One Piece 1135 Review: Knightly Bandages

One Piece, Chapter 1135: Camaraderie Cups

I do like this chapter a fair bit. We have a nice juxtaposition of a lot of calm, slow world-building scenes contrasted with the scene of the two God's Knights (because until further notice, I think it's safe to assume that they are) prowling around Elbaf. We also have a bunch of payoffs here and there, as well as some buildup for what will be the main themes in Elbaf. 

We start off with explaining the owl library, with Saul introducing Bibelot, an owl that has the ability to gigantify any books that enters his territory. Lilith, who has memorized the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, quickly identifies this as the Iku Iku no Mi, or the "Rearing Rearing Fruit" (at the point of writing we don't have official translations yet) which allows the growth of inorganic items. It's a nice way to give exposition that really does fit the worldbuilding, with the giants being a bit more superstitious and traditional, while Oda remembers that Vegapunk would know most of what there is to know about Devil Fruits. 

We get some discussion about the logistics of how this has been the way that giants learn of the outside world, since newspapers are also subjected to Bibelot's powers. 

We cut back to Team Luffy and the school of 'modern age' giants, who are so unfamiliar with war and excitement that even a slightly more energetic swing ride scares them. Luffy is extremely disappointed at these weakling children, but I really love it that it's Sanji -- who's gone through his own share of being forced to be a literal human weapon as a child -- who tells Luffy off. Again, there is an interesting dichotomy where there is some discussion to be had about how warfare in this stage of the world is actually useful, particularly since the world is about to descend into war in the next couple of years... but is it right to essentially brainwash children into doing so? 

It is, undoubtedly, a disappointment as a reader whose expectations is "fuck yeah, land of war", but in-universe you can't really say that teaching children the ways of war to always be a good thing. Yes, the children in Ripley's school is leaning too far the other side of the proverbial balance in that they're so disgusted by war that if any ever comes to their doorstep (and war will, in this case) the angry, offended looks they're ding isn't going them any favours. 

We then get a nice contrast as Colon, the recurring kid that's been a Shanks fanboy and the one we've seen in some early Elbaf chapters, shows up and yells at Luffy that he is 'wide open', attacking Luffy with a gigantic... toy sword. Luffy goes straight into battle mode, blocking and snapping off the sword... and then the fucking lunatic ATTACKS A CHILD WITH AN ARMAMENT HAKI GEAR THIRD ELEPHANT GUN.

Holy shit, Luffy! I know he's likely just aiming to miss, but need I remind you that a Haki'd up Gear Third Elephant Gun was the exact same attack that Luffy used to knock dragon-mode Kaido out of the sky when he thought that Kaido killed half his crew? 

Usopp calls Luffy out on this, but Luffy's more concerned about how not every child in Elbaf is spineless. The other kids have no real recourse but to yell mean stuff at Luffy a bit, but Colon is excited to see a Yonko. We learn that Colon is actually Ripley's son! And... and Ripley's partner and Colon's father is a human. This mysterious pirate (who I don't think is Shanks, if we're considering the slower growth of giants?) is fearless, and Ripley notes that they simply just never made it official due to their difference in growth rate. 

The group is split up a bit, with Robin, Chopper, Lilith and Bonney staying with Saul in the library. After being kind of out of focus, I like the panel of Franky being excited about the Adam Tree. The entirety of Elbaf is built around an Adam Tree, and I like that Oda remembers that the Adam Tree was first mentioned and introduced as the source of super-expensive wood that Franky wants to use to create the Thousand Sunny. Franky and Saul give us some exposition that there are many lesser Adam Trees all around the world, meaning that there are other sources of the Adam Wood that doesn't have to be Elbaf. 

And, finally, Gerd shows up with a bunch of Elbaf clothing for the Straw Hats. She still has a slightly disturbing 'oooh little people are so cute' string of inner thoughts, but I suppose Gerd just finds humans cute like pets or babies or something. She sure isn't kidnapping people and tossing them into a diorama and playing god with them! Anyway, Brook, Robin, Franky and Jinbe all get their Elbaf looks. They look like vikings!

And as the Straw Hats go to the banquet, we get the serious scene. The two God's Knights -- NotShanks and his partner who I'm calling "Bandages" until we get an official name -- are wandering around the Quiet Castle. The giant guards there are all friendly, with the understandable theory that these might just be lost members of the Straw Hat pirates. "Bandages" reveal that their goal is to look for Prince Loki, and demands Loki's location from them. 

