognized one of them if she hadn’t mentioned her name.  It turns out that Zolo’s new friend works for the naval captain, Smoker. This can’t be good, can it?

Another great volume of One Piece, looking forward to the next!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 10: Let’s Stand Up! by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 10: Let’s Stand Up!     

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 4, 2006

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action & Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Luffy and the others reach the island where Nami has absconded to. Luffy is convinced that she is not the bad person she appears to be, that there must be a reason why she is working with Arlong the Fishman and his pirate crew. When they learn what her true motives are, and how she is working to buy back Coco Village from Arlong’s tyranny, Luffy knows what he has to do -defeat Arlong and free them all!

Luffy, Sanji, Zolo, and a reluctant Usopp head to Arlong Park, where the fishmen are dismissive of them. The fight begins, with their terrible leader nowhere in sight. Unfortunately, Luffy finds himself in quite the predicament when he ends up stuck in the cement, unable to move. To make matters worse, Arlong shows up, and manages to cut out Luffy, cement and all, and hurl him into the water! Oh dear, as everyone knows, those who eat the devil fruit cannot swim! Can they save Luffy from drowning? Matters aren’t helped when Usopp runs off, followed by one of Arlong’s men.

Sanji dives into the water to rescue Luffy but he is attacked by one of the fishmen and has to do battle. Meanwhile, Nojiko (Nami’s sister) and Mr. Genzo have come to the rescue. Nojiko holds Luffy’s head above water, having stretched his neck, while Mr. Genzo presses on his chest to help him breathe. Even so, how long can Luffy hold out like this?

Usopp, in fear for his life, manages to convince his attacker that he is dead, but his conscience gets the better of him, thinking of Luffy and the others, and he decides to stand up to him, come what may! Nami decides the same thing and heads into the fray! Once Luffy is rescued, it’s time that he and Arlong tangle!

This volume of One Piece is about standing up for yourself and for your friends and doing the right thing. Nami has been with Arlong and his nefarious crew for a long time, albeit for good reasons, but she’s also been isolated and abused, becoming mistrustful of people. She learns to let go of that thanks to Luffy, who believes the best of everyone. Usopp, despite his bravado and wild tales, has essentially considered himself to be a coward, afraid to step in, afraid to be hurt. But Luffy has shown him that friends fight for friends, and he is finding his backbone at last.

Luffy’s a good kid, and a good friend and captain. He does not allow injustice to go unpunished, especially when it concerns his friends. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops as the story goes along. Great volume, look forward to the next!