Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Manga

  • Cryptic ‘One Piece’ Tweet Teases an Upcoming Announcement

    Cryptic ‘One Piece’ Tweet Teases an Upcoming Announcement

    One Piece may have one last announcement before it wraps up its 25th anniversary. While we haven’t heard much on the various projects that are currently in development outside of a few trailers building up momentum for One Piece Odyssey’s release in January, it does seem like one more announcement is heading our way. The best part: it seems we’ll find out what it’s all about by tomorrow.

    A new cryptic tweet from the official account has included a “Coming Soon on 12 Dec 2022” tagline alongside.an image teasing a new logo that is close to the design of the original combined with a few changes alongside what seems to be Luffy’s straw hat below. It does include a link to “toei-anim.com” which may hint at something related to the anime.

    It seems highly unlikely that this is in anyway related to the live-action series or even the manga. There’s a good chance that this might be some new collaboration for some merchandise or even special art pieces based on the popular manga and anime series. They might also share some news on the next arc for the anime that is likely going to introduce a filler arc to let the manga run a bit longer so it doesn’t catch up too fast. Of course, it’s just speculation at this point but it’ll be interesting to see what is heading our way.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘One Piece’s Final Saga to Kick Off With Chapter 1054 in July

    ‘One Piece’s Final Saga to Kick Off With Chapter 1054 in July

    When the message arrived from Eiichiro Oda that he was going to take a break to restructure the upcoming final saga of One Piece, many theorized that it might still be some time until they actually jump into the final steps of the iconic manga franchise. Yet, it turns out that it wasn’t just a generalization.

    During a live stream to promote the upcoming One Piece Film RED, Oda’s editor came in and teased that there will be some special concept art released building up towards the return of One Piece after the break titled “The Road to Laugh Tale.” Yet, he also went on to confirm that Chapter 1054 will be the official start for the final saga and the Straw Hat crew will move on from Wano. It’ll be made available with Weekly Shonen Jump #34.

    So, we have three more chapters to wrap up the current storyline which is still hard to believe considering how long the saga went on. Still, it seems that the final years of the manga franchise have begun. Don’t worry that this means we’re only getting a few more chapters, but as it is highlighted as a “saga,” we might have a few more yers ahead of us before the story wraps up. There’s no specific timeframe or chapter count given, but it’s still bizarre to think after 25 years, the end is near.

    Source: YouTube, Twitter, Twitter

  • Kentarou Miura’s Assistants and Close Friend Will Continue ‘Berserk’

    Kentarou Miura’s Assistants and Close Friend Will Continue ‘Berserk’

    It was a shock for many when Berserk creator Kentarou Miura passed away. His series Berserk has been a mainstay since 1989 and Guts’ travel has touched the hearts of many. The modern Dark Souls games, which include the recent release of Elden Ring, take many cues in their imagery from the manga series. Yet, many mourned the death of its creator and worried that it may never be finished. Yet, it was revealed on Berserk‘s official Twitter page by publisher Hakusensha that the series will not conclude.

    Miura‘s long-time Studio Gaga assistants will continue drawing the series with one of his close friends, a fellow manga artist, Kouji Mori supervising the continuation of the iconic series. It seems that Miura has actively consulted and shared his plans for the series with Mori alongside his staff and editors. There are also memos and designs that were uncovered to help shape where the story initially was heading. The production team would follow the policy of “Mr. Miura said so” as they continue his legacy.

    They currently plan to end the current Fantasia Arc and Elf Island Chapters in the next six chapters before starting a new one. They confirmed that the numbering of the manga books will continue in order as well. Mori also talked about how his long-time friend passed on the story in its entirety to him and how he wants to keep up the iconic storyline of Guts and Griffith’s story. It’s not going to be an easy undertaking but it looks like Berserks isn’t going to end anytime soon and Miura‘s legacy will live on.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘One Piece’ Going on Brief Hiatus as Eiichiro Oda Plans to Prepare the Final Saga

    ‘One Piece’ Going on Brief Hiatus as Eiichiro Oda Plans to Prepare the Final Saga

    It’s insane to think that mangaka Eiichiro Oda has been working on One Piece for over 25 years. And, throughout that time he hasn’t taken many breaks as the series follows the Weekly Shonen Jump release format, even if he takes some breaks now and then. As he’s wrapping up work on what may be the biggest saga he’s ever told with Wano, Oda has officially announced that it’s going on a month’s hiatus from Jump’s Issue #30 to #33. He shared the message on Twitter, which was translated by @WSJ_manga.