Again, the guards are pretty friendly, and even gives the audience some repeated exposition about Loki is so cruel for killing King Harold. But "Bandages" gets pissed off, and just like any anime villain encountering generic unnamed guards, they become fodder to show off the villains' strength. The powers aren't exactly clear, and a bit more subtle art-wise, but it seems that the bandages around the God's Knight's face isn't just there for show, but related to her power. It's a bit more subtle since we only see them form around the guard's legs and arms, but random new bandages do appear and it seems to be what strangulates him and knocks him out.

The guard that answers the God's Knights first screams and convulses in pain, and either dies or gets knocked out. "Bandages" warns the other guard that this is what happens when someone is rude and prideful, and she's changing her 'ask' to an 'order'. 

So yeah. We don't get to see much of NotShanks -- clearly by design, and likely to prolong the illusion that he might be Shanks a bit longer -- but I like that we're actually getting some exposition about the God's Knights' goals. They're here for Loki, although whether to free him, recruit him or kill him we're not exactly sure. They're also not here to hunt down Luffy or Vegapunk or Bonney, which I do find interesting. 

But we leave the God's Knights behind for a while as we cut to the party! Luffy and Usopp are celebrating, and I absolutely love that we get three panels, one after the other, of the giants acknowledging the good that the Straw Hats have done for them. Dorry and Brogy talk about how they've defended their pride in Little Garden; Oimo and Kasshi recall how they saved them from their servitude under false pretenses in Enies' Lobby; and Hajrudin boasts about how he was saved from being erased from memory in Dressrosa. 

We even get a slightly longer recap later on from Stansen -- more geeky One Piece fans would already know that Oda snuck in Stansen into Hajrudin's crew and that he is a preexisting character... but realistically, the giant freed in Sabaody was so long ago and Stansen's first introduction was in a cover story. Plus, he grew out a viking beard! But these little connections are what makes One Piece great, and I really also do love that Oda respects that not all readers are built the same and adds in one of those Reverie recap panels to remind/retell the story of Stansen.

Anyway, there's no bullshit about the Straw Hats being mistaken as enemies or whatever, at least not by this particular village of Elbaf giants. Everyone raises their titular 'camaraderie cups' to the Strraw Hats, and welcome them, the friends of the giants, to Elbaf. The chapter ends with Mountainbeard Jarul showing up with his 'bojajaja' laugh. He is bigger than the other giants, and the shot of Brogy next to him highlights his immense size. And... we close off with what I assume is going to be his One Piece character gag, where he is extremely blase about the sword that's piercing his head (and lucky helmet). 

Anyway, I like this chapter a lot! It's a great chapter to close out the year (or open next year). Pretty fun stuff here, and a nice balance between lighthearted and more heavy stuff. Looking forward to see what we do with Elbaf! 

Random Notes:

• Yamato and the Inari Pilgrimage Cover Story: Tama kicks Holdem in the face, apparently defeating him. I like the detail of Holdem dropping his sword and that falling weapon cutting onto his belly-lion's head, taking that creature out. Remember that Holdem was previously beaten by a Gomu Gomu Red Hawk. This has rather hilariously led to a lot of powerscaling memes. 
• We get the return of the Momonosuke gag, where the naughty kids bury their faces in Ripley's breasts, while giving onlookers a snide remark. Sanji is angered by this. I didn't find the joke on its own particularly funny in this case, but Sanji's "WTF, are all kids like this now" comment is fun. 
• Speaking of Sanji, he's the one that reacts to Colon's revelation that his dad is a human. Sanji's expression is just one of surprise, and not one of his usual perverted exaggerations, but... you totally know that the gears are turning in Sanji's head. Indeed, assuming compatible DNA's, a male human and a female giant would be the mechanical way to pull such a pairing off. Plus, we have seen half-giants before in One Piece, albeit in the Foxy arc...
• I do find it funny that apparently, despite being Warland, Elbaf also requires people like Lilith to apply for resident permits. Visas and employment passes are the bane of international workers, man... 
• Out of the four Straw Hats with new wardrobe changes, I feel like Franky and Jinbe particularly rock their looks super-well. I wonder if Franky's beard is part of Gerd's costumes, or if he can spontaneously grow a beard like he does with his hair? 
• Without much else to speculate on, a lot of people have noted the similarities of the bandaged-up God's Knight with Uta. Which... other than the eyelashes (which Oda does on most of his female characters) and relationship with (a) Shanks, I don't really see. Thought it's worth mentioning, though. 
• The giant guards aren't exactly unnamed, with the one "Bandages" takes down being called Bogi, but I missed that when I first wrote the review. 
• It is a bit weird that Jarul would be alive now, but the chapter does note that he is the oldest living giant in existence, so I guess his lengthy age is an exception even for the giants' longer lifespans.