Manga: Chapter 610 (SPOILERS)

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! 

Do mermaids poop? Maybe. Catch up by buying Viz's past One Piece volumes!

Well guys here we are. 2011 has come and now we finally return to the epic story that is One Piece. Hopefully this chapter shall "set the stage" for great events this year. We shall see what lies beyond Fishman Island but for now, let us return to our long awaited arc. Last chapter, shit has hit the fan as Sanji's perverted fate lies in the hands of Luffy, Usopp, Chopper and Keimi and is losing blood! Not only that, but wheres the rest of the Straw Hats? Again, we shall get the answer to some of these questions but I shall delay no more. Let us step into the beginning of this year's fix of the best manga ever.

The first of this year's chapters starts in the Port Town of Coral Hill (in the back room of the Mermaid Cafe); Sanji awakens in a bed with blood being injected into him. Apparently, Luffy and the others couldn't find a donor anywhere whether it be fishman or human and much to Sanji's horror (but our amusement) the donors turn out to be a pair of Okama pirate twins Splash and Splatter. Hooray! Sanjis gonna be okay, crisis adverted.....or is it? Chopper asks to see Luffy's right arm since he got a scar during the fight with the fishman last time now he's poisoned! Oh no not again! Apparently Luffy now has antibodies to fight back against the poison so he didn't even notice it due to the intense poisoning he got back in Impel Down 2 years ago. Hyouzou the merman with the blue ringed octopus tenatcles was the one who caused it as we see him wandering around drunkedly with an unconcious Hammond as well as the other unamed as of right now fishman. We also see that the mermaids from before had indeed opened the barrel containing Caribou and the girl who opened it is now apparently missing with an empty barrel only to be seen. Hmmm.....

Its cool knowing Luffy's journey through Impel Down didn't tun out ALL that bad

Keimi goes to her boss Madame Shirley, a giant mermaid who dresses in gothic style clothes (she looks purty by the way) to explain the situation to her and it also seems that Madame Shirley is also a fortune teller due to her mysterious crystal ball, but she apparently gave it up since she cannot take what the future holds anymore. Luffy reminds us the question that ALL One Piece fans has been asking since Sabaody....do mermaids poop? Shirley briefly wets our pants with a creepy face in response and we  move on. Shirley tells Keimi that she can have the day off to have show Luffy and the others around and  Keimi remembers that she has to go to Pappag to give him a clam in order to feed him, coveniently Shirley lets her know that Pappag is in the Cafe. We learn that everything that happened in Marineford as well as the coming of lots of human pirates to Fishman Island was all predicted by Madame Shirley, which explains why she has come to hate her own ability. Luffy, Keimi, Usopp and Chopper walk around to the Mermaid Cafe entrance (which is friggin huge by the way).

At least Luffy has his priorities straight when it comes to meat

As we enter the Cafe we come across not only Pappag (who is sporting spiffy sunglasses and a bowtie) but Brook as well! Yay! By the way Brook is surrounded and glomped by mermaids which leads me to believe that he is now officially a pimp. Good job Brook. Papagg says that he was about to take Brook to see his estate and they can all come along, Luffy is convinced with the temptaion of meat and Keimi gives Papagg the clam (he makes the most adorable face by the way =w=). Brook spots a wanted poster of Van Der Bekken (the captain of the ghost ship a few chapters ago), Papagg says he's been searched for many years now since he was being a total creep to the Mermaid Princess (offering gifts, marriage proposals, typical creepy guy schtick) and her father King Neptune and told his sons (the 3 princes from last chapter) to gather up an army to hunt Bekken down. But in reality, Van Der Bekken actually died at Fishman Island a LONG time ago but the person the Straw Hats saw was not Van Der Bekken but was actually his distant grandson Van Der Bekken XI.

 Big Mam eh? I hope we get to see her soon....or not *shudders*

We get a brief lesson about life here, Mermaid's fins split when they're older (like Kokoro....*shudders*) and if a mermaid and fishman marry and have children, they'll either become a mermaid, a merman, a fishman or a fishwoman (just to clear that up once and for all). In the distance there is a giant candy factory which has a pirate flag. Papagg explains that there is a similar one by the entrance of the island and at the port because the entire place is protected by the pirate Charlotte Linlin AKA Big Mam who if you recall is one of the Four Emperors. They took over after Whitebeard used to protect the island but in order to keep her word she requires a large amount of candy each month (which makes me even more afraid of what shes going to look like......*shudders*. Luffy hopes to meet her someday since he figures that she can't be that bad since Shanks is also one of the Four Emperors. We eventually arrive at Gloverly Hills, home of Pappag as well as other celebrites (by the way, Pappag has a GIANT house....so jealous). Back at Coral Hill, Madame Shirley is flustering around as she seems to have a prediction.

