Manga: Chapter 590 (SPOILERS!)

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Count your blessings because you can get One Piece manga from Viz right here!

Seems like the ball is finally moving as we begin to move out of the aftermath that happen at Marineford. It felt that this chapter was meant to truly tie up the events of the Marineford Arc and finally allowing us to move forward. No more looking back and instead looking forward to what we been wanting.

Though one thing that I thought was a bit strange with this chapter, minus the fact that an octopus is eating octopus balls (Don't get me started on what is wrong with that image on the coverpage.), was how fast Luffy recovered from his depression. Maybe he has been depressed about what happen at Marineford for a long time and the damage that happen was just off screen. Still it felt that the words Jimbei told Luffy seem to went into effect too fast. Maybe it is just me though. It may be best that Luffy gets over this thing fast since one thing that annoys me the most in other anime/manga series is that it takes the hero way too much time to get over something that was beyond their control. So this could be a good thing that Luffy is getting over this issue quickly so we don't have to see him go all sulky for ten chapters before realizing that he is strong and has a crew to get back to.

It seems like people know that Luffy must be suffering a lot due to the death of Ace. Though the death of Ace seem to have affected everybody else as well. I liked that we saw both sides of the coin too as we saw that the raise in new pirates due to Whitebeard is affecting the normal people of Windmill Village yet the people who knew Ace from there are also suffering in a way too. The events at Marineford is touching everybody differently depending on who they know.

Though you have to applaud Makino for willing to get in between two such powerful people. Clearly an unsung heroine here. Power to the lady I have to say. The girl really showed guts in making these older adults to see what is really happening. They are both suffering but now isn't the time to point blame. Got to love how Oda empowers women since here they are more then chicks with big boobs and actually do something. The same for Dadan since she is continuing to show that she is somebody worth remembering.

I also love the words that Dadan said about Luffy. She may not be his real mom but she sure is acting as if she was one. Supporting her 'son' no matter where he goes. May Luffy becomes a ruthless and evil pirate or stays pure of heart and good then she will still support Luffy. Another sign of bonds stronger then blood being seen here.

"Knowing both victory and defeat, running around and shedding tears, that's the way you become a real man. It's alright to cry! Overcome this!"
-Shanks

Being brave and not running away isn't what being a man is all about. Being able to make decisions that benefits the ones around you and doing them while also knowing when to cry is what makes you a man. It seems like Shanks is foreseeing that Luffy may eventually surpass the former Pirate King  and it seems like he will. We have see Luffy experience all of what Shanks mention. He won several battles and at the same time been defeated several times. Then at Sabaody we saw Luffy issue the command to run away instead of facing the might of a Pacifista, a Marine admiral, a Warlord and a captain. Now Luffy is crying over the lost of his brother. Seems like Luffy is well on the path in becoming a man.

I have to agree with Oda, that a man has to be able to cry. We guys don't want to cry in front of people since it goes against the ideas of being a 'man' but really we shouldn't be afraid to cry. It isn't good for anybody to hide your feelings and it takes more guts to cry then to hold them in.

I have to admit that I didn't believe that Jimbei would be unable to help Luffy out in this moment but really I have to take that back. Apparently in some form or way the big fishman was able to help Luffy out. It may have been in a rough way but I am happy with how he handle it. It wasn't all sappy and junk but instead it was a good beating. The kid took the advice kicking and screaming and biting but he took the medicine.

Maybe I have been reading the manga a bit too much from Viz (Which you should buy because it is so awesome to hold in your hand and read on long road trips!) but when Jimbei mention the wall of regret, I remembered the wall that Luffy punched while in Third Gear when he first landed on Amazon Lily. Completely random and has nothing to do with what is going on but just something I wanted to pointed out. Maybe it just a silly example of a wall that Luffy had to overcome. haha

"I have my crew!"
-Luffy

When I heard this from Luffy, it made me so happy and I love the two page spread that Oda did to show the whole crew. I loved how Nami and Usopp were drawn there and I have to say it made me realize how much I missed these guys. They all looked so happy there especially Nami and Usopp. I am so ready to see these guys again.

This is just another thing that I love about One Piece. It isn't always focus on just one person. That one person has a crew that supports him and now Luffy seems to finally realize that he has a whole crew that is there to support him. He may have to be strong but he shouldn't be getting stronger to just protect his crew. That his crew is his strength.

And it seems like Ace knows that too. Luffy isn't weak anymore because now he got crewmates, friends. A group of friends that are able to lift him up. Ace may have been with Luffy and his crew for a short moment but he was able to see that in the small band of friends that Luffy had gather.

Now Luffy has resolved to find his friends and seem to have overcome this current moment. We only have to see how smoothly this return to Sabaody may go. I doubt it be easy or simple but how will things go from here on out will be interesting.