    He jokingly shared a message in regards to his upcoming hiatus, where he highlights that he is trying to reorganize himself before tackling the final arc for the manga. Now, while he does say he wants to finish it as soon as possible, it doesn’t mean the next arc may take as long as Wano did, if not longer. Still, it’s great that he’s taking a break, especially as he also plans to travel to South Africa and visit the set of the live-action One Piece series. It seems his original trip was ruined due to COVID and he is finally using the chance.

    One Piece is about to hit another renaissance with a new game on the horizon, the latest film RED and a live-action adaptation. The manga about to enter its final stages is also something that’s hard to believe considering how long it’s been going. It also turns out that Oda hasn’t had a break like this since the initial time skip, which was all the way back in 2010. So, it’s a well-deserved rest as we still have a few more chapters before then, as Wano’s curtains come to a close.

    Source: Twitter

  • Exploring the Inspiration of Luffy’s Gear 5 in ‘One Piece’ Chapter 1045

    Exploring the Inspiration of Luffy’s Gear 5 in ‘One Piece’ Chapter 1045

    Chapter 1045 of One Piece has been quite the wild ride for readers. The previous entry has already pushed our understanding of just how Monkey D. Luffy’s powers work. Up to the revelation that his Gomu Gomu no Mi was actually the Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika, he simply had a rubber body. While he could stretch his limbs in creative ways, it never reached the level it has now. Kaido’s Thunder Bagua left an imprint on his face as if he shaped permanently like the spike club that hit him. Hell, he even runs back like a Looney Tune after being pushed off the floating island. So, what exactly is going on?

    While it seems quite bizarre, mangaka Eiichiro Oda is still sticking to his rule that Luffy’s powers are based on rubber. The only difference is what kind he is currently referencing. Up to this point, most of our theories were connected to the concept of synthetic or even natural rubber. That was why most of theories pointed to it potentiality being the Resin fruit, as natural rubber is commonly created through latex from the so-called rubber tree. Yet, Oda threw us a curve ball like no other with Luffy acting on some more cartoon-inspired moves.

    Luffy’s power are technically still based on rubber, but one that is non-tangible. Most of the way Luffy is moving is clearly inspired by cartoons. It’s common knowledge he was inspired by watching the German-Austrian-Japanese animated series Vicky the Viking. So, the franchise has its roots in cartoons, especially looking back at the creative ways Luffy tackled each encounter throughout his travels in the East Blue and the Grand Line. Yet, now he’s truly embraced that aspect with his new powers that are based on rubber hose animation.

    The name of this animation style is based on how limbs of characters are simple, without any specific articulation. It’s the grandfather of all modern animation before running out of style in 1930s, yet has seen a bit of a revival as of late. Steven Universe introduced the character of Spinel that moved in a similar fashion. The recently released The Cuphead Show! bases its entire animation style from that very era. So, it technically could be seen as the origin of the entire Western animation industry.

    It even connects with the origin of his power. Nika was teased as the Sun God, a being that has quite the history. He was known to bring smiles to the faces of many’s for centuries. Perhaps that is why Oda took inspiration from the grandfather of all animation as the basis for the Devil Fruit’s abilities. Kaido has no idea what is happening, as his abilities seemingly force everything to apply to his rules. We literally see him grab the Beast Pirates’ nostril through his eyeballs before yanking himself out of the dragon’s stomach.

    It’ll take some time to adjust to the ability, as it is quite a bit different from the Haki-focused combat from the New World. Yet, the power does also call back to some of his earliest and quite “inventive” ways of taking on his enemies. We’ve discussed it frequently on our Den Den Murphy podcast, but Water Luffy from Alabasta was one of the funniest and most out-of-nowhere ways of taking on his most fearsome foe yet. So, as we near the end for the franchise, we might see him get even more creative beyond what we already saw here.

    Oda‘s creativity seemingly has no limits and the idea to stick true to Luffy’s powers being based on rubber. It always had some “cartoon”-inspired elements. So, rubber hose animation as part of his newly awakened power set is such a perfect way of staying true to what he set up while still catching people off-guard. This series never was about someone becoming the most powerful like Dragonball Z. It’s always been about freedom. If you’re powers are so ridiculous, you seemingly can do anything, why not embrace it?