Our chapter ends with Madame Shirley revealing that she felt something from Luffy which caused this to happen. She cries out in despair that a boy with a ripped straw hat is going to destroy Fishman Island!

...epic foreshadowing is EPIC

...welll...daaaamn.....where do I begin? This is a brilliant chapter for the beginning of 2011 as we get foreshadowings about characters like Big Mam as well as further explanations for Van Der Bekken and a brand new one in the form of Madame Shirley (seriously she's SMOKIN HAWT). That chilling ominous prediction does make me wonder though. On the one hand Luffy is known for causing destruction to many places, but on the other...when was his Straw Hat ripped? Or is it about to happen? Remember all the way back in the East Blue Saga when Buggy ripped Luffy's straw hat and he flew into a rage? Maybe thats what will happen? Well before we sign off, heres some thoughts from Mikey.

Mikey: Great chapter! A cool way to start off the new year. Love how they explained the Van Der Decken since I wasn't buying the cursed thing and good to see that Big Mam may make an appearance. Still I am really interested this prediction by Shirley (who is DAMN hot) and the 'ripped straw hat'.

"By a human with a ripped straw hat...by his hands!!! Fishman Island will be destroyed!"
-Shirley 

This can be taken by many different ways and that silhouette does look like Luffy but what really perk my interest is this 'ripped straw hat' part that Shirley mentions. The only person that wears a straw hat is Luffy and it doesn't look that ripped so I am wondering what is going to happen. I have completely confidence that Luffy is going to cause trouble that will shake the foundations of Fishman Island. It is in his nature based on what he has done in the past. It just that we are seeing fire and stuff (which is cool) that is different compare to Luffy's past handiwork. This is making me think that something big is going to happen between Luffy and somebody with great power and this somebody I think is 'Big Mam', Charlotte Linlin.

Currently Fishman Island is being protected by Big Mam who is one of the Four Emperors (also note that it was said FOUR Emperors so it is safe to guess that the spot Whitebeard had has been fulfilled). The same group that Shanks is apart of. Clearly there is distrust between the Four Emperors as seen when Shanks and Whitebeard meant and since these four powers are in gridlock within the New World. Something tells me that Big Mam is going to be paying a visit to Fishman Island and won't like the idea that somebody that is similar to Shanks wearing the same famous hat the two people (Shanks and Roger)  use to have. Thus Big Mam most likely will confront Luffy and damage the famous straw hat. This will most likely anger Luffy since I can see him not likely some of Linlin's workings based on the fact that she ask for a 'protection fee'. There has to be more to this protection then candy.

A little predictable I know but we all know that Oda is good at executing the predictable and cliche beautifully. It be the perfect way to to see where Luffy's power is right now since it seems like nobody can beat Luffy at the moment because the difference in power. Big Mam's power must be a bit higher then Moria's since Moria and Big Mam Linlin use to fight against each other and Luffy was barely able to pull off a win against Moria. Also it be awesome to see somebody that just doesn't like Luffy since recently it seems like every and their momma (minus a few like Hammond) are in love with Luffy. A villain that hates Luffy just because he is Luffy would be wonderful and if she is corrupted or something then that would be perfect.

I love this prediction that Shirley had because it is foreshadowing some sort of action is coming and so much more! Predictions are wonderful since they can be so vague and most of the time the person that see them only sees a five second thing that isn't enough to know the whole picture. Still so much could happen and I can't wait to see what will unfold and lead up to the 'ripped straw hat' and the 'destruction of Fishman Island'. Still I let Neku get back to what he was saying as I go back to work.

Superneku: Thanks Mikey, glad you enjoyed it! As I end this post, theres questions to ask as always; what will Luffy and the others see/learn at Pappag's house? Whats going on with Hordy Jone's plans? Wheres Nami, Robin and Franky? Will Madame Shirley's prediction come true? We'll find out next time! Now if you'll excuse me, its my birthday this week and I has plans, see you all later!