Manga: Chapter 644 Review (SPOILERS)

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

"To Zero." Buy the manga at Viz Media or read the back issues of manga at JManga.

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Hey guys, it's that time of the week again:  Time for new One Piece comic strips! Last week we learned just how cold and black hearted Hody is. But is there more to his madness?

The first scene features citizens of Fishman Island running away from the approaching Noah, while Fukaboshi is explains how Hody and the rest of the New Fishman Pirates are the result of everyone’s prejudice. Hody continues to chase Shirahoshi and Luffy laughing maniacally along the way. 

We are then shown another flashback to Hody as a child in the Fishman District. Crowds of angry fishmen are talking about how the humans made their lives miserable. Heck, they even cheer on a dead comrade because he killed eight humans. We also see Arlong again, talking about how the humans are afraid of fishmen and how they persecute them. Hachi talks to some children including Madame Shirley about how Rayleigh was a human who tolerated him. Hody hates the story.

Years later, they learn of Fisher Tiger's death, but only respond to it that he wasn't a messiah. Again, shouldn't you care more about the lives of your own kind? Then we see them in masks murdering a fishman for donating blood to a human and burning down his house. The idea of the New Fishman Pirates being a cult at first is very unsettling to me. Sometime after that, they learn that Jinbei has become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and that only Arlong's crew is left to give them hope.

Sometime after that event, Queen Otohime's death occurs and other fishmen become radicalized against humans and the royal family, even stating that they can't trust anyone else but each other.

Meanwhile, the five lieutenants celebrate the murder committed by Hody. Hody brings out a bag and says that heaven has “chosen” them by “giving them power.” Everyone is in shock that Hody managed to find “the legendary stuff” and asks Zeo to mass produce it.

Now although we don't see what it is, it’s pretty obvious that they're talking about the energy steroids. The flashback ends with Hody declaring that it all shall end with a holy war, a delivery of justice and a day of judgment.

The Ammo Knights fire a huge bubble to surround Noah, and Fukaboshi laments that Hody has so deeply threatened the future of Fishmen Island. He continues to explain that they ignored the grudge of the fishmen and only believed acceptance into Reverie was necessary. He cries out that he failed his mother's wish to stifle engendered   prejudice in the kingdom. 

After all is said and done, Fukaboshi begs Luffy to “bring the island back to zero” so that they all can stop living in the past. Hody thinks this is impossible but Luffy tells Fukaboshi that the Straw Hats will take care of everything because they dedicated themselves to the island ever since they entered the plaza together. He even calls Fukaboshi a friend which causes him to cry.

The citizens below were all touched by Luffy's words. The Minister of the Right then wonders if  the Straw Hats really were the kinds of humans they feared. The guards then tell Luffy that there is air surrounding Noah and Luffy tells Shirahoshi to stick by him so that she won't get hurt. Luffy  focuses his Haki and Gear Second transformation together as Hody charges towards him. The chapter ends with Luffy punching Hody with a new attack called Gum Gum Red Hawk, which causes a fiery explosion out of Hody's back.  Can this attack possibly be a tribute to Ace?

What did I think of this chapter? The writing is good. It recapitulates the values of the different factions of fishmen, and I greatly appreciated that. On top of that, we see some great scenes with Luffy and artwork. I have a feeling that this storyline is going to end soon. All we need now is the end of combat. I'm confident that Oda sensei will provide a great conclusion to a great arc as usual. On that note, thanks a lot for reading my summary and analysis. I hope you guys enjoyed it and let's all look forward to next week's installment. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

Written by: Neku 

Edited by: Dsaftler