  • REVIEW: Onigashima Continues to Burn in ‘One Piece’ 1038

    REVIEW: Onigashima Continues to Burn in ‘One Piece’ 1038

    It’s just showdown after showdown in the Onigashima raid, which is still not even close to leaving steam. The latest chapter included some great small moments as we take a short break from Kaido and Luffy’s showdown. One Piece‘s chapter 1038 gives us a vignette of where everyone else currently is while catching back up with Kid and Law’s battle with Big Mom, who isn’t going to go down that easily.

    The cover story this time is quite surprising as it seems Niji and Yonji of Germa 66 have been caught by the Big Mom Pirates. So, either they might return to free them, or Sanji gets a chance to save his family once again in the near future, but mostly cause it’s hard to believe that his father would go back and save his sons. Yet, who knows if he had a bit of a change of heart after the events from the Whole Cake Arc.

    It’s great to see Jimbei back, as he mostly took a backseat since his confrontation with Who’s Who. His saving of the samurai was a great moment, as we also see that the spreading flames have wrecked the entire place. Even Chopper gets to return as his super tiny form has expired and he returned to normal. It’s sweet to see him instantly care about Zoro, who is going through something of his own.

    Speaking of, what in the world is Eiichiro Oda doing playing with our hearts? It’s so strange to see the freaking Grim Reaper stand above him right after Chopper discusses the pain he’ll go through. Though the arms and close-up of the face make me think this is a fake-out and it’s probably Brook. How he got his hands on a scythe is a different story, but it seems like the most logical reason the literal embodiment of death appears here. Luckily, Franky is on his way to help.

    Izo has been taking quite the beating to give Usopp enough time to get the Red Scabbards away from the battlefield. The interesting aspect is the confrontation with CP0, which probably won’t end well given that the Beast Pirates have pushed him to his limits. It doe make you wonder if an eventual confrontation between the secret organization and the Straw Hats. Going by the direction they are heading, it seems they might end up catching up with Usopp.

    I am always excited to see Yamato – who I still hope joins the crew – and it’s great to see her showcase her abilities. It still seems like a shame how little we saw of her fight against Kaido. She’s also a perfect counter to the flaming ball of vengeance, as she just made it in time to keep it from blowing the whole island up. I am curious just how Yamato might manage to get it away from the explosives and weapons, as it’s very unlikely the island will just blow up.

    Now, it’s finally time to talk about Big Mom’s battle against Kid and Law. It’s not going so great for them, as she seemingly towers over them and mocks the young pirates. It almost looks like the two might have met their match, but she is certainly pushing beyond her limits. Her main goal is to return to Kaido’s side adds a nice level of urgency to this fight, especially as Law continues to keep the fighting going.

    We once again get the return of his Awakening through Kroom, which offers a clearer picture of what it can do. The fact he can warp the reality of an object adds quite a curious element to his ability, especially how his sword goes through Mom without actually cutting through her. Perhaps this ability is deeply connected to the fruit’s famous ability to give someone immortality. Kid also makes a grand effort by pulling in all the metal around him to create a giant raging bull, as both proclaim she will not get to the roof.

    The title was surprisingly misleading as Zoro and Sanji’s “vs.” chapter titles ended with the defeat of their enemy but seems Oda decided to mix things up this time around. Even after their defeat, they are continuing to push forward which is quite exhilarating and makes me curious what the next chapter has in store for us, as we might enter the final stage of this battle after all.

  • REVIEW: Kaido and Luffy Collide in ‘One Piece’ 1037

    REVIEW: Kaido and Luffy Collide in ‘One Piece’ 1037

    One Piece always seems to manage to continue to grow a world in creative ways. Elements that seemed like small tidbits from years ago can suddenly become relevant within seconds. Worldbuilding has always been Eiichiro Oda‘s greatest strength and the final moments of this chapter truly solidify that. Yet, we also get a dense chapter filled with some of the series’ best action and some actual character development for a villain, who seemingly was left behind and barely explored outside of the way he took over Wano. The battle between Luffy and Kaido may have done more for the character than the rest of the entire three acts of this storyline.

    If I bring it up, it may be good to start there with a look at this latest chapter. Kaido reveals he had a secret up his sleeve all along. He’s an alcoholic. Okay, technically yes but the point is that alcohol seems to make him unleash most of his abilities. We get some Drunk fu from a man who can turn into a fire-breathing dragon and he is taking it out on Luffy. the different phases showing a personality that he had seemingly hidden away. The Emperor of the Sea is having fun as someone is finally putting up a challenge. His smile also fits perfectly into King’s flashbacks on when he believed he may be Joy Boy.

