|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||
|
|
Reviewed by Dan Polley Despite an outward appearance that seems to be a bit scattered, Eiichiro Oda’s 16th volume of One Piece was, in a word, fantastic. One Piece is said to be the greatest treasure in the world and the cast of characters set off to find it. This entry into the series starts out at Drum Island as Monkey D. Luffy and Sanji try to get Nami, who’s along for the ride on Luffy’s back, to a doctor. But disaster strikes the trio when they are faced with an avalanche on the perpetually snow-covered island. When Wapol tries to interrupt Luffy’s journey, Luffy fights back with all that he has. But will that be enough to save his friends? The main storyline involves a blue-nosed reindeer, Tony Tony Chopper. And the tale that is told of Tony Tony’s life and of how he came to be is something that was far more poignant than I expected it to be. However, there was enough comedic input thrown into the mix that it didn’t weigh down the story. The characterization in this volume is spectacular. Although Luffy and his crew don’t see a ton of development in this volume, some of the supporting characters on Drum Island do. And it’s those characters who come to dominate the story and breathe extra life into it. The artwork, at first, appears to be lazy and rough, but after a while, it shows that it was crafted with great specificity. The lines aren’t precise, but then the book reflects that unhinged, going-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality. And some of the panel angles are distinctively creative. The art also pounds home the comedic value in the series when it needs to, but doesn’t do so in an overly annoying way. One Piece was on another level I didn’t expect it to reach. And yet it exceeded those expectations with flashes of brilliance. It is enjoyable, but this volume is series at the same time. And the two elements are nicely mixed to form a well-rounded tale of fun, adventure and love. Even if that tale of love involves a blue-nosed reindeer. |
12 November 2007 11 November 2007 10 November 2007
|
||||
 |
| home | reviews | news | features | about us | advertise | privacy policy | contact us |