    Most of the chapter is about this fight, as we get some creative sequences with Kaido switching between the different moves. You can see Luffy smiling at times throughout, and he’s gotten quite creative in how he takes on his enemy. That headbutt looks quite painful and there’s a lot of weight to the events that are unfolding. You can feel every single punch as the battle continues to unfold. It seems uncertain if the fight will truly come to an end in the next few chapters, but we’re definitely in the endgame now.

    The big revelation at the end, however, is the true selling point of this chapter. 1037 randomly moves to the Red Line’s Sacred Marijoa. Suddenly, the Five Elders are discussing a secret Devil Fruit. Something about one that hasn’t awakened in “centuries upon centuries” and even was given a fake name. As this is being discussed, the World Government’s ships are closing in on Wano. Yet, a giant shadow has arrived and is ready to take care of an issue the Straw Hats never realized they had. It’s the giant elephant known as Zunesha, who has been traveling for quite some time to a specific location. Could that have been Wano all along?

    So, the lines on the Devil Fruit seem to imply the awakening has a connection to the giant elegant, but they imply that it hasn’t reached its true power in a long time. Plus, if you think about it: there have been two massive teases in this arc. First, we find out that Who’s Who was supposed to be guarding the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but it ended up getting stolen by the Shank’s crew. Secondly, Kid and Law have revealed they already had their awakenings at some point in time. Last, but certainly not least, the chapter is all about Kaido and Luffy’s fight. So, it seems very possible that Luffy’s original fruit might be hiding a rather curious secret that we’ll find out about in the next few chapters.

  • REVIEW: Usopp Gets His Time to Shine in ‘One Piece’s Chapter 1036

    REVIEW: Usopp Gets His Time to Shine in ‘One Piece’s Chapter 1036

    So, I know I am very late to this chapter and the next one is pretty much already out, but I still wanted to take some time to catch up on One Piece Chapter 1036 after the holidays. This chapter uses its time to give us an epilogue on Zoro’s fight, catch up with everyone throughout the raid as well as set up the return to Luffy and Kaido’s showdown. There’s a lot happening in this entry and just highlights how well Eiichiro Oda manages to juggle every single moving piece throughout the arc.

    Zoro’s takedown is quite brutal, as the man literally lost a piece of his wing as a result. Though, the true loss is highlighted in the flashback to King’s time with a more enthusiastic Kaido. We once again get a reference to Joy Boy, as Oda sets up a curious parallel between these two combatants. Two men who swore to never lose a fight are at the breaking point to define which one would succeed. The declaration of Zorro’s to be “The King of Hell” is a powerful moment and is highlighted by the visuals.

    Though, I love Oda can still keep a powerful moment and add something a bit goofy, such as Zoro being so powerful a swing of his swords can push him right back to the floating island. It’s the same when we return to Yamato, who is still desperately trying to find a way to the armory to ensure that when the island drops it doesn’t blow up Wano. Her new ally Fuga crashing into Rokki is worthy of a new nominee for best One Piece faces.

    There are a few more vignettes that give us quick updates on what is happening, such as Big Mom’s continued onslaught, the battle between Raizo and Fukurokuju, and Orochi enjoying the company of Komurasaki. I’m a little disappointed that Drake was taken down off-screen by CP-0 and hope the set-up from his revelation still gets some build-up at one point, but it seems unlikely for now. Yet, I also thought the same with Apoo and he just keeps getting back up. So, you never know.

    Out of everyone in this chapter – and there are some great character moments – Usopp truly gets to shine in my opinion. It’s such a great moment as he fights a ton of Breast Pirates to protect Kiku and Kinemon. His speech calling out their “leave us behind” mentality is just an incredible showcase of how much character growth he went through. His survivor mentality is also a perfect contrast to the samurai’s honor code, and it truly gives him a moment to stand out with everything happening in the raid. Izo’s appearance is also such a poignant moment, as he unveils the mark that has always remained on his back.

    We’ve finally at the final part of the chapter and it’s finally time to see just how the one-on-one is going between Luffy and Kaido. They say very little once we return to the top of Onigashima, as they are just wailing at each other with all their moves. It’s obvious they are hitting their limit, but the smiles on both faces just highlight the words from King earlier in the chapter. We’ve finally returned to the fight that’ll shake the world as we know it and what a way to lead into it.

  • REVIEW: Zoro Finally Takes Down King in ‘One Piece’ Chapter 1035

    REVIEW: Zoro Finally Takes Down King in ‘One Piece’ Chapter 1035

    Queen is beaten, only King remains. That is how the latest One Piece chapter kicks off, as we see Queen still flying in the air from Sanji’s final kick. The opening of the chapter acts as a nice epilogue from that battle, as we get a cute moment of Sanji making sure that the mouse Chuji is safe and even a callback to his time feeding the poor animals while living under his father’s rule. After everything he went through, it’s nos surprise that he would pass out, but we’re still left wondering how much this fight has cost him.

    Speaking of, Zoro is still in the middle of his battle with King, as Enma continues to drain his Haki at an alarming rate. Yet, he has found a way to control it, as he builds upon his newly awakened Conqueror’s Haki. It also seemed like he figured out the weakness of King’s base abilities, as he is slowly overtaking him. This may be the first time that Zoro is meeting his limit in a fight and it’s great how it balances out the elements that are presented here.

    King turns out to be a man named Alber, who has a similar tattoo to the Skypians we met all those years ago. It looks like he and Kaido were experimented on in Punk Hazard, as Oda sneaks in a small flashback. We get a very different look at the leader of the Beast Pirates, who even had a smile on his face at one point before becoming the guy we meet today. Perhaps his Joy Boy reference earlier on was referencing his own failure.

    The fight is surprisingly simple, as the focus is mainly on the long-awaited reveal of what was hiding behind King’s gimp mask. Right after the revelation on his past, we get a few interesting attacks between the two. Didn’t realize that his sword can shift design to potentially break Zoro’s swords, which he promptly reacts to. It’s interesting that there is a lot of attention given to that very fact before he finally lands a hard-hitting strike on the menacing King.

    He even manages to push him into a corner, which was great to see, as our favorite first mate is forced to figure out how the flames affect the Lunarian’s ability. The final takedown including a dragon made of pure fire inspired by his captain was a great touch, as it highlights Zoro’s ability to cut even fire, which was teased earlier on, but also means that if the first mate can take down a dragon, his captain will manage the exact same. The visual with the Haki-covered swords look amazing, especially on the final page. It looks like he not only broke King’s sword – probably a retaliation on his obsession of breaking his – but even takes out a wing. It’s a fantastic moment to end the chapter on, and here’s hoping we finally see how Luffy’s fight is going in 1036.

  • REVIEW: Sanji Turns Up the Heat in ‘One Piece’ Chapter 1034

    REVIEW: Sanji Turns Up the Heat in ‘One Piece’ Chapter 1034

    Right when you think Eiichiro Oda will showcase Zoro’s power after finally unleashing his Conqueror’s Haki, he once again shifts his interest elsewhere. It highlights how much is truly happening throughout the Onigashima raid and we’re still uncovering the true potential of our Straw Hat pirates. Sanji once again takes over in his battle against Queen, who may have pushed his buttons one last time in chapter 1034.

    Before we get into the ain fight, we catch up quickly with Mononoke, who is still struggling with making use of his newfound dragon powers. He may not be able to make new clouds, but he shows his commitment to saving his country by cleverly pulling the island away from the flower capital. It’s just a brief interlude that helps tie us in on where exactly the raid is heading and also that they have a bit more time to take out the Beast pirates.

    Queen’s quite interesting in this. We know he worked with the Vinsmoke’s in the past but seeing him utilize the same abilities as Sanji’s brothers was a clever trick. It makes the fight even more personal and just adds to Sanji’s fury. There’s a perfect irony in Queen wanting to prove he is stronger to his former ally against the one child that wants nothing to do with any of it. Also, the “no such thing as freedom of speech anymore?!” line was a hilarious and clever touch, Oda.

    I do love Queen as a character. He’s a terrible person but has some of the funniest reactions. The giant robot dino can go invisible but is shocked when Sanji does it. His face just adds that perfect touch to the comedy. Though I was a bit disappointed that it was Queen all along instead of continuing Sanji’s inner conflict on losing control. It made sense but it still is a bit disappointing not to use it so that our Straw Hat chef strengthens his resolve, which he technically did.

    Still, it all built up to that Diable Jambe upgrade now with the fitting name of Ifrit, which might be a name familiar to Final Fantasy and Islamic mythology fans. That final shot feels like the perfect build-up for his attacks, as we get a callback to his fight against Arlong pirate Kuroobi. After an onslaught of attacks, he kicks him with his iconic kick Boeuf Burst with an Ifrit added damage boost. What a way to end the fight against Queen, if it even is the end. Here’ shopping Zoro vs. King returns